A connected watch accompanies you during your fitness and running sessions. More powerful than an activity tracker, it allows you to analyze your sports performance, monitor your heart rate and improve your quality of life. You can also receive/issue calls, take pictures and receive SMS/mail alerts. Garmin, Samsung, Fitbit, Polar or Apple, discover the best connected watches for this year.
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Our selection
"Of course, all the watches in this comparison compete in terms of design. But the Apple Watch SE stands apart. Its strap fits perfectly on…"
"The Galaxy Watch4 is presented by Samsung as the watch that knows you best. This connected watch is indeed a jewel of technology that will…"
"Released last year, the Garmin Fenix 6 Solar has a discreet design, reminiscent of classic watches. But its smart functions and autonomy will impress you.…"
"With several major advancements over the Series 6, the Apple Watch Series 7 is among the best connected watches on the market. Are you looking…"
"More than a simple connected watch, the Huawei Watch 3 Pro is a real life companion. It offers continuous monitoring of your health, helps you…"
Of course, all the watches in this comparison compete in terms of design. But the Apple Watch SE stands apart. Its strap fits perfectly on all wrists. Available in 3 colors.
239 £ on AppleEquipped with a 1.78-inch square screen, the Apple Watch SE provides a readable and complete display. Suitable for everyday wear, this connected watch offers a wide range of straps and is available in 3 colors: silver/white, sidereal gray and gold/pink. Men and women would have no trouble finding what they need.
For listening to music, answering messages and making calls, the sound quality and microphone have taken a leap forward. And for sports and health, the Apple Watch SE keeps track of your sleep and physical activity. You can enjoy this watch for 48 hours straight if you activate the basic functions. In workout mode, you'll find that the battery level may drop faster. But it can still last a day.
The Galaxy Watch4 is presented by Samsung as the watch that knows you best. This connected watch is indeed a jewel of technology that will allow you to listen to your body during your sports sessions and throughout the day.
215 £ on BoulangerWith its many sensors, the Samsung Galaxy Watch4 will give you crucial information about your body. The connected watch is able to provide you with a bio-impedance measurement in only 15 seconds. The measurements of body composition such as weight and fat content are done in real time and very reliably. The device thus becomes an ideal companion during your sports sessions. It will provide you with precise information that will help you evaluate your progress.
You can also wear the Samsung Galaxy Watch4 every day to listen to your body at all times. Its dual-core processor clocked at 1.18 GHz and its 1.5 GB RAM ensure power and fluidity. The display is on a 1.2-inch Super AMOLED screen with a resolution of 396 x 396. The Samsung Galaxy Watch4 offers 16 GB of storage space. Its battery provides up to 40 hours of battery life.
Released last year, the Garmin Fenix 6 Solar has a discreet design, reminiscent of classic watches. But its smart functions and autonomy will impress you. It even has solar charging!
394 £ on AmazonIf you like to go on adventures, treat yourself to the Garmin Fenix 6 Solar. With a battery that lasts for 6 days, it also has a solar charging mode to help out if you're far from a power source. This high-end connected watch has a devilishly accurate GPS function. It also monitors your health, especially your heart, with heart rate data analyzed 24/7, even in the shower.
The many notifications are neatly arranged, visible and audible if needed. For hikers, athletes and campers, the pulse oximeter can be useful in the mountains. The Garmin Fenix 6 Solar measures the oxygen level in your blood using light beams (Pulse Ox sensor) on your wrist. In terms of additional options, you will be able to benefit from the Garmin Pay contactless payment functionality.
With several major advancements over the Series 6, the Apple Watch Series 7 is among the best connected watches on the market. Are you looking for a high-quality device that offers a lot of features? This model is for you.
343 £ on AppleThe Apple Watch Series 7 is the connected watch that will improve your well-being. It is capable of performing an electrocardiogram to know your heart rate. It also has a sensor that measures the oxygen level in your blood. Other basic information such as the number of calories burned, exercise time, sleep quality are of course provided with impressive accuracy. This connected watch will be the simple, reliable and practical tool that will allow you to follow your health status in real time.
As usual, Apple has selected the best to make the Apple Watch Series 7 a high-end device. Its Retina display ensures an optimal display. Its aluminum casing is sturdy yet aesthetically pleasing thanks to a fine finish. The watch is connected to Wi-Fi and via Bluetooth 5.0. The lithium-ion battery is charged by USB-C cable. Its autonomy reaches 18 hours. Its double-layer woven nylon strap is sturdy and breathable. You will easily adapt it to your handle with its scratch closure.
More than a simple connected watch, the Huawei Watch 3 Pro is a real life companion. It offers continuous monitoring of your health, helps you achieve your sports goals and, like a smartphone, allows you to manage many everyday tasks.
352 £ on HuaweiThe Huawei Watch 3 Pro offers a very complete sports tracking. It adapts to a hundred sports disciplines. Outside of the gym and sports fields, the connected watch offers you a permanent monitoring of your health status. The concentration of oxygen in the blood, heart rate and other health parameters will be monitored throughout the day. Like other connected watches, the Huawei Watch 3 Pro can be used to make calls, play music and many other features.
All this is possible thanks to its chip backed by 2GB of RAM for 16GB of storage memory. The display is provided by a 1.43-inch AMOLED screen with a resolution of 466 x 466. The connected watch is compatible with the 4G network via a SIM card. It also supports Wi-Fi 4 and Bluetooth 5.1. Its battery offers a long battery life of up to 21 days.
Any specific needs?
The best connected watch in 2021
The best entry-level connected watch
The best high-end connected watch
The best alternative to the Galaxy Watch4
The best wireless charging connected watch
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| THE BEST | LESS EXPENSIVE | TOP OF THE RANGE | Alternative | EXCELLENT | |
In accordance with our commitment, this buying guide does not contain any sponsored products. |
8/10 |
9/10 |
9/10 |
7/10 |
8/10 |
| OUR SELECTION |
Apple Watch Se
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Samsung Galaxy Watch4
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Garmin Fenix 6 Solar
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Apple Watch Series 7 Connected Watch
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Huawei Watch 3 Pro
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Of course, all the watches in this comparison compete in terms of design. But the Apple Watch SE stands apart. Its strap fits perfectly on all wrists. Available in 3 colors.
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The Galaxy Watch4 is presented by Samsung as the watch that knows you best. This connected watch is indeed a jewel of technology that will allow you to listen to your body during your sports sessions and throughout the day.
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Released last year, the Garmin Fenix 6 Solar has a discreet design, reminiscent of classic watches. But its smart functions and autonomy will impress you. It even has solar charging!
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With several major advancements over the Series 6, the Apple Watch Series 7 is among the best connected watches on the market. Are you looking for a high-quality device that offers a lot of features? This model is for you.
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More than a simple connected watch, the Huawei Watch 3 Pro is a real life companion. It offers continuous monitoring of your health, helps you achieve your sports goals and, like a smartphone, allows you to manage many everyday tasks.
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Connectivity Technology
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Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n 2.4 GHz
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Bluetooth v5.0
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Bluetooth
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Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi 802.11n, 4G
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Bluetooth 5.1, Wi-Fi 4
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Operating System
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iOS 15 or later
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Wear OS (Compatible with Android 6.0 or later)
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iOS and Android
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iOS 15 or later
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Android 6.0 or later, iOS 9.0 or later
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Sensors
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Accelerometer, 2ᵉ generation optical heart rate sensor, altimeter, GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and QZSS, ambient light sensor
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Accelerometer, barometer, gyro sensor, geomagnetic sensor, light sensor, optical heart rate sensor, electrical heart sensor, bioelectrical impedance analysis sensor
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Pulse oximeter sensor, ABC sensors including altimeter, barometer and 3-axis electronic compass
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GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS and BeiDou, compass, altimeter, Blood Oxygen Level Sensor, electrical heart rate sensor, 3ᵉ generation optical heart rate sensor, accelerometer, ambient light sensor, gyroscope
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Acceleration sensor, gyroscope, geomagnetic sensor, optical heart rate sensor, ambient light sensor, barometric pressure sensor, temperature sensor
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Display
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40 and 44 mm
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40 mm
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47 mm
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41 and 45 mm
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46 mm
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Autonomy
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18 hrs to 2 days
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Up to 40 hrs.
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Up to 93 hrs.
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18 to 24 hr.
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Up to 21 days
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There are different types of connected watches, namely, those dependent on a smartphone, standalone watches, trackers and Apple Watch, which must be linked to mobile terminals under iOS.
Before any purchase, we advise you to first determine the type of equipment best suited to your needs. If you do not intend to receive calls from your watch, there is no need to invest in a standalone model. The latter has a nano SIM card port and can therefore, to some extent, replace a smartphone.
In case you are a big fan of the Apple brand's products, turn to the Apple Watch.
Whether your choice is a standalone watch, a dependent model or an activity tracker, you need to take connectivity into consideration. Typically, the connection to a smartphone is via Bluetooth. To optimize the speed of data transfer, check to see if the product embeds a recent Bluetooth technology (version 4.0 minimum).
For optimal data transfer speed, you can opt for a smartwatch that can be linked to a phone via Wi-Fi.
Note that by connecting to a smartphone, a watch can benefit from its Internet connection. For standalone smartwatches, the Internet connection can be made directly from a 3G network.
Like connectivity, compatibility with your smartphone is a criterion not to be overlooked. Before fixing your choice on a product, check if it takes into account the operating system of your mobile. You should focus on both the type of OS and its version.
To avoid mistakes, you can ask the manufacturers or simply choose the product with the widest compatibility.
Contrary to popular belief, the Apple Watch is not necessarily compatible with all iOS devices. Indeed, although they were designed for Apple devices, some essentially take into account specific versions of this brand's operating system.
The features offered by smartwatches can be more or less rich depending on their range and type. If you only want to receive notifications from social networks, store music and your phonebook in your watch, you will only need to invest in a high-end model.
If you want a smart device that can help you with your workouts, look into activity trackers. However, be aware that not all watches dedicated to sportsmen will necessarily meet your expectations.
You plan to acquire an activity tracker? We advise you not to buy any product without checking its compatibility with your physical activities. Indeed, you should know that a smartwatch designed specifically for runners is not suitable for hikers.
First, check if the watch can automatically detect your activities (jogging, running, etc.). Then, look at the features. In order to get accurate data on your physical condition and progress, opt for a model equipped with a heart rate sensor, accelerometer and pedometer.
Autonomy is a determining criterion when buying a connected watch. In the case of an activity tracker, it must be at least 4 days insofar as this type of smartwatch has the function of monitoring the quality of your sleep. In other words, it must work 24 hours a day for a more or less long period.
Connected watches without an activity tracker, on the other hand, do not require a long battery life. However, we recommend that you choose a model that can accompany you for more than a week on each charge.
Like a computer, a connected watch has a processor, RAM and storage space. When choosing your equipment, focus first on performance. A smartwatch with a 2-core processor and 512 MB of RAM should be able to handle the most resource-intensive applications without difficulty.
As far as storage is concerned, choose watches with at least 4 GB of space for your data (heart rate, etc.), but also for your music.
A real jewel of technology, the connected watch or smartwatch is used as an extension to your smartphone. Sometimes you can even use it instead of your smartphone. To use it properly, you need to understand how it works.
The connected watch works by synchronization. It must first be synchronized with a compatible phone. That is, a connection or wireless link must be established between the two devices. This can be done via Wi-Fi or via Bluetooth. The Bluetooth or Wi-Fi must remain active until one of the two devices is disconnected.
You can create a link between the two manually. To do this, first, you need to power up your watch. Then, activate the Bluetooth data or Wi-Fi on it to establish a connection bridge to your smartphone. Also activate the data on your cell phone and use either device to initiate a device search.
Once you've done that, all you have to do is set up to receive calls and notifications on your smartwatch. But it's also possible to automatically establish a link between your smartphone and your connected watch using the Wear OS or Watch OS applications. It's very simple, because you just have to install the application on both devices and start it.
It is very important to make sure that your smartphone is compatible with the application, otherwise it will not work at all. Then there will be some questions that you will have to validate on one side and the other and that's it. Please note that the connected watch must be recharged regularly. It usually comes with a charger, but it depends on the model.
The connected watch is not a simple device that you wear on your wrist to tell the time. It is a real life assistant that greatly facilitates your daily life. It improves the accessibility of your smartphone by bringing certain features to your handle. It serves as an assistant during your sports sessions and allows you to monitor your progress. The connected watch also gives you valuable information about your health, helping you to stay in tune with your body. In order to take advantage of its benefits, you must first know how to use the connected watch.
The manipulations are far from being complex. On the contrary! Like smartphones, smartwatches are designed to provide comfort of use and optimal ergonomics. So you don't have to fear difficult manipulations when you use your first connected watch. The adaptation time will be short, especially if you are already used to handling a smartphone.
The first thing to do is to always refer to the user manual. It is true that connected watches are all very similar depending on their operating systems. However, the available features, the possible settings and the various options offered may vary from one model to another. The manual will give you clear and precise instructions on the different operations to perform on your new connected watch, from switching on to recharging the battery, including the settings to be made in order to personalize the device so that it better meets your needs.
The connected watch does not need any special maintenance. All you need to do is protect it from external wear factors such as water, dust and shocks. Also, make sure to follow the manufacturer's recommendations for recharging the battery. This will extend the autonomy and the life of the battery in the long term.
Inexpensive and powerful, the single sport watch helps you track your heart rate and pace in a single sport.
Advantages: The data provided by the watch is accurate and will allow you to effectively determine whether you need to increase the intensity of your workouts or not. However, the connected watch is still one of the easiest to use in addition to its very affordable price.
Disadvantage: The main weakness of this type of equipment lies in the lack of detection of many sports activities. Before you take out your wallet to buy any model, check if it has been designed for your favorite sport.
Who is it for? A watch designed for one type of sport may meet your needs if you practice a single physical activity. If you are among those sportsmen who can indulge in various disciplines, opt for another model.
The connected watch with altimeter is the ideal equipment if you want to access detailed information about the areas where you plan to train. It's important to note that air pressure can greatly affect your performance.
When training in the high mountains, you are subjected to low pressure, resulting in little oxygen entering your lungs and therefore your blood. Hypoxia (lack of oxygen due to altitude) can be an excellent way to develop your performance. However, you must monitor your altitude, heart rate and training intensity to avoid potential health problems.
Advantages: With a connected watch with an air pressure sensor, you will have easier access to the data defining the ideal altitude for your sports activities. It is as accurate as it is easy to use.
Disadvantages: The sensor is useless during low altitude training. In addition, the connected watch is only intended for specific sports.
Who is it for? The connected watch with altimeter will not fail to meet your needs during your training sessions in the mountains. It is cut out for sports disciplines such as skiing, climbing, mountain biking or trail running.
This type of connected watch is specifically designed to provide accurate data on the heart rate, distance traveled and pace of its users in three specific disciplines, namely swimming, running and cycling.
Outside of these three sports, the information provided by this small device may be unreliable.
Benefits: This connected watch meets the needs of swimmers, runners and cyclists. It provides accurate performance tracking while remaining easy to use.
Disadvantages: Only for triathletes, this watch is quite expensive compared to other types of models.
Who is it for? Do you want to boost your performance in disciplines such as swimming, running or cycling? The GPS watch dedicated to triathlon will make an excellent monitoring of your physical condition, your activities and will help you to effectively determine the training to strengthen for the achievement of your goals.
As its name suggests, the multisport connected watch can detect different physical exercises. Of course, the model that can accompany you in all existing sports has not yet seen the light of day. However, this type of equipment will offer you useful and accurate information during your training in a large number of disciplines.
Advantages: High-performance and accurate, the watch detects many sports. In most cases, it can transfer the data collected to mobile terminals. This option is also present on some watches designed for a single sport, as well as on those dedicated to triathlon and sports such as skiing or climbing.
Disadvantage: The only downside is its price.
Who is it for? The multisport version of the connected watch is the must-have equipment for those who practice a wide variety of sports. It will track your physical condition and act as a virtual coach, whether you are a jogging, running, swimming, climbing or trekking enthusiast.
Autonomous connected watches are the models with 3G or 4G/LTE connectivity. They easily replace a smartphone since you can install all the applications you need, make calls, send and receive SMS and MMS...
Advantages: Unlike the other two types, they do not need a smartphone to connect to the Internet and the GSM network. In other words, they can serve as phones in their own right, offering the possibility of receiving a call, SMS, MMS, etc. Some models have an internal memory of up to 4 GB, offering the possibility to store music and photos.
Disadvantage: Features are limited compared to those of a smartphone.
Who is it for? This type of connected watch is for those who do not have a smartphone. The fact that it can connect to the Internet thanks to a 3G sensor is a significant advantage. This allows you, among other things, to query Google with voice commands already installed in your watch or to inform you about your route. The possibilities are endless with Internet access.
It is a very fashionable and easily portable smart device. Its main function is to allow easy and quick access to your notifications. Indeed, it has several smart features like GPS, messaging, etc. You don't have to take out your phone anymore: just check with the connected watch. It can also detect your phone or other devices. You can even use it to play music or movies, answer calls, etc.
However, the connected watch often has a short battery life. This can be a problem if you forget to charge it at the end of the day. In addition, some connected watches can provide inaccurate data regarding heart rate and exercise done. In addition, its small screen requires extra effort for your eyes to watch movies or browse the internet.
Unlike a connected watch, the connected bracelet or activity tracker is a smart health device. It is very light and helps you take control of your body. Basically, it calculates the calories you take in and those you burn. During sleep, it records relevant data immediately after waking up. Thus, information about the possible causes of disorders during sleep will be provided to its user.
By getting this information, it will be easy to change your lifestyle. The data collected by the connected bracelet helps to determine the average level of rest and work to be done. On the other hand, the limitation of a connected bracelet lies in the fact that it weakly records physical activities with less movements like cleaning. In addition, it must be connected to a mobile phone to properly exploit the results obtained.
Choose a connected bracelet if you only want to focus on your health and physical activities. For a complementary function on your smartphone, choose a connected watch.
The connected watch is not a simple gadget dedicated to new technology enthusiasts. It differs from traditional watches by its many features. It can be linked to other devices such as a smartphone or a tablet. These little marvels have many assets that are sure to arouse your interest.
The release of the first connected watch did not generate a general craze among consumers. At the beginning, this accessory had more detractors than supporters. Nowadays, many people have understood the usefulness of this type of equipment and do not hesitate to search online sales platforms to find the models best suited to their needs.
Whether you are a big fan of high-tech equipment or not, the smartwatch is the essential accessory to complement your smartphone, your tablet and other devices such as LCD or LED screen.
Unlike traditional watches, the connected watch does not primarily deliver date and time information. This revolutionary object will quickly become one of your most valuable allies, providing you with other useful data (weather, location, etc.) and offering alerts on daily tasks to be performed.
If you are a music lover, it will allow you to pace your days without having to rely on your smartphone or other device dedicated to storing and playing audio files. Nevertheless, it should be noted that the number of features varies greatly from one watch to another. Before you make a purchase, determine whether the product offers the features you need.
The connected watch can, to some extent, replace your smartphone. Standalone models offer the possibility of inserting a nano-chip and therefore allow you to receive and send messages as well as make calls.
In addition to calls and messages, standalone smartwatches allow access to the Internet, mailboxes and social network notifications without the help of a smartphone. Of course, you can always link your accessory to a smartphone to take advantage of its Internet connection.
A smartwatch can help you stay in great shape or track your performance during your workouts. However, in order to access interesting data on your fitness, you should opt for an activity tracker. In most cases, trackers are equipped with a heart rate sensor and can deliver information on the distance traveled, the number of steps and the calories burned.
Technological advances have made it possible to design connected watches for the average person, and motorists are no exception. Although still relatively rare, some smartwatches can be connected to a car. These high-tech watches have applications that can help you find your car in a crowded parking lot and determine the best routes to avoid traffic jams, among other things.
In our opinion, the best brands of smartwatches in 2022 are :
The diagram below will help you to get an idea of the typical prices for each price range (entry-level, mid-range and high-end).
However, more expensive does not necessarily mean better.
We therefore advise you to always consult our ranking before deciding, rather than blindly relying on price ranges.
Your watch will be perfectly autonomous.
Android Smartwatches are standalone Android devices with access to the Play Store. To download, update or use Google services and applications on your watch, you need to add a Google account to it. The first time you turn on an Android Wear 2.0 device, you'll see a message asking you to add your Google account. Adding your account is easy, just follow the instructions in the Android Wear app on your phone.
If the connected watch you want requires a proprietary charging cable, buy an extra one.
Some smartwatches have their own charging cable interface. So they can't be charged with standard micro-USB cables. No matter how your smartwatch is powered up, keep a spare cable in your desk or bag - you never know when you'll need a charge on the go.
Before buying a specific smartwatch, find out about the manufacturer's typical production cycles, in case a new version is expected soon.
In many ways, smartwatches are like smartphones - new iterations come out every few years with innovations and improvements worth waiting for. If there are features you're looking for, sometimes waiting for the next generation is the best solution. On the other hand, if a new version is coming soon, you are more likely to find massive discounts as retailers will be looking to clear out their inventory of current models as soon as possible. The more aware you are of product release cycles, the more likely you are to find the perfect deal for you.
Listen to streaming music without your phone.
Some connected watches come with a fairly large storage space, averaging 4GB. Know that with this capacity, you can store up to 1000 songs in MP3 format and displaying a playback speed of 128 Kbps. Of course, this number could be reduced in case the internal storage will also be used by mobile applications.
Google Assistant.
Google Assistant, which allows you to make voice commands, is now available on Android smartwatches. This means you can do a lot with your watch without necessarily having to touch it. Long press the power button on your watch to activate the Assistant, then ask questions or give commands.
Connected watches boast much longer battery lives than smartphones. It's possible to extend that battery life even further. You can already lower the brightness of the screen. Choose a sober dial, without animation to mimic the energy consumption of the screen. Also consider turning off Wi-Fi when wireless connection is not needed.
The Apple Watch are waterproof. This doesn't prevent water from collecting on some ports like the microphone and speaker ports. Apple's connected watches have a feature that is used to drain this water. To access it, swipe up on the screen. On the control center that appears, click on the drop icon. Rotate the digital crown until the app asks you to stop.
Connected watches display the dial on an LED screen. This dial can then be changed at will, like the home screen of a smartphone. Manufacturers usually offer a wide choice of dial. You can configure it as a classic watch with hands or choose more modern dials with customizable backgrounds. Choose the dial according to your taste and your look.
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