Abandoning smart watches

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Abandoning smart watches

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | ... | 11

BDFL - Memuneh
79159 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#3072119 4-May-2023 10:37

@jonathan18:

Edit: Also, how do you find the battery life (of both watches)? While they may claim 30 days, many report this is pretty optimistic.

Are there any other decent dress- or diver-style hybrid watches (in the same style as these Withings models) that are worth looking at?

I also need to determine for sure I'm happy to go without the additional smarts of my current smartwatch such as music control and the ability to reply to a text - my feeling is they're nice-to-haves but not really essential. Just have to weigh them up vs the desire for a 'proper' watch...

Battery life is long. I get about two weeks with a couple ECG readings - not that I really need it - heart rate scanning (which is done every ten minutes), and notifications on for some messaging apps (SMS, Signal and phone calls).

There's no music control or ability to reply.

@Gordy7:

Can the Horizon watch display day/date as a fixed screen setting?

Is the magnetic charger easy to connect when the watch is fitted with the steel band?

No, but it does have a "raise wrist" option to turn on the display, which shows time and day/date for a few seconds. I personally have that off as sometimes it comes up at night while sleeping and you move suddenly. There's an option for always-on during exercise, which will use more battery.

Yes, not a problem connecting it, although I use it with a leather band most of the times.

Geektastic

17935 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3072175 4-May-2023 10:56

I have an Apple Watch Ultra which is generally a huge improvement on the conventional Apple Watch. Battery life is much better (although far from stellar) and the larger display much easier to use.

I have several other non-smart watches, including a Seiko Astron which I wear for civilised travel (satellite time zone change, time setting and solar so no battery charging) and a Casio G Shock (solar, radio signal time keeping which is useless in the southern hemisphere) which I wear when travelling to more iffy locations where anything particularly flash might mark you for assault/robbery etc. Although the G was expensive ish (about $1,000) I would not cry if it was stolen or lost.

I had not seen that Withings Horizon that @freitasm mentioned above, but I like that. I am thinking of leaving the iPhone world for the Fold 5 when it comes along and that really means loosing the AWU as well as for some reason there is no way to make them work with Mac OSX (which seems like an omission to me).

If I was buying a non-smart watch today, I would probably get a Grand Seiko with a Spring Drive movement.

jonathan18

7413 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#3072176 4-May-2023 11:00

freitasm:

Battery life is long. I get about two weeks with a couple ECG readings - not that I really need it - heart rate scanning (which is done every ten minutes), and notifications on for some messaging apps (SMS, Signal and phone calls).

There's no music control or ability to reply.

Thanks, @freitasm - two weeks is absolutely fine; I find the 3-4 days I get with my current Galaxy Watch is pretty decent, and the reason why I've not upgraded from this is I'm not willing to go to a watch that needs daily charging.

Final questions for you, I promise! Re comparison with the more basic model and a sense of their robustness:

jonathan18:

... how did you find the standard ScanWatch in comparison, and are there many differences (other than aesthetics) between them? Is the standard version as robust as the Horizon? (I'm looking for a daily wear, so needs to put up with all scenarios of usage.)

Ta.

eonsim

391 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#3072177 4-May-2023 11:01

jonathan18:

Thanks for the info. I've watched and read a few reviews and it's certainly the 'hybrid' watch I'm most interested in - though how did you find the standard ScanWatch in comparison, and are there many differences (other than aesthetics) between them? Is the standard version as robust as the Horizon? (I'm looking for a daily wear, so needs to put up with all scenarios of usage.)

Edit: Also, how do you find the battery life (of both watches)? While they may claim 30 days, many report this is pretty optimistic.

Are there any other decent dress- or diver-style hybrid watches (in the same style as these Withings models) that are worth looking at?

I also need to determine for sure I'm happy to go without the additional smarts of my current smartwatch such as music control and the ability to reply to a text - my feeling is they're nice-to-haves but not really essential. Just have to weigh them up vs the desire for a 'proper' watch...

I've the larger-sized original scan watch, it's a very solid metal casing (though less metal than the Horizon) and the face is sapphire glass. Battery life is long, but I don't know exactly how long as by the time I need to charge it I've forgotten when I last did so. I've never dropped the battery life below 19% and I guess I must be charging it every three weeks or so depending on how much exercise I've been doing. I've turned off regular Afib monitoring and respiratory scans, otherwise pretty much the default options with notifications only enabled for WhatsApp (partner), texts and Phonecalls.

I think Withering offers 2 year warranty on the ScanWatch vs 5 years on the Horizon. I've been wearing it swimming daily through summer, gardening (chainsawing etc), hiking no issues, no damage in the 6months I've had it.

One thing I do like compared to the fitbits is during exercise the Scanwatch has a rock solid connection to the phone for GPS, the fitbits tended to drop the connection or take up to 5 mins to connect, Scanwatch typically 5-10secs.

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
79159 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#3072178 4-May-2023 11:03

@jonathan18 I think the post above answers the questions about durability.

Other than design, they are the same watch in every other aspect.

jonathan18

7413 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#3072183 4-May-2023 11:09

freitasm:

@jonathan18 I think the post above answers the questions about durability.

Other than design, they are the same watch in every other aspect.

Sure does - timing between mine and that post was just one minute mine otherwise I'd not have asked it!

Thanks, @eonsim, for your feedback - seems like either will be robust enough for my purposes; I'll see if the local JB Hifi has them in-store (I doubt it) as it would be good to try them on and compare IRL. That five year warranty on the Horizon (and, yep I've confirmed it's five years) is decent...

Certainly no advantage in buying o/s given standard NZ price is lower than the standard Amazon price - would be nice to see it down to that $550sh again before pressing buy, though!

pom532

149 posts

Master Geek

#3072188 4-May-2023 11:21

I haven't used one yet. I noticed that when you're having a conversation with someone with a smart watch, they'll be checking notifications a lot more than they would if they just had a phone.

Hatch

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Hatch (affiliate link).

MikeB4

18435 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#3072192 4-May-2023 11:40

pom532:

I haven't used one yet. I noticed that when you're having a conversation with someone with a smart watch, they'll be checking notifications a lot more than they would if they just had a phone.

When we had our businesses if I were attending meetings with customers or staff I would either put my watch and phone in the drawer or leave them in the car. I feel its the hight of rudeness while in a meeting to check ones watch or phone. At least with a traditional timepiece one can note the time with discretion.

maoriboy

1000 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#3072196 4-May-2023 11:47

I've had a Garmin since 2018. From a Fenix 5 to my current Epix 2. As a runner, I find the data from it invaluable and being able to program workouts into it and load music onto means I can leave my phone either at home or tucked into my running vest pocket. To me it's a fitness watch, not a smart watch, so notifications are pretty much all turned off (other than for when a call comes in). Battery life is fine for me. Normally charge every 2-3 weeks depending on how many workouts I do, but I've gone at least 4 weeks before I started getting battery anxiety hahaha.

martyyn

1961 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Subscriber

#3072197 4-May-2023 11:49

I took my watch off when I left the corporate world a decade ago but then bought a smart watch when I started doing a lot of driving and needed the notification that I should check in when I got to my destination.

But after a couple of years I started to realise I was more "connected" than ever. That's not healthy, so it was taken off and put in a draw to never be seen again.

I've always liked watches so I started perusing the second hand stores and online for watches that drew my attention. I wouldn't consider them expensive, all being under $1k and some just $100-$200, but just something I like the look of.

I now have a Seiko Sumo Hulk, an original 90's SKX, a Seiko Turtle Nemo, a Mondaine and a stunning vintage Seiko Skyliner amongst others. I'd like a black SSX GMT next I think.

I'd love an Omega Seamaster, and had the chance to buy one last year, but chose a V10 M5 instead :)

martyyn

1961 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Subscriber

#3072198 4-May-2023 11:50

pom532:

I haven't used one yet. I noticed that when you're having a conversation with someone with a smart watch, they'll be checking notifications a lot more than they would if they just had a phone.

This has been my observation as well.

MikeB4

18435 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#3072199 4-May-2023 11:51

maoriboy:

I've had a Garmin since 2018. From a Fenix 5 to my current Epix 2. As a runner, I find the data from it invaluable and being able to program workouts into it and load music onto means I can leave my phone either at home or tucked into my running vest pocket. To me it's a fitness watch, not a smart watch, so notifications are pretty much all turned off (other than for when a call comes in). Battery life is fine for me. Normally charge every 2-3 weeks depending on how many workouts I do, but I've gone at least 4 weeks before I started getting battery anxiety hahaha.

I certainly get that and I wish they were around in my athlete days. I will keep my Garmin for when I can again get out on my bicycle.

plas

453 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3072342 4-May-2023 15:38

I recently ditch the smart watch and gone for a Tissot T-TouchSolar which means I can get the basics like notification etc plus 6months+ of battery.

Downside is the Tissot app is rubbish and the connection drops alot, so im getting to the point of not caring about the "smart" part and just having a nice watch.

Senecio

2693 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#3072404 4-May-2023 18:15

I love the look and idea of those Withings watches. I just wish they had onboard GPS for activity tracking. The idea of relying on connected GPS when I want to leave my phone behind is just so outdated. Even Apple moved to onboard GPS after just two versions of the Apple Watch.

MikeB4

18435 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#3072679 5-May-2023 13:32

I made the move and purchased a low cost Citizen solar/light powered watch to see how I will of with the move. This will be interesting

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | ... | 11