Smartwatches are rapidly becoming more popular and commonplace within the realm of daily accessorising. These clever devices are slowly replacing traditional analogue watches for most watch wearers due to their wide-ranging utility and functionality. With the advent of smartwatches still being relatively recent, many are left questioning whether one of these timepieces would benefit their daily routine. Smartwatches come in a huge range of designs and colours from a variety of brands, and each model is equipped with its own set of features and uses. The variety and customisation of smartwatches allows them to be adjusted to suit the needs of any individual. If you are uncertain about whether to add a smartwatch to your collection, keep reading for our list of 5 reasons you need a smartwatch in 2021.
5 Reasons You Need a Smartwatch in 2021
1. Staying Connected
The most basic function of most smartwatches is that they can connect to a smartphone in order to display any phone, message, or social media notifications straight onto the wearer’s wrist. This gives the wearer the ability to answer messages and make phone calls from their watch, eliminating the need to remove their phone from their bag or pocket. It also means that notifications and messages can be read more discreetly, so the wearer will appear more engaged in conversation. Urgent messages and phone calls can be responded to more rapidly, without the risk of missing them. This feature is present on the majority of smartwatches and can keep the wearer connected without the need to be glued to a phone.
2. Fitness Tracking
Fitness watches have been available for a fairly long time, but many of them do not have any additional functionalities. Most fitness watches are purpose built to track a specific sport such as running or cycling, and so cannot be used for a variety of activities. The introduction of fitness tracking into smartwatches avoids these issues entirely. The fitness feature on most smartwatches has the ability to track a huge variety of sports, from rowing and swimming, to HIIT and yoga classes. They are also capable of tracking traditional fitness activities, like running and cycling, with an incredibly high degree of accuracy. As the smartwatch is worn on the wrist, many are able to monitor heart rate for the duration of the exercise in order to keep track of personal health statistics throughout a fitness journey.
3. Navigation
In modern life, many people rely on GPS and navigation apps to help them find their way around new places. It can sometimes feel awkward to wave a phone around in an attempt to find a location. Smartwatches can offer the same GPS capability as a smartphone, but on a much smaller and more subtle scale. The next direction can be checked with a simple flick of the wrist, rather than needing to hold a phone for the entire journey. Smartwatches with GPS capability can use this feature to aid with fitness tracking. It can be used to track running, cycling, and similar activities, by logging routes and speeds in order to aid the wearer in progression and improvement.
4. Customisation
The only way to customise traditional watches is to change the strap, but this can be complicated and often requires specialist tools. Smartwatches are normally almost entirely customisable. They provide libraries with a huge number of watch faces to choose from, and with some models, the most used features or apps can be made into shortcuts that can be accessed from the watch face. Some smartwatches have the capacity for app downloads, so the wearer can ensure that their watch can do everything they require from it. Often, the wearer can input their personal health and fitness information into the watch so workouts and rest times can be calculated based precisely on the individual, their body and their needs.
5. Precision and Reliability
Despite all of their additional features and functionalities, the most basic requirement of a smartwatch is that they can display the time. Smartwatches can often fulfil this role better than most analogue watches. As long as a smartwatch is connected to a phone, the time on the watch will be as precise and reliable as possible. In most cases, the wearer will not even need to worry about adjusting the time on their smartwatch when the clocks go forward or back as this will occur automatically on the smartwatch. As long as the smartwatch is charged and connected, it will display correct time.
Our Top 5 Recommendations
Garmin Fenix 6S Pro Sapphire | Light Gold with Shale Suede Strap and Light Sand Rubber Strap 010-02159-40
Garmin are well-known for their smartwatch collection. The brand adapted their popular activity monitors to have more functionalities that could be used in daily life. This Fenix 6S model can act as a wrist-based heart rate and Pulse Ox sensor to allow insight to the wearer’s fitness activities. The watch can be synched with music services, so the wearer can listen to their favourite playlists whilst on the move. The battery life of this model can last up to 9 days between charges when in smartwatch mode, so the wearer will never be left without the time. This model exhibits a case made of fibre-reinforced polymer that frames a bezel that is made of rose gold plated stainless steel. The lens is made of scratch-resistant sapphire glass to ensure that the watch will be able to withstand the small knocks and bumps that it will encounter with daily wear.
The watch has GPS capabilities and a huge variety of gym and workout profiles, allowing the wearer to make the most of this smartwatch in all aspects of their life. An additional feature of the Garmin Fenix 6S is GarminPay, that allows the wearer to pay for items without the need to use their phone or wallet. This watch is finished with a shale grey leather strap, but also comes with a light sand rubber strap. The different materials allow this model to have very different looks, making it suitable to wear for any occasion. Garmin have designed this smartwatch for active individuals but have ensured to include a large number of features that will be useful throughout daily life.
Polar Vantage M2 | Brown Silicone Strap | Copper Case | 90085163
The Polar Vantage M2 features a 1.2” always-on colour display that is protected by a hard-coated PMMA laminated lens. This large display ensures that it is easy to read and use the watch whilst on the move. This brown and copper model has a case that is made of glass fibre reinforced polymer with a stainless steel bezel. The smartwatch has many features including an integrated GPS system, Nightly Recharge and Training Load Pro. Many of the features will aid the wearer with their fitness levels and activity by tracking heart rate, energy usage and VO2max to gather an accurate picture of the wearer’s progress. With over 130 different sports profiles, there is something for everyone in this smartwatch. It also features serene breathing exercises to aid the wearer in their relaxation and recovery. This model is water-resistant up to 30 metres (3 bar) and the battery life can last up to 30 hours in training mode. The watch is finished with a brown silicone wristband that fastens with a stainless steel buckle.
Lotus SmarTime | Men’s | Brown Leather Strap + Free Strap L50008/1
This Lotus SmarTime model has a very classic look that would not look out of place on a traditional analogue watch. This model features a heart rate monitor, a blood pressure monitor and a sleep tracker to ensure that the wearer’s personal health statistics are on track for healthy living. The watch has four different dial options so that it can be personalised for the wearer’s needs. Both the case and bezel of this watch are made of stainless steel for a lightweight and comfortable finish. This watch has a find my phone feature, so the wearer will be able to track the location of the mobile phone using their watch. It can also control music, calendars, alarms and smartphone cameras. This model has a colour display that measures 1.54 inches with a resolution of 240×240 pixels, ensuring a clear image. The battery life of the watch can last up to 3 days, depending on use. A brown leather strap secures the watch, giving it an elegant and traditional look.
Reflex Active Series 5 Smart Watch | HR Monitor | Colour Touch Screen | Pink Strap RA05-2062
For a pretty and feminine accessory, this model from Reflex Active would make the perfect model. It features a rose gold-coloured stainless steel case with a pink floral silicone strap. Florals will always remain in style, so are an elegant choice for a smartwatch that will be worn every day. This model can display message and call notifications so the wearer will not need to check their phone frequently.
The watch has health and sports functions, including a calorie and step counter, a sleep tracker, and a distance tracker. These features allow the watch to measure both activity and rest to ensure that the wearer is maintaining a balanced lifestyle. The watch comes with pre-loaded sports apps to aid in activity tracking. It can also be used as a remote selfie button and can find the wearer’s smartphone. This model is compatible with both iOS and Android, making it the perfect model for most smartphone users.
Garmin Lily Classic Edition | Dark Bronze Bezel | Paloma Case | Italian Leather Strap 010-02384-B0
The Lily is a recent edition to the Garmin family. It is a petite and feminine answer to the smartwatch that looks pretty on the wrist but still has a great number of functions. The watch face can display both a stylish patterned lens or a smart touchscreen, depending on the wearer’s present needs. It can keep track of important health statistics to aid the wearer in their fitness and rest. The watch displays notifications to keep the wearer connected without the need to be attached to their phone. The battery life of this model can last up to 5 days. The watch has a heart rate monitor, respiration tracking, a pulse ox sensor and advanced sleep monitoring to ensure that the wearer is on top of their health and wellbeing. This model can also connect to a smartphone’s GPS to give accurate tracking of outdoor activities. This model has a chic appearance with a dark bronze bezel. It is fastened with a taupe Italian leather strap for an elegant and luxurious finish.
What are your thoughts on our 5 reasons you need a smartwatch in 2021? Will you be adding any of our recommendations to your collection? Let us know in the comments below!
