How to Choose a Smartwatch or Fitness Tracker
Plain vs. Pricey
When it comes to choosing a smartwatch or fitness tracker, your budget plays a big role. If you want to save money, you might consider a model that tracks essential health metrics but lacks sophisticated features like EKG monitoring. You can also choose a more basic fitness-oriented tracker—a subcategory of wearables that typically lacks a touchscreen display and includes less conspicuous form factors, such as smart rings.
Depending on the type you choose, there may be ongoing costs. Some fitness trackers require a monthly or annual subscription to access all your data, although most will provide basic functionality for free. You might also need to add a cellular line with your wireless provider—typically around $10 per month—if you want to use a watch’s connected features without a smartphone nearby.
Budget-Minded and Basic
Basic smartwatches and fitness trackers can collect data on your walks and workouts. The apps available will depend on your watch’s operating system, but even bare-bones models will notify you of incoming calls, email, and texts. Basic models typically cost between $100 and $250.
Many of the smartwatches designed for kids fall into this price range. Their functionality can range from basic activity tracking to messaging and GPS monitoring for parents who want peace of mind about their children’s whereabouts.
Swanky and Sophisticated
In addition to the basics you expect from a smartwatch, more sophisticated watches often feature larger displays and more advanced health tracking options, from skin temperature tracking to sleep apnea detection. These models, which may offer a stainless steel or titanium case and a fancy leather or bracelet-style strap, can cost anywhere from $250 to $800 and up.
What to Look for When Buying a Smartwatch or Fitness Tracker
When choosing a smartwatch or fitness tracker, it’s important to consider its compatibility with your smartphone, its battery life, and the fit and feel on your wrist. Other factors to keep in mind range from how easy it is to recharge the device to its ability to respond quickly to user inputs, and the accuracy of step counts and heart rate monitoring.
Here are a few important considerations.
Compatibility: Above all, make sure the smartwatch or fitness tracker will be compatible with your existing smartphone. For example, Apple Watches work only with iPhones, whereas Android smartwatches that run on Google’s Wear OS can be used only with Android phones.
Other models, like Fitbit smartwatches and fitness trackers and Garmin sportswatches, can work with either iPhones or Android phones. In general, buying a smartwatch or fitness tracker that matches your phone brand can ensure seamless compatibility.
Comfort: Your smartwatch should be comfortable to wear, so if the one you’re trying seems large and clunky, keep on shopping. Fit makes a difference when it comes to getting accurate heart rate readings. A strap or band that’s too loose or too tight can throw off the watch’s sensors.
Battery life: This can range from one day to more than two weeks, depending not only on the watch’s battery but also on how you use the watch. Certain apps—GPS, for example—are especially power-hungry. The display is another consideration. Watches with always-on OLED displays tend to have the shortest battery life and require daily charging, while memory-in-pixel (MIP) displays that refresh less frequently or display-free models can last much longer.
Water resistance: Most smartwatches are at least somewhat water-resistant to sweat and rain, but only certain models can handle a dip in a pool or a deeper dive. Check the watch’s IP rating in its specs if this is an important feature to you.
Charging: Some smartwatches come with convenient wireless chargers. Others come with snap-on docks for charging, while some require a cable that plugs into the watch itself.
Key Smartwatch Features and Capabilities
Pairing
You might want to think about a smartwatch or fitness tracker as a smartphone accessory because most of them connect to your phone via Bluetooth or a WiFi network. Even smartwatches with cellular data connections rely on a connection to your phone.
PHOTO: FOSSIL
Pairing
You might want to think about a smartwatch or fitness tracker as a smartphone accessory because most of them connect to your phone via Bluetooth or a WiFi network. Even smartwatches with cellular data connections rely on a connection to your phone.
PHOTO: FOSSIL
Smartwatch Buying Guide Video
In this video we share some key things to consider when you’re ready to start shopping.
