Good Alternatives to Apple Watch

At one time, Nothing smartphones attracted attention in the gadget market with their original design and good characteristics. Then the company decided to expand and released wearable devices under the CMF brand. Smart watches look interesting and captivate with a favorable price-quality ratio. Due to the flat metal frames and rectangular case, they are somewhat reminiscent of the well-known Apple devices, but do not completely copy the design, but retain their own "zest". In particular, this is the design and dials in the "pixel" style and corporate colors (gray, black and red elements). Quite a thick case and a large 1.96-inch AMOLED display mean that smart watches look better on a large male wrist, although lovers of massive accessories will also like them. The model has IP68 protection, which means that it is not afraid of rain and splashes, but it is better not to use it for swimming. Overall, the gadget looks decent, not cheap and at least in appearance it can compete with more expensive devices.

But the equipment cannot be called original and advanced - this is a good base, which is available in most modern smart watches. The screen with a resolution of 502x410 pixels, brightness up to 600 nits and a refresh rate of 58 Hz transmits a clear, colorful picture even outdoors on a sunny day. However, unfortunately, the auto-brightness function is missing - you will have to constantly adjust this parameter manually. The companion application CMF Watch is made in the corporate style and is not overloaded with information, but it supports only a small number of available languages, like the watch itself. We hope that the manufacturer will fix this in the future. There is no contactless payment option, but there is a microphone and speaker for making calls. Moreover, during a conversation, artificial intelligence muffles surrounding noise, so that the interlocutor will hear you clearly and loudly. An interesting addition is the ability to remotely shoot on a smartphone camera, when the watch screen acts as a shutter button.

But what really deserves praise is autonomy. On one battery charge, the gadget can “live” for about 13 days, although the final time, of course, depends on the activity of use and the functions used.

The watch will also be a good assistant during training and for tracking your health. Everything is standard here too: it measures your pulse and blood oxygen level, counts steps taken and calories burned, monitors sleep and stress levels. The model supports over 100 sports modes, so a wide range of activities for demanding athletes is guaranteed. And support for GPS, GLONASS and Galileo satellite navigation systems will definitely come in handy for those who like training and jogging outdoors.

Thus, the CMF brand has come up with an interesting solution for fans of an unusual, original style, because the CMF Watch Pro will definitely not be confused with dozens of similar gadgets. Of course, there are some nuances, but most likely, many will simply close their eyes to them for the sake of the low cost.

The Amazfit smartwatch is a unisex sports model with a full set of standard features (and even some additional features) at a very reasonable price. Only one size is available with a large 1.91-inch display. And although the gadget is extremely comfortable for everyday wear due to its light weight (25 g without a strap) and thickness of only 10 mm, such a display is still more suitable for a large wrist. Otherwise, the design looks much more expensive than the price category of the device (the middle segment, closer to the budget): a stainless steel frame, a pleasant to the touch silicone strap, a classic clasp with a buckle and IP68 water and dust protection.

True, the manufacturer installed a TFT display here, which somewhat spoils the positive impressions of the watch. The colors on it seem dull and not as rich and bright as on AMOLED panels. Although the brightness is enough for the text to be clearly visible in the sun.

But there are definitely no complaints about the functionality of the model. It supports 120 sports modes, 6 of which are recognized automatically and measures standard indicators for wearable devices: pulse, blood oxygen level, number of steps taken, distance traveled, calories burned, stress level, duration and quality of sleep, as well as a women's calendar. True, the gadget does not have a built-in GPS, so in this matter it relies on information from a paired smartphone.

The Zepp OS operating system provides access to more than 70 applications and games. Users can also link third-party accounts such as Google Fit, Adidas Running, Strava, etc. Alexa support allows you to control the watch and find out useful information using voice commands. And the presence of a microphone and speaker provides the ability to not only receive incoming messages and notifications, but also answer calls.

The cherry on the cake is a capacious 300 mAh battery and decent battery life. One charge is enough for up to 11 days of normal work, and more active users who use the watch to the maximum will have to charge it approximately once every 5 days.

Smart watches by the Honor brand belong to the mid-price segment and offer a balance of design, functions and cost. The manufacturer does not try to hide the fact that the gadget clearly resembles the Apple Watch in appearance: the same rectangular case with rounded edges, only without the “apple” Digital Crown button-wheel. By the way, the device is compatible with both Android and iOS, although it is still unlikely that iPhone owners will choose this model - they often prefer branded products. In any case, the watch looks nice and is comfortable to wear. The only disappointing thing is the small choice of colors: only two options for silicone straps are available, and the beige one has a large inscription “Honor Go Beyond”. Not everyone will agree to such brand advertising, so there is only one option without inscriptions - black. In addition, a special mount makes it impossible to use any other straps except the original ones.

The watch is equipped with a large 1.75-inch AMOLED display with a good supply of brightness, viewing angles, rich colors and a variety of dials to choose from. The screen can work in Always On mode, and although this significantly affects autonomy, you still won’t have to charge the gadget every day, like the same Apple Watch. The manufacturer claims that one charge of the 451 mAh battery lasts up to 14 days, but this figure depends on many factors. Even with Always On Display enabled and fairly active use, the battery will last about 8 to 10 days without charging.

The model's capabilities are not extensive, but quite standard for this category of devices. The watch can measure heart rate and blood oxygen levels, supports about a hundred sports modes, monitors sleep duration and, in general, user activity. GPS helps to make accurate measurements during outdoor workouts. Thanks to 4 GB of built-in memory, you can download a dozen or two tracks. You cannot download third-party applications, although for the vast majority of users this is not necessary.

Honor Watch 4 was initially introduced in China and then on the international market. And there are differences between them. The most important thing is that the Chinese watch supports eSIM technology, while the global version does not. At the same time, when connected to a smartphone, users can receive incoming messages and notifications, as well as answer calls and make calls via Bluetooth.

The Fitbit smartwatch, a subsidiary of Google, can safely be called a universal model: it is available in one size and looks equally good on both women's and men's hands. Moreover, the package includes two straps of different lengths for a larger or smaller wrist. The device is not cheap, but it provides a wide range of functions for athletes, fans of an active lifestyle and ordinary users who are looking for a stylish accessory to perform everyday tasks (alarm, notifications, calls, payments, etc.).

The gadget looks neat and discreet on the hand, is comfortable to wear due to its small thickness and weight, and thanks to water protection allows you to be in the rain and swim with the watch. The design includes a square case with rounded edges and an aluminum frame and a regular silicone strap with a classic buckle. The design indicates that the model is primarily designed for a sporty style, although it also looks good with everyday clothes. Externally, the resemblance to the Apple Watch is recognizable, but here the shape of the gadget is more square, and the corners are more rounded. In any case, the creation of Fitbit is ready to compete with Apple smart watches.

Fitbit Versa 4 has advanced health and activity monitoring capabilities. These include 40 sports modes, a calorie counter, a pedometer, distance tracking, including GPS, heart rate, blood oxygen level, and body temperature. The watch can assess heart rate variability (HRV). This is a quantitative measure of the variability of the time intervals between successive heartbeats, which provides information about a person’s overall health, endurance, and stress level. In addition, the device monitors the menstrual cycle, controls stress levels, monitors sleep with its phases and quality, and offers a smart alarm clock that wakes the user at the optimal stage of sleep so that he feels alert and rested.

Even more functions are provided for everyday use. The 1.58-inch AMOLED display duplicates incoming calls, messages and application notifications when connected to a smartphone. The microphone and speaker allow you to answer and make calls directly from your wrist. The Amazon Alexa voice assistant will find answers to your questions and execute commands. Google Maps support will help you navigate in unfamiliar areas. And with NFC, users will be able to contactlessly pay for purchases in stores and travel on public transport (via Google Wallet and Fitbit Pay).

A single battery charge lasts up to 6 days of battery life, but features like GPS and Always On Display reduce this time considerably. In this case, fast charging comes in handy: just 12 minutes provides a full day of full-fledged work.

Smart watches from Huawei are not cheap, but they fully pay for their price with advanced features and extended functionality. The model is primarily designed for thorough health monitoring. This is not an ordinary gadget for every day to measure steps taken and display time and not just a stylish accessory on the wrist, but, one might say, a useful medical assistant. Accordingly, the device is unlikely to be relevant for teenagers and young people, but it will definitely be useful for people over 30 and older generations.

The main feature is the function of measuring blood pressure, and these are not dubious readings of sensors, but real measurements, like a tonometer. It is not for nothing that the watch is certified as a medical device in China and Europe. To measure pressure, there is a cuff under the strap, which is inflated using a mini-pump. You also need to take a special pose with your hand at heart level - all the details and rules are described in the instructions and indicated on the screen. The watch takes measurements in 30 seconds and, as practice has shown, gives fairly accurate values of systolic and diastolic pressure. Discrepancies with the readings of medical tonometers are insignificant, so if the gadget signals low or high pressure - it is better not to ignore it and consult a doctor. In addition, the watch is able to measure blood pressure around the clock, which is especially important for hypertensive and hypotensive patients. During the day, they simply periodically remind you of the need to take measurements, and at night they do it automatically, since the sleeping position of a person provides for the correct position of the hand at heart level. By the way, the cuff inflates smoothly and quietly, so the risk of waking up from this is minimal.

However, the tonometer model has some features that affect its operation. Firstly, for the accuracy of measurements, it is necessary to select the correct strap length, otherwise the device will not work correctly. Fortunately, the package includes two straps for wrists of different sizes. Secondly, although the manufacturer declares IP68 water protection, it cannot be called full-fledged. The watch can withstand splashes and rain, is not afraid of sweat during intense workouts, but due to the design features, it cannot be immersed in water or used for swimming. Otherwise, the design and equipment of the model are well thought out, and it does not look like a “black sheep” against the background of ordinary devices. Perhaps the thickness of the strap and case is slightly larger, which does not affect the convenience of daily use.

Huawei Watch D2 can measure not only blood pressure, but also blood oxygen levels, skin temperature, do an ECG, track sleep duration and stress levels. In general, the user receives fairly detailed and accurate information about their health. In addition, there is support for more than 80 sports modes and activity control. NFC for contactless payment for purchases and services does not work in all countries. But the microphone and speaker allow you to make calls through a smartphone connected via Bluetooth.

Despite its multifunctionality, the capacious 524 mAh battery provides long battery life. With normal use with several pressure measurements per day, one charge lasts up to 6 days, which is quite a good indicator for a watch with such complex mechanisms. But keep in mind that round-the-clock blood pressure monitoring significantly reduces this time - the gadget will have to be charged almost daily.