A smartwatch is a portable device that's designed to be worn on a wrist. Like smartphones, they use touchscreens, offer apps, and often record your heart rate and other vital signs.
The Apple Watch and Wear (formerly Android Wear) models prompted more consumers to appreciate the usefulness of wearing a mini computer on their wrists. In addition, specialty smartwatches for outdoor activities often supplement other, bulkier devices in an adventurer's tool kit.
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A Short History of the Smartwatch
While digital watches have been around for decades—some with abilities like calculators and unit converters—only in the 2010s did tech companies begin releasing watches with smartphone-like abilities.
Apple, Samsung, Sony, and other major players offer smartwatches on the consumer market, but a small startup actually deserves credit for popularizing the modern-day smartwatch. When Pebble announced its first smartwatch in 2013, it raised a record amount of funding on Kickstarter and went on to sell more than one million units.
The Pebble smartwatch was discontinued when the company shut down in 2016, but still has a number of fans and enthusiasts who continue to use and develop for it.
At the same time, advances in silicon miniaturization opened the door to other kinds of dedicated-purpose smartwatches. Companies like Garmin, for example, support smartwatches like the Fenix, which are more rugged and optimized with sensors and trackers to support back-country expeditions. Likewise, companies like Suunto released smartwatches optimized for scuba diving that withstand extended time at significant depths.
What Do Smartwatches Do?
Most smartwatches—whether they're intended for daily use (as with the Apple Watch) or for specific purposes (as with the Garmin Fenix)—offer a suite of standard features:
Types of Smartwatches
Broadly speaking, smartwatches occupy two niches in the wearables market. First, a general-purpose smartwatch—like the Apple Watch and most Google-powered Wear devices—blend form and function. They're designed to replace mechanical wristwatches and are heavily smartphone-dependent. Think of them as a support device for your phone that you happen to keep on your wrist.
You also see vendor-specific classes of general-purpose smartwatches in the consumer market:
The other niche includes specialty devices intended for specific-use cases. These devices often offer a more robust version of a fitness tracker, insofar as they bleed between a phone-dependent smartwatch and a stand-alone fitness tracker like a Fitbit.
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Examples of these specialized devices include:
Smartwatch Market Growth
Smartwatches settled into a steep growth curve in the late 2010s in terms of global market adoption. Data from Statista shows that sales rose from five million units worldwide in 2014 to an estimated 173 million in 2022. Apple's market share rose from 13- to 30-percent from the second fiscal quarter of 2017 to the same period in 2021. With Samsung in the second-place spot with a 10-percent market share.
During the same period, specialty vendors like Garmin saw a 4.1-percent increase in year-over-year growth, while fitness-tracker-only vendors like Fitbit saw a nearly 22-percent market plunge.
Statista predicts that over 253 million smartwatches will ship worldwide by 2025.
FAQ
What are hybrid smartwatches?
Hybrid smartwatches are watches with the traditional looks and feels of a watch, but they also come with smartwatch functionality.
What is the difference between a smartwatch and a Fitbit?
Fitbits are fitness trackers, which do have functionality similar to smartwatches, but they focus on fitness-oriented features and don't often come with the advanced features of smartwatches.
In recent years, smartwatches have become increasingly popular due to their convenience and functionality. These devices can do much more than just tell time; they can track your fitness goals, provide you with notifications from your smartphone, and even allow you to make phone calls and send messages directly from your wrist.
Now, most people are often under-informed about how to use a smart watch. However, using it is a relatively simple process, even though it requires some initial setup and customisation. To get started, you will need to charge your device and download the corresponding mobile app onto your smartphone. Once connected, you can customise your watch face, explore the various features, and adjust the settings to your liking.
One of the most useful features of a smartwatch is its ability to track your fitness goals. Many models come equipped with sensors that can monitor your heart rate, steps taken, and calories burned. You can set daily goals and track your progress over time using the mobile app.
Another key feature of a smartwatch is its ability to provide you with notifications from your smartphone. You can receive alerts for incoming calls, messages, emails, and even social media notifications directly on your wrist. This allows you to stay connected to your digital world without having to constantly check your phone.
Some smartwatches even allow you to make phone calls and send messages directly from the device, without needing to take your phone out of your pocket. For example, you can read emails and messages, or view your calendar appointments. That's useful because you no longer have to worry about missing an important message.
Overall, using a smartwatch is a convenient and efficient way to stay connected and track your daily activities. Moreover, with the latest Go Noise smartwatches you can get more enhanced features and added benefits. Find out more below.
Using a smartphone with a smartwatch can enhance your overall digital experience by allowing you to access key features and notifications directly from your wrist. To get started, you will need to connect your smartwatch to your smartphone via BT and download the corresponding mobile app. From there, you can customise your watch face, explore the various features, and adjust the settings to your liking.
Once you are familiar with the process of how to use a smart watch you can receive notifications for incoming calls, messages, emails, and social media alerts directly on your smartwatch. Many smartwatches also come equipped with fitness tracking features, allowing you to monitor your heart rate, steps taken, and calories burned. With some models, you can even make phone calls and send messages directly from your smartwatch without needing to take your phone out of your pocket.
By using a smartwatch in conjunction with your smartphone, you can streamline your digital experience and stay connected on the go.
To use a Noise smartwatch, you can follow these general steps:
Charge your watch: The first thing you need to do is to charge your Noise smartwatch using the included charging cable. Connect one end of the cable to the watch and the other end to a USB port on your computer or a USB wall adapter.
Download the app: To use your Noise smartwatch, you need to download the corresponding Noise smartwatch app on your smartphone. The app is available for both iOS and Android devices and can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play Store.
Pair watch with your phone: Once you've downloaded the app, open it on your phone and follow the instructions to pair your watch with your phone via BT. Make sure that both devices are within range and have BT turned on.
Set up your watch: After pairing, you can set up your Noise smartwatch by following the on-screen instructions. You can change the watch face, adjust the settings, and sync your fitness data with the app.
Use the features: Your Noise smartwatch comes with a variety of features, such as tracking your steps, monitoring your heart rate, controlling music, receiving notifications, and more. Use the app to access these features and make the most out of your smartwatch.
Keep your watch updated: Make sure to keep your Noise smartwatch updated with the latest firmware and software updates to ensure it works properly and efficiently.
Note: The exact steps may vary depending on the specific model of your Noise smartwatch, so refer to the user manual for more detailed instructions.
Before you opt for a smartwatch, make sure that it includes these features without fail:
Not remembering where you kept your phone? Locating your smartphone is a vital feature that your smartwatch must offer. This feature also extends to other electronic devices such as an electronic key or your car. These watches come with a tracker that can help you locate the device connected to them.
Smartphone Calling
Try to choose a smartwatch that allows you to receive as well as make calls directly from the watch. This can save you time during an emergency and you do not have to miss out on an important call.
Health and wellness features can make your smartwatch purchase worthwhile. Some of the features that you can look for include a heart rate monitor, blood oxygen monitor, sleep monitor, etc. This will help you practise better health care and flag any issues.
Music has become an essential part of our daily routine. So, why not get access to quick and easy music access from your wristwatch? There are several brands that offer smartwatches with swift music control. That means you can browse, pause, play and rewind music on the go without having to take out your phone. You can also find smartwatches that allow you to save music for free and play it later.
It is important that you choose a smartwatch with long battery life to carry out important functions throughout the day. A long smartwatch battery backup will help you optimise the usage of your phone as well as save you the trouble of charging the device every now and then, especially when you are travelling.
Also Read: Smartwatch Features to Look for when Getting a New Smart Watch in Detail
Once you start using a smartwatch, there is no going back. Here are the several benefits of a smartwatch:
Convenience
Smartwatches are a convenient way to check notifications, make calls, and send messages without the need to pull out your smartphone.
Many smartwatches come with built-in sensors that track your physical activities, such as step count, heart rate, and calories burned. This can help you to monitor your fitness goals and track your progress.
Time Management
Smartwatches can help you to manage your time more effectively by allowing you to set reminders and alarms, as well as providing calendar and schedule information.
Navigation
Smartwatches often come with GPS tracking, which can be very useful when navigating unfamiliar places.
Smartwatches allow you to access a wide range of apps, including weather, news, and social media apps, right from your wrist.
With voice assistants like Siri or Google Assistant integrated into many smartwatches, you can control your watch and connected devices using voice commands without the need to use your hands.
Smartwatches come in a variety of styles and colours, allowing you to choose one that fits your personal style. You can also modify the watch face with different designs and opt for multiple watch straps to match your outfit or mood.
To make the most of it, it's important to first understand the features and how to use a smart watch. If you are new to the world of smartwatches, don't worry – they are easy to use! Just sync it up with your phone, customise your watch face and settings, and you are ready to go. And with all the apps and features available, from fitness tracking to GPS mapping, there's always something new to discover.
With features like activity tracking, heart rate monitoring, and sleep tracking, you can keep tabs on your health and fitness without breaking a sweat. Plus, with smartphone notifications right on your wrist, you'll never miss a beat. They are convenient, and stylish, and can help you stay on top of your game.
So, whether you are a fitness fanatic, a busy professional, or just someone who loves cool gadgets, a smartwatch is definitely worth considering. It's a fun and practical way to stay connected and organised, and it looks pretty snazzy too!
Q) What are the good fitness features that I must look for in a smartwatch?
There are several fitness and activity trackers with smartwatches today. What you choose will depend on your preference. For instance, there are numerous sports modes available today that can count the number of steps you take each day, calories burnt, and more. In addition, if you are into intense sports and activities, opt for a high IPX-resistant watch that protects it from dust, moisture, water splashes, etc.
Q) How do I charge my smartwatch?
Most smartwatches come with a magnetic charging cable that connects to a USB port. Simply align the magnetic charger with your smartwatch and it will start charging.
Q) Can I use my smartwatch without connecting it to a smartphone?
Yes, you may use your smartwatch without having it connected to a smartphone as it offers a few independent features. However, you may not get access to several essential functions such as calling and receiving calls, locating your phone, etc.
Q) Why can't my smartwatch display my heart rate at times?
If you are wearing a smartwatch on your wrist with no gap between it and your wrist, you can see your heart rate on the watch. However, sometimes if the gap increases it becomes difficult for it to analyse and read your heart rate accurately.
Q) How accurate is the activity tracking on a smartwatch?
The accuracy of activity tracking on a smartwatch can vary depending on the model and its sensors. However, most smartwatches provide a good estimate of steps taken, distance travelled, and calories burned.