What would make you buy a 'Smart Watch'?

[proby24]

I have to admit my initial scepticism about smartwatches is slowly waning and I think it is inevitable I will get one in the next year or so. This has been influenced by friends who all love (and collect) mechanical watches adopting Apple Watches and finding them taking over their wrist time.

Personally, I see smartwatches as a true threat to mechanical watches, and the dawn of another quartz crisis. With smartwatches becoming increasingly sophisticated 'wearables' with valid medical data and tracking, they can only increase markedly in adoption. How long until your private medical insurance company insists on you wearing one?

Being a fan of Breitling Aerospaces, and owning two, I would like Breitling to collaborate with a major smartwatch manufacturer to bring a smart Aerospace to market in the current 43mm case (or 42mm Advantage).

Tag Heuer seem to be working a good concept with their smartwatch and exchangeable modules.

[ryanb741]

I wear a mechanical watch on my left wrist and a Huawei GT2 on the right. My wife says it makes me look like a prat but the Huawei is THE best watch for activity tracking and health monitoring so that's why I use it and it is brilliant at what it does

[ataripower]

I wear a mechanical watch on my left wrist and a Huawei GT2 on the right. My wife says it makes me look like a prat but the Huawei is THE best watch for activity tracking and health monitoring so that's why I use it and it is brilliant at what it does

Maybe if you wore a fitness band like a fitbit rather than another watch it wouldn't look so silly?

[dougair]

Maybe if you wore a fitness band like a fitbit rather than another watch it wouldn't look so silly?

It only matters if you care what others think. I happily wear a mechanical on my left and a Garmin on my right.

[ryanb741]

Maybe if you wore a fitness band like a fitbit rather than another watch it wouldn't look so silly?

Fitbits are notoriously poor at overestimating steps taken and calories burned

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[ataripower]

Fitbits are notoriously poor at overestimating steps taken and calories burned

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I use the Samsung Gear Pro and its excellent at all those things

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[DANH]

I wear a mechanical watch on my left and a pretty chunky tomtom activity type watch on my right. I’ve had a few people notice and mention it in the past but as mentioned above, it only matters if you care what others think. It works for me so therefore I like it.
I’ve started to notice its becoming more common too.
Dan

[Metalic Mud]

I would never say never.

Managed for years without a mobile phone or sat Nav as they hadn’t been invented.
Can’t imagine life without either now.

In 5 years time, some new smart watch might be very desirable.
They might have features that would be very useful.

Until then. I will resist.

[snowman]

Fitbits are notoriously poor at overestimating steps taken and calories burned

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Does that matter as long as they're consistent?

M

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[wileeeeeey]

Does that matter as long as they're consistent?

M

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Apparently loads of first time marathon runners got caught put when they found out the hard way that most wearables overestimate your step count / distance by up to 20%. Mattered to them but in everyday shouldn't really matter - shows your were more/less active than yesterday/last week etc.

[ryanb741]

Does that matter as long as they're consistent?

M

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For me it does as I need to input the precise number of calories to maintain a precise calorie deficit every day. I typically spend between 10pm and however long it takes to walk the requisite delta of steps needed to burn enough calories to maintain an 800 calorie delta between calories burned and Resting Metabolic Rate. The good news is you lose weight FAST that way particularly if you combine it with a ketogenic diet

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[RAJEN]

Ability to perform ECG ( albeit a limited one) is a dramatic breakthrough. Before this smart watches were able to do it but it was a cumbersome costly app needed by both patient and the doctor. For patients with arrhythmias, this is a boon.

[Recht]

Pretty soon these watches will be able to communicate with other watches. Users will be able to indicate their status, so I'll be able to pinpoint available women. That would make me interested in having one. Oh, and solar charging too. I'm not going to be bothered charging something every night.

[Jeremy67]

... but the Huawei is THE best watch for allowing the Chinese State to track me and gather information useful to their ends...

Fixed. Sorry, couldn't resist.

[IVK]

I wore my Apple Watch a lot when I was office based. Tracked my steps (least used function), controlled my music when on the train so the phone could stay in the pocket, gave me discreet reminders for meetings and appointments, could check incoming calls without the phone and allowed me to preview emails and texts.

now I’m home based and work for myself I barely use it. Much prefer to have something mechanical and/or interesting on my wrist to admire when I get a rare moment. Smart watches are soulless but their functionality is undeniable.

I think those saying it’s a fashion and for ‘bell ends’ are not who this tech is aimed at. I also don’t understand those who wear their lack of interest in fitness as a badge of honour. Ok it might not be for you but I would have thought that you could respect those that do want to proactively manager their health.

I love the idea of an aerospace smart watch! I’ve looked at the Tag connect a couple of times but it’s too Android focussed for me.

[Passenger]

I wore my Apple Watch a lot when I was office based. Tracked my steps (least used function), controlled my music when on the train so the phone could stay in the pocket, gave me discreet reminders for meetings and appointments, could check incoming calls without the phone and allowed me to preview emails and texts.

now I’m home based and work for myself I barely use it. Much prefer to have something mechanical and/or interesting on my wrist to admire when I get a rare moment. Smart watches are soulless but their functionality is undeniable.

I think those saying it’s a fashion and for ‘bell ends’ are not who this tech is aimed at. I also don’t understand those who wear their lack of interest in fitness as a badge of honour. Ok it might not be for you but I would have thought that you could respect those that do want to proactively manager their health.

I love the idea of an aerospace smart watch! I’ve looked at the Tag connect a couple of times but it’s too Android focussed for me.

No disrespect for fitness/ health here, very pro the whole ideal I just personally don’t feel the need for a device to help manage my health, feels a bit unnecessarily gadgety but heck if it helps others achieve their goals fair play.

[demonloop]

Not for me, and I’m 42 so probably within their target audience. I have a Garmin watch for running as it’s lighter and easier to wear than my iPhone (which would admittedly do the same thing)

As soon as I get home from a run it goes back in the drawer and my watch goes back on after a shower.

[hafle]

I can't help but laugh at the fitness justifications. Humans have been perfectly capable of remaining fit for millenia without the need for calorie counters. It is like the people who require weight watchers diets and guidamce.

[Ivan Drago]

I’ve got a garmin Vivoactive 3 music. It’s a superb bit of kit and does everything I want from it.

I wear it virtually everyday now and it’s replaced my other watches as my main watch.

Obviously if I’m going out in the night it’s a proper watch but for day to day the smart watches can’t be beaten.

[earlofsodbury]

Gun to my head would do it.

I have no desire to know how unfit I am. I have mirrors for that.

I don't want constant nagging messages from social media etc. I don't care. F*** off.

Hi, I'm Paul, I'm old, and blind and still use a coal-fired Nokia 6310i...

[prexelor]

I picked up a Xiaomi Mi Band 4 'smart' watch and it's replaced my Seiko 007. I can see calls, texts and emails. At £30, it is good.

[watchstudent]

I would be interested in a smart watch that did lots of tracking but actually didn't display it and i could just access the data on my phone if and when i want to.

[Ivan Drago]

I would be interested in a smart watch that did lots of tracking but actually didn't display it and i could just access the data on my phone if and when i want to.

They all do that.

I’ve turned all the call and text notifications off on m garmin. I’m not interested in any of that.

Having music on the watch and not having to run with a phone etc it’s brilliant. Also the info I can get out of it in terms of fitness is tremendous.

[MartynJC (UK)]

I would be interested in a smart watch that did lots of tracking but actually didn't display it and i could just access the data on my phone if and when i want to.

The Fitbit Charge 3 does that - the display is black unless you tilt or press button - you can display on wrist too - but all the analysis is done ‘cloud side’ and an app shows your progress and viewable as you need it. Bluetooth connection between the two - data is stored up to seven days locally on the Fitbit and transmitted to the cloud either synch or asynch - your choice.

I have one of these wearables 24x7 (as I track my sleep patterns too for health reasons) on my right wrist, and my watch on my left. I have no plans to buy a smart watch.

[woodacre1983]

I use a Fitbit in the gym if I’m boxing or doh go cardio. Even then on my left wrist is a proper watch.
As for a smart watch replacing wrist time for my collection zero chance. Phones are a bad enough distraction from actual human to human contact. There is no way I want messages and emails going to my wrist. I’m 36 and get told I’m old before my time. I lost mechanical watches I use a double edge razor froM the 1960s. I just think things was easier and simpler then


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[Mj2k]

I picked up an Apple Watch here & after previously dismissing them despite friends raving about them, I am now a convert.

Love everything about it now I’ve got a few screens set up for what I want at any point in time. The shortcut to the countdown timer is used daily for my cooking timing.

I still wear a ‘proper’ watch on my left wrist. Some people have laughed, my wife too, but I just don’t care.


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[Foxy100]

It would have to be fairly serious for me to want to wear a smart watch instead of a mechanical one, and I don't want to wear two watches. Plus I don't do anything much that means I can't pull my phone out of my pocket.

[Waxman]

I’m finding it is really helping with motivation for exercise and diet my 2 main 2020 goals. So far so good - just moved in a belt hole sine 01 Jan!

[Ruggertech]

Personally, I see smartwatches as a true threat to mechanical watches, and the dawn of another quartz crisis.

I also believe this to be true. I retired last year but all of my workmates who actually wore watches (many just used their phones to tell the time) had changed to smart watches over the previous year to eighteen months and would never consider buying a mechanical watch.


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[village]

I'd rather amputate my hands than wear a smart watch.

[Pitfitter]

I'd rather amputate my hands than wear a smart watch.

Harsh but my thoughts too.

[Wallasey Runner]

No good to me at all, you sort of need fingers on both hands, so that's me out.

[Bonzodog]

I can’t think of a single reason why I would wear such a thing.

[SuperVM]

I'm on my third, but all have been for running. TomTom Spark 3, then a Garmin 735 XT and now a Garmin Fenix 5. Sadly, the GPS on the Fenix 5 is completely useless, so I use a Stryd foot pod for pace information. I also use a heart rate chest strap as the wrist sensor is useless about 150 BPM. That leaves the Fenix 5 as pretty much just a display....

[Passenger]

Definitely with the sceptics on this, why on earth would you willingly permit your insurer or the nhs/Govt., google, Facebook/ whoever to have access to that amount of data about you...imagine you're enjoying a convivial drink with friends and the bloody watch starts beeping and flashing telling you that your insurance company is threatening to raise your premiums because you've exceeded your daily/ weekly alcohol allowance, possibly dystopian perhaps not.
mind you I don't have a mobile either, happily.
Already happening after a fashion in China,
https://www.wired.co.uk/article/chin...ivacy-invasion

[walkerwek1958]

I could enjoy crushing one slowly in the trusty 6" Record vice that lives in my garage and imagine it squealing as it disintegrated........I know it's an inanimate object but I could still pretend

When they first came out all the trendies and 'early adaptors' liked to be seen in them, now every bellend and his brother wear them so even that limited appeal has gone.

The only upside is that it may keep the custom of wearing a watch alive and possibly lead to a resurgence in the trend for wearing proper watches.

[Neil.C]

Nothing would entice me to wear a "smart watch" although to be fair I am not their target audience.

I've never been in a gym, and know how fit I am by how far I can walk the dog whilst wearing a heavy steel watch rather than a thin plastic thing.

[CatalystGuy]

I don’t see smart watches as watches as such as they do so much more. At the moment the most interesting attraction is the health monitoring.

But I’d relegate to a discrete hidden tool and continue with the traditional watch for jewellery and appreciation of the mechanical marvel it is.


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[snowman]

Nothing.

I rather rashly bought one of those Skagen ones in the recent sale.

I quite like the look of it and the functionality (it only tracks steps against a target) and it has the good grace to look like a conventional watch, but I don't want to wear the same watch every day, so it's not going to work for me.

I do wear a cheap step/sleep tracker bracelet (less intrusive than a fitbit) on my right wrist, so I'm not adverse to the tech, I just prefer not to abandon a watch for it.

M

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[wileeeeeey]

Would love a smart band or bracelet. Something with no screen to track and use my phone to view. Couldn't possibly wear a smart watch with a real watch. Not for me. Withings have a new watch coming out this year with spots sleep apnea and is very interesting but I'd need it without the clock face. Maybe next year.

[Templogin]

Nothing. I would never consider wearing one. Another pointless bit of crap to carry around imho.

I said exactly the same about smartphones, and just under a year ago I finally bought an iPhone, but only because I don’t have a landline or broadband, and Three were making a smartphone a decent alternative to broadband for what I need it for. I have still got my old Nokia that does texts calls and photos. I wish that I still had my 6310i though. That was a nice phone.

Perhaps one day I will have a smart watch, but I imagine that it will be a long time off yet.

[Vanguard]

Ghastly things, definitely not for me under any circumstances.

[Alansmithee]

I have a £20 miband that does everything i need and looks like a wristband.

[Darklel]

I'd wear one to the gym, that way I can leave my phone in the locker whilst still being connected to the world.

Wouldn't be caught dead with one during the day though. Plus, how much "activity" do you do and measure during office hours?...

[Kingstepper]

I'd wear one to the gym, that way I can leave my phone in the locker whilst still being connected to the world.

Wouldn't be caught dead with one during the day though. Plus, how much "activity" do you do and measure during office hours?...

Not everyone has a sedentary office job. Other people have retired.

[Barrisimo]

I'd wear one to the gym, that way I can leave my phone in the locker whilst still being connected to the world.

Wouldn't be caught dead with one during the day though. Plus, how much "activity" do you do and measure during office hours?...

This I could imagine as a good reason for one otherwise I always have my phone on me so don’t see what else they give me and I love my mechanical watches. My wife has replaced all her lovely watches with an Apple watch because “I don’t always have my phone on me”. It is like when the Blackberry came out being connected to the world 24/7 or monitored 24/7 is not going to make life less stressful or more fun! I miss the days when work emails stopped when I left the office!

[Rori]

Fitness tracking when doing my exercise. Love how good and encouraging the data the watches provide can be to my daily exercise routines.
Also love going back to my mechanical watch after training is done.

[NCC66]

I wore a Fenix 5S pretty much every day when I was still working. Tracked my cycle commute and fitness, plus used it extensively when not working but cycling for fun. A fantastic bit of kit that was useful for many reasons.

Now I’ve ‘retired’ I’ve converted back to mechanical watches for day-to-day wear and only use the Garmin when I can manage a bike ride. It’s nice to have some variety instead of the same wrist wear every day. Plus, while the smart watch functions are great, I could never call that watch attractive. Functional? Absolutely. Attractive? Not in my eyes.

The whole smart watch thing is a bit addictive and once you start wearing one it’s a difficult habit to break.


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[bloater]

I'm contemplating one, for two reasons.
Firstly work have introduced a no phones policy apart from breaks but your allowed a smart watch so for SMS, email etc during the day it would be useful.
Secondly for route tracking when on SAR duties as it would save draining the phone battery.

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[snowman]

Mmmm. I've never tried to run long distances, but I'd track it with GPS rather than a step counter...

I see your point though.

M

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