pay attention to these 5 things when you buy a smartwatch

There are several reasons to choose a smartwatch. For example, do you want to easily use apps from your wrist or a complete health analysis after exercise? In this article we list five points of attention for you

Buying a smartwatch: where to start?

Smartwatches come in different shapes, sizes and price ranges. To find out which one is best for you, look at some features of smart watches. We’ll walk you through them in this article.

Design, size and materials

Just like with a normal watch, it is important how the smartwatch looks on your wrist. Therefore, take a good look at the design of a smart watch. There are models that stay closer to the design of a traditional watch, such as the Fossil Gen 6. In addition, there are also smartwatches that embrace a modern design, such as the Fitbit Sense 2.

The materials used for the housing of a smartwatch often influence the price. Most smartwatches have an aluminum housing with a layer of lacquer over it. Do you want a smartwatch that can withstand all conditions? Then you can even opt for titanium. This scratches considerably less quickly, but also costs a lot more. The same applies to screen protection. ‘Normal’ glass is a bit cheaper, but scratches faster than sapphire glass, which is a lot more expensive.

The size of the screen is also an important choice. If you have large arms, a small watch (41 mm) will also look extra small. Otherwise the same applies. A 46mm smartwatch on a thin wrist quickly looks very large. And of course, the screen should be large enough to easily read notifications and information.

Finally, water resistance is also important. This is indicated by an IP certificate. This way you know whether you can swim a number of laps with your smartwatch, but also whether it can survive a rain shower.

Screen features and controls

Then to the operation of the smartwatch. Many smartwatches are equipped with a touch-sensitive screen. That means that you operate it – just like your smartphone – by tapping the screen. Manufacturers also often opt for buttons on the side. This takes you to the home screen in one click or you watch the smart assistant.

The type of screen on a smartwatch determines several things. Usually two types are used, namely OLED and LCD panels. An LCD panel is less energy efficient, but cheaper. An OLED screen is more economical, because it only uses the pixels that display information. Black pixels remain off.

For that reason, smartwatches with an OLED screen often come with the option for one Always On-Display. This means that your smartwatch always shows information such as the time, heart rate and notification icons, even if your watch is in sleep mode. However, this costs more of your battery.

To measure is to know with sensors

Smartwatches are often equipped with different sensors. The offer differs per smartwatch. The more sensors on board, the more expensive a smartwatch often is. We see that price difference especially with the presence of GPS. With GPS, your location is actively tracked by your smartwatch. For example, you can register a running route without a smartphone in your pocket.

Almost every smartwatch has an optical heart rate monitor on board. The more expensive smartwatches such as the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 also let you record an ECG. The smartwatch then records the activity of your heart by means of electrical signals. This is more detailed than an optical heart rate monitor.

There are many more sensors in smartwatches. Some as simple as a pedometer, others can accurately pinpoint your location on the meter. Are you really serious about the number of sensors? Then you will probably have to pay extra. The Garmin Fenix ​​7X, for example, costs about 1000 euros, but is packed with sensors for the real adventurer.

Good software or long battery life?

Bee Android Planet we’re excited about Google’s Wear OS. This software runs on, for example, the Pixel Watch, Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro and Fossil Gen 6. In our opinion, the software provides the best collaboration with your smartphone, access to the Play Store and the Google Assistant. Unfortunately, it has a major drawback, namely that the software requires a lot of battery. Smartwatches with Wear OS sometimes only last two days (or less).

Don’t want to have to charge your smartwatch every night? Then it may be wise to choose one with a different operating system. For example, the Fitbit Versa 4 has its own software, so that the smartwatch lasts for days. Huawei watches are also known for this.

First or second hand?

Second-hand there are a lot of smartwatches to be found. Of course, pay close attention to damage or defects. Do you buy a smartwatch with just a little too much dirt from the predecessor? Then read our article about cleaning your smartwatch. This way you will have a beautiful watch in no time, for hopefully a lower price.

Or a fitness tracker?

Are you looking for a smartwatch, but the premium models cost you just a little too much, or do you not need a lot of sensors? Then take a look at a fitness tracker. These are often a lot cheaper and also show the time, notifications and your heart rate. In the video below we tell you all the differences between smartwatches and fitness trackers. Enjoy watching!

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