What is a smartwatch? How it
works? Basic information
Classic watches are slowly becoming a thing of the past and are being replaced by
smart watches. They have a number of amenities that are extremely useful in
everyday life. Smartwatch with the function of answering to messages? Step
counter? This is just one of the many basic functions of this gadget.
Do you want to know more about smart watches? The most important information
can be found in our guide. Most people who turn an ordinary watch into a smart one
cannot imagine how they functioned before without a given gadget. In the article, we
will also define which smartwatch is best to choose.
What is a smartwatch? How it works? Basic information
Are you thinking about buying a smartwatch ? You probably already know that
watches stopped showing only the time and date some time ago. The watch industry
has been revolutionized by the smartwatch, the so-called smart watch. They have a
round or envelope digital display, which is usually also a touchscreen - thanks to it
you can easily answer a call, take a picture with a phone - in an ordinary watch, you
will not look for such functions in vain. The smartwatch itself, thanks to its functions,
is a device that facilitates everyday life , and at the same time complements the
smartphone wirelessly (they connect via bluetooth). Additionally, smartwatches
belong to wearable devices, which means that they are wearable devices containing
advanced technology that monitor the condition of the body.
People less experienced or just starting their adventure with smart devices may not
be very familiar with how they work. Therefore, at the beginning it is worth
mentioning that the smartwatch and the phone are wirelessly connected to each
other to exchange data via bluetooth - but it is worth adding that more and more
devices can also be connected to the Wi-Fi network or put a SIM card in them. To
start using the smartwatch, all you need to do is install the appropriate application on
the phone, i.e. provided by the watch manufacturer, e.g. Huawei Health. Then
configure the settings - the user can choose himself whether he wants to receive
notifications about the connection, SMS, and whether the device is to monitor sleep
or inform the user about the achievement of the goal, e.g. during exercise. After
pairing the smartwatch with the smartphone, the user can fully use all the functions
of the watch.
For technological laymen, a kind of novelty may also be the way of charging
smartwatches. It is done using a USB cable with a magnetic tip that must be
connected to the back or side of the watch, and better models can be charged with
an inductive charger. However, there are also watches that can be recharged by
putting them on the phone, when it has a reverse charge function.
Already the above description prompts you to buy? Are you starting to wonder
"which smartwatch to choose"? The answer could be short - cheap and good, but
unfortunately in this case the matter is more complicated. There are many aspects to
consider when choosing a smartwatch:
• Compatibility with the phone
This is one of the most important aspects to consider when buying. It is known that
not every smartwatch will be compatible with every phone, for example Apple Watch
will only work with iPhone and iPad. However, the exception are, for example, the
newer models of smart watches from Samsung - they can run on both Android and
iOS.
• Type, shape, size of the display - LCD, OLED, AMOLED or Super AMOLED
LCD / OLED / AMOLED displays are the most universal because they are used in
smartphones. That is why they offer good colour rendering and detailed images of
good quality in the smartwatch (as well as clear information and notifications) - just
like in smartphones. In addition, they have no problem with clearly displaying
messages under the sun. OLED displays can be found in Apple Watch, and Super
AMOLED and AMOLED in Samsung smartwatches.
The shape of the display is often a feature taken into account by customers of
electronics stores, as it largely determines how the watch will look on the
hand. Smartwatches are divided into two types in this respect:
• round - they resemble classic, ordinary watches,
• Rectangular - distinguished by modernity.
Regarding the size of the display - the diagonal of most smartwatches is 1.2-1.5
inches. As with the shape, the user can choose the model that suits
him. Undoubtedly, a larger screen will be more convenient to use, while a small
smart watch in many cases will turn out to be a more aesthetic addition to your
outfit. What's more, it is worth noting that the larger display size may carry the risk of
faster battery consumption. Therefore, which smartwatch will be better - small or
large - depends largely on what we care about while wearing it.
• Battery life
The larger the battery, the longer the battery life, unfortunately due to the size of
smart watches, these possibilities are very limited. It is worth considering that the
more active functions in a device, the more battery it will use. The working time may
vary significantly depending on whether the smartwatch will only use the function of
answering text messages and the step counter, or whether we are going to actively
test all amenities. What's more, when buying an unused smartwatch, the buyer
should be prepared for the fact that only after using the watch for some time it will
last a few days longer on a single charge than at the beginning.
• Functionality
Depending on the destination, it is worth checking whether our choice is a
smartwatch with the write-off function, GPS , blood pressure monitor, pulse
oximeter, NFC, the possibility of ringing on the bracelet , etc. Naturally, there are
many more functions that make life easier in smart watches, which will be discussed
later text. However, it is worth paying attention to choosing a watch based on your
own lifestyle. If you are the athlete type and you exercise regularly, you will certainly
focus more on the step counter, pulse oximeter and blood pressure monitors. In turn,
busy people will surely appreciate smartwatches with the function of replying to
messages, calling, checking messages, etc.
As you can see, this is a whole list of things that should be carefully analysed when
choosing a smartwatch. However, it is worth it, because a properly selected watch
will serve for a long time and fulfil its functions and tasks impeccably.
What features do smartwatches have?
As previously mentioned, smartwatches complement each other with phones, but it
is worth noting that they also have the functions of sports bracelets. This means that
when using a smartwatch, it also replaces another gadget from the wearable devices
category. The smartwatch has all the functions that are found in sports bands,
namely:
• step counter,
• calories burned counter,
• built-in GPS navigation,
• Pulmometry.
For more demanding athletes, strictly sports smartwatches have been created. They
have high resistance to shocks, impacts and additional protection against flooding
and sweat. Thanks to these additional functions, you can take care of demanding
disciplines without worrying about the watch.
In addition to the above, in smart watches you can find functions such as:
• sleep monitoring and analysis of its phases,
• Dictaphone,
• notification function - SMS, e-mail,
• handling (answering, rejecting) telephone calls,
• NFC - payments in stationary stores using a watch,
• control of intelligent devices, e.g. wireless headphones,
• operating the phone camera,
• Displaying news.
Of course, not all of these features will be available on every device you
choose. Therefore, it is even more worth considering which smartwatch to choose. In
addition to the above functions, each device classically shows the date, time and is
usually waterproof.