Recommend a smart watch

Recommend a smart watch

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Discussion

xx99xx

Original Poster:

1,892 posts

72 months

Wednesday 25th April 2018
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Firstly, apologies if this is better suited to the gadgets forum. I'm sure someone will move it if it causes any unrest.

I'm considering a smart watch but don't really know much about them or what's out there. Yes I have googled but some recommendations are always nice.

I already have a daily watch that I'm still happy with after 10 years but I just thought a smart watch might be interesting for some amount of time. I also like the thought of a heart rate monitor, pedometer, GPS etc.

So here's what I'm looking for:
- heart rate monitor
- pedometer
- GPS
- WiFi and BT connectivity
- android
- waterproof (ideally but not essential)
- wireless charging preferred (on a dock)
- round face, not square
- something not too big on the wrist. Big is ok, but not massive

Here's what I'm not bothered about:
- apps
- games
- voice control
- 3G connectivity
- Huge RAM
- strap material
- colour

As this would be an occasional watch and pretty much just a gadget (which may well lose its novelty), I'm not looking to spend more than £100.

Anyone have any experience or things to look out for?

hyphen

26,262 posts

89 months

Wednesday 25th April 2018
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If Android/wifi/wireless charge were not essential, look at Garmin. Being a fitness brand, heart rate/fitness monitoring/gps/waterproof is what they specialise in.

Not android, but connects to smartphones by bluetooth and shows messages, emails etc.

They do various, including round face, but not wireless charging iirc. Along with pedometer, it has an altimeter too.

They cost more than £100 (my Vivoactive3 is £280), but will have good resale value so if you get bored, very easy to sell.




Edited by hyphen on Wednesday 25th April 21:19

xx99xx

Original Poster:

1,892 posts

72 months

Wednesday 25th April 2018
quotequote all
I like the look of that Garmin and it has exactly what I'm looking for in terms of features. It's just out of my price range at the moment.

Are there a lot of watch faces available for it? Battery life any good?

grumbledoak

31,503 posts

232 months

Wednesday 25th April 2018
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There are loads of watch faces available. The battery life is supposed to be 4 days. I have yet to leave it that long but I don't think mine is dropping that quickly.

ETA- https://apps.garmin.com/en-US/

Edited by grumbledoak on Wednesday 25th April 21:32

randlemarcus

13,507 posts

230 months

Wednesday 25th April 2018
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I got a second hand Gear Fit to see if they were any use at all, mostly because it was fifty quid. Found it a little useful, so accidentally bought a Gear S3 Macho. Well, something like that.

Ticks all your boxes except price.

The only problem is I have now become a tt with two watches. My Dad's on the left, running five minutes fast, and the smart one on the right. Are they God's gift, and will entirely replace watches? No, but they are amusing, at least until the Intel glasses become cheaper.

warp9

1,583 posts

196 months

Wednesday 25th April 2018
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Would second Garmin. Have tried a bunch of other smart watches but they all seemed compromised in one way or another - poor battery life, lack of features. Sports tracking Garmin does it all, not cheap though!

xx99xx

Original Poster:

1,892 posts

72 months

Wednesday 25th April 2018
quotequote all
Cheers for info.

Kingwear seem to look good and have plenty of features. They aren't waterproof though.

It's hard to tell what a lot of watches would look like in real life on a wrist from pictures on a screen. Some turn out to be massive, I E. Tag connected. I liked the look of that but when I saw it in a shop it was huge (I would never buy one for £1k+, I was just curious)

grumbledoak

31,503 posts

232 months

Thursday 26th April 2018
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Fenix 5 in real life:


It is quite big, but most watches are in that ballpark these days. It is prettier than most of the black plastic models but it's still very obviously a sports watch.

Du1point8

21,604 posts

191 months

Thursday 26th April 2018
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Not wanting to derail the thread, I can see the 5x are 550-60 2nd hand, in Aus the 5x is $799:

https://www.kogan.com/au/buy/garmin-fenix-5x-sapph...

which works out 434 or closer to 400 in the way that I'm funded over here.

Is it a good smartwatch or is the 5s the one to have?

I'm particularly looking for one that has map software and programmable face (so I can customise), for use with fitness is also a bonus.

The Chronos also looks good but I cant upload map software?

Beachbum

2,507 posts

230 months

Thursday 26th April 2018
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If you want maps then it has to be the 5X, if you just want GPS then the 5S will suffice.
TBH, so long as you have your phone with you, then the Map feature of the 5X is a tad redundant.

CAPP0

19,533 posts

202 months

Thursday 26th April 2018
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I bought a Gear S3 Frontier recently and I'm quite pleased with it. Didn't do much research beforehand, I just liked the look of it. Pairs quite well with an iPhone despite being Samsung.

Does everything you want but it's >£200 and it's quite big. There's another S3 version with a smaller bezel though.

Hoonigan

2,138 posts

234 months

Friday 27th April 2018
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I have the Chronos with the leather strap, great watch but as you say can’t upload maps but you can upload routes if required?

Apologies for the ste picture..

Number9

91 posts

202 months

Saturday 28th April 2018
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grumbledoak said:
Fenix 5 in real life:


It is quite big, but most watches are in that ballpark these days. It is prettier than most of the black plastic models but it's still very obviously a sports watch.
Which face do you have there? The graphics look pretty reasonable. Is it via one of the “send me €2-5 via PayPal and I’ll send you a code”? I haven’t tried one of those because they looked dodgy!

grumbledoak

31,503 posts

232 months

Saturday 28th April 2018
quotequote all
Number9 said:
Which face do you have there? The graphics look pretty reasonable. Is it via one of the “send me €2-5 via PayPal and I’ll send you a code”? I haven’t tried one of those because they looked dodgy!
This one, free version:
https://apps.garmin.com/en-US/apps/6204e431-5e51-4...

It has a little Bluetooth icon and an mail icon for new messages, otherwise it's a very clean look. Just like the IWC pilots watches themselves.

Number9

91 posts

202 months

Saturday 28th April 2018
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grumbledoak said:
This one, free version:
https://apps.garmin.com/en-US/apps/6204e431-5e51-4...

It has a little Bluetooth icon and an mail icon for new messages, otherwise it's a very clean look. Just like the IWC pilots watches themselves.
Nice one. Thanks for that

Gameface

16,565 posts

76 months

Saturday 28th April 2018
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LG sport watch.

Fantastic thing.

CAPP0

19,533 posts

202 months

Saturday 28th April 2018
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In a similar vein, here's my Omegsung biggrin



Face was free on the Gear 3 app.

xx99xx

Original Poster:

1,892 posts

72 months

Monday 30th April 2018
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Ok, slightly over my intended budget, but I'm probably going to go with a S3 frontier. Ticks all my boxes. Thanks for the info.

Pilotguy

433 posts

258 months

Monday 30th April 2018
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xx99xx said:
Ok, slightly over my intended budget, but I'm probably going to go with a S3 frontier. Ticks all my boxes. Thanks for the info.
Excellent watch/gadget, it’s relegated almost all my other watches to the drawer. Be prepared to become obsessed with reaching Step & Floors goals. I’d recommend the Aviator G-series face but it’s fun switching around til you find your favourites.


Edited by Pilotguy on Monday 30th April 21:44

liner33

10,642 posts

201 months

Tuesday 1st May 2018
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As an aside I bought these straps for my Frontier and the Milanese loop is extremely comfortable , so much so I thought the watch had fallen off in the bed first night

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B079JS15WP/ref...