What's the life expectancy of a current "smart watch"?

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › What's the life expectancy of a current "smart watch"?

jonathan18

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#190790 12-Jan-2016 13:35

I've been close to purchasing a smart watch, and am still contemplating accepting my wife's offer to buy me on for my next birthday, but what's putting me off is a concern that'll be out of date and probably need replacing in a couple of years.

My current watch - a Citizen Ecodrive - was an engagement present 14 years ago and, apart from a new strap, it's still going strong; I'm struggling to get my head around the idea of a "watch" that will realistically only be of use for 2-3 years.

Sure, I understand it's essentially a piece of technology with the "watch" part being only one of its functions, but still given it's more of a vanity/fun purchase than the comparative necessity and usefulness of a good mobile phone I'm thinking it's a lot of money for something that won't be used (or will be totally superseded) in 2-3 years.

How long do you reckon a contemporary smart watch such as the Gear S2 would be useful for?

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#1468435 12-Jan-2016 13:51

About as long as a current smartphone...?

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jonathan18

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#1468441 12-Jan-2016 13:59

Yeah, that's what I'm guessing too; my more substantive concerns are possibly more in the appropriateness of spending not insubstantial sums on a device that is 1. relatively unnecessary and 2. relatively disposable.

While I've always loved buying and using gadgets, I seem to have an ever-growing voice in the back of my head asking 'do you really need that?' Thus far I've been fairly good at ignoring that voice. I'm interested to know if others have to battle similar thoughts.

kiwifidget

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#1468446 12-Jan-2016 14:06

Wouldn't it be great if Citizen put "smarts" into its Eco-Drive range.
A smart watch that never needs charging.

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wasabi2k

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#1468454 12-Jan-2016 14:19

Do you have a use-case or do you just want a cool toy?

I really like fitness tacking using the Activite which is not a "smart" watch but has tracking.

I guess it depends on what you consider disposable income - I don't see the current batch lasting much longer than 2 years given the rate of change.

BlueShift

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#1468456 12-Jan-2016 14:23

My estimation is that the Apple Watch will have a longer effective life span than the Samsungs - based solely on the ongoing market and resale price for Apple phones. They are still selling the iPhone 5 for not much less than half the price of a new iPhone. The comparable Samsungs just don't compare.

But either way, paying well over a grand for a watch that is unlikely to last more than 3 years doesn't work for me. I see on the very relevant Amazon ad on this page that the Gear S2 is closer to $300. I could probably imagine getting $100/yr of value from a smartwatch, I can't imagine $400/yr though.

davidcole

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#1468461 12-Jan-2016 14:33

Depends how quickly the manufacturers drop support for them, or make the apps too big to run on the watch.

I'd expect the "fitness" smart watches (fitbit surge, Garmin, Microsoft and the like) to last a bit longer as they have a different primary focus...and even if the "smart" aspect - notifications stop working, they're still capable of independant processing.

The ones I'd be concerned about are the watch dependant ones, the Apple, Android based ones when all of their capabilities for networking and gps are driven by the phone.

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wasabi2k

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#1468462 12-Jan-2016 14:35

BlueShift: My estimation is that the Apple Watch will have a longer effective life span than the Samsungs - based solely on the ongoing market and resale price for Apple phones. They are still selling the iPhone 5 for not much less than half the price of a new iPhone. The comparable Samsungs just don't compare.

But either way, paying well over a grand for a watch that is unlikely to last more than 3 years doesn't work for me. I see on the very relevant Amazon ad on this page that the Gear S2 is closer to $300. I could probably imagine getting $100/yr of value from a smartwatch, I can't imagine $400/yr though.

But when the Apple Watch 2 comes out it will support "insert small, unimportant new feature here" so people will go out in droves and pay another $1200 for the latest one. Apple will then release Watch OS 2 which runs so poorly on the first Watch that it is no longer usable.

I think the current gen of watches will be superseded very quickly technology wise, hence the 2 years tops.

MikeB4

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#1468463 12-Jan-2016 14:43

I was sceptical about a smart watch, however my son gave me an Apple Watch for my birthday and I love it. I like the activity tracker and prompts to move etc. It also means my phone stays in my pocket a lot more which is good in a wheelchair.
However I am aware that it will not last like other watches and will probably be replaced after 2-3 years.
I still have and use my Seiko watch.

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timmmay

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#1468466 12-Jan-2016 14:47

It may keep working for a few years, but by then it will be obsolete, have security holes, may not work with modern phones. It's a gadget. Figure 1-2 years and be happy if it lasts longer. If you're not happy with that don't buy it.

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#1468479 12-Jan-2016 14:57

wasabi2k:
BlueShift: My estimation is that the Apple Watch will have a longer effective life span than the Samsungs - based solely on the ongoing market and resale price for Apple phones. They are still selling the iPhone 5 for not much less than half the price of a new iPhone. The comparable Samsungs just don't compare.

But either way, paying well over a grand for a watch that is unlikely to last more than 3 years doesn't work for me. I see on the very relevant Amazon ad on this page that the Gear S2 is closer to $300. I could probably imagine getting $100/yr of value from a smartwatch, I can't imagine $400/yr though.

But when the Apple Watch 2 comes out it will support "insert small, unimportant new feature here" so people will go out in droves and pay another $1200 for the latest one. Apple will then release Watch OS 2 which runs so poorly on the first Watch that it is no longer usable.

I think the current gen of watches will be superseded very quickly technology wise, hence the 2 years tops.

WatchOS 2 is already out, and the Apple Watch Sport is $600.
I plan to keep my 1st gen watch for two years, and upgrade to the third gen when that comes along.

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KrazyKid

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#1468498 12-Jan-2016 15:21

Mine lasted until it went through the washing machine.

Grrr. Still regret not checking the pockets.

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davidcole

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#1468499 12-Jan-2016 15:21

KrazyKid: Mine lasted until it went through the washing machine. Grrr. Still regret not checking the pockets.

why wasn't it on your wrist?

jonb

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#1468515 12-Jan-2016 15:29

MikeB4: I was sceptical about a smart watch, however my son gave me an Apple Watch for my birthday and I love it. I like the activity tracker and prompts to move etc. It also means my phone stays in my pocket a lot more which is good in a wheelchair.
However I am aware that it will not last like other watches and will probably be replaced after 2-3 years.
I still have and use my Seiko watch.

On the same wrist or on your other arm? :)

KrazyKid

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#1468516 12-Jan-2016 15:30

Probably washing the dishes and took it off or something like that.

Haven't brought a replacement because as much as I liked it I can't bring myself to pay $500 for one (last one was a warehouse stationary bargain from last year)

MikeB4

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#1468575 12-Jan-2016 16:08

jonb:
MikeB4: I was sceptical about a smart watch, however my son gave me an Apple Watch for my birthday and I love it. I like the activity tracker and prompts to move etc. It also means my phone stays in my pocket a lot more which is good in a wheelchair.
However I am aware that it will not last like other watches and will probably be replaced after 2-3 years.
I still have and use my Seiko watch.

On the same wrist or on your other arm? :)

hahaha

I use the Seiko if I go out dressed up etc just looks better for that. If I had the new Huawei watch I wouldn't need to do that.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

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