Smartwatches are a hybrid device that is part wristwatch and part fitness tracker. They’re able to track your daily physical activities, such as steps, calories burned and heart rate, and offer various fitness features. These wearable devices are designed for people who are physically active, and they have become very popular among consumers. A smartwatch is more than just a fitness tracker; it can perform almost anything your phone can do.
When smartwatches first appeared on the market, they were more like a mobile phone than a wearable device. The early models looked more like a regular watch, but they didn’t feel quite as stand-alone as today’s models. Instead, they’re managed by a smartphone app, and you’ll need to have a compatible smartphone to access the data stored on your watch.
Today’s smartwatches feature built-in Bluetooth, NFC for on-the-go payments, and a wide variety of smart features. In addition, many of them feature touchscreen displays or eye-catching bezels. You can use your smartwatch to view maps, receive calls, reply to texts and receive notifications, and control music.
The most common health-tracking sensors in smartwatches are GPS, accelerometer, photoplethysmograph, pulse oximeter, and electrocardiogram (ECG). Some smartwatches even support all five.
Smartwatches that run Android can also be used with Wear OS, which is a software suite developed by Google. However, most devices only support one of these sensors. For instance, the Samsung Gear S supports all five sensors, while Garmin Forerunner 935 and TomTom Adventure only support PPG.
Another popular brand in the fitness tracker space is Fitbit. It’s one of the most widely available devices, and it has a long history of success. Currently, the company is known for being one of the top five brands registered in ClinicalTrials, with over 10 times more registrations than its competitors.
Other well-known companies that manufacture health and fitness wearable technologies include Polar, Apple, Misfit, and Samsung. While they all have their own unique styles, they all provide similar features. Many of them come with GPS tracking, and most of them offer 24-hour heart rate monitoring.
Although most smartwatches are designed for the fitness crowd, there are also a number of hybrid watches that are not focused on fitness. These hybrids may be equipped with an accelerometer, analogue display, or even a traditional clockwork. Fossil group, which represents 19 different brands, announced plans to launch 300 hybrids in 2017.
Although there are numerous options available, it’s important to choose a smartwatch that best suits your lifestyle. If you’re active, you’ll want a high-end fitness tracker that can track your daily activities. And if you’re more active on the road, you’ll want a GPS watch.
The latest generation of smartwatches will be equipped with an AMOLED display, which uses Passive-Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode. This makes for a high-quality, crisp, and readable display. Also, most of them have interchangeable straps. Some are round and some are oval, and some can have eye-catching bezels.
Smartwatches can be purchased for as little as $200, while expensive devices can cost upwards of $1,000. The price will vary depending on the materials, size, and cellular model.
Milena Estêvão is a YouTuber passionate about sharing her experiences (challenges, successes and motivations) in the fitness activities she is involved in.
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