[SNAP]
And Jack should be here in just a second.
5, 4, 3--
Reporting for duty, Miss Bree.
At ease, soldier.
[LAUGHING]
So tell me about these smartwatches.
Well, smartwatches are becoming super popular with consumers
now.
There are a lot more on the market than there used to be,
and people are using them for everything
from tracking their workouts to keeping an eye on their texts
and emails.
And here at Consumer Reports, we need
to test those features to make sure that they're
both accurate and easy to use.
Bree is going to show me the scientific methods
they use to test smartwatches.
But first, we're going to warm up.
Then it's time to pick a watch.
Bree, which smartwatch should I use?
Why don't you pick out whatever one you like?
All right.
Hey, I like this metal one.
To begin, Bree hands me a clicker.
In the real test, the team member
uses this to manually keep track of his or her steps.
If you've ever used a smartwatch,
you know one of the many things it does is count your steps.
The point of this test is to verify
if that step count is accurate.
The technique is to click every time your right foot hits
the ground and to walk a carefully measured course
so that the results have a scientific basis.
So how does smartwatches actually record steps?
Well, they use an accelerometer to track your movement
and figure out exactly how many steps you're taking.
Are smartwatches that accurate?
Yeah.
I mean, they've gotten better over the years,
that's for sure.
They all use pretty much the same kind of technology.
And in our testing, we found that even
the most basic smartwatch can be really good at tracking steps.
Bree says the step test is repeated multiple times
by four different testers to verify results.
Once all those numbers from both the smartwatch and clicker
are collected, the data is analyzed
and they grade each device's performance.
But the step test isn't the only way they put smartwatches
through their paces.
In the second test, team members put on a heart rate monitor
like this.
This is our top rated consumer heart rate monitor.
This is going to allow us to check the accuracy of that
smartwatch you're wearing.
I love exercising on a stationary bike.
But when the test team sits in the saddle,
the first thing they do is check their resting heart rate.
Then the tester pedals to get his blood flowing, comparing
the smartwatch measurement to the heart rate
monitor at 110, 130, and 150 beats per minute.
When you're up at 150, that's a pretty vigorous workout.
So how does a smartwatch measure heart rate?
Well, smartwatches use a technology
called photoplethysmography.
Say what again?
Yeah, it's basically the green light on the back of the watch.
Oh.
Yeah, they use that to detect blood flow.
And from that, the watch can calculate your heart rate.
Oh, that's great.
So what did we learn from all this testing?
What makes a smartwatch really good?
Well, good really depends on you.
I mean, say you're a runner and you
want to leave your phone behind, you
need to get one with cellular so you can stream your music
and take calls while you're out and about.
And say, hey, you're a swimmer.
You need something that's both swim-proof
and has the apps for tracking strokes that you need.
We test watches to make sure that they will
survive that dunk in the pool.
They also test them to see how scratch resistant the face is.
And before you buy, make sure that the watch has the apps
that you want.
Some do more than others.
Bree, there's a family that wants to ask a question.
Let's ask CR.
OK.
Hey, Jack, my name is Julianna, and I really
like my fitness tracker.
But I was wondering what the difference between a smartwatch
and a fitness tracker was.
We define smartwatches as devices
that can take third party apps.
Things like social media sites, news sites,
stuff like that, fitness trackers generally
don't have those capabilities.
But on the flip side, they generally cost less.
Bree, the good thing is I don't have to go to the gym today.
Yeah, totally, because you've got four more watches to test.
Really?
Yeah, I'm serious, Rico.
[WHISTLE BLOWS]
OK, you got it.
Come on!
Only eight more runs to go.
You can do it!
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[SNAP]