Which is better: A Smartwatch or a Fitness Tracker?

 

A smartwatch and a fitness tracker are your two main options for something nice to wear on your wrist. The question is, which one should you choose?

The following guide will help you make an informed decision by providing some basic considerations. In the guide, we look at each device's capabilities, key differences, pros and cons, and how to make a decision.

Some context: what is it and what does it do?

·       Smartwatches

A smartwatch is a portable device that, like a traditional watch, is worn on the wrist. They do, however, have smartphone features such as touchscreens and support apps, unlike traditional watches. Some smartwatches can also track your heart rate and other vital statistics.

Smartwatches perform a variety of functions, which has led to their popularity among consumers. At the very least, the watch will display the time and date, as well as your messages and phone calls. Most smartwatches will also display smartphone notifications.

Aside from that, smartwatches can do the following:

·       Responding messages by voice: A smartwatch allows you to respond to messages without taking your phone out of your pocket. This is particularly true for smartwatches that run Google's Android Wear operating system. This OS is used by the majority of the major wearable device manufacturers, including Motorola and LG. When you receive a message, simply lift your wrist and speak to the watch to respond.

·       Several applications: Users of both Android and Apple smartwatches have access to a plethora of apps. The Apple Watch, for example, will launch the Uber app and even airline apps, allowing you to hail a cab or book a flight right from your wrist. The Uber app, as well as apps for several digital retail stores, are supported by the majority of Android smartwatches.

·       Fitness tracking: While not designed for it, the best smartwatches allow you to track various fitness metrics. You'll be able to track your sprints, for example, if you're an athlete. You'll also find a heart rate monitor and pedometer to help you keep track of your workouts.

·       Fitness Tracker

Another wearable device that resembles a smartwatch is a fitness tracker. They, like smartwatches, are worn on the wrist and, like traditional watches, display the date and time. However, their primary function is to monitor vital body signs such as heart rate, body temperature, and the speed at which you walk or run to ensure that you remain healthy at all times.

In a brief, the following are some of the tasks your fitness tracker can help you with:

·       Heart rate monitoring: Fitness devices track the rate at which your heart beats using two methods. The first and most widely used method is to use an optical heart rate monitor (HRM). It's a complicated procedure, but basically, light is shone on the skin and blood perfusion is measured. Bio-impedance sensors are the second method. These sensors assess how well the body resists current flow. The resistance is then converted to heart beats per minute using a special formula.

·       Temperature sensing: Another feature offered by most fitness trackers is the ability to measure your body temperature while you are engaged in physical activity. If you're an athlete, this metric should help you decide when to rest between hard workouts. Also, if you notice drops or spikes in your temperature, go to the doctor right away for a checkup.

·       Reading for stress/mood: This may seem strange, but most advanced fitness trackers can also read moods and determine if you are stressed. They do this by using a Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) sensor, which measures the electrical conductance of the skin to determine whether you're relaxed, breathing deeply, stressed, and so on. This can be beneficial for people suffering from phobias, PTSD, and stress.

·       Measurement of acceleration: Acceleration is simply the rate at which your speed changes. Fitness trackers have sophisticated acceleration sensors that can detect even minor movements. Some of these accelerometers even include gyroscopes for determining orientation and rotation.

Finally, most fitness trackers include Global Positioning System (GPS) sensors that can tell you exactly where you are in your neighbourhood. If you enjoy running and hiking, this can be very useful. If you get lost after hiking for a few hours, just check your fitness tracker to see where you are and which major roads are nearby.

Ø Important distinctions to remember

After summarising the capabilities and functions of both devices, let's look at what sets them apart. These distinctions should assist you in determining which of the two would be the best choice for your immediate needs.

There are four major distinctions to consider:

·       Differences in Function

A smartwatch is more of a smartphone extension. It is intended to assist you in communicating with friends, family, and coworkers. You can send texts, make phone calls, and share social media content.

Fitness trackers, on the other hand, are intended to assist people in tracking vital health indicators. They assist wearers in tracking their heart rates, temperature, acceleration, and other parameters. They may perform other tasks, but tracking is their primary focus.

·       Design differences

In terms of design, smartwatches are larger and more visible, whereas fitness trackers are slimmer and "cuter." This does not imply that all smartwatches are larger than fitness trackers.

It's also worth noting that smartwatches have significantly more internal storage space and processing power than fitness trackers.

·       There is no native app support for fitness trackers.

As previously stated, you can sync everything with your smartphone using the smartwatch. This way, you can use the smartwatch to access most of your smartphone apps and vice versa.

Because fitness trackers lack native app support, they cannot be completely synced with a smartphone. Don't get it twisted. You can continue to connect your fitness tracker to your smartphone. However, you cannot install applications on the device.

·       Price distinctions – Smartwatches are more expensive.

The main factor for this is obvious: even the best fitness devices lack the features available on smartwatches. Furthermore, fitness devices are typically made of rubber and plastic, whereas smartwatches are made of strong steel or metal. This alone would indicate that smartwatches are built to last longer.

Furthermore, fitness trackers are simply bands, whereas smartwatches have a watch face as well as a band. Having said that, if you look hard enough, you can still find reasonably priced smartwatches.

Ø The Benefits and Drawbacks of Smartwatches vs. Fitness Trackers

The following are some of the benefits and drawbacks of each option.

Smartwatches

Ø Pros

·       Notifications are received and responded to.

·       Bands that are interchangeable

·       Voice Assistance feature

·       There's no need to take out your phone.

·       Fitness-specific features

·       a slew of features

·       Faces that are customizable

Ø Shortcomings

·       The expense

·       It can be bulky.

·       Inadequate battery life

·       There aren't many options.

Fitness Trackers

Ø Pros

·       Outstanding battery life

·       Bands that are interchangeable

·       Generally affordable

·       There are numerous good brands to choose from.

·       There are numerous fashionable options.

Ø Shortcomings

·       a few characteristics

·       Interactive capabilities are limited.

·       Tracking is not a one-size-fits-all proposition.

Ø Making a choice

After considering all of this information, you should be able to decide whether you want a smartwatch or a fitness tracker.

In general, you should get a smartwatch if you want your wearable to do more than just track your fitness progress. As a result, smartwatches are a good choice for people who want to use their wearable to receive text messages, respond to emails, receive calendar alerts, and perform other communication functions.

Fitness trackers, on the other hand, are recommended if you intend to use your wearable specifically to track your health metrics. This makes the devices ideal for people who enjoy exercising, as long as you are not interested in answering calls or responding to texts while working out.

·       Finally,

If you can't decide between the two, there are a few alternatives. Why not, for example, choose a device that combines the best of both worlds? There are an increasing number of fitness trackers with advanced notifications and smartwatches with built-in tracking capabilities, such as the Cronovo smartwatch shown below.

In general, smartwatches that run Android Wear 2.0 will provide you with the best of both worlds. The OS includes a slew of new features, including the ability to add apps directly to your smartwatch. Even better, you don't need your smartphone nearby for the smartwatch to function! Simply put, you could use this device as a fitness tracker without sacrificing much.