Inexpensive smart watches and bracelets with contactless payment

Mobvoi's TicWatch E3 proves that a quality smartwatch doesn't have to be expensive. The case is made of plastic, but at the same time boasts IP68 water protection (the watch is suitable for swimming). The 1.3-inch display, although it has fairly large frames, works conscientiously: the brightness is sufficient for indoors and outdoors, the text is easy to read, and the colors are pleasant and rich. At the same time, the gadget is equipped with a voice assistant and can play the role of a digital wallet (Google Wallet). Plus, the model is made in the style of a classic smartwatch and does not look cheap at all.

The watch can take on the role of a smartphone: 8 GB of memory allows you to store music, podcasts and audiobooks, and a microphone and speaker make it possible to make and receive calls without taking the phone out of your pocket. Thanks to the Snapdragon Wear 4100 processor, the system works quite quickly and responsively. There is also a 380 mAh battery installed inside, which provides a day or a maximum of two days of battery life - it all depends on the activity of use, enabled functions and working sensors.

For monitoring health and activity, there are also all the usual functions for such devices. Sensors measure pulse and oxygen levels in the blood, and can do this around the clock. The watch monitors sleep duration, stress levels and, if necessary, suggests breathing exercises to return to a state of rest. The GPS module will help you determine the distance traveled and create a route. TicMotion automatically detects the start of your workout and begins recording activity data. Dozens of sports modes are supported - from mountaineering and skating to cycling and swimming. This includes high-intensity interval training (HIIT), which will make you sweat and replace a lesson with a trainer.

At one time, Fitbit became one of the founders of the fashion for fitness trackers and continues to prove that smart bracelets are no worse than watches. A striking example is the Fitbit Charge 6 - a wearable device that looks like a fitness tracker, the cost is somewhere in the middle, but in terms of capabilities it can outshine most popular smartwatch models.

Externally, this is a classic smart bracelet with a small 1.04-inch display, a touch-sensitive side key with haptic feedback and regular silicone straps. The gadget looks simple and is more suitable for everyday use and training. If you are looking for a stylish accessory to go with a business suit, it is better to look for a watch with a leather strap and a more presentable design.

But behind this nondescript appearance are hidden advanced capabilities. The bracelet can measure pulse, blood oxygen level and body temperature, do an ECG, count the number of steps taken and calories burned, monitor sleep and stress levels. There is 5 ATM water protection, although the manufacturer himself emphasizes that the gadget is not completely waterproof. There's built-in GPS for accurate distance measurements, and SmartTrack automatically recognizes and records your workouts.

In 2019, Google bought Fitbit, so it is quite expected that the smart tracker has support for Google services. We are talking about three applications, information from which is duplicated from the smartphone to the fitness bracelet: Google Maps, YouTube Music and Google Wallet. To control playback in YouTube Music, you need a paid subscription to YouTube Music or YouTube Premium. Google Maps sometimes helps, but it’s still more convenient to view maps and routes from a smartphone. But support for Google Wallet is a very useful feature that allows you to pay contactlessly for purchases using the bracelet without having to take out your phone. As a result, the device will be a good choice for Android users looking for an inexpensive model with NFC.

The battery life is also good: the manufacturer promises up to 7 days of operation on a single battery charge. But keep in mind that features such as Always-on Display, GPS and constant monitoring of blood oxygen levels significantly reduce this time. In any case, even with active use, the battery will have to be charged every few days, which is a good indicator.

And finally, the cherry on the cake - the package includes two straps of different lengths, so the fitness tracker is suitable for both women and men.

The American company FOSSIL has been specializing in the production of watches since the 80s (first regular ones, and then smart ones) and considers them primarily a stylish accessory. So it's no surprise that FOSSIL Gen 6 puts a big emphasis on design. This is a model made of high-quality materials: the case is made of stainless steel, so it is quite weighty. There are several versions to choose from (44 mm and 42 mm), different colors and straps made of metal, silicone and leather. Thus, FOSSIL has created a universal classic - a watch with a traditional design, but for different occasions and users: for sports, for business meetings, and for general use, for women or for men. In addition, thanks to 3 ATM protection, the gadget is not afraid of water.

The 44mm version is equipped with a 1.28-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 416x416 pixels and a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 4100+ processor, which ensures fast operation and high performance. But with autonomy, everything is not so good: with the Always-on Display function enabled, constant measurement of activity and health indicators, incoming notifications and training, one charge lasts for a day. That is, the device works all day, continues to monitor sleep at night, but needs to be recharged in the morning. However, at least the charging itself is fast: in just 30 minutes the battery is charged by 80%, and on average it takes about 50 minutes to fully restore it.

The model runs the Wear OS operating system and has a convenient and familiar interface for many. In addition to the OS, the watch received useful services from Google: the Google Assistant voice assistant and Google Wallet for contactless payment for purchases. There is also a built-in microphone and speaker, which, when synchronized with a smartphone, provide the ability to answer and make calls. The speaker is not too loud, so it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to talk comfortably outdoors, but the audibility is good indoors. In addition, according to the classics, the device displays incoming letters, messages and application notifications.

Although the manufacturer focuses on design, it also did not forget about sports functions. Smart watches have quite standard capabilities for tracking activity and health status: measuring pulse and blood oxygen levels, counting steps taken and calories burned, monitoring sleep and women's calendar, as well as many different sports modes. At the same time, the GPS module will help you more accurately calculate the distance during street jogging or traveling, and the built-in player and the presence of its own memory make it possible to listen to music without using a smartphone.

The watch was one of the first in Xiaomi's product range to switch from a proprietary operating system to Google Wear OS. The benefits of this move are clear - users gain access to the full suite of Google applications. These include cards, the Google Assistant voice assistant, the Google Wallet for paying for purchases, and various services for listening to music. Moreover, there is enough space for these applications: the gadget has 2 GB of RAM and as much as 32 GB of internal memory. You can even download games - if it's convenient to play on a small screen, of course. Well, or at least save your favorite music so you don’t have to take your smartphone or player with you on runs.

In addition to displaying messages and notifications, the watch allows you to make and receive phone calls. This happens thanks to Bluetooth pairing with a smartphone and a built-in microphone and speaker, but there is no slot for installing a SIM card. An emergency call will also be a useful function: in case of danger, by pressing the button three times, the device will automatically call selected contacts.

Otherwise, the watch can be called a classic model with a standard set of functions and design. The round aluminium case has 5 ATM water protection, and with the gadget you can not only walk in the rain or wash your hands, but also swim. The 1.43-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 466x466 pixels has high brightness (up to 600 nits) for outdoor use on sunny days, and is smooth and responsive. Although this is most likely due to the powerful Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 processor. There are two physical buttons for control. And the declared battery life thanks to a 495 mAh battery is 65 hours. This is almost 3 days, although, on average, with active use, one charge lasts for a day and a half.

Health and fitness features are also pretty standard: measuring heart rate, blood oxygen saturation levels, counting calories and steps taken, monitoring stress, sleep and menstrual cycle. The watch supports 160 sports modes, is equipped with dual-band GPS for tracking accuracy within a meter, and has a compass, altimeter and barometer.

To summarize, the Xiaomi Watch 2 is a discreet but convenient smartwatch for the average user who is looking for a simple, effective model at an affordable price.

The fifth generation of Samsung smartwatches certainly cannot be called budget, but at the same time it is a flagship model - made of high-quality materials, multifunctional and with all the characteristics that may be useful to a demanding user. The Exynos W920 processor is installed inside, there are 1.5 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal memory. The gadget runs on the Wear OS operating system with a proprietary shell that provides a convenient and intuitive interface. Please note that the watch is not compatible with iOS, but this is unlikely to be an issue since iPhone owners often choose the Apple Watch. In addition, the device does not work with smartphones without Google services and with Android GO.

The main advantage of Samsung flagships is their advanced capabilities for monitoring health and sports. Galaxy Watch 5 can not only count your pulse, the number of steps taken and calories burned, but also measure oxygen levels in the blood, blood pressure and even do an ECG. However, remember that this is still not a medical device, so you should definitely not expect perfect accuracy and use the data obtained to diagnose diseases. In addition, the BioActive sensor can analyze body composition: the percentage of muscle, fluid and fat tissue in the body. There is monitoring of the female cycle, stress and sleep - the watch can even track snoring using a microphone. For athletes and people leading an active lifestyle, there are many programs available - from the usual running and walking to more specific ones like sailing.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 also has all the necessary features for normal everyday use. This includes the Google Assistant voice assistant, NFC for paying for purchases, and GPS. When paired with a smartphone, the device duplicates incoming messages and calls, and you can answer them and talk to the other person without taking out your phone. A version with LTE is available separately, which supports e-SIM and does not require a smartphone nearby at all. But the 284 mAh battery cannot provide long-term autonomy. One charge is enough for a day, a maximum of one and a half to two. But it provides fairly fast wireless charging with a power of 10 W, which charges the battery up to 45% in 30 minutes.

Special attention should be paid to watch protection and durable materials that allow active use and extend the life of the electronics. The body is made of aluminium, the 1.2-inch Super AMOLED display is covered with sapphire glass, which is scratch-resistant. Compliance with the military standard MIL-STD-810 indicates that the watch is not afraid of extreme conditions, shocks and falls (within reason, of course). And IP68 protection allows you not to remove the gadget in the shower and even immerse it under water to a depth of 1.5 meters for a maximum of 30 minutes. True, this only applies to fresh water.

Finally, let's add that Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 is available in two sizes: 40 mm and 44 mm. The model also has a “big brother” Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, which features a titanium case and a larger battery.