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Withings Scanwatch is cross-platform. No need for a branded device to use it, does all the usual tracking stuff plus afib detection. One of the reasons I chose it was that it looks like a watch and not a toy. Also, depending on how you use it, it can go for days between charges. Most of the similar “brand locked” devices seem to only go 1 or 2 days max.
This. I get about 30 days out of mine. I only use it for running purposes and I’m not too serious about my split times so it’s perfect for what I need a smart watch to do. Had an Apple Watch and got tired of charging it every day. They also look like fisher price toys.
I have an older Withings watch and will buy another once I need to. Even bought a set for my parents. I really dont need a tiny phone strapped to my wrist, I have an actually usable one right in my pocket. The battery lasts weeks, the heartrate and sleep tracking stuff works, I can keep the phone on silent and still get notifications… it really is the perfect smart watch as far as I’m concerned.
none of them, i’d rather not have any extra data on me out there that’s digitally storing it anywhere, even locally.
i keep my odometer and a pulse monitor with me, but they’re both local dumb.
Check out gadgetbridge. Recent discovery of mine
I am an avid Garmin user. I have tried the Vivoactive and am currently using the Fenix series. Highly recommend!!!
I have been using a PineTime for quite a while now which is an absolute no-brainer for 27$.
Even if it’s marketed for tech/foss enthusiasts it’s really easy to use, would recommend if you just want simple step tracking and heart rate monitoring.I don’t wear one anymore I just have the Casio f-91w but if I could I would get a Pixel watch and remove all the spy ware from it
Has anyone tried the current Ticwatch Pro? I heard decent things about the previous model but I’m a bit leery of the their app on my phone, plus that they are still pending a WearOS update and various features (Google assistant etc)
I have a polar vantage m and i like it, it was relatively cheap and has everything one needs when it comes to running
The Pebble watches. They may not be made anymore, but they are the only smart watches I have used that felt like an actual smart watch instead of a phone for your wrist. Once mine dies, I may switch to a BangleJS.
It is still the best “dumb” smartwatch out there. Long battery life, physical buttons, no touch screen nonsense and it just works.
I am still rocking my Pebble2 but unfortunately the silicon buttons are starting to deteriorate. It will be difficult to make repairs/upgrades to the watch, but I don’t see a 1to1 replacement for it.
Isn’t the point of making a watch smart is that you can get your phone onto your wrist?
In some ways yes, but I think a smart watch is optimal for performing tasks quickly and and giving me information at a glance. A smart watch should feel like a dashboard on my wrist that stops me from using my phone unnecessarily. Most smart watches feel like a small second display for my phone with a worse user experience that make me want to always perform those tasks on my phone.
Apple Watch just makes sense if you are already on iPhone. I resisted it for a long time but now after getting one it is so useful for things like having access to DUO codes on your wrist without a phone and maintaining healthy habits
Love my Apple Watch! Its main downside compared to the rest is weak battery life, you basically need to charge it every day. It’s an easy habit to form though (I just throw mine on the charger when I shower).
Mine lasts about 3 days before I have to charge it, but I’m also largely ignoring it and use it as a watch / timer / notification reader. I had one with the cell modem but when I broke it was during the pandemic and just wasn’t on-site where I’d often leave my phone at the desk.
My battery health has gotten awful recently too. I’ve got a series 5, so yes it’s 4 years old, but I genuinely only get about 12 hours of battery life these days. I went through and uninstalled every single app I don’t use, but it’s still awful.
Love everything else about it though, so I set a slickdeals alert to hopefully pick up a cheaper series 8 sometime between now and when the series 9 launches
Look into an SE version 2, those aren’t half bad either if you’re trying to save a bit of money.
Mine chargers super fast and so yeah I can charge it while I do my bed time routine and have it 100% to track sleep and be ready for the next day
Yeah I just picked up an Ultra after not having one since the first gen. Very useful for sleep tracking, short cuts (if you have a smart home) and all kinds of other crap. Works nice with AirPod max too.
personally i am fine with the garmin on ios, only annoyance is double notifications
Garmin’s are great step trackers, I have read in reviews they are a lot more accurate in that regard compared to Apple Watch. The other integrations into the apple ecosystem is what I appreciate about my series 8
I’ve been an Apple Watch user for several years now. When I first purchased one I wondered if it might turn out to be a bit of a gimmick. But now I don’t think I would want to be without one.
The Apple Watch integrates seemlessly with the iPhone. The fitness features may not be quite as in depth as Garmin offers, but they are good enough for casual exercise and have been effective and keeping me more active. If you are numbers person the value of seeing your activity metrics can’t be overstated.
Apple Pay and hands free messaging come in handy often.
I also like the general design. The Apple Watch is square, and I think a square display works much better for a smartwatch. There is also a thriving marketplace for alternate watch bands and they are super easy to swap - no more mangling my finger nails trying to fiddle with those spring pins most watches use.
When I had an Note 10 Lite, I had a xiaimi smart band. I still think that it’s impressive for the price, but the little guy had issues left and right with any app that wasn’t xiaomi’s own apps. (although sometimes, even those had issues)
Then I got an iphone, and later a apple watch. It just works, even with third party apps. Expensive as hell though
Been using the Apple Watch for the past 3 years (currently on the Ultra) and have been loving it. I’m not a serious athlete but use it to track my daily walks/runs. It keeps me honest and active.
Plus I have a data line for my watch so I can ditch my phone and still talk, text, and check emails as needed. I hate to admit it but I have completed many meetings with just my Apple Watch + AirPods while on a run/walk.
Also, it acts as a wallet replacement for the most part. ~8 out of 10 times I can tap and pay with my watch. I only keep 1 physical card and my state ID on me.
I loved Wear OS from Fossil before I switched to Linux phone.
I currently have a Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 to replace my Garmin Vivoactive 3, but I prefer the Garmin. It’s got a bit less by way of bells and whistles, but I also think that the watch might have been overkill for the most part. I don’t end up using the onboard replies as much as I thought I would, and things like ECG and Blood Pressure monitoring are just troublesome enough that it’s not worthwhile (Blood Pressure requires recalibration with a proper machine every once in a while).
The only issue that I had with the Garmin was mostly that the body is a bit too fragile. It’s just plastic, so the corner will break off due to age, which is what happened with mine. If it wasn’t made of plastic, but more durable metal, like the Samsung, I’d still happily wear it. The battery life tended to be better too.
If it was still around, and not incredibly uncomfortable, a Pebble might also not go amiss. I personally don’t need a lot of features in my smartwatch (just timers, alarms, activity/HR tracking, and notifications), so a cheaper, hardier one would serve just fine.
I loved my Pebble. Was eagerly awaiting the last model when the Kickstarter went silent and Fitbit bought them. I did Garmin as well, but one of the features I’ve really come to want/like was NFC payments and they have terrible support across card providers.
Samsung was pretty bad for that too, but at least their newer watches support Google Pay which works with damn near anything.
Garmin Instinct
Ohhh I knew I picked right. I got my dad one too. The esports edition was only 100 bucks and I love It. I stopped using my fitbit versa 2 over it.
I like the way the Apple Watch (non-ultra) looks and functions but the battery life is garbage. It’s almost tolerable brand new but the battery degrades over time and you have to charge more often. No thanks.
I currently use a Garmin forerunner 955. Since I use it for running I charge once a week or so. If you don’t work out and just want metrics, it lasts 2 weeks. I highly recommend Garmin watches
I have a galaxy watch 5 but even 3 days of batteryife is irritating enough I’m looking longingly at the Garmin’s. Really don’t need a lot of the fluff they come with
I also have a Watchy. The thing is in no way a consumer device but it lasts over a week and the eink display is great. Reminds me of what we lost when pebble went away…
Is it possible to buy the Watchy anywhere anymore? The officially linked site says stock of 0.
I got mine from pi hut… https://thepihut.com/collections/sqfmi
Depends which country you’re in I guess… the resellers seem to get them more often
They don’t have any stock either. I wonder if it’s just not enough interest or too much.
How do you like yours? Wear it daily?
On and off… it’s more just a fun thing to program and make better… the default software is pretty basic… essentially it’s an esp32 with an eink display bolted onto it.
It isn’t remotely water resistant - a light rainshower would write it off.
I’ve got a pinetime coming as well which is much more something that could be used as a daily driver whilst still being hackable.
interesting on the pinetime. I’ll have a look at that, thank you.
I have the Fenix 7 sapphire solar and it’s a perfect trooper. 3 weeks or so in normal mode. And you can use it everywhere. Beach and sea, physical labor, swimming pool, gardening.
