The digital world keeps on evolving, and people get curious about the existing technology. Many people who debate about wearable technologies often talk about smartwatches. The craze of owning a smartwatch is taking off with new smartwatches being launched regularly.
Many do not know what the deal of smartwatches is. Some will favor the smartwatch world, but others do not like the idea of owning them. So, who’s side would you choose? You will make an informed decision after reading this article on smartwatch’s pros and cons.
Starting positively is the best thing, so here are the pros of a smartwatch.
Pros of Using a Smartwatch
Smartwatches have their advantages. Were it not for these, they would not be in use anyway. Below are reasons why smartwatches are considered a worthwhile investment.
Fitness Features
Smartwatches do more than just indicating time; they also have fitness features. Smartwatches give access to fitness features like blood pressure monitors, sleep analysis trackers, pedometers, and heart rate monitors, among others. Having such high-end features on your wrist is not such a bad thing, is it?
The fitness features present in smartwatches are highly beneficial for people looking forward to knowing more about their health problems. These features also help fitness freaks know more about their daily exercising routines. Smartwatches have several built-in workout routines which can work with or without the presence of GPS. Such routines include cycling and running.
Smartwatches also allow you to note down personal insights as the steps walked, calories burned, and so more. To top it up, smartwatches are waterproof and have a variety of swim-tracking features. This means you can dive deep into a pool and it will note down the number of strokes and other swimming statistics.
Entertainment
If you are walking and you remember a YouTube video that you were to watch but didn’t, you are two clicks away from watching the video. With a smartwatch, you can play music and watch videos on the go. Even if it will not beat the big screen quality on your smartphone, it deserves an applaud for convenience.
The premium smartwatches can even store music on them. If you have such, you can play the music wirelessly on your Bluetooth headphones. Maybe smartwatches are the Sci-fi movie technology circa 20 years ago.
Compatible With Smartphones
One of the most accepted advantages of having a smartwatch has to be its compatibility with smartphones. Your smartphone and smartwatch can sync together, meaning you can use most of your smartphone features on your smartwatch. Most of the smartwatches in the market will allow you to receive text messages, calendar alerts, and app notifications on your smartwatch.
You can also decline and accept calls using a smartwatch. If you have one of the few premium smartwatches, you can talk to people through the wearable future. Listening to music and using your smartphone GPS is also possible on a smartwatch—talk of having an alternate of your smartphone on your wrist.
Now, the Cons
Roses have thorns, and likewise, smartwatches also have disadvantages. If you are indecisive about owning a smartwatch, below are reasons that will convince you not to get one.
Size of the Screen
If you are used to the large size of your smartphone when sending texts and watching videos, then working with a device that has clustered everything in a small space might not feel right to you. Since the dial size of the watch is too small, you need a strenuous effort to use all these features. Even if no smartwatch is designed for you to do something too comprehensive, the size of the screen will undoubtedly frustrate you.
Watching videos or movies on a smartwatch is not clear. Very few would choose a smartwatch to watch a movie compared to a tablet, PC, or smartphone. If you have to use a smartwatch to watch videos and movies, it would be best to opt for smartwatches with big screen size even if they do not compare with smartphones.
Low Battery Life
If you own a laptop, power bank, or smartphone, you know these devices need charging, and we all wish they could work without that. Now, with a smartwatch, you will have to do it often. If you always have your smartwatch on, you will have to recharge it even more often. The battery of a smartwatch lasts for up to 4 days.
If your smartwatch goes low and you forget to charge it, it will be of no use. A dead smartwatch cannot play music or track the distance you are running.
Data Might be Inaccurate
If your smartwatch is categorized in the cheaper range of smartwatches, you can be sure the data you receive from the pedometer is not always accurate. The accuracy levels of a smartwatch are said to be 80% which is not so high. If you use your smartwatch as a rudimentary indicator of your activity level, it might not be so bad. But, if you are a more serious athlete, you should not solely rely on it for data.
You Still Need a Smartphone
The smartwatch has seen advancements in its standalone connectivity and connectivity. There are innovations like sim cards that heavily rely on smartphones to unlock the usefulness and best features of the smartwatch. Your smartwatch cannot fully replace your smartphone.
You will need to have your phone within proximity to receive notifications and phone calls on your smartwatch. So, if you had plans of going for a run or hitting the trail with your smartwatch alone, sorry to burst your bubble; it won’t receive notifications until you get in range with your smartphone.
Are Smartwatches Worth the Investment?
Smartphones are more than just watches; they also offer entertainment and fitness features, among others. They are like tiny computers which are ordinary on their own. While they have numerous benefits, they also have their fair share of disadvantages which may turn you off from owning one. The answer to whether smartwatches are worth the investment depends on your personalized preferences.