Everything You Need to Know About Smartwatches

Smartwatches almost seem like something of the future. They are essentially a smartphone that you can wear around your wrist and offer many convenient features.

If you are interested in smartwatches or considering purchasing one, read on to learn more.

A Brief History of Smartwatches

Digital watches have been around for a while, with some of them having more advanced features such as unit converters and calculators.

Smartwatches, however, are relatively new to the scene. Tech companies such as Apple, Samsung, and Sony started putting them out in the 2010s. Interestingly, a small startup called Pebble is credited with popularizing the smartwatch that we are familiar with today.

As the demand for these devices grew, advances in silicon miniaturization allowed more specific types to be manufactured. Companies such as Garmin and Suunto were able to make watches that could endure extreme conditions, allowing users to wear them while swimming or hiking.

Functions of a Smartwatches

For how small they are, smartwatches do a lot because they are paired to your phone. Some of their most popular functions include:

• Media management. Most devices that are connected to your phone will allow you to control media playback. For instance, if you’re listening to music on your Android with Bluetooth headphones, your watch should allow you to switch tracks and adjust the volume.
  
  
• Notifications. Most commonly, you’ll receive the same notifications that are sent to your phone. This includes alerts such as texts, emails, and social media messages, but you can adjust these settings as desired.
  
  Some watches push notifications that you can only get through a wearable. For instance, there is an Apple Watch that comes with a fall sensor. It can detect a fall and alert authorities if you fail to respond to notifications.
  
  
• GPS. There is a GPS in most devices that tracks your location. This is perfect if you need navigation or for health apps that record your activity.
  
  
• Decent battery life. Devices produced by reputable manufacturers will typically last you throughout the day.
  
  
• Voice dictation. You can use this feature to respond to texts or give other commands.
  
  

Choosing the Right One

With how popular they’ve become, there are many smartwatches on the market made by different companies. They can be an expensive investment, so it’s important to do your research to decide which one is right for you. Guides online such as this one on the top 10 smartwatches in India can help you make your decision.

Some factors to look for when choosing a smartwatch include:

• Why you’re buying one. What are you going to use the smartwatch for? You might just want it to tell the time, check your phone notifications, and maybe track your daily fitness.
  
  If you have specific needs, however, you might want to get a specialty one. For instance, there are watches designed for activities such as diving, hiking, and even flying. These will come with apps appropriate for each activity and be able to endure extreme conditions.
  
  
• What kind of phone you have. Smartwatches are usually designed to connect to your phone, so make sure you get one that will be compatible.
  
  
• What model to go for. It can be tempting to purchase the model that just came out. After all, it has the newest features and is likely the "coolest" option. But it’s also going to be more expensive. Keep in mind that you can get an older model while still benefiting from its features.
  

Now that you are armed with information on smartwatches, you should be able to decide whether or not you should purchase one.