Using a convenient filter in the catalog, you can sort wearable accessories according to any criteria, including price, brand, shape, materials and, of course, the functionality.

The main types of wearable devices

Before detailing the main selection criteria, we recommend that you decide on the type of accessory that suits you. Initially , children's smartwatches should be excluded from discussion. This is really a separate category of devices, interesting mainly to parents. Yes, children will wear them, but adults are in control. But even without them, there remains a fairly large selection of different wearable gadgets, namely:

  • fitness trackers;
  • smartwatches;
  • "smart" models with hands like those of classic watches.

If you do not know what you need, then you should first deal with these types of devices in more detail.

Fitness trackers

These are accessories that allow to collect data about the user's activity (at least the steps taken and the heart rate) and, working closely with the smartphone, inform about notifications. Initially, fitness trackers did not provide a display at all, and today, usually, they have a relatively small, narrow screen to display the time, various indicators of activity and health of the user. Interestingly, there is a clear trend towards an increase in the size of the display, so, for example, Xiaomi Mi Band 7 Pro looks more like a watch than a trackers, that is, the difference between accessories is gradually fading away.

Fitness trackers are gradually evolving and turning into ... smartwatches.

In any case, the typical advantages of fitness trackers include:

  • minimalistic design;
  • low price;
  • increased battery life (operating time without recharging the battery);
  • they receive notifications from a smartphone, count steps, measure the pulse, have an alarm clock, that is, they have all the basic features of modern wearable gadgets.
Popular fitness trackers

Disadvantages of fitness trackers:

  • not so extensive functionality;
  • not always convenient interaction due to the small display;
  • dependence on a smartphone, including due to the lack of a GPS module in most models.

What kind of users should use a fitness tracker:

  • undemanding users who just need to receive notifications, have a pedometer and a heart rate monitor;
  • those who like minimalistic design;
  • those who are limited in finances – as the most advanced models are similar in functionality to smartwatches, but are cheaper;
  • everyone who has not yet used wearable gadgets and doubts their necessity.

Smartwatches

This is a broad category of wearable devices that looks like a regular wristwatch, but also provides an operating system, a processor and other hardware, including various sensors. All this allows user to duplicate individual smartphone functions or completely replace them. So, for example, some models have a built-in player and, of course, a certain amount of memory, and this allows to download songs directly to your smartwatch and listen to music, even if the phone is left at home.

Many mass-market smartwatches resemble the Apple Watch.

In order to further narrow the range, it is possible, albeit with some degree of generalization, to divide all smartwatches that are relevant today into the mass market segment and specialized solutions. The first are primarily products from Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi and Amazfit, Huawei, relatively inexpensive Garmin models, like Venu Sq.

Specialized smartwatches are accessories for demanding athletes (including professionals) – runners, triathletes and ironmen, divers, or other narrow-profile application scenarios – hiking, tactical purposes, sailing, etc. The leaders in this category are Garmin and Suunto. This category also includes smartwatches from Casio, Polar and COROS.

Popular smartwatches

Advantages of "smart" models of the mass market:

  • large assortment and the ability to choose a solution for any budget;
  • stylish design;
  • really interesting functionality;
  • easy-to-use touch screens with a bright picture (today even many low-cost models can have one).

Disdvantages:

  • recognized market leaders Apple and Samsung have low battery life;
  • not always accurate measurements of various sports indicators (and sometimes even errors in counting steps).

For whom will smartwatches of popular brands be suitable? Almost for everyone, except users for whom the functions of fitness trackers are enough, as well as demanding athletes – amateurs and pros.

If the majority chooses between Apple and Samsung, then professionals look at Garmin and Suunto.

Specialized smartwatches have the following advantages:

  • ability to connect professional sensors (usually via the ANT+ protocol), which means that here user can count on really accurate measurements of health and physical activity indicators;
  • additional features for runners and triathletes, divers and sailors, hikers and pilots, military, etc.;
  • usually more durable and reliable materials, water protection indicators, etc.

Disdvantages:

  • high price;
  • often the absence of a touch screen, since physical buttons increase reliability and reduce the likelihood of erroneous commands, which is important for professional athletes and tactical tasks.

For whom will advanced smartwatches of popular brands be suitable? Demanding users, experienced athletes, owners of those professions for which the model is designed – a pilot, a military man, etc. Well, for those who can afford an overpayment and consider such a gadget as a status accessory.

Close to the classics – models with mechanical hands and more

A tribute to traditions and new technologies – a smartwatches with mechanical hands.

A separate category of wearable accessories include smart models that are equipped with a dial with mechanical hands. Their main feature is the visual similarity with classic watches. At the same time, "smart" functionality here can be very different. In the simplest solutions, quartz movements are simply supplemented with a pedometer and Bluetooth for connecting to a smartphone, and in advanced ones, there is everything or almost everything that is in top smartwatches.

The main advantage of such accessories is a stylish appearance and the ability to control the time without turning on the display (activating the backlight). The downsides are either high price or limited functionality.

Of course, true connoisseurs of classic wristwatches should take a closer look at gadgets with mechanical hands. In addition, this target audience may also be interested in smart models from popular fashion brands such as Michael Kors, TAG Heuer, FOSSIL or Diesel.

If you have decided on the type of wearable accessory, then it is worth starting to consider the main selection criteria.

Smartwatches with mechanical hands

Battery life

Battery life is one of the key features of smartwatches. And it’s better to think about it before buying, and not complain later that you have another device that requires daily charging. It is also worth mentioning that the most popular fitness trackers today have no problems with battery life: it often approaches two weeks, which is very convenient.

You don’t want to charge your smart watch often, but...

Smartwatches with high battery life are models that can “live” without being connected to a socket for at least 7 days. But there are also nuances here, where the main thing is the operating conditions. If you run long distances 5 times a week using the GPS module, you will probably charge even a long-running model more often.

Most manufacturers give hours of battery life for different usage scenarios (normal, active, or even with GPS always on). Additionally, you can pay attention to the battery capacity, which directly affects the operating time. Today there are models with more than 500 mAh batteries in stores, but not all of them are real "long-livers".

Some Garmin smartwatches have a solar battery, which can extend the battery life.

Smartwatches with great battery life

Screen

The first important point is the actual shape of the screen, which can be round, like a classic watch, or rectangular, like a trendsetter – Apple Watch. This point is, of course, a matter of taste. But if there are no strict preferences, then it should be borne in mind that a rectangular display with the same dimensions have a larger usable area than a round one, plus it’s a little more familiar and easier for reading the text.

Round or square, that is the question.

The screens of fitness trackers are still often monochrome, while colour screens prevail in modern smartwatches. The picture on them is much nicer and more informative, but the “colour” consumes battery power more actively.

Separately, it is recommended to think about screen protection and matrices. The display is effectively protected from scratches and other damage by Gorilla Glass (and the newer its generation, the better) and sapphire glass. But the latter option greatly increases the cost of the device and is usually found in models of the higher price segment. We recommend reading more about Gorilla Glass and the difference between generations here.

The simplest matrix today is TFT. IPS are considered slightly better but now such screens are found only in smartwatches in the low-cost category. The most popular screens are based on AMOLED technology (including those with the Super prefix) and OLED. In terms of picture quality, brightness and colour depth, they are really top-end. An interesting alternative to these matrices is transflective. In terms of colour performance and clarity, it is inferior to its main competitors, but uses ambient lighting for backlighting, so it just performs great on a bright sunny day, and also wins in terms of energy efficiency.

Also, when studying the displays of smartwatches, you should pay attention to:

  • size. The larger it is, the easier it is to read information, but battery life will also be lower;
  • detail, which depends on the supported image resolution and pixel density;
  • other picture parameters, including brightness (manufacturers more often provide relevant information about their devices);
  • so-called frameless screen. Externally, such a screen is really more attractive, but it is more prone to scratches;
  • touch control. For the average user, a touchscreen is very familiar, understandable and convenient. But non-sensory models also do not lose their relevance for athletes, as they exclude false operations, for example, when swimming.
The touchscreen is convenient, but physical buttons are sometimes more reliable.

Measuring options and sensors

Wearable gadgets that are relevant today are able to determine both various fitness metrics and general health indicators. Trackers usually offer only basic measurement capabilities, which include step counting and heart rate monitoring (either on demand or non-stop). Smartwatches are often more functional (but exceptions to the rule are possible), so here you can also find:

Other determinable health indicators include sleep analysis, measuring stress levels, maintaining a women's calendar. At the same time, you need to remember that even flagship smartwatches are not medical devices. They do not guarantee the reference accuracy of measurements, and for a more substantive assessment of the state of health, it is necessary to consult with doctors and/or use appropriate medical devices.

The main thing is that your type of physical activity should be among the supported fitness modes.

In wearable accessories, in addition to the heart rate monitor and accelerometer (pedometer), the GPS module, altimeter and barometer are primarily responsible for the ability to track various sports indicators. Modern smartwatches support more and more fitness modes, that is, they can save your training results in a variety of sports, from running and cycling to yoga, martial arts, weightlifting, and various exotic disciplines. Whether you need such diversity is an open question. If you often change sports hobbies, then a large selection is an additional plus. And if you have devoted yourself to jogging, then it is more logical to limit yourself to more narrowly specialized solutions. For example, swimmers should separately make sure that there is a swimming mode, which, of course, is available only in models with good water protection (we'll talk about this later).

Modern smartwatches are able to detect certain types of activity on their own, that is, you start jogging or swimming, and after some time (usually a minute), the device will start the activity itself. Beginners will like this automation, but demanding users with serious goals and records, of course, start training only manually.

Smartwatches and fitness trackers with swim mode

Case – materials and security

Most often, fitness trackers and smartwatches are made of plastic or metal. The first material combines accessibility, lightness, simplicity, decent parameters of reliability and durability. The leaders among metal cases are stronger steel and lightweight aluminium. Both materials look attractive and make the accessory very stylish. Titanium successfully combines the advantages of these two metals, but the price tag of models made from it is significantly higher.

For swimming fans, the water resistance of a smartwatch is the most important parameter.

The material is important, but from a practical point of view, the security indicators of the case should be a priority. Often you need to focus on the IP standard, which reflects the degree of impenetrability of the device for dust and water. But even one of the highest IP68 values is not a 100% guarantee that the case is ready for immersion under water. Therefore, for those who know a lot about classic wristwatches, the WR standard should be more familiar and understandable. If WR50M is indicated, then you do not need to remove the accessory for handwashing, and if WR100M, then you can even swim with it.

For difficult operating conditions (rescuers, military, etc.) there is another selection criterion. This is the MIL-STD-810 standard, which indicates the degree of protection and readiness for shocks and drops. But before buying the corresponding model, it is recommended to make sure which tests and checks have been carried out by the manufacturer.

Voice calls

Separate wearable gadgets can be used for voice communication. At the same time, it is necessary to distinguish the watch-phone from models with the ability to communicate. In the first case, the accessory provides a slot for a SIM card, that is, it can completely replace a smartphone, providing calls and SMS, access to mobile Internet, etc.

The ability to communicate is a feature that is available in some smartwatches without a SIM card slot, provided that there is a built-in microphone and speaker. In this case, the user can receive a call and communicate with the other person by voice without holding the phone (or even not taking it out of your pocket or purse) – with an active Bluetooth pairing with a smartphone.

Contactless payment

Some wearable gadgets are equipped with an NFC chip and have support for contactless payments. This is a highly demanded feature that will allow you to pay in the store, not only if there is no cash, but the smartphone is left at home. In the warm season (when the wrist with the watch is not covered by the sleeves of a hoodie and jacket), contactless payment with a wearable gadget can be even more convenient than a similar procedure using a credit card or phone. You need to get them out of your pocket, and if your hands are busy shopping, then this is very problematic.

Before buying a device, you need to find out which payment system it supports and whether it works in your country. For example, many models of Chinese brands have NFC and are compatible with Alipay, but this service is relevant only in China.

Smartwatches with contactless payment

What else to pay attention to before buying a smartwatch or fitness tracker?

Below are other significant points for choosing:

  • operating system. This aspect directly affects compatibility, because, for example, the “apple” WatchOS will not be able to “make friends” normally with Android smartphones. In the case of other more open operating systems, the overall functionality depends on the chosen platform (for example, Google Assistant is usually available in Wear OS) and ease of use in conjunction with a smartphone – within the same eco-system, there is traditionally more comfort and opportunities;
  • navigation features. Your GPS module is a guarantee of accurate route and distance data during training. But some smartwatches provide advanced navigation, including track guidance, access to maps, etc.;
Advanced navigation in the smartwatch will allow you not to get lost in an unfamiliar place.
  • charging type. Many manufacturers use branded cradles to power devices with energy. The main potential difficulty – the search for a replacement in case of loss or breakage. In this sense, contactless charging and good old microUSB are a more universal choice;
  • band. It can be made of any material, except that rubber or silicone is better suited for swimming, rather than Milanese weaving. It's all a matter of taste. But it is also recommended to make sure that the band is universal, that is, it is possible to find a replacement;
  • dimensions and thickness. Dimensions – this is very individual, because it depends on personal preferences and the coverage of the wrist of a particular user. It is worth remembering that large devices are more susceptible to damage as a result of accidental touches of doorways, walls, etc. And the really slim body adds versatility when choosing the right outfit.

Finally, about brands. In the fitness tracker market, Xiaomi is confidently holding the lead, while everyone else, including Huawei, Fitbit and Garmin, is inferior in popularity. The balance of power among smartwatches is not so clear-cut, there are indeed many iconic companies, including Apple and Samsung, a rich set of Chinese brands, various specialized premium manufacturers and fashion brands. In any case, it is recommended to pay attention to relatively well-known names. A proven brand is not only a plus in terms of device reliability and after-sales service, but also often a tried and tested operating system, easy pre-configuration, stable connection to a smartphone, and a correctly localized interface.