Hello.
People are divided into thrifty and rational, as well as those who simply buy a thing that they like, and then study all the pitfalls by their own example. As a child, we had a box at home in which old watches were kept, some were out of order, some were out of fashion. Massive metal cases, coating worn off by years of use, dents in the case that ate away the chrome plating. It was interesting to look at these watches, it was easy to guess eras and countries from them. Soviet watches were easily recognizable by their rather massive cases, even in women’s models. The Swiss ones were distinguished by a thin profile and a certain grace. It is possible that then I had an implicit love for watches, and for some time I acquired models that I liked, until smart watches appeared.
There was a certain incident with smart watches, they are very convenient as an external control panel for your smartphone, and the latter has become the center of our life, I hope that it is only digital. Often the phone is in the same room, and the watch receives the call and shows that you need to answer or, on the contrary, reject the call of spammers. Messages, step counting, heart rate, and even blood pressure are all modern smartwatches, not to mention sleep and workout measurement, which is enough for most people who do not play sports professionally.
The popularity of smartwatches is undeniable, you can see them all around you, they have become an accessory that almost all people use. The choice at first glance is great, you can stop at a variety of models of different sizes and shapes. iPhone owners usually look at the Apple Watch, a small rectangular piece of electronics that lacks the aesthetics of a regular watch.
Another form factor that has become popular is the watch with a round dial, they are produced by different companies, there are sports models, there are those that are larger and more massive and will suit both men and women. Watches as an accessory have become democratic, they are worn under a suit and with a sweater, paying attention to design and cost last. More precisely, the diversity of design that was once gone nowhere, now we choose a black screen on which you can put your watch face.
The cost of smart watches varies widely, unknown companies offer them for several thousand rubles, famous brands ask for 20 thousand and more. Traditionally, the most expensive offer from Apple, while smart watches from Samsung cost much less and at the same time can do much more – everything is the same as in smartphones.
Countless times when I was asked regarding which watch to buy, I always answered regarding the same thing, describing the selection algorithm. You need to decide how long you want to use the watch, you need to count on at least five years. Of course, you can give up the watch earlier if it becomes morally obsolete, you just get tired of it. Nobody has canceled moral obsolescence, but usually this is a replacement for an awl with soap.
When choosing a smart watch and assessing its lifespan, you need to look at the following parameters:
- software updates from the manufacturer;
- body materials;
- ease of battery replacement in the future;
- interchangeable straps.
Let’s start with the last point, namely the strap. With constant wear of the watch, the strap begins to wear out, regardless of what material it is made of. The metal is covered with scratches, and if it is painted, the paint may peel off. It is important to pay attention to the fact that the straps are universal, that is, you can use both native ones from the manufacturer (they are usually noticeably more expensive) and third-party ones. Treat the strap as a consumable item, and remember that you can easily freshen up your watch with it. And perhaps this will give them a second life in your eyes. There are thousands of straps for every taste and color.
It is important to note that silicone straps can “sweat” during storage, becoming covered with a sticky layer, so they break down over time. With daily use, this does not happen, as moisture gets on them, but if you put a watch or strap in a drawer, then following a year you will find a raid on them. The strap from this, of course, will not collapse, but it will have to be washed.
The main physical problem is the accidental drop of the watch, when you can damage the screen, less often the case. Many, by analogy with smartphones, try to “protect” the watch screen and stick a protective film on it. As for me, this can be avoided if you choose the right watch with normal, high-quality glass (not plastic, which is covered with scratches, and not mineral glass, which is just as quickly covered with scuffs). I am once morest the protective film on the watch screen, it is definitely not needed for the right model.
In theory, you can break anything, but in practice, this is often not so easy. Pah-pah, in my case, not a single watch broke during the entire time of use. There are dents on the Galaxy Watch3 case (I have the titanium version), but they are minor, although the watch flew almost two meters onto the concrete floor.
When choosing a watch, you need to understand how often the manufacturer updates the software and how important it is for you. For example, I am satisfied with all the functions that I get out of the box, I do not need third-party software. Updates bring additional features, improve certain work algorithms, but this is secondary, by and large. More important is how the watch looks and how good it is in everyday use.
The cost of good smart watches today is comparable to the mechanical watches of Swiss manufacturers, but if the mechanics are eternal, then smart watches are tied to the life of the battery. In the first two years, the battery capacity of smart watches drops by an average of 20-25%, which is not so critical, you can use them. Of course, if you have an Apple Watch, then this will be a disadvantage, they work one light day in most cases, and a 25% drop in battery capacity will force you to recharge it before going to bed or in the morning (which will not measure how you sleep) . An important parameter is how long the watch works on a single charge, you should be guided by this when choosing.
But what few people think regarding is the availability of such a service as battery replacement. The more common model you have, the more likely you are to be able to replace the battery following a few years. And this is important, since the battery is a consumable. For example, in the Galaxy S3 Frontier, the battery was recently replaced, everything cost a total of 1.5 thousand rubles (500 rubles for the battery, 1,000 rubles for work). The watch is six years old, and they got at least another five years of work, besides, the battery now calmly pulls up to a week! The new battery has more capacity.
It is more difficult to replace the battery on an old Amazfit watch, it was not possible to find such a service, so they are sent to the shelf as a reminder of the past. The larger the manufacturer and the more devices it has sold, the easier it will be to replace the battery in the future, the market adjusts to demand.
The idea that smart watches need to be changed every few years is alien to me, they do not have such a development of functions for most people to replace one watch with another. In a good way, the life of smart watches should be 5-10 years, then the cost of ownership will justify itself one hundred percent. Of course, you can buy an inexpensive watch and change it from time to time, but a watch is a very personal accessory and you want it to be cool, right? Therefore, instead of buying any watch, you should still save up for those that you really like, and not chase cheapness.
In smart watches, unfortunately, there is a factory defect, especially Apple Watch. In such watches, the screen often squeezes out over time.
Of course, this does not happen with all watches, it all depends on your bad luck. This usually happens following the warranty has expired, the battery swells. In some countries, consumer protection laws are such that Apple will repair the watch for free because it is a defective component (alternatively, in the UK, a manufacturer’s defect guarantee is up to six years), but in most countries you will simply be denied a free repair. Therefore, it is worth considering that in this case you will have to pay for repairs (the percentage of such marriage is quite large, not tens of percent, but only in Russia it exceeds 6% of the number of watches sold).
This text is not regarding the choice of smart watches, we published a text on how to do it correctly, it has practically not lost its relevance today.
The question when choosing a smart watch, as I see it, sounds simple – expect that you buy them for the long term. Meticulously evaluate how much you like the design of a particular model, then think regarding which smartphone, platform you will use in the coming years. And then make your choice. But you definitely don’t need to be afraid that you will break the screen and protect it. And replacing the battery should be a routine task for you if you chose the right manufacturer on the shore. I hope that my thoughts will help you make the right choice.
