Submission + - The current state of smart watches
rodrigoandrade writes: I've been doing some research into smartwatches and (more precisely) fitness trackers, and I'd like to share my findings and ask for people's opinions.
Smartwatches have come a long way since the last time I dismissed them as a "fad." Here's a summary of what I learnt.
Smartwatches can be divided into 2 categories: smartwatches and fitness trackers. The latter is a subset of the former, but it's a cheaper and dedicated device. Think of a smartwatch as a PC and a fitness band as a video game console.
Manufacturers have learnt from Moto 360 that people want round smartwatches that actually look like traditional watches, with a couple of glaring exceptions being Apple and Fitbit.
Android Wear 2.0 is a thing, not vaporware. It's still pretty raw (think of early Android phones) but it works well. The LG Sport Watch is the highest end device that supports it.
LTE-enabled smartwatches finally allow you to ditch your smartphone, if you wish. Just pop you nano SIM in it and party on. The availability is still limited to a few SKUs in some countries, and they're ludicrously expensive, but it's getting there.
As far as choices go, here's what I saw. I focused on the high end stuff because I won't buy anyone anyway (I'm more interested in a cheaper fitness tracking device), but it's nice to know what's available as far as tech goes. No fanboyism here on my part.
1. The Samsung Galaxy Gear S3 is the one to beat right now. It's the coolest one, features all sensors you find in a smartphone, an LTE version, fitness apps, works with Android and iOS, etc. Only cons are the price and the Tizen OS.
2. The Apple Watch works with iOS only and almost useless without being paired with an iPhone. It's big, square, and nerdy-looking.
3. LG Smart Watch Sport is the flagship Android Wear 2.0 device. It works as an extension of your smartphone, with notifications, the array of Google services, even including a rather neat touchscreen keyboard with handwriting recognition (yes, it works pretty well).
4. The Fitbit Ionic was actually the result of Fitbit's acquisition of Pebble (yes, the Kickstarted company), and it's a fitness tracker first and smartwatch second, but it's a damn fine device. It looks even more nerdy than the Apple Watch, like some Star Trek device, and it's crazy expensive, but its fitness functionality is second to none. If you need the best fitness tracker money can buy and don't care about looking like an 80s nerd, then this is it.
In a day and age where tech companies offer too little in exchange of too much money (hello, Google Pixelbook, the $1000 notebook that only runs a web browser), we need to weight our options carefully. With the exception of Apple Watch, all brands, not only the ones I listed, offer cheaper options with fewer features to accomodate every budget. The purchase decision, as with everything tech, depends on the features you want at the price you're willing to pay.
And what is your opinion of the current state of smartwatches?
Smartwatches have come a long way since the last time I dismissed them as a "fad." Here's a summary of what I learnt.
Smartwatches can be divided into 2 categories: smartwatches and fitness trackers. The latter is a subset of the former, but it's a cheaper and dedicated device. Think of a smartwatch as a PC and a fitness band as a video game console.
Manufacturers have learnt from Moto 360 that people want round smartwatches that actually look like traditional watches, with a couple of glaring exceptions being Apple and Fitbit.
Android Wear 2.0 is a thing, not vaporware. It's still pretty raw (think of early Android phones) but it works well. The LG Sport Watch is the highest end device that supports it.
LTE-enabled smartwatches finally allow you to ditch your smartphone, if you wish. Just pop you nano SIM in it and party on. The availability is still limited to a few SKUs in some countries, and they're ludicrously expensive, but it's getting there.
As far as choices go, here's what I saw. I focused on the high end stuff because I won't buy anyone anyway (I'm more interested in a cheaper fitness tracking device), but it's nice to know what's available as far as tech goes. No fanboyism here on my part.
1. The Samsung Galaxy Gear S3 is the one to beat right now. It's the coolest one, features all sensors you find in a smartphone, an LTE version, fitness apps, works with Android and iOS, etc. Only cons are the price and the Tizen OS.
2. The Apple Watch works with iOS only and almost useless without being paired with an iPhone. It's big, square, and nerdy-looking.
3. LG Smart Watch Sport is the flagship Android Wear 2.0 device. It works as an extension of your smartphone, with notifications, the array of Google services, even including a rather neat touchscreen keyboard with handwriting recognition (yes, it works pretty well).
4. The Fitbit Ionic was actually the result of Fitbit's acquisition of Pebble (yes, the Kickstarted company), and it's a fitness tracker first and smartwatch second, but it's a damn fine device. It looks even more nerdy than the Apple Watch, like some Star Trek device, and it's crazy expensive, but its fitness functionality is second to none. If you need the best fitness tracker money can buy and don't care about looking like an 80s nerd, then this is it.
In a day and age where tech companies offer too little in exchange of too much money (hello, Google Pixelbook, the $1000 notebook that only runs a web browser), we need to weight our options carefully. With the exception of Apple Watch, all brands, not only the ones I listed, offer cheaper options with fewer features to accomodate every budget. The purchase decision, as with everything tech, depends on the features you want at the price you're willing to pay.
And what is your opinion of the current state of smartwatches?
