Smartwatches have played an important role in people’s lives in recent years, not only as fitness trackers or complements to smartphones but also as everyday life companions. For instance, the Apple Watch has transformed and enhanced the Apple ecosystem. Nonetheless, there are some doubts about whether smartwatches are worth the money and a suitable replacement for traditional watches. Keep reading to learn more.
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Are smartwatches useful?
The first smartwatches were much more limited, but they were still considered smart watches due to their fantastic array of functions and useful features.
They served mainly as a phone companion and an excellent tool for monitoring physical activity, comfortably answering phone calls and important messages, and reading notifications—everything directly from your wrist.
Later on, wearable technology became increasingly popular among users who asked for added functionalities, integration with the latest smartphones, larger screen sizes, and an overall improvement in the most modern smartwatch versions.
Several studies have also examined the healthcare applications of smartwatches and discussed whether these wearable devices can effectively diagnose a heart attack. The future of these gadgets is still promising and has many undiscovered possibilities. The health implications alone can make these smartwatches worth it.
Do people buy smartwatches? Absolutely, and you can see them everywhere.
Should you buy one? It depends on your particular use and preferences.
In the following section, we have highlighted ten advantages and benefits of smartwatches to help you make a better-informed decision.
10 advantages of smartwatches
We believe there are more advantages than disadvantages when it comes to purchasing a smartwatch, and they are as follows:
1. Instant notifications and messages
Keeping track of notifications and messages has never been easier. You no longer need to take out your phone to see your social media notifications and messages. The smartwatch will display them for you on its screen.
This is a good thing if you expect to receive something important or don’t want to be disturbed by notification sounds or vibrations at work or any other place where you need to be quiet.
2. Managing phone calls effortlessly
A smartwatch can help you manage your phone calls easily. Moreover, you can complement it with a Bluetooth headset, hands-free headsets, or earbuds to form a complete ecosystem.
Remember that accepting or declining calls with the watch usually requires your handset to be nearby. However, some smartwatches allow you to use them independently.
3. It’s fashionable
Let’s be honest. An Apple Watch, a Pixel Watch, a Samsung Galaxy Watch, or any other wearable of the big brands looks good and feels good.
If you have an Apple Watch, you can customize it with a wide selection of Apple Watch faces looking even better.
👉 Learn more: Fitbit vs. Apple Watch: Which Fitness Tracker Should You Choose?
4. Battery saving
Smartwatches are worth it if you want to save your phone’s battery. It’s a fact that your smartphone can consume a lot of battery life throughout the day using a wide range of apps, listening to music, answering text messages, getting directions, or any other.
The smartwatch combines all the functions of your smartphone without having to use it directly. Indeed, your phone will still use a significant part of the battery, but the smartwatch technology will help you reduce your stress levels if you can’t charge it at that time.
5. Health and fitness tracker
One of the main reasons to get a smartwatch is health awareness. They function as good health and wellness trackers.
Step counting is one of the features, but they can also keep track of your blood pressure and heart rate using an ECG (electrocardiogram heart monitor).
While newer smartwatches need to be charged more often than other sophisticated fitness trackers, they provide a good amount of data.
The benefits of a smartwatch in terms of controlling your diet and stress levels are also evident. It can boost your motivation to engage in workouts and sports activities for an active lifestyle. As a result, it can even help fight chronic diseases and insomnia symptoms, improving mental health.
6. It’s a travel buddy
A smartwatch is an excellent example of a travel buddy. There is no shortage of happy owners who use this device to travel instead of constantly looking at their phone screens.
For instance, the Apple Watch, one of the most popular smartwatches, delivers vibrations to your wrist to tell you whether you should turn left or right when following directions.
The GPS of these portable devices is an excellent alternative to travel by looking at your smartphone and offers similar features. For example, an Apple Watch will give you Siri’s search directions, like an iPhone. Android and Galaxy smartwatches will use Google Maps and Android’s system.
7. Safety
Since smartwatches are generally equipped with a GPS, tracking your sports activities or movements also means they can help keep you safe by tracking your location.
If you are in an unfamiliar environment, you want to give your relatives peace of mind. For example, many smartwatches have a fall detection feature and can make an emergency call if no movement is detected. Others have SOS/panic buttons to contact specific individuals via message or call.
In addition to personal safety, a smartwatch can help you find your phone with the “Find phone” feature. No more making a call from another phone to find your own!
Lastly, the Apple Watch feature can bring family safety to the next level with the Family Set Up feature, allowing parents to stay connected with their children.
8. Entertainment and music
The high-resolution display of today’s new devices and the quality of the latest apps for smartwatches make them perfect for entertainment.
You can watch videos on YouTube, listen to your favorite podcasts on the go, and even store music on the device.
What about video games? The same applies here, and there are even what they call gaming smartwatches already.
9. Smart home integration
With compatible smart home devices, your smartwatch can act as a central control hub. Adjust the lighting to create the perfect ambiance for a cozy evening, or turn up the thermostat before stepping inside on a chilly day. You can even arm your security system remotely, giving you peace of mind when you’re away.
With a few taps on your watch, you can control your smart TV, adjust your smart blinds, or even start your robot vacuum cleaner. This level of interconnectedness brings a new dimension of convenience and control to your everyday life.
10. Contactless convenience
We live in an increasingly contactless world, and smartwatches are at the forefront of this trend. With NFC (Near Field Communication) technology, your smartwatch can become a digital wallet, allowing you to make secure payments with a simple wrist flick.
But it doesn’t stop at payments. Many smartwatches can be used to access public transportation, replacing the need for physical tickets or cards. Imagine seamlessly tapping your watch to board a train or bus – it’s the ultimate convenience.
Some models even allow you to unlock doors with a tap, adding another layer of effortless access to your daily routine.
Final thoughts
The best smartwatches resemble tiny and powerful computers. They are the perfect devices for those who are always on the move, want to keep an active and healthy lifestyle, and want a comfortable tool to call, manage notifications, and schedule their everyday tasks quickly without grabbing their smartphones.
However, the price of some of these watches can be pretty high. That’s why we want to offer you an alternative.
You could consider getting a refurbished smartwatch. These are previously owned devices that have been professionally restored and thoroughly cleaned to work like new ones. Their functionality is the same; they include a warranty, and you can save a lot of money purchasing one.
On RefurbMe, we specialize in comparing the best refurbished Apple devices, including the Apple Watch.
Take a look at all our refurbished models available on the site in real time here. 👇
40mm Silver Aluminum
White Sport Band (Regular size)
44mm Silver Aluminum
White Sport Band (Regular size)
40mm Silver Aluminum
White Sport Band (Regular size)
Also, don’t forget to check out our Apple Watch stats page if you want to know more about all releases, refurbished dates, and historical prices, and read our article about the best Apple Watch accessories you can get to enhance your experience further.
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