Are smartwatches necessary?

Unpopular Opinion: YOU DON'T NEED A SMARTWATCH!

Yes. I have said it. You don't need a smartwatch. I think smartwatches are redundant to whatever gadgets we are using now. Now, nearly every person has a smartwatch on their wrist. These smartwatch serves a purpose to monitor their activity and comply to their daily needs like making calls, using the GPS, receiving messages and many more. 

Let's think about it. We can make calls, use the GPS, listen to music and receive messages using the phone. So, why do we need a smartwatch? Looking at it from a "sports" perspective. There are dedicated monitoring devices that can be used to track your runs, swims, rides, and many more. 

As for runs, phones can be used to track running. Simple apps like Strava, Nike Run Club, Runkeeper, and many more apps can be used to track using the phone's GPS. Well, there are some doubts regarding the accuracy of the GPS and other sensors. But, both phones and smartwatches are using the same hardware for activity tracking. Now, does it make a difference? 

A few examples of running apps

For swimming, we have the FINIS tempo trainer. It's a simple device that acts as a coach to your training. The FINIS tempo trainer acts like a pacing clock. The beep's at the timing intervals as you swim. As for a beginner swimmer, looking at your pace is not a good idea as your lungs and muscles most not have developed. It would be wise to keep working on your technique than looking at your pace. So, where does the smartwatch play its role here? The FINIS TEMPO TRAINER costs around RM250 in Malaysia. 

FINIS tempo trainer

Cycling. I'm sure every cyclist owns a bike computer on their bikes. The bike computer is a device that can track every metrics that you need to monitor your cycling activity. Bike computers use satellites to track your position, accurately calculating speed, distance, and time without wires or magnets. If you compare the bike computer to your smartphone. The bike computer comes in a way superior that the average smartphone. The bike computer is accurate, lightweight, waterproof, crash-proof, and has longer battery life. So, again, where does the smartwatch play its role here? an average bike computer can cost you around RM250 in Malaysia. 

A few bike computers on a road bike handle bar

Bottom line, are smartwatches necessary? NO, I see smartwatches as gimmicks played by tech giants alluring us to buy their products. From the prices that I have listed, a FINIS tempo trainer would cost RM250 and an average bike computer would cost around RM250. Both these monitoring devices cost RM500 at the most, where else the smartwatch costs more than that. The cheapest Apple watch costs RM1600. The cheapest Huawei watch costs RM900. The COROS watches which are famous now costs RM700. The cheapest Samsung Galaxy Watch costs RM1000. So where are we going with this? 

In the early 2000s, we had phones which can capture pictures. People were speculating that DSLRs and digital cameras are going to extinct because these phones will take over the cameras. But, look at us now. We are still in need of DSLRs, digital cameras, and even GoPros'. I think smartwatches will share the same face like the early camera phones. 

Before I conclude, I would also share some advantages of the smartwatch. Some advantages are the simplicity of the device itself. We don't have to carry a chunky phone on our runs. It can predict our heart rate to give an estimate of our workout intensity. But, if you own a chest strap heart rate monitor, then you can have more accurate readings. 

In conclusion, not everyone who owns a smartwatch has made a bad purchase. Spend so that you will have all the luxuries in life. Maybe one day, smartwatches will have a bigger impact on our lives. 

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