The popularity of smartwatches is skyrocketing with each passing day. Owing to this, the watches that were once regarded as priced possessions accessible only to the elite sections of the society, are now more widely available. Tech giants like Apple and Samsung are coming up with feature-rich smartwatches that fits every budget.
Budget smartwatches can be purchased for as low as Rs. 1000, but let’s take a closer look at the high-end ones that provide reliable tracking, support for outside apps, and long battery life. Here are a few things to consider before buying your first premium smartwatch.
Operating System Compatibility
One of the most important factors to bear in mind while buying a premium smartwatch is OS compatibility. Premium smartwatches from companies like Apple and Samsung can only be used with their own devices, in contrast to inexpensive smartwatches, which may be used with both Android and iOS devices. Therefore, get an Apple watch only if you have an iPhone. Similarly, in case you have an Android phone, you can opt for a smartwatch with WearOS which is supported by majority of the latest Android devices. One of the greatest and most economical WearOS-powered smartwatches to consider in 2023 is the Galaxy Watch 4, which costs just Rs 12,999. If you’re on the lookout for an entry-level Apple watch then you can give the 2nd Gen Apple Watch SE a try. It is available on amazon and is prices at Rs. 30,000.
Display
Users are bombarded with countless options particularly with brands like Oppo and RealMe who are making a mark int eh wearable sector. Display is a significant factor to consider before purchasing a smartwatch. OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diodes) display are particularly characteristic of Apple and Samsung smartwatches. However, consumers are spoilt with choices by companies like RealMe, Oppo and Xiaomi who mostly provide LED screens displays. Mid-range smartwatches feature AMOLED (active-matrix organic light-emitting diode) displays which are better when compared to LCD screens.
OLED and AMOLEd displays are power efficient and enhance battery life alongside providing better readability to the user in comparison to LCD screens which have a shorter battery lifespan.
App Support
It is ideal to opt for a smartphone that supports the apps that you use every day. Smartwatches running on WearOS and watchOS support most third-party apps. For people who are inclined towards an extensive third-party app support, we advise purchasing an Apple or WearOS-powered smartwatch. Numerous well-known apps are supported by Apple Watch, and Samsung’s Tizen OS appears to be catching up with the trend. In case your budget is on the higher end, you can go for the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 (Rs 27,999), or the Apple Watch Series 8. (Rs 39,990). They boast greater support and compatibility owing to enhanced software.
Fitness Tracking
This is probably one of the most crucial reasons why people buy smartwatches in the first place. Whether it is counting your steps, calories, measuring your oxygen levels or your heart rate, smartwatches are the one stop solution that you can invest in. GPS embedded in smartwatches help you seamlessly track of your outdoor runs. Also, water-resistant smartwatches that come with an IP rating are ideal for swimmers.
Most of the premium features are accessible in the Apple Watch Ultra which is priced at Rs. 82,999 and the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro which is priced at Rs 38,451. Apart from this, entry-level models too offer a decent collection of functions, including accurate heart rate measurement, GPS, SpO2 oxygen saturation measurement, and more.
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Smartwatches from Garmin are fitness centric and come with extra functionalities like heart rate variation tracking, automatic workout recognition, recovery time estimation, integrated maps, and more. Tracking has evolved tremendously over the past few years as is evident from the myriad of features available in Apple smartwatches and Fitbit like estimating blood oxygen levels and detecting ECG.
Battery Life
This might come off as a bit strange but the battery life of luxury smartwatches is not a long as thos of budget smartwatches. The Apple Watch Ultra and the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro are two premium smartwatches that can last longer than two days on average. Gadgets like the Garmin Instinct 2 and the Garmin Fenix 7X priced at Rs 39,490 and Rs 1,29,990 respectively support solar charging and offer infinite battery backup. The downside is that they do not support third-party apps. An extended battery life is guaranteed in watches that have the Snapdragon 3100 processor which can go up to 5 days in a single charge. A lot of newly launched smartwatches support faster charging too. For instance, the new Apple Watch Series 7 takes merely 45 minutes to go from 0% charge to 80%. This speed is 33% more compared to the series 6 watches. The latest from OnePlus boasts an even higher charging speed and can go from 0% to 43% within just 10 minutes.
