Smartwatch

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What is a Smartwatch?

A definition of smartwatch is a wearable device and watch with a touchscreen display that can be worn on the wrist. Users can interact with the watch through swipes, taps, gestures, or even voice commands.

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Modern smartwatches such as the Apple Watch or Samsung Galaxy Watch enable users to make calls, send and view messages, check the time, pull up a GPS display, or listen to music and podcasts.

It is worth noting that smartwatches can connect to other devices through the use of technologies like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

What is a Smartwatch?

Key Takeaways

  • A smartwatch is a wearable device that can be worn on the user’s wrist.
  • Smartwatches can connect to other devices via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
  • The history of the smartwatch can be traced all the way back to 1972 with the release of the first LED digital watch.
  • One of the most popular examples of a smartwatch is the Apple Watch.
  • We can expect to see AI and language models combined with smartwatches in the future.

History of Smartwatch

The history of the smartwatch can be traced back to 1971 when Hamilton released the first LED digital watch, the Pulsar. This was the first electronic watch that could display time in a digital format.

Just a decade later, in 1982, Seiko would turn heads with the release of the world’s first TV watch, which came with a 1.2-inch display and tuner, plus the ability to listen to FM radio.

While there were other notable releases such as the Timex Datalink (1994) and the first Linux smart watch (1998) in the 1990s, it would take until 1999 for Samsung to produce the first smartwatch capable of making a call. The watch, known as the Samsung SPH-WP10, offered up to 90 minutes of talk time.

After this period of innovation, things slowed down until the Pebble smartwatch raised $10 million in 2012 as part of a kickstarter campaign. This demonstrated that there was significant consumer demand for these types of devices and paved the way for the release of the Apple Watch in April 2015, which has arguably become the best smartwatch.

How A Smartwatch Works

To use a smartwatch, the user will first need to link it with their smartphone so that the two devices can exchange data. This is typically done by opening an app on the smartphone (such as the Apple Watch app for iPhone) and pairing the two devices together so they can communicate via Bluetooth.

Connecting the two devices will enable the user to view messages, notifications, and other data directly on the smartwatch without needing to look at their phone.

It is worth noting that some smartwatches may have their own cellular plans, which they’ll use to consume data, whereas others may be reliant on a Bluetooth connection to a smartphone or a Wi-Fi connection.

Smartwatch Features

Smartwatch Features

The features that come with a smartwatch will depend on the model. That being said, users can expect to see a number of core features, including:

Make calls
Make voice and video calls via your smartwatch to your friends and family.

View messages
View and respond to messages as they’re received by your smartphone.

Access apps
Open third-party apps directly through the smartwatch display.
View notifications
View notifications generated by your smartphone on the smartwatch display 
View the time and set alarms
View the time in one or more timezones and set alarms to remind you to take care of certain tasks. 
Use GPS navigation
Pull up a GPS display to navigate to a range of geographical locations.
Calculator
Use a digital calculator to perform mathematical calculations, including addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
Store passwords
Use a password manager to store passwords for your online accounts on your smartwatch. 

Types of Smartwatch

There are many different types of smartwatches available on the market today.

Some of the most common categories are outlined below:

Touchscreen smartwatchHybrid smartwatchesFitness trackers

A high-tech smartwatch with a touch screen that the user can interact with via touch and gestures. Examples include the Apple Watch and the Samsung Galaxy Watch.

Smartwatches that are designed to imitate the appearance of a traditional analog watch while offering the capabilities of a smartwatch. Examples include the Garmin Instinct Crossover and the Fossil Q Commuter.

Basic smartwatches designed for tracking your overall health and monitoring your progress on fitness goals. Examples include the Fitbit Charge and the Google Pixel.

Smartwatch Apps

With so many smartwatches available on the market, there is a vast range of apps available no matter what platform you’re on.

Some of the most popular smartwatch apps include:

Smartwatch Examples

When it comes to smartwatches, some of the biggest examples on the market are as follows:

Apple Watch
The Apple Watch is designed to connect to an iPhone and can be used with a range of iOS apps, including Apple Music and Audible.

Samsung Galaxy Watch
Samsung Galaxy Watches are compatible with a range of Android and iOS phones and support apps, including Spotify and Samsung Pay.

Google Pixel Watch
Google Pixel Watches are compatible with smartphones running Android and can connect to apps, including Fitbit and Google Assistant.
Garmin Vivomove Trend
Garmin Vivomove Trend watches are compatible with phones using Bluetooth and can connect to apps, including MyFitnessPal and Strava. 

But what is the best smartwatch? Well, the answer largely depends on your needs, although you can’t go wrong with high-end options like the Apple Watch or the Samsung Galaxy Watch.

Future of Smartwatch

In the future, we can expect to see smartwatches incorporate more AI-driven features, as we’ve seen other wearable devices like the Rabbit R1 and Humane AI Chip attempt to do.

One of the most obvious improvements is the use of generative AI and large language models (LLM) to respond to user questions and queries. This could even extend to performing tasks on the device based on the user’s instructions.

Smartwatch Pros and Cons

Purchasing a smartwatch comes with a number of pros and cons.

Pros

  • Access apps
  • Track health and fitness
  • Find your phone
  • Reduce screentime

Cons

  • Cost
  • Proximity
  • Risk of theft
  • Style

The Bottom Line

Now you know the meaning of a smartwatch, you may want to consider getting one for yourself. Buying one of these wearables can be a great way to reduce your screen time while unlocking access to awesome health and fitness apps you can use to enhance your quality of life.

FAQs

What is a Smartwatch in simple terms?

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Tim Keary
Technology Specialist
Tim Keary
Technology Specialist

Tim Keary is a freelance technology writer and reporter covering AI, cybersecurity, and enterprise technology. Before joining Techopedia full-time in 2023, his work appeared on VentureBeat, Forbes Advisor, and other notable technology platforms, where he covered the latest trends and innovations in technology.