Are smartwatches really worth it
There are some serious benefits that come with owning a smartwatch but they aren’t without their flaws either.
In this article, we’ve put together a balanced argument for and against owning smartwatches in 2022.
Our honest guide is aimed at helping you make the right purchasing decision.
Smartwatches aren’t for everyone and we’ll find out which type of person they benefit in this article.
The Benefits of a Smartwatch
Take a look through our selection of the top reasons to get a smartwatch:
Healthy Living Sorted
When you purchase a smartwatch, you are getting full access to a huge range of fitness tracking software that will help you reach your goals as well as maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Each smartwatch offers slightly different features, but you can be pretty certain that you will be able to track many different types of exercise as well as utilize in-built wellbeing features.
The fitness features will also track your steps and heart rate so that you can be fully aware of how healthy your heart is at all times and know when you reach that all-important fat burn zone.
If you are working on getting fitter, then a smartwatch is an excellent choice every time.
Notifications on Your Wrist
For many people, it is important to be in touch with the world at all times; whether it’s waiting for that important email, getting news updates, or knowing when to stand up and move, we all want to be kept informed.
One of the best smartwatch benefits is that they can be personalized to notify you of the way you want and when you want.
You don’t have to accept all notifications and can select app by app, so you know when the notification comes through that, it is something that really matters.
Some smartwatches also let you personalize the way you are notified, and let you choose between vibration, on-screen notice, or both.
This is great if you want your notifications to be totally discreet, especially when you don’t want them to disrupt others.
Keeping in Touch with the World
While smartwatches will never replace phones, we can now expect them to help us out when it comes to calls and text messages.
All smartphones will notify you of incoming calls and texts so that you don’t miss that important call you’ve been waiting for.
smartwatch messages
More modern smartwatches will even let you answer calls and reply to texts so that you don’t have to hunt for your phone every time it goes off.
This is a particularly useful option if you want to go out for a run and have either left your phone at home or sealed it away in an arm strap.
You can even answer your call on your phone and transfer it if it turns out to be longer than first expected.
These standalone smartwatches are great for those that hate the extra bulk that smartphones add to your pockets these days.
Entertainment Central
The next on our list of reasons to get a smartwatch is the entertainment facilities that come preinstalled.
You can connect your headphones and play your favorite tunes with no hassle. You are not restricted to one music provider either as each smartwatch has apps ready to download, leaving you free to keep your options open until you find the one that works best for you.
Not only can you access music streaming services on your smartwatch, but you can listen to the radio, fitness workouts, and podcasts, meaning that your entertainment choices can be wholly unique to you.
smartwatch apps
On Trend
It may sound superficial, but being on trend is hugely important to most of us, and whilst we may not admit it, we all want to fit in with the latest trends.
Owning a smartwatch allows you access to the exclusive world of wearables, and you can take your time to choose the right timepiece for your personality.
There are so many manufacturers and so many choices that you can get the perfect smartwatch for you with ease.
If you really want to be bang on trend, then it is worth surfing social media to check out what your favorite celebs are wearing on their wrists and then getting the same or similar smartwatch. Before you know it, you will be the envy of your friends.
Read Next: Find out how a smartwatch works.
Waterproof – Mostly
Being able to jump in the shower, swim, or run in the rain are all realistic options when you own a smartwatch.
waterproof smartwatch
The majority of mainstream smartwatches offer water-resistance protection so that you won’t find that your smartwatch is spoiled by the weather.
If you are wondering ‘is a smartwatch worth it?’ then the fact that you can also swim with it may sway your decision.
You can take it to the pool and monitor your lengths and stroke choices, or you can relax in the sea, bobbing around until your heart is content.
Either way, be certain to check the resistance depth offered, as not all watches will stand up to the same levels of pressure.
There’s a big difference between ‘waterproof’ and ‘water resistant’ too. Manufacturers are often careful to avoid using the term ‘waterproof’. If you do watersports or swim then just ‘water resistant’ simply won’t do.
Most smartwatches including the new Applewatches are built with swimming in mind and don’t mind being submerged under water.
Pay Your Way
One of the greatest assets give to us with a smartwatch is the ability to pay from the device.
pay with smartwatch
All smartwatch providers have committed to offering this service, and it makes life a whole lot easier at the drive-thru or when you want to go and grab a coffee with all the hassle of digging around for your wallet.
Smartwatches need you to be signed into the screen, and all you need to do is hold the watch up to the payment reader in order to get your transaction processed.
Emergency Support
Many of us enjoy going out for a walk or run to clear our heads but often forget about the dangers of doing this alone.
With the latest smartwatches, you can expect them to recognize when you have taken a fall and notify emergency services if you are unresponsive.
smartwatch SOS
This ability will share details of your location so that you can get help as soon as it is needed, making you safer when you are next enjoying a jog.
If you are left wondering what are the benefits of smartwatches, then you need to know that most models tend to offer an emergency call feature so that if you find yourself in a situation that has turned bad, you can alert the emergency services to allow you to get help.
This feature has been incredibly popular with parents of teenagers, and it’s also been well received as an asset for women when out alone.
The Drawbacks of a Smartwatch
With every positive comes a negative, and whilst smartwatches are hugely popular, they also come with some serious negatives.
Here are our smartwatch drawbacks to consider:
Cost
are-smartwatches-really-worth-it-1-findyoursmartwatch
Although smartwatches are a great accessory to have when you see the price tag, you need to consider are smartwatches worth it and how will you afford to purchase one.
The most popular ones sell for a lot of money, and to get all the features that you want, you will need to be willing to part with some serious cash.
Furthermore, if you plan on getting a smartwatch with built-in SIM card for taking and recieving calls then you’ll be paying a monthly subscription too.
Many people find the cost prohibitive but also feel it is excessive. Luxury watches have long been known for costing inordinate amounts of money, but when you compare the finesse of a Rolex to a modern smartwatch, the latter can pale into insignificance.
Battery Life
Being able to wear a watch for more than a day is purely aspirational when it comes to smartwatches. Many boast fays of wear but neglect to tell you that this is only accurate if you aren’t using all the smart features installed.
smartwatch battery life
Most smartwatches will get you through the day, and some will even take you through the night, but the reality is they are going to need to be charged within twenty-four hours.
This necessity can be a difficult path to traverse, as we all want to access all the fantastic insights that come with sleep tracking, step counting, and fitness mapping.
When you take your smartwatch off, you cease to track anything until you put it back on, leaving you in a quandary of when the best time is to get it recharged and ready to go.
If you’re looking for a smartwatch with significant battery life then don’t miss our guide to hybrid watches.
Interface
One huge drawback for me with smartwatches is the user interface. With current technology, it just seems like an impossible task to create a truly fluid interface that doesn’t get on your nerves at some point.
Smartwatch touchscreens are decent but limited by their size, and who wants to be pressing buttons in 2022?
smartwatch interface
Apple and Samsung have made decent strides with gesture and voice controls but these are still in their infancy and won’t be fully developed for a few years.
I guess this is just the trade off (for now) that you have to make when buying a smartwatch. They’re amazing for certain things but truly limited in others. If we hadn’t been spoiled by the slick interfaces on modern smartphones then we wouldn’t be even mentioning this but it’s a fact and it’s probably my biggest pet hate with smartwatches.
Constantly Updated
It’s also important to question is a smartwatch worth it when you find yourself out of date a week after you have purchased one.
The sad reality is that tech is moving so fast, and new developments are launched almost on a daily basis.
As such, you can expect to need to install numerous updates on a regular basis and then find yourself longing for the latest device on the market.
Before you jump into buying yourself a shiny new smartwatch, it is well worth taking the time to consider if the model is precisely what you want and how you will cope if an upgraded version hits the shops next week.
One way around this is to look into all freshly announced tech, you may find your perfect smartwatch is a month away from being released, and so it is better to wait for that then it is to settle for second best and end up with regrets.
Conclusion
In our opinion, smartwatches are more worth it than ever.
It’s true that they can be expensive if you go with the more popular brands like Apple, Garmin, or Samsung. But, value can be found too. Watches like the Xiao mi Amaz fit B i p buck the trend and provide real quality without the price tag.
Battery life is no longer the huge problem it once was either. The first Apple watch for example, was dogged by poor battery life that put many consumers off smartwatches altogether.
Solid watches released in the last 12 months should last 24 hours at a minimum.
What do you think? We’d love to hear from you down in the comments section!
