A smartwatch is not the typical watch that only tells the time and little else, so when it comes to getting a smartwatch you will have to take into account many more things than just a nice design and a good fit on your wrist.
It will be essential for you to know the different functions that it offers you, since with one of these smart devices you will have an ally on your wrist that will help you manage tasks in your day to day, whether it is answering messages and emails, or giving you directions through GPS to get to a certain location.
If you are thinking about buying a smartwatch that is efficient and of good quality, that is not too expensive and that at the same time meets your needs, you will have to look at very different factors.
Points to consider when buying a good smartwatch
These are the specifications you should consider before purchasing a smartwatch.
Screen
A good display is key to managing the watch’s functions comfortably. First of all, it is ideal to opt for a device that has an OLED screen, a technology that guarantees vibrant and sharp colors, which improves outdoor vision. In addition, the black color is generated by turned-off pixels, which reduces energy consumption.
Secondly, the size of the screen will be crucial to correctly read both the menu and any information displayed on the watch. Here it is recommended that the panel has at least dimensions between 1.3 – 1.7 inches. This size guarantees a good distribution of everything you will read on the screen. It must also adapt in this sense to the size of your wrist.
Glow
To check the watch’s data anywhere, regardless of the intensity of natural light, it is important to pay attention to the brightness levels of the device. The minimum you should accept is a brightness of 600 nits, which allows for proper viewing of the screen when sunlight shines directly on it.
Of course, the more nits the display offers, the better. Currently, many smartwatches have the capacity to reach up to 1,500 and 2,000 nits.
Materials
Aluminum is the best material you can find right now for the casing that covers the watch, as it is light, durable and looks great. It is also resistant to knocks, falls and scratches.
For the strap, you can choose from all kinds of materials, from rubber to textile, in order to give a distinctive touch to your wrist. If they are also interchangeable, even more versatility.
Autonomy
The important thing is to have a battery that offers enough autonomy so that the device remains active for a full day. In this sense, you should opt for a minimum battery of 230 mAh. This way, when you get home, you will be able to charge the smartwatch without any trouble.
Some watches that have a battery life capable of reaching a day of use and even a little more are the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7, Galaxy Watch Pro 5, Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Ultra 2, Huawei GT4, Fitbit Sense 2, Google Pixel Watch 2, etc.
Operating system
The two best OSes today are Wear OS and watchOS due to the support and catalog of apps they offer. The former is an Android-based system that is specifically designed for smartwatches, while the latter is a watchOS is the operating system that Apple has created for its smartwatches.
With both you can use your favorite mobile apps and you will be able to manage and respond to notifications from social networks and messaging apps, receive calls, have strict control over each physical activity you do, listen to music, program widgets to receive real-time information on data that interests you, etc.
Connectivity
If you don’t want to be tied to having your mobile phone nearby so that your smartwatch can connect to the Internet and, for example, download new applications or answer WhatsApp messages, it is best to purchase a device that has 4G or 5G connectivity. You can sign up for a data plan with your usual operator to always be connected with your smartwatch.
Integrated GPS and sensors
If your watch has built-in GPS, you won’t have to rely on your phone to get information about your location, check an address or plot a route to get to a specific point.
As for sensors, make sure the device is capable of measuring vital information that you will need in your daily life, such as step counting, blood oxygen measurement, sleep quality analysis, heart rate, stress level measurement, menstrual cycle monitoring, estimation of calories burned, among others.
NFC
Finally, you’ll find it useful to have NFC technology, a short-range communication standard. It will allow you to make contactless payments through your watch (if your bank allows it) via platforms such as Google Pay, Apple Pay, Fitbit Pay, Garmin Pay, Samsung Pay, etc.
In addition to payments, NFC also makes it possible for the watch to quickly sync and pair with other devices such as mobile phones, tablets or headphones.
