How Smart Watches Work? – A Complete Guide

Importance of Smartwatches

Do you have a Smart Watch? Do you know how the smartwatch functions? I have heard countless times people say Smart Watches are a waste of money. Some say that smartwatches have the same function as a smartphone but this is not the case. It is unfortunate that these people don’t understand how a smartwatch works. Others have the device but have not explored its functionalities.

The truth is Smart Watches can do different things that a smartphone cannot do. Some of the key features include tracking the heart rate, sleep, daily activity and other fitness factors. You can also play your favourite music and even pay at the store. Most companies dealing with Smart Watches don’t allow customers to try Smart Watches before buying. Read this guide to discover how smart Watches work.

All About Smartwatches

What Is a Smartwatch?

A Smartwatch is a portable smartphone-like device worn on the wrist. Just like smartphones, they use touchscreens and often record the user’s heart rate and other vital signs. Smartwatches are connected to smartphones to notify the user of calls, messages, and other notifications from applications. There are some models that can make phone calls and send messages. Some smartwatches have a colour display while others come with an “e-paper” display.

Modern Smartwatches include different applications similar to those in smartphones and tablets. As a result, the device offers additional functionality including showing weather information, stock prices, and can be important when searching for maps and directions. Even though these applications can function on a smartwatch, they need a smartphone. This is because the smartphone receives the data then sends it to the watch. There is no Wi-Fi or SIM card for cellular data required. You activate the phone Bluetooth and pair it with the smartwatch’s Bluetooth. 

How does a smartwatch function?

There is no doubt that technological advancement has touched on almost every facet of our lives. The trend in technological advancement is to get more and more and make life easier. Smartwatches are digital watches that have been developed to make life easier. A smartwatch not only function to tell the time of the day. With a smartwatch, you can connect to your smartphone, monitor your exercise, and read notifications. Some come with water-resistant feature making them easier to use underwater.

Connect to your Smartphone

A Smartwatch requires a Smartphone to function. On the Smartphone, you are required to install an application that comes with the smartwatch. After launching the App, you are required to turn on the Smartphone Bluetooth and synchronize the watch with the phone. After the two devices are connected, you can receive notifications from the smartphone to the screen of the smartwatch. For instance, you can access your emails, make calls, and receive calls from your Smartwatch. This is important because you cannot miss important information.

If you are always on the go, smartwatches can be the best fit. With the Smartwatch on your wrist, you can access every message or email sent to your phone. This will help you boost your day and make things easier to accomplish. The connection between the smartwatch and the smartphone enables you to have an easy schedule compared to the physical phone which seems bulky.

Besides having access to your emails and notification, the smartwatch also functions as a music player. For instance, if the music comes up and you do not want to listen, you simply click “next” on the smartwatch. You can also pause and navigate the volume of your music through the smartwatch. 

Monitor daily exercise

The fitness feature in a smartwatch is by far the conspicuous one. Smartwatch offers fitness and wellness services like running, tracking steps, tracking your heart rate, monitoring your sleep partners, among other sensor-related functions. Some smartwatches will help you schedule events and even notify you when to begin your daily exercise.

The device has a GPS and a heart rate sensor which are used to monitor your daily activities. It can calculate your steps, stairs, Calorie consumptions, and sleep patterns. The GPS will show the route during exercise.

Applications

Smartwatch allows you to install third-party applications such as Spotify for music, WhatsApp for messaging, and YouTube among other messaging apps. After installing these applications on your phone, you synchronize the watch and the phone. As a result, you do not need to remove your smartphone from the pocket to read a notification or listen to the next music. You can simply check from your smartwatch.

What Is The Battery Life Of A Smartwatch?

With the millennial, technological advancement has been the centre stage of their life. They want to be associate with almost all inventions. Smartwatches for instance have become vital in the world of fitness and training. These days, you will find different types of smartwatches manufactured by different brands and having different features. While making a purchase decision about the smartwatches, you need to consider a number of factors key among them the battery life. Just like any other electronic gadget, battery life plays a critical role.

The relationship between a smartwatch and its battery life is straightforward. Smartwatches with many features definitely require larger battery capacity and longer battery lifespan. In other words, those with many features consumes more battery compared to those with limited features. Currently, smartwatch makers sell devices with different tolerance in terms of battery life with a life of between 5-7 days before it is recharged. But even with 5-7 days battery lifespan, it is still difficult to meet the users’ needs.

Since 2013, producers have used lithium-ion polymer batteries which have high energy density. The new battery technology led to an increase in operating voltage. Nevertheless, the battery life of a smartwatch still relies on the number of features activated and how frequent it is used. 

How Did The Smartwatch Evolve?

Even though Apple Inc. has been linked to the invention of Smartwatches, the truth is that Apple did not invent Smartwatch. Neither did Samsung nor Sony introduced the concept. Actually, the evolution of Smartwatches started in 1927 when an intelligent watch was invented and named Wristlet Route. This device was not widely used and was used by a tiny percentage of the population who were affluent enough to afford cars during those days.

Watches were initially famous for telling the time of the day and later they came with a compass. When personal computers were introduced in the 1980s, Seiko started making computers in the form of watches. During the time, data was synchronized from the keyboard to the watch through electro-magnetic wires. The watch memory was limited and could only hold 112 digits. This model was followed by other Seiko during the 1980s including the “RC series.” The RC-1000 watch was the first model to be made by Seiko with a computer and was released in 1984. This watch was compatible with different computer operating systems including Apple and windows available at the time.

RC-1000 Wrist Terminal

During the 1980s, Casio marketed its first line of computer watches besides the calculator watches. One notable model was the Casio data bank series. Ten years later, Timex introduced Datalink wristwatch that could transfer contacts from a computer to the watch. This functionality meant that the watch competed with personal digital assistant (PDA) which is the precursor of modern-day smartphones. In 1995, Seiko introduced another watch that could show caller ID and other news components like sports scores and weather forecast. In subsequent years, the functionality of watches continued to increase and in 1999, Samsung introduced the SPH-WP1O. This was the first watch to offer up to 90 minutes of talk time.

Datalink wristwatch

After the wrist computers came the smartwatches. Over the years, both have come in waves, hitting the market with a big splash, then sinking out of sight. Even Microsoft that came with Smart Personal Object Technology (SPOT) could manage to make the smartwatches mainstream.  

In 2014, Apple Inc. changes the narrative about the smartwatch when they introduced Apple Series 3. The global sales of apple smartwatches hit a record 4.2 million pieces in 2014. In 2015, it rose to 19.4 million pieces. This means that Apple sales in watch surpassed Rolex, reaching an annual sales revenue of $6 billion. Later, Sony Ericsson introduced the Sony Ericson Live which had Bluetooth capability. Motorola also launched ZigBee enabled smartwatch with a cellular connection to support health monitoring.

Even though digital watches have existed in the watch market for some time-some with functionalities such as calculators, watches with smartphone-related features have been in the market since the 2010s. At the moment, major electronic producers such as Apple, Samsung, and Sony make smartwatches that have sophisticated features to entice consumers and increase their market share. 

Currently, there are luxurious smartwatches that come in a variety of designs and colours. Users feel confident and stylish while wearing them since they are loaded with different Apps and give users a memorable experience. They have become almost an essential product that nobody should miss out on. Among the features in the modern smartwatches are the screen layer with Gorilla glass that makes it difficult to break, fast charging capability, microphones to help receive calls, water-resistance and their ability to link with iOS and Android devices. There are additional offers and features that has helped promote smartwatches. Technological advancement has made watches undertake the functionality of telling time. They have transformed into personal assistants.

Apple Watch

Best Smartwatches in the Market

Smartwatches have become an important part of our daily lives. It is convenient because it can do many things that the smartphone cannot do. Some of the benefits include tracking your heart rate, sleeping activity, and overall fitness level. Music lovers can also play and do other activities through phone activities using the smartwatch.

We have decided to list some alternative products. Check further along this article to find a smartwatch that fits your needs.

  1. Best Affordable Smart Watch:  RealMe Watch S Pro

The unique features of RealMe Watch S Pro include the display, battery life, performance & software, and connectivity. The RealMe Watch S Pro comes with a 1.39’’ touchscreen, 454 by 454-pixel resolution and a powerful 2.5D Gorilla Glass. These features give the smartwatch a vibrant appearance and a nice touch response.

In terms of brightness, RealMe Watch S Pro has a five-level adjustment button and a brightness level of 450 nits. This makes it bright enough to use for outdoor activities. You can easily see any notification under heavy sunlight at maximum brightness. In terms of battery life, you will get a 420mAh that can last up to 14 days. The battery life is sufficient enough to receive 100 message notification, 20 incoming calls, 24-hour rate monitoring, and two alarms every day for the duration. You don’t worry about the performance and software because the RealMe Link app supports both android and iOS. These are not the only features.

RealMe Watch S Pro
  1. Best Looking Smart Watch: Apple Watch Series 6

If you are in search of elegance, this is the smartwatch to check. Apple Watch Series 6 boast amazing design & display, excellent performance & software, quality battery life, and unique features which are not common with other smartwatches. The unique features include fall detection, blood oxygen reading, and altimeter.

Apple Watch Series 6 comes with a distinctive square design, 1.73-inch display, and 448 by 368 pixels. In case of an emergency, the fall detention features enable you to send an instant message to your emergency contacts for help. One of the unique feature associated with the smartwatch is the blood oxygen reading capability. This shows how well the respiratory and circulation system is in the body.  The altimeter makes it easy to read your elevation in real-time. This is useful for downhill skiers and hikers. In terms of performance, the Apple Watch Series 6 comes with a 32GB storage space and a dual-core S6 system for faster performance. The battery life is 18 hours when charged. Read the Apple Watch Series 6 full review to explore all the features.

Apple Watch Series 6
  1. Best Smart Watch For Exercise:  Huawei Watch Fit

Huawei Watch Fit is the best for athletes and those who aspire to engage in daily physical activities. The unique features that come out with the watch include good battery life for fitness activities, quality display, ability to measure oxygen levels in the body, among other amazing features that you should check.

Huawei Watch Fit solves one of the biggest challenges with its wide range of wearable which is its bulky design. It has a streamlined body and also lights making it suitable for all-day use. The touchscreen display is built on an AMOLED screen, measures, 1.64 inches, and has 456 x 280 pixels. One of the areas where this product shines is battery life. Relative to other smartwatches, Watch Fit has a battery capacity that can last up to 10 days on a single charge. It also comes with a sleep monitor, has the ability to measure oxygen levels in the body among others. You can get a full review of the product at shopjourney before making your decision.

Huawei Watch Fit
  1. Best Smart Watch for Women: Garmin Venu Sq

Wristwatches are not unisex. If you are a woman in the fashion industry and love smartwatches, this is the best fit for you. Garmin Venu Sq will grab your attention at first sight because of its design and display font. It is not the best in the market but the metallic rectangular dial and the silicone band makes a good combo. The AMOLED display is better than other smartwatches in the market. In terms of size, its rectangular display is an inch bigger than the circular dial display of Venu but this should not be a matter of concern.

Garmin Venu Sq has a battery life that can go up to 5 days after the charge. The smartwatch also focuses on fitness so if you are passionate about morning or evening exercise, why not consider this product? It has multiple built-in sensors that work round the clock to assist you in improving the quality of your life. Besides Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, you will find ANT+ connectivity. This is just an abstract of the key feature. Check detailed Garmin Venu Sq for more information.

Garmin Venu Sq

Conclusion

Smartwatch has become prominent among people engaging in physical activities and business professionals who find it difficult to read notifications from their smartphones. With the inventions of smartwatches, it is easy to read notifications, measure your oxygen level, receive calls, read business messages, and also monitor your daily activities. This is because a smartphone is connected to the smartwatch. When you open an accompanying app on the phone and open the Bluetooth, you synchronize the two to facilitate communication. Therefore, the two devices are connected and you can easily read notification on the screen of the watch.

If you engage in sporting activities and you want a smartwatch, then Huawei Watch Fit is the best fit. Watch Fit has a battery capacity that can last up to 10 days on a single charge. It also has a sleep monitor and can be used to monitor oxygen levels in the body.

In case you have additional questions on smartwatch uses, please leave them in the comment section. We will be glad to give a detailed response.

About The Author

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Kai

When it comes to contemporary smart tech and IT updates, Mr Specky Geek is the go-to-person. Behind his apparent geekiness is his ability to research the latest tech trends. He may be a nerd in real life, but in his own virtual internet world, he is a champion. Any tech related inquiries- you name it, he’ll recite it as easy as ABC.

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