Recommend me a SmartWatch (WearOS, please)

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Recommend me a SmartWatch (WearOS, please)

jamesrt

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# 248519 29-Mar-2019 09:50

I currently have an LG G Watch R; which still works reasonably well but is a bit on the slow side.

I'm wondering if I should upgrade to something else, but I'm not sure what there is out there that is:

a) Affordable

b) Available in NZ

c) Actually any good.

Any suggestions / recommendations ?

I don't want an Apple Watch (don't have an iPhone), and I'm unsure if Tizen / Samsung is any good as an OS or is supported by many app devs. Hence the preference for WearOS..

Ta!

chevrolux

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# 2206886 29-Mar-2019 10:07

I still haven't seen a smart watch I like more than my Huawei Watch - original model, stainless steel band. All the rest just a look a bit naff in comparison IMO.

Apart from the Tag one, but that's a whole other ball game!

A mate has the new Samsung watch, and I couldn't fault the software. Really all much of a much-ness, just different looking icons etc. I HATE the apple watch home screen thing, never seen such a mess on such a small screen.

freitasm

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# 2206887 29-Mar-2019 10:11

The new Huawei Watch GT is pretty cool - but it's not Wear OS and is more of a tracking device than a smartwatch (no apps to install) although it does have notifications, built-in GPS and activity tracking. So it depends if you rely on apps a lot...

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jonathan18

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# 2206912 29-Mar-2019 10:46

Can I suggest that you explore the apps available on the Samsung watches, as it could well be that those available do meet your needs.

I say this because Tizen is actually pretty decent and appears to have fewer issues than Wear OS, especially in terms of battery life.

I've been looking at watches to replace my nearly three year-old S2 and at this point the frontrunner is another Samsung, as nothing (that I can afford) running Wear OS appeals to me.

kiwi_64

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# 2206927 29-Mar-2019 11:30

just curious, what do you use the watch for?

I own/have owned multiple watches/smart watches/fitness trackers ... I found that what I appreciated the most was just seeing notifications on the watch rather than using apps.

As such, a Garmin watch (I use a Fenix 5) with 1 month of battery life gives me what I need/want

jamesrt

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# 2206960 29-Mar-2019 12:31

kiwi_64: just curious, what do you use the watch for?

Good question.

Mostly as a watch! However, I've gotten VERY used to getting text/email/etc notifications on the watch; and I use the Google Assistant via voice command a fair bit too.

Also the current one does a reasonable job of step counting; when I go on bigger walks (i.e. we've recently done a number of the bigger Wellington walks to help prepare for doing the Milford Track over Easter) I do use Google Fit to track them.

A decent configurable alarm is a must; recently had a life-altering medical condition which now means I need reminding to take my pills. Suck. That isn't going to change in a hurry.

Other apps on my current watch include Moon phase tracking (as a "complication" on my watchface), Compass (because my stupid phone doesn't have a magnetometer), "IFTTT" to automate certain things (like texting my wife when I lose her in the shops!). Also use the weather app a bit too.

Antzzz

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# 2221198 19-Apr-2019 16:34

I just got one of the Fossil Explorist watches while up in Singapore a few weeks back to replace an ancient Moto360 - wasn't the cheapest but it looks good and has pretty good battery life. It came with an international warranty, so might be a kind of available in NZ option if purchased online? Also I noticed the last time I went thru the Auckland airport international terminal that Fossil has just opened a store there - unfortunately it was early in the morning so the store wasn't open, but I thought I saw that they had the Smartwatch range on display thru the window.

The only slightly annoying thing about it is while it definitely has the latest WearOS version and has NFC, it looks like Google Pay on Smartwatches isn't (yet?) supported in NZ.

Handle9

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# 2221199 19-Apr-2019 17:03

I've had a Ticwatch S for around a year. It's a nice device and very reasonably priced. They have released some new models now so you have more choices around. What is important.

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