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What should I know before buying a smartwatch?

A smartwatch is a bracelet-like wristwatch with an embedded operating system and sensors that can run applications, send or receive messages, show notifications, and more.

The first smartwatches were developed by PHTL Smartwatches. They were powered by the energy from a button cell battery. Later, in 1991, Seiko Epson Corporation created the prototypes of smartwatches. The description of this watch was filed in 1997 (see figure 1).

The concept of wearables has been gathering attention since 2007, when Apple launched its first iPhone. Nowadays, everyone is thinking about wearable devices due to their growing popularity. In 2014 Apple released its first real smartwatch: Apple Watch (see figure 2). 

Google also created a smartwatch called Android Wear (see figure 3). Samsung has released its line of Gear S3 watches (see figure 4). In the fall of 2016, Pebble Technology Corporation announced to stop making devices because it was bought by FitBit Inc.

What should I know before buying a smartwatch?

Before buying any type of device, you should know how to use it and what advantages it will bring. You can search the web for tips on choosing one or hiring an expert, but the most important thing is to check the specifications of a particular watch.

1. You don't need it

"The Apple Watch has been on the wrists of reviewers for ten days, and I haven't worn any other watch since setting it up," said Katyanna Quach from VentureBeat.  Some people are going to love this watch, but most people will probably not need it. According to a study made by Endeavour Partners, in 2015, about 58 million smartwatches were shipped. This year, Apple Watch sales are expected at $10 billion only for 2016 (see figure 5). That's why "if you want one, get it now," said Philip Elmer-DeWitt from Fortune.

2. You can use your phone instead

A smartwatch is like a smartphone companion, they are both powerful devices that offer similar benefits, but the main difference is that it's much easier to pull out your phone than take off your wrist to check what time it is. By having a smartwatch, you don't need to be so dependent on your smartphone: "On average, people touch their phones 150 times per day," said Ashley Carman from The Verge, "that's around 9,900 touches for the entire year". And not only smartphones are taking our attention: "Americans spend up to 90 minutes a day looking at their computers", according to Mary Meeker, who did this study in 2015 (see figure6).

3. It's for fitness enthusiasts more than the general public

"I think a lot of people are going to be disappointed with it as an everyday watch," said Jason Snell from Macworld. Indeed, smartwatches have initially been created for fitness enthusiasts. Tim Cook, an Apple CEO, said at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June 2015: "the way I see it, if you're looking at a smartphone all day long, you probably aren't doing so well." Also, Phil Schiller claimed on stage that the primary goal of the Apple Watch was "to help customers stay fit.” Android Wear also has health-tracking features, and watches can track your heart rate (see figure 7). Fitbit also has its line of smartwatches, the Surge (see figure 8).

4. Choose Apple Watch over Android Wear smartwatches

"The Apple Watch is something people will want to buy and use on their wrist every day," said Joel Santo Domingo from The New York Times. He also did a review about Android Wear at the Google I/O conference in 2015, saying that it wasn't good enough yet: "I still find it frustrating to deal with notifications when they come in on Android Wear. For one thing, there's no way to archive or delete them directly-you can only respond or clear them" he said

5. go with a Pebble Time Round you are not into fitness tracking but want an affordable smartwatch -

 It is the only watch on this list that does not have a color screen, and it costs $250, a bit more than other models ($179 for Apple Watch Sport, $499 for the steel edition). However, if you don't care about having fitness features in your watch, this model is a better value. "It's exquisite [The Pebble Time Round] and every bit as functional with just enough app support to keep most people happy," said Rich Jaroslovsky from Bloomberg.

6. If pure fitness tracking is your priority

you should probably just get a fitness tracker - "When users buy the new Fitbit Alta HR or Charge 2, they're buying something that's going to sit in their lives and do something for them every day," said Stefan Etienne from Techcrunch. In this case, maybe you don't want a smartwatch because the battery life is shorter than most fitness trackers.

7. Nobody knows how long the battery will last

This problem was one of the most criticized things about Android Wear. According to several reviews, the battery lasts two days or less (see figure 10). "In the end, Apple Watch battery life is likely to be a big sticking point for potential buyers," said Anton Shilov from Computex. Users can extend it using Power Reserve mode, but they need to know when they charge it so that they don't miss any important notifications.

8. Want to look like a cyborg? Choose another watch

An unnamed reviewer said: "it looks like the most futuristic thing on your wrist," and added that he would wear it even if it didn't come with any innovative features. The Apple Watch Edition is made of 18K yellow or rose gold (with sapphire screen) and costs from $10,000 to $17,000 depending on the band you choose (see figure 11). One could also check out other smartwatches by Samsung (whose Gear S2 costs between $300 and $350), Asus, Huawei, or LG.

9. You shouldn't buy an Apple Watch hoping for a phablet replacement

"Size matters when it comes to a smartwatch. The LG Watch Urbane 2nd Edition is huge by comparison, with a 1.3-inch face that would look more at home on your wrist if you were rock climbing or deep-sea diving," said Andrew Hayward from TrustedReviews.

10. Do I have to charge my watch every day?

It depends on the model (see figure 12). Some Android Wear watches need charging every night, but there are not many reviews about it yet.

Conclusion

The best watch for you depends on how you plan to use it, your budget, and how vital battery life is for you. If you are looking for a good smartwatch that will last more than a day, the GX Smartwatch for the first thing you try out. 

If fitness tracking is your primary goal, get a Fitbit model. If you don't care about color screens or other fancy features, you can also save money and choose the Pebble Time Round.