Smartwatch: Everything you need to know
Wearables are now in our lives for good. From the most high-end smartwatches to entry-level proposals, they offer a plethora of functions.
Whether you want to quickly and easily check your messages or your music, you can take a quick look at your wrist instead of unlocking your phone. Some smartwatches can even replace your smartphone; however, most are designed as companion devices to interact with the phone through specific applications.
In fact, other proposals incorporate the functions of an activity tracker that monitors the heartbeat, calories consumed by the user, etc.
So it remains only to choose the best possible device based on your needs and budget.
Operating System and Compatibility
Because most smartwatches are designed to “accompany” your smartphone, compatibility plays an important role.
For example, there are smartwatches with a Watch OS or Tizen OS that only work with specific operating: iOS and Android. Android Wear is compatible with Google’s operating (Android), though now through the Android Wear app (which is available in iTunes) some smartwatches with Android operating function and with iPhones.
However, for now, there are very few devices that support this feature. On the other hand, Pebble’s smartwatches feature their own mobile OS and can communicate with either Android or iOS apps, thus offering more choice to users.
The specific smartwatches are ideal for those who need a wearable that will communicate with both iOS and Android.
Style and appearance
It is important to choose a smartwatch that you will feel comfortable wearing every day, while, at the same time, it will match your tastes.
Watch bands (wrist straps)
Smartwatches come in a variety of sizes, styles, and designs, while in some sentences you can change and customize the look of your device. There are smartwatches that offer the option to easily change the wrist strap. If you prefer a classic style, you can snap a leather strap or metal. Other watches feature silicone straps, a good choice if used as activity trackers in various sports activities.
Design
The design and/or size of the device has to do entirely with everyone’s taste, however, in some cases, the design of a smartwatch (rectangular/square or round screen) also matches the navigation functions/facilities that provided by each device (which are analyzed below).
Screen
Not all smartwatches use the same screen technology. Read below what each type of screen offers you.
OLED and AMOLED
OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) and AMOLED (Active-Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode) monitors operate without backlight, as each pixel is illuminated individually and produces deep black and high contrast ratios. Usually, in smartwatches with OLED screen and AMOLED, such as Samsung Gear S2 the screens are thinner and consume less energy, compared to the technologies using other smartwatches
You can find a plethora of smartwatch recommendations that cost less than 100 USD over at techodom.com – which is this article’s author as well.
