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See, want a smartwatch.
How do I pick one?
Here are the key things to consider when
you're buying a smartwatch.
Does it matter what kind of phone I have?
Number one and this may be the most important thing
to remember, choose a watch that's
compatible with your smartphone.
Most smartwatches need to be paired with a smartphone
to make use of all their functionality.
Connections to your phone can be via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi,
or sometimes cellular.
Using Bluetooth, you'll need to keep
your watch within 25 to 30 feet of your smartphone
at all times.
If you want to make calls from your smartwatch
without having to tote your phone everywhere,
you may want to get one with its own cellular data connection.
But keep in mind that'll be another charge
on your monthly cell phone bill.
You can also make calls with your smartwatch using Wi-Fi
if your phone's carrier allows Wi-Fi calling.
Smartwatches can also be paired with smart devices
in your home, including smart speakers, lights, thermostats,
and door locks.
So it's a good idea to check first
if a watch is compatible with anything
you might want to connect it to.
A basic smartwatch can cost as little as $150
while one with many more features
can cost as much as $800.
One thing to think about before you buy a smartwatch you
may actually only need a fitness tracker.
The lines between fitness trackers and smartwatches
have really blurred in recent years.
What's the difference, smartwatch or fitness tracker?
Fitness trackers have been getting more smartwatch
features and smartwatches have been adding more health
and fitness features.
Fitness trackers in general are more basic,
they'll alert you when you have a call or text
but they're designed to really focus on your health
with a step counter, heart rate monitor, calorie counter,
and sleep tracker.
They often cost less and have better battery life
than smartwatches.
Here at CR we classify a smartwatch
as a device that supports third party apps such as your bank's
app.
Most smartwatches will take care of many of your fitness needs
but they're also designed for communication.
They go beyond the notifications and actually
allow you to return that call, email, or text.
On top of the basic functions more sophisticated
smartwatches and fitness trackers
may have standalone GPS, which lets
you leave your phone at home and on board music storage, that
allows you to download and store music right on your wrist.
Some smartwatches also have NFC or near field communication,
which allows you to pay for things without pulling out
your wallet.
And with so many band options available,
smartwatches often look more sophisticated
than fitness trackers as well.
So how often do you charge your smartwatch?
There's a vast deference in battery life among smartwatches
from one day to several days, depending
on how you use it, how much power it requires,
and how sophisticated the watch technology is.
For example, those with color displays
will likely need to be charged more often.
Some smartwatches come with convenient wireless chargers,
others use snap on docks or a cable that
plugs into the watch itself.
What about durability?
Most smartwatches are at least somewhat water resistant,
meaning you can wear them while washing
the dishes or your hands.
You'll need one that can handle greater depths if you want
to shower or swim with it on.
This information is usually available on the smartwatch box
or the company's website, you can also find it
in our smartwatch ratings.
We test these claims by submerging
each watch in a tank that uses air pressure to simulate
different depths underwater.
Watches are dumped to the manufacturer's specifications
then our testers check to make sure they're still
working as soon as they come out of the tank and again
24 hours later.
We also check to see how easily smartwatch faces scratch,
our testers use special metal picks
calibrated to the Mohs hardness scale, a scientific standard.
The scale ranges from 1 to 10, where
one is very soft equivalent to talc
and 10 is very hard like a diamond.
The harder the pick the more likely
it is to scratch a surface.
We found smartwatches made with sapphire crystal, Ionics glass,
and Gorilla Glass have done well in the scratch test.
Many smartwatches come with interchangeable bands made
of silicone metal or nylon, so you can support
the style that suits you best.
For more information and our exclusive smartwatch ratings,
go to CR.org/smartwatches.
We pay for all the products we test or a non-profit
and accept no advertising.
Thanks for your support.
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