A Beginner’s Guide to Smartwatches

We all love a watch for every occasion. The Patek is perfect for those special moments; the Submariner will do nicely for the daily grind in the office. But when it comes to exercising, adventuring and working out, neither of those seem like the right fit. The Patek doesn’t have the water resistance to cope with breaking a sweat, and risking a value-crushing dent on the Rolex isn’t exactly the smart man’s move.

No, for those moments, you need a smartwatch. And, fortunately for you, there are more options in that space than ever before. Whether you’re driven by looks, features, pricing or a combination of all three, there’s a smartwatch out there to perfectly complement your collection – and T3’s Sam Cross is here with a beginner’s guide to smartwatches to help you find the right fit.

What Can a Smartwatch Do?

While different models will have different specs and features, there are a few things which are universal. For example, it’s pretty much a bare minimum for these devices to count your steps.

Most smartwatches go much further than that, with additional sensors to track things like heart rate, blood pressure, stress and more. These days, it’s not uncommon to see a universal score which builds many of these metrics into a single, more digestible idea of how well you are at any given moment.

It’s not just about health and fitness, either. Most of these devices will also link up with your phone, allowing you to make and receive calls and messages, check notifications and more. Think of the smartwatch as a wrist-mounted window into what’s happening on your main handset.

Will Any Smartwatch Work for Me?

In short, no. While it’s true that most models will work with a wide array of devices, there are certain system-locked examples. But this smartwatch guide should make it easier to narrow that down.

For example, the Apple Watch – which is arguably the most well-known smartwatch (you don’t need a guide to know that) – will only work if you have an accompanying iPhone. If you’re running an Android handset, then you’ll need to look to some of the other options on the market. You’ll often find that smartwatch and phone combinations from the same brand will provide the most cohesive experience.

It’s also a good idea to do some deep research on exactly what apps your watch of choice can support. Huawei, for example, manufacture some fantastic smartwatches, but you won’t be able to utilise any Google apps on them, which might be a deal-breaker.

What to Look Out For

Processor

My next smartwatch guide tip is that just as you would when buying a phone or a laptop, it’s important to look at the quality of the processor. Think of it like the engine in your car – this is the powerhouse of your device, and better performance here will make everything quicker and more efficient.

The performance aspect is becoming more and more crucial as AI processing becomes more common, but the efficiency is what you’ll probably notice first. That will have a direct impact on your battery life.

For Apple Watches, the current S10 chip is the top dog, and can be found in the Series 10 model. It’s a little more convoluted in other devices as there’s so much variety, but the Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 is a good bet. You’ll find it in devices from brands like Google, OnePlus and Oppo.

Battery

Speaking of the battery life, let’s talk about the cell itself. These watches are powered by something more akin to a phone battery than a quartz watch and will often be listed with a rating in milliamp hours (mAh).

The size of the battery is obviously important, but it’s not the only factor that impacts your watch’s longevity. As mentioned, the efficiency of the processor is equally important.

For that reason, it’s always worth looking out for listed battery life figures or reading some reviews from a trusted source. At T3, we thoroughly test the battery life of each smartwatch to create a comprehensive guide, in a range of different situations, to ensure you’ve got a clear picture of what to expect.

Battery life will also vary wildly between models – a base model Apple Watch might just about make one full day, while watches from brands like Garmin can last for months.

Styling

Just as with your carefully curated selection of mechanical timepieces, it’s important to get something stylish that you’ll enjoy wearing and looking at. There are a lot of different options on the current market, from the square frame of the Apple Watch to the minimal perfect circles of the Google Pixel Watch.

One thing you’ll notice about smartwatches is that they tend to be a little larger than traditional watches. It’s not uncommon to see measurements in the mid-to-high 40mm range, as this gives users a larger display to make use of.

More often than not, these will be offered on a rubber strap. Those range from something not too dissimilar to the Tropic straps you’ll know from dive watches to something that looks more like Stretch Armstrong’s pool float.

Of course, you can swap it out for other options, but keep in mind that it’s not as simple as on a traditional watch. Most have a unique attachment method, so you’ll need to get something specifically designed for your watch. Many bespoke brands like Jean Rousseau produce a custom range specially for smart watches.

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