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1.OS and Device Compatibility
Because most smartwatches are designed to serve as companions to your smartphone, device compatibility is very important. For instance, A smartwatch works with Android and iOS devices is very improtant.
2.Display
Color displays use so much power that many watches turn off their screens while they’re asleep, so you can’t even see the time without waking the device. Look for a smartwatch that continues to show the time when it’s not in use, usually at a dimmer brightness.
3.Buttons or Touch Interface
On the surface, opting for a touch screen on your smartwatch would seem to be a no-brainer. After all, there’s a touch screen on your smartphone and pretty much every other gadget these days. A touch-display interface should also be easier to navigate.
Nevertheless, smartwatches with physical buttons tend to be more affordable than those with touch screens. And some people prefer the classic look of a traditional watch.
4.Design and Personalization
The better smartwatches offer a choice of straps and/or the ability to swap them out for a third-party option. This is important if you want to personalize the look of your device.
5.Notifications and Alerts
Some smartwatches offer more customization options. For example, lets you decide which notifications come through to your wrist by using the Manager app on your phone. There’s also a Smart Relay feature. Just picking up your phone with the notification displayed on your watch will open the corresponding app on the larger screen.
6.Apps and Watchfaces
The Apple Watch has the most impressive app roster thus far, with more than 3,500 options available. Options include Instagram, Uber, Shazam and CNN. You can do everything from control your lights with the Philips Hue app to order out lunch with Seamless. There’s a dedicated Apple Watch App Store for downloading extra software.
7.Special Features: Fitness, Voice and More
As fitness trackers continue to attract attention, smartwatch makers are getting in on the action by integrating activity-monitoring functions. Some smartwatches depend on your smartphone for activity tracking, but most at least have a built-in pedometer for tracking steps.
Most Android Wear devices have a heart rate monitor built in, but we haven’t found them to be reliable. The Apple Watch heart rate sensor proved more accurate in our testing.
8.Battery Life and Charging
Watches with voice capabilities won’t last nearly as long when you use them as phones, but that’s to be expected. The Apple Watch lasts about 18 hours of mixed use on a charge.
As for charging, we prefer smartwatches that use micro USB, because it’s easier to find a cable when you don’t have the one that came with your device handy. The Alcatel OneTouch watch uses a clever full-size USB charging port, so you can plug it right into your laptop or other charger.
