The Major Questions You Should Ask Before Buying A Smartwatch
The most important question to consider before purchasing a smart watch is how you will use it.
This article is more than 2 years old
Technological advancements continue to move forward by leaps and bounds. And the good news for tech junkies is that recent improvements to smartwatches mean that you get your choice of sleek, streamlined designs. The only question is, what things do you need to consider before you invest in a smartwatch?
The most important decision you need to make is how much you want to spend. According to an in-depth CNET report, smartwatches come in three pricing categories. How fancy or basic your choice will ultimately depend on your budget and your goals.
All-purpose smartwatches offer a slew of fantastic benefits and typically fall into the $300-$400 price range. Most include health and fitness tracker tools and “can replicate some of your phone’s functionality.” They may offer abilities like mobile pay, sleep tracking, alarms, and voice assistants.
Your selection in this category will vary greatly depending on whether you use Android or Apple devices. Fitbit and Garmin produce a line of smartwatches compatible with both platforms. Other brands only work with one or the other.
Some examples of watches that fall into the all-purpose price range include Fitbit Sense 2, Apple Watch Series 8, Google Pixel Watch, and Samsung Galaxy Watch 5. The Garmin Forerunner 255 technically falls into this price range as well, but it is geared more toward fitness endeavors.
Value-priced smartwatches run around $250, so you will see slight savings over the all-purpose offerings. Most of the watches in this category will offer some of the same features, but not all. Going this route, you may miss out on a few fancy upgrades like always-on displays.
The Garmin Venu Sq 2, Fitbit Versa 4, and Apple Watch SE all fall into this category. Each still offers tempting features and benefits, which is good news for the budget-conscious buyer. But you will have to decide if the savings is worth losing the extra capabilities from the higher price ranges.
Finally, the third category is high-end fitness watches. The choices in this group will allow you to do everything you ever dreamed of. And more.
This group of smartwatches typically comes with more rugged designs and enhanced capabilities. Expect to pay between $500-$1000 for one of these all-stars. Of course, for that price range, you will get a mix of features that may include “better durability, longer battery life, more accurate location positioning, customizable buttons and extra features that target specific sports, like running, scuba diving or golf.”
Offerings will vary by the watch, so you will want to read all the details carefully. Watches in this category include the Apply Watch Ultra, Garmin’s Epix Gen 2 and Fenix 7 Standard, and Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro. But the price range is not the only important question worth considering before buying a smartwatch.
The critical question is, how do you plan to use your watch? Do you need it to be an extension of your phone during meetings or travel? Are you training for an endurance event like a marathon?
Are you looking for a basic and convenient design? Do you need a longer battery life or something that can withstand a beating? Consider your initial budget, then look at how you want to use your watch daily.
If your needs exceed your initial budget, consider setting aside money to reach your goal. Or wait until stellar sales like Black Friday roll around. You can snag a screaming technological deal during those times, which is always welcome news.
