Whats a good smart watch to buy

dllive

Hi

My mates Apple watch caught my eye the other day. He can pay using it, answer emails and take calls. I like the idea of being able to go out and not have to take my bulky phone with me, especially when I go running.

I dont think I need 80% of the features of a smart watch (or maybe I do, I dont really know what else smart watches do!).

My needs are:
- to use it for running (tracking mileage/elevation etc) and mapping/directions
- make calls
- check emails/whatsapp
- use it to pay for things
- have good battery life

Perhaps I dont need to spend hundreds on an Apple watch, or are Apple watches considered the best? I really dont know anything about smart watches so Im very much at the initial exploratory phase of finding out about them.

Any advice/recommendations/gotchas would be gratefully received! Thanks.

[Deleted User]

A lot depends on what mobile phone you have now. If you have an iPhone then an Apple watch makes more sense, if you have and Android phone then the market opens up a bit more but the leading watches are the Samsung Galaxy watches.

The Garmin and Fitbit watches are more health and sports focussed if you are interested in the running side although nearly all smart watches will track your outdoor activities - look for ones with GPS. Fitbit won't integrate as seamlessly with all your mobile phone features though especially Apple and doesn't have a option with a SIM.

If you want to leave your phone at home and still make call and messages etc, then you need a watch with a SIM and appropriate plan from your mobile network provider so that the watch can communicate with the mobile network.

When you say good battery life - for an Apple watch then lasting the whole day is good enough for me, I pop mine on charge daily when I have a shower and that works for me. Others will last a week if that is what you need.

I guess a good starting point is to mention what your current phone is and the budget you have for your watch?

RumRat

At the moment Samsung and Apple lead the pack in all areas. However, Google are about to launch the Pixel watch, so you could wait for reviews of that. The software has been developed with the help of Samsung so may be OK.
As said, your current phone and budget would help.

dllive

Thanks guys - this is useful.

I have an iPhone. Regards budget, I dont really have one, but happy to pay £300 for a watch if I use the features. What I want to avoid is paying £300 for something I only use 5% of its features. (I know this may be unavoidable seeing as how much smart watches do).

RumRat

I know each to their own, but, my own experience was that I used my Samsung less than I thought. I soon got over all the fitness stuff so ended up just having it for notifications then pulled my phone out of my pocket to view anything. So, I sold it, went back analogue and haven't missed it....

forgotmyname

Did he tell you how long the battery lasts if you use it a lot? Nice idea, bought a cheaper one to play and see how much
use it would get. Charging the watch as well as the phone became a chore.

Emmia

I have a garmin fenix 6 (which is more than £300) - mainly for the activity / fitness aspects. But it very much depends on what activities you do / want to track. 

If you have an iPhone then the apple watch probably makes most sense.

TadleyBaggie

forgotmyname said:

Did he tell you how long the battery lasts if you use it a lot? Nice idea, bought a cheaper one to play and see how much
use it would get. Charging the watch as well as the phone became a chore.

Apple watches need to be charged daily. Mine (series 5) will last maybe 36 hours with minimal use, however if I use it for golf it will be down to less than 10% by the time I put it on to charge when I go to bed. 

GDB2222

If you need a sim in your phone and a sim in the watch, how do callers know which number to call? Or do both sims have the same number?

 

[Deleted User]

GDB2222 said:

If you need a sim in your phone and a sim in the watch, how do callers know which number to call? Or do both sims have the same number?

 

The watch doesn't actually have a physical  SIM, it is just an eSIM linked to the SIM in your phone (which may also have an eSIM).

So effectively it is the same number as far as callers are concerned.

You do need to enable this feature with your carrier though.

GDB2222

Thanks for explaining.