Fitbits/Smart watches etc.

[jon0844]

A great post and a good summary of the key benefits of a smart watch (time, notifications at a glance and health). Apps are available on some watches for those that need it, but if you don't then there are some great offerings out there now that do the basics well. (I also value checking the weather at a glance too).

If people aren't entirely convinced, you can perhaps go and buy something like a Honor Band 5 or Xiaomi Mi Band 4 that will set you back £30 or so. They look more like fitness bands/pedometers than a traditional watch but can be a good entry into the market. From there you can then consider a watch type that will start at nearer £100 and upwards.

 

[alxndr]

Interesting to see how battery life seems to have improved since they first came on the market, that's always been one of the biggest turn offs for me.

Still, I prefer to have a basic Casio watch that I know is pretty unlikely to let me down and doesn't cost an arm and a leg. I've not been without a watch for more than a couple of days at a time since I was about 8 and got my first watch, I'm absolutely lost without one. The only time it ever leaves my wrist is if I'm climbing.

 

[najaB]

Still, I prefer to have a basic Casio watch that I know is pretty unlikely to let me down and doesn't cost an arm and a leg ... The only time it ever leaves my wrist is if I'm climbing.

If it's a Casio F-91W you might want to take it off if you're travelling to America - unless you want an free, indefinite length holiday in Cuba!

 

[bspahh]

I have used a Xiaomi Mi Band for a few years. First it was a Mi Band 2, and then a Mi Band 3.

I like having a watch to know the date and time, even if my phone is charging. I don't want to have to adjust the watch to get the correct date, and I want to be able to tell the time when its pitch dark. I don't like plastic straps and I don't want more hassle to keep the battery charged.

I paid about £20, £5 for a leather strap and ~£2 for spare charging leads. The latest Mi Band 4 model is £26 from https://www.amazon.co.uk/Xiaomi-Mi-Smart-Band-Fitness/dp/B07SNG23JW

The battery lasts for several weeks and takes an hour or so to recharge.

I use it to tell the time. The screen is normally off, but turns on if I twist my arm. It is normally bright enough to view, but in bright sunlight, its a bit dim, so I would look at my phone instead.

The step counting is pretty reliable and I find it useful as a prompt to be more active each day.

I have the watch set up to vibrate when I have a phone call or text message. It displays the text of the message on the watch, but its in quite small text. You can also set it up to buzz when there is a notification from other apps on my phone.

I don't look at the sleep tracking data very often, but its nice to have on odd occasions. I don't use the optical heart rate monitor much either. One really nice feature is that if I've lost my phone, the watch can make the phone start to bleep loudly.

I know someone who bought the latest Apple Watch for their 3 year old ...

 

[najaB]

I know someone who bought the latest Apple Watch for their 3 year old ...

What's that saying about a fool and their money...?

 

[antharro]

I have two Pebble smartwatches, a first gen Pebble Steel, and a Pebble Time. Both are superb watches and, despite being completely discontinued, with the support of the community they are still very much usable. I tend to use the Steel most as the Time has screen seal issues which cause condensation. Need to fix that.