The Era of the Smartwatch (And Why a Rugged Model is Often the Best Choice)

Over the past decade or so, we’ve seen some amazing advancements in smartphones. From their humble beginnings, they were always something of a head turner and conversation starter, and over the years, they have evolved from being a simple telephone to a device that combines a portable computer, video recorder, camera, fitness tracker and so much more all into one.

More recently, we’ve seen an increase in the smartwatch market, which appears to many as a natural extension of the smartphone. After all, we would always have our watch on our wrist, and our mobile in our pocket, so it makes perfect sense that the two devices share similar features and functionality.

For some functions, they can even be synced to work together, whereby you can see your phone and who is calling, simply by looking at your watch, rather than scrabble about trying to get your phone out of your pocket.

Benefits of a smart watch

There are a number of benefits to having a smart watch, and below we will take a look at some of the main ones that are attracting more people to the concept of owning and wearing one.

Highly functional

Just as a smartphone isn’t only used to make phone calls, a smartwatch isn’t only used to tell the time. There are a number of other practical functions that make it very useful as well as it being very fashionable – some models are really cool looking, and rugged smartwatches are something that a lot of people go for.

Promote a healthy lifestyle

One big attraction of smart watches is their ability to run various fitness apps that track things such the distance and number of steps you’ve walked, your calories burnt, and also measure things such as your blood pressure and heart rate. Some of the more advanced models of smartwatch also have a special fitness mode that offer dedicated workouts for activities such as cycling, swimming and walking.

Check Notifications on social media

If you are someone who is constantly on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, then there are going to be lots of times throughout the day when you received notifications and messages. Many smart watches will be able to show you the notifications and also the ability to interact on your social media accounts, while your smartphone is safe and sound inside your jacket pocket.

Longer lasting battery

One of the main advantages that a smart watch has over a smartphone is the battery life. Many smartphones have extremely powerful batteries that can last you for days without needing a recharge. You’ll most likely need to charge your mobile phone a couple times each day, especially if you are frequently using it on a daily basis.

They are fashionable

As mentioned earlier, a smart watch isn’t just a device on your wrist (though technically it is). It’s also a fashion statement, and many people choose to wear a smart watch for fashion purposes, more than for the actual features and functions that such a watch offers the wearer. There are a number of smart watches that allow you to change the watch face whenever you desire, meaning that you could have a different looking watch every day of the week.

Cons of smart watch

Even though there are a great number of benefits from smartwatches, they also do have some disadvantages, and it’s only fair that we also mention these.

The main sticking point for many people is the price. Though you could pick up a very basic smartwatch for under $100, this will be a model that is going to have very limited function and features. If you want a powerful smartwatch, which can sync with your mobile, and use a range of your favourite apps, then you will need to go for a high-end model which can cost around $500.

Another drawback is that unless the smartwatch has its own cellular capability, you will need to have your smartphone close by so that it can connect to the apps and work with them. Bluetooth has a limitation in that the primary device needs to be without 300 feet of the other devices to connect with, so you will need to have your smart phone with you in your pocket or bag. There are some models though that don’t need a mobile phone close by to use all of the features.

One other disadvantage is that some of the models can be pretty fragile. If you were to fall and land on the watch, there is a good chance it will break and be damaged beyond repair. However, this is where the concept of a rugged smartwatch comes into play, which we will discuss next.

Rugged smartwatches

There has also been a market for people, in particular men, who like wearing chunky watches. Whether they are simply covered in jewels and gold, or have a protective casing around them, these rugged watches are both very popular and very practical.

Rugged smartwatches are the best option for those who are outdoors a lot, or who enjoy activities such as jogging, cycling or simply walking. You never know when you might have an accident or fall down, and our general instant as we fall, is to push our hands and arms out in front of us.

Doing this can help break the fall, but in some cases, it means landing on your hands and wrists, and if wearing an everyday watch, the chances are that it will be damaged.

With a rugged and tough smartwatch, even in the event of such accidents, the watch will be completely unaffected most of the time. So, as well as looking extremely cool and fashionable, you have a watch that is literally protecting itself in the event of an accident.

Many of these rugged smartwatches are also water or splash proof, so you can use them outdoors in all weather. Some of them can also be worn while swimming, which makes them perfect if you want to monitor your heart rate as you enjoy your daily swim in your local pool.

Final thoughts …

It’s only over the past couple of years that people are finally beginning to be more open to the concept of smartwatches, and can understand the potential of them. Several years ago, people thought of them as nothing more than a money making gimmick from firms who are already raking in millions of dollars of revenue on a daily basis.