The ‘smart watches’ have grown along with digital developments. They are mini PCs with a processor and a small screen, so you can use them as a navigation device, health meter, organizer and music player.
Keep a smartphone nearby and a smartwatch also immediately acts as a means of communication: your smartwatch transmits all messages. With some models even calling is possible. There are many different types and brands of smartwatches for sale, with prices ranging from three tens to hundreds of euros. There are a number of important features to look out for.

Operating system
Since smartwatches are mini computers, they have an operating system. They are variants of the operating systems that are also known from mobile phones: Android, iOS and Windows. An exception is Tizen: Samsung’s operating system that only works on Samsung smartwatches.
Smartwatches can function as a standalone device, but you get a lot more out of it if you connect it to your smartphone. That makes choosing the type of smart watch a lot easier. If your smartphone runs on Android, you buy a smartwatch with Android Wear. An iPhone? Then a smartwatch with Watch OS. The same goes for Windows. There are also smartwatches that work with multiple systems, such as the Pebble, Fitbit Blaze and certain Samsung watches.

Service
The operation is important for a small device such as a smartwatch. Some of the smartwatches, especially the more expensive types, have a touchscreen, just like a smartphone. That seems useful. But unfortunately on such a small watch screen you quickly get in the way with one or more fingers. It is difficult to operate if you do not see what you are operating. That is why many smartwatches also have control buttons on the side. Apple Watches, for example, use a jog wheel to scroll through options and information. That works a bit better than the standard push buttons. An alternative to smartwatches is voice control. Many people do not use it on their smartphone or tablet, because they find manual control more comfortable. On a smartwatch, voice control can be useful. Not only for operation but also for sending messages.

Screen
Just like on the smartphone, the quality of the smartwatch screen is important. After all, you want to be able to read the information provided. Displays with E-ink offer the lowest image quality. E-ink is also used on e-readers and thus gives an easily readable image with very little power consumption. Only E-ink cannot handle colors, so viewing beautiful colorful photos on your watch is not possible.

IPS screens can handle colors and offer a good viewing angle. This means you don’t always have to hold the watch straight in front of you. Oled is known from TVs, among other things, and gives the best picture due to the good color reproduction. The screen size ranges from 1 inch (2.5 cm) to 2 inches (5 cm). A small screen is usually more comfortable on your wrist, but a larger screen provides more ease of reading and operation.

Appearance
A device that you wear on your wrist often and for a long time should not get in the way. In addition, the eye also wants something. The size of a smartwatch mainly depends on the screen size. A larger screen means more viewing and operating convenience, but also a larger block on your wrist. So you have to consider for yourself what is most important to you. In addition to the size, you also have a choice between a rectangular or more old-fashioned round shape.

The round variants look more like a regular watch and often have fewer options due to the limited screen space. Fortunately, the choice for a certain brand of smartwatch does not have to depend so much on the size or shape. Manufacturers often release different models of the same smartwatch. If you don’t know how to choose between a classic watch and a smartwatch, a hybrid is an idea. These are devices that have a regular watch on the outside of your wrist and a narrow smartwatch on the inside. And then there’s the strap. For everyday use, not only comfort but also the style is important. Then a metal or leather strap is a good choice. These materials are less suitable for athletes. Instead, a rubber or plastic band is better, in connection with sweating.

Handy extras
Smartwatches use bluetooth to communicate with your smartphone. But if you don’t always want to take your smartphone with you, a watch with WiFi is a solution. As long as you have a WiFi connection nearby, you can still send and receive messages, for example. If you don’t have your smartphone to hand, you usually immediately left your camera at home. But you don’t have to: just take a smartwatch with a built-in camera. Just don’t expect the HD images that you shoot with a smartphone these days. NFC is the technology that enables wireless payment with your smartphone when shopping. A handy alternative is a smartwatch with NFC, so that you no longer have to take your mobile out of your pocket when paying.

Sports with a watch
Another popular type of smart watch is the sports watch. It is specifically aimed at keeping track of your body condition and fitness progress.
For this, the watch is equipped with a number of important facilities. Think of a heart rate monitor and a pedometer. A GPS receiver is also important, so that you can record walking, cycling or other routes. This way you keep track of your speeds and distances traveled. Additional options are a blood pressure monitor, altimeter and compass. Certain sports watches can process your fitness data. Others need contact with an app on a smartphone or tablet. You don’t have to carry it with you. You can also transfer the data at home. Just about every sports watch has its own app for processing and tracking data. But in addition, well-known fitness and health apps such as Strava and Google Fit can also be used. Sports watches are ideal for fitness use because they are specially built for this. They are not too heavy and large and sit comfortably on your wrist. You can also use a smartwatch to track your fitness progress. The advantage of this is that you have extras when exercising, such as receiving messages and listening to music. Please note that not all smartwatches have parts such as a GPS and a heart rate monitor.

Buying tips

• The first criterion for a smartwatch is the operating system of your smartphone. Get a watch that can handle that system.
• Think carefully about what you want to do with it. If you want to use it as a mini-smartphone, get a larger screen and pay close attention to the ease of use. Optionally, choose WiFi as an option. If you prefer it as a watch with extras, choose a smaller screen or a hybrid.
• Note the battery life. If you don’t wear your watch day and night, a shorter battery life of a few tens of hours is no problem. Otherwise, get one that will last for days.
• Finally: a smartwatch should be comfortable to wear. So try it on in the store before you buy it.

This article originally appeared in Plus Magazine in May 2018. Not yet a Plus Magazine subscriber? Becoming a subscriber is done in no time!