How to choose the right smart watch: children, women and men
There is a wide variety of smartwatches on the market today for children, men and women. Sometimes it is quite difficult to choose an interesting and functional model. Each has its own characteristics, purpose, as well as pros and cons.
Therefore, in the review, you will learn about how smart devices differ from each other, what features should be paid attention to in the first place. And also the best models for different categories will be presented: children, adolescents, women and men.
How to choose a smart watch?
With a wide variety of choices, it is difficult for an ignorant person to choose a truly functional and useful smartwatch. Today, even in stores, you can stumble upon counterfeit goods, and then the idea of the device will only be negative. Therefore, in the review, we will tell you about what features you should pay attention to, taking into account your needs and expectations. And you will also learn how to distinguish a fake from the original in order to fully enjoy the comfortable use of a smart device that has become so popular in recent years.
What to look for first of all?
If you are making purchases for the first time, then there are definitely difficulties when choosing. Therefore, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the main and important aspects that you should pay attention to in the first place.
First, you need to decide for what purpose you decided to buy a smart watch? There are three categories of buyers:
- buy an expensive and fashionable device to be in trend and show off to loved ones;
- the device is necessary in order to monitor training, physical activity and health;
- you need a high-quality gadget with full functionality and stylish design.
This is what you need to build on in your further choice.
In the first option, the buyer looks at the outer shell and the price tag, and only in the last place he is interested in functionality. In this case, you should immediately start searching for a product in the upper price category. But for the other two types of buyers, we will tell you what facts are worth paying attention to first:
- Body material. In budget smartwatches, the case is in most cases made of plastic. It is hypoallergenic, comfortable to wear, lightweight and great for sports models. In the middle price category, there are mainly smartwatches, the case of which is made of metal. This is mainly steel. And in more expensive devices - ceramics.
- Dial shape. Today on the market you can find smart watches with the following shapes: circle, square and rectangle. Many expensive models look like mechanical watches, but their capabilities are much higher. It is worth noting here that rectangular dials are considered more convenient, since information is displayed correctly on them, it is more convenient to view photos or videos than on a round clock. But basically the choice of shape is a matter of taste. Therefore, this opinion is subjective.
- Case size. It is clear that a bulky smart watch will look ridiculous on a child's hand or a thin woman's. Therefore, it is recommended to pre-measure the device, try to use the menu in order to understand how comfortable you are in this smart watch.
- Design. More recently, manufacturers have focused on the functionality of the gadget. But today, even among budget models, there are stylish ones that are suitable not only for exercising in the gym, but also for working in the office, complementing the business style of their owner.
- Strap material. Most often, you can find models with a silicone or rubber strap. It is practical and comfortable for sports activities, especially for the pool. This accessory can be changed.Therefore, for the same smart watch, you can buy a whole set of leather, metal and silicone straps of different colors and textures. Of course, leather accessories add more solidity, but they are not suitable for sports, as they wear out quickly. Before buying, it is worth clarifying the possibility of quickly changing the accessory of a smart watch, since different models and manufacturers have different mounts and capabilities.
- Top cover. Very cheap models have plastic installed, which needs to be additionally protected. In devices, glass is more expensive. There are options in tempered glass that are scratch-resistant and even an oleophobic coating that does not leave fingerprints. The most durable is sapphire, installed on expensive smartwatches.
- Functional. It is divided into basic and auxiliary. All devices must have: time, date, display of incoming calls and messages, pedometer, reminders, alarm clock. But the additional ones include: types of workouts, a voice recorder, a flashlight, a calculator, counting calories received and consumed, sleep analysis, blood oxygen, blood pressure, heart rate measurement, player control, camera, phone function and more. When buying, you should focus on your needs and expectations from the purchased device and clarify all its capabilities in the store.
- Parental control function. It is installed in children's watches. Usually such models can have a SIM card slot and the child uses the device as a phone. In addition, its movements can be tracked from the parent phone, as well as create a safe zone. If it goes beyond its limits, then a message is sent to the parent immediately. In some smart watches, you can turn on the listening function, that is, the child will not know that you are listening to everything that is happening around him.
As you can see, smartwatches have a large list of features. And manufacturers are working every year to introduce new technologies and the device has become even more popular and comfortable for the user.
How to distinguish a fake?
Today, you can buy a fake not only when ordering on the Internet, but even in a store. No one is immune from this trouble, but there are ways to reduce the risks. We suggest that you familiarize yourself with the main methods of distinguishing counterfeit goods from the original:
- Russian language. Pay attention to the menu, scroll through it completely and if there are errors or substitution of letters in it, then in front of you is definitely a fake.
- Availability of unique ID and IMEI numbers. Such numbers are applied to a special sticker, which can be found on the box or back cover of smart watches. Compare the code with the one specified in the device itself in its settings. There is information about the model name, operating system and ID and IMEI number. If possible, be sure to check the data through a special website.
- No unpleasant odors. Counterfeit smartwatches are made of cheap plastic and rubber that have a pungent and unpleasant odor. The belts of such devices are often stiff, with a difference in shades, a mismatch of the resunce and other flaws that are striking.
- Display. Turn on your smartwatch and check the color quality, brightness, broken pixels. Symbols must be clearly visible from any angle.
- Accuracy of GPS data transmission. If you follow a familiar route, the watch should correctly transmit the distance and coordinates.
- The operation of the microphone and speaker should be clear, well audible, without hiss and crackling.
- Guarantee. Reliable manufacturers will always give a guarantee for at least a year.
Rating of the best smartwatches in 2020
Having familiarized ourselves with the features of smartwatches, we propose to find out the detailed characteristics of the best models of 2020, designed for children, adolescents, women and men. The rating took into account different parameters, therefore, in each category, both budget and multifunctional and more expensive models are presented.
The best kids smartwatches for young adults
Young children are not interested in fitness functions, and it is important for parents to monitor their child from a distance and be able to quickly contact him. Therefore, this category includes the children's smart watch "Marvel Hero Life Button" from the Russian manufacturer Life Button. According to the manufacturer, this device has very accurate geolocation, which is provided by the AIM system. It uses algorithms based on artificial intelligence. Namely, processing information from different sources: WI-FI, cell towers and GPS. Whereas in conventional devices, only GPS is mainly used, the signal of which may disappear, which causes an error.
Children's smart watches are synchronized with the parent's phone using the “Knopka911” mobile application, which is adapted for Android and iOS operating systems.
The mobile application allows you to configure the following functions:
- at any time to listen, without the knowledge of the child, what is happening around him;
- set up notifications, for example, about leaving the safe zone or the arrival of a child to school;
- movement history is stored in memory for 3 days;
- notifying the parent about removing the children's smart watch from the hand, reducing the battery charge; pressing the emergency call button;
- search for a device via the parent's smartphone.
If a SIM card is inserted, but the application is disabled, then only a flashlight, camera and phone will work on the children's device.
The package includes the children's smart watch itself, a charger, a screwdriver and two options for rubber straps. One depicts a hero, and the other is pure black. There is a large red button on the right side of the case. It allows you to turn the gadget on and off, and also serves as an emergency call button. In the settings, you need to specify three main phones that receive calls in case of an unusual situation. In this case, the parent receives a message indicating the exact location of his child.
Children's smart watch can work as a phone. To do this, just install a SIM card and set up a contact list. It should be noted that spam calls will not go through in this case. But there is also a minus in this. If a parent's phone is dead and he decided to call from someone else's number, then he will not be able to get through.
The listening function turns on unnoticed by the children. This is great if your child complains about poor peer behavior at school, or if you have doubts about his friends and their influence.
Specifications:
Positioning | GPS / LBS / A-GPS / AIM |
Dimensions (edit) | 40 * 50 * 15mm |
CPU | MTK2503 |
SIM card type | Micro-SIM |
Display | 1.44 ″ color 240x240 |
Touch screen | there is |
Camera | there is |
Callback (eavesdropping) | there is |
Geofences | there is |
Lantern | there is |
Additional functions | Date, time, days of the week, alarm clock, pedometer |
Battery | 3.7V 400mAh |
Mobile applications | IOS (version 8 and above), Android (version 4.4.2 and above) |
Protection level | Water drops, splashes |
The best kids smartwatches for young athletes
Children over 11 years old are interested in additional functions in a smartwatch. Especially if the child is engaged in the sports section. They need to get used to order, so sleep and physical activity control is present in such gadgets. Among all the models, it is worth noting the Smart Baby Watch KT12.
Case material - high quality and hypoallergenic plastic. It does not lose its properties even with constant wear. The device is compatible with Android and iOS operating systems. Management is carried out through the free SeTracker mobile application. You can download it on the official website.
You can track the movement of the child through the parent phone connected to the teenage smart watch. Movement control is carried out by GPS navigation and Wi-Fi. This combination makes geolocation more accurate, but the error still exists and sometimes is up to 500 m.
A SIM card is installed in children's smart watches, so they can act as a phone. The card must necessarily support 4G networks in order to accurately conduct geolocation.
The body has built-in photo and video cameras with a resolution of 2 megapixels. The owner of the gadget can not only take pictures, but also make video calls. This is especially important for parents who want to know where their child is at the moment. On the right case, there is a large yellow button that turns the smartwatch on and off, and also acts as an emergency call. You can set up to three phone numbers on it. If you click on it, the parent phone receives information about the location of the child.
Of the shortcomings of this gadget, it is worth noting the low illumination of the screen in the dark. But on the other hand, such a solution avoids eye strain.
The teenage smartwatch has all the important functions that will allow you to accustom your child to the correct daily routine:
- vibration alarm;
- a calendar with a reminder of important events, for example, classes with a tutor;
- pedometer;
- stopwatch.
The charger is attached to the body of a teenage gadget and looks like a magnet. The battery is fully charged within 120 minutes. High moisture resistance, which allows you to take a shower in the device. But you can't swim with him in the pool.
This smart watch lacks: a vibration alert, a removal sensor, a Yandex Alice voice assistant and a flashlight.
Specifications:
Device type | kids smart watch with GPS tracker |
Mobile app | SeTracker |
Operating system compatibility | Android, IOS |
Menu language | Russian |
Display | color, touch, type IPS, diagonal 1.44 " |
GSM standard | 850/900/1800 / 1900MHz |
Network support | 2G, 3G, 4G LTE |
Wireless connection | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
Determination of coordinates | GPS + AGPS + LBS + Wi-Fi |
CPU | MTK6737 |
Operating system | Android 6.0 |
Battery capacity | 730 mAh |
The best women's smartwatches in terms of price-performance ratio
For women who are actively involved in sports and looking after their health, we recommend the Honor band 5 smartwatch. They have a bright AMOLED color display with touch control and a pixel density of 282. In the mobile application, you can choose an interesting version of the screensaver and dial.
The device has 24/7 sleep and physical activity monitoring. infrared sensor, giving a small error. Therefore, the measurements are more accurate than the previous version. In addition, the smartwatch is able to measure the oxygen level in the blood. This is an important indicator indicating the presence of tissue hypoxia. This function is especially useful when training with height differences. The measurement is carried out in a non-invasive way thanks to sensors that penetrate deep into the tissues and the measurement of the return pulse.
TruSleep technology, or sleep monitoring, goes in several directions: heart rate measurement, blood oxygen saturation and respiration. According to the information received, statistics are collected, analyzed and deviations are identified, which women's smart watches inform their owner about through the application. This is deeper health monitoring than in previous versions. The system is able to identify up to 200 variants of health disorders and give recommendations for improving the condition.
The device has a built-in 6-axis sensor that is able to recognize different swimming styles: butterfly, breaststroke, freestyle and backstroke. During swimming, the following indicators are recorded:
- distance;
- calorie consumption;
- speed;
- style.
In women's smart watches, you can not only take a shower, swim in the pool, but also dive into the sea up to 50 m for up to 30 minutes. But after water procedures, it is still recommended to dry the device. And after seawater, be sure to rinse it under running water.
The device is designed for sports lovers. It contains 10 fitness combinations:
- Running in the stadium.
- Running on the track in the gym.
- Walking.
- A ride on the bicycle.
- Exercise bike.
- Swimming in the pool.
- Walking on a treadmill.
- Free training.
- Elliptical trainer.
- Rowing machine.
During physical activity, monitoring is carried out for the following indicators: heart rate, distance traveled, calories burned, steps, aerobic and anaerobic training.
And also the gadget has the ability to track incoming calls and drop them if necessary, read messages from instant messengers and applications, remotely control the camera and take photos from the phone, control the audio player on platforms: Shazam, YouTube, VLC, Google Play Music, Tube Go, Audify , Huawei Music, KKBOX, Pulsar and Blackplayer.
Specifications:
Operating system compatibility | Android 4.4 and above / iOS 9.0 and above |
The size | 43 x 17.2 x 11.5 mm |
Screen | 0.95 '', AMOLED, resolution 240 x 120 pixels |
Battery | Li-Ion, 100 mAh, charge about 100 min (25 ° C) |
Built-in / RAM | 1 MB / 384 KB |
Wireless networks | Bluetooth 4.2, 2.4GHz |
Frame | plastic |
Strap | silicone |
Dimensions (edit) | 17.2 x 43 x 11.5 mm |
The best womens smartwatches for everyday wear
One of the most popular elegant models can rightfully be called the women's smart watch Samsung Galaxy Watch. Available in only one rose gold color and 42 mm. The dial fully imitates a mechanical watch and emits a ticking sound even when turned on. In the settings, you can change the display options for the dial, as well as set the time of its visibility:
- only when you turn the bezel, and the rest of the time the screen is dark;
- Enable Always On Display to keep the visibility of the mechanical dial on, but it increases battery consumption.
Despite the fact that the female device has a very stylish look, it can still act as a full-fledged fitness tracker. 10 workouts are programmed in it, among which we can distinguish: walking, running, swimming, jogging and so on. Monitoring and evaluation of completed workouts is carried out according to 30 parameters, including: heart rate, distance, speed and altitude. The results can be viewed in the Samsung Health mobile app. It also allows you to set goals and track their achievement, track the effectiveness of your workouts and monitor your health. In addition, the female device can work with the Strava, MyFitnessPal platforms.
Stylishness is not the only "strong point" of a woman's device. Despite their appearance, they can withstand falls from a height, immersion in water up to 50 m for up to half an hour. The sensors will allow you to determine not only the location in the plane, but also the height, vertical drops along the entire route.
The female model also allows you to manage the “Smart Home” system, make contactless payments for purchases, call a taxi and reply to messages.
Specifications:
Operating system | Tizen |
Compatibility | iOS, Android |
Screen | Super AMOLED, diagonal 1.2 ″, resolution 360 x 360 |
Wireless connection | Bluetooth, NFC, Wi-Fi |
Built-in memory | 4 GB (operational 768 MB) |
Sensors | Illumination, accelerometer, barometer, gyroscope, heart rate monitor |
Functions | Speaker, microphone, pedometer, calorie and sleep monitoring, My Day watch face |
Satellite navigation | A-GPS, GLONASS |
Battery capacity | 270 mAh |
Charger | wireless |
The best men's smartwatches in terms of price-performance ratio
HUAWEI has newer series, but the Band 4 is still in production and has an excellent quality / price ratio. The smart watch design is suitable for men and women. Color AMOLED screen with touch control. The disadvantage is the absence of a magnetic charge, but this is an insignificant sign. Neat design, streamlined shape, weight 23 g, which makes the bracelet comfortable in everyday wear and it is not felt during sports and does not interfere with sleep.
Laconic and austere design. The strap is made of silicone and can be easily removed if you remove the buckles from the back. It should be noted that the men's smart watch is waterproof and dustproof. They will not be damaged by splashes of water and you can even swim in them. The strap has a plastic strap with an internal strap for a more secure fit. This is practically not found on modern smartwatches.
The 095-inch screen is small, but sufficient for reading incoming messages and tracking workout statistics. Resolution at 240 × 120 pixels.On a very close examination, you can see a staircase of pixels on individual elements, but this is a budget option and such a minor drawback is quite acceptable. Scratch resistant glass.
In bright light, all notifications are visible and readable. But there is no auto brightness in the settings. The only way out is to adjust the intensity decrease at night.
There is no screen lock and the sensor can be triggered while swimming in the pool or when water drops enter. This can lead to spontaneous operation and even the deletion of received messages.
You can turn on the men's smart watch only when the charger is connected to it. There are no other buttons or technical solutions for this.
Bend 4 is synchronized with cell phones thanks to the Huawei Health mobile application, which can be installed for Android or iOS operating systems. Smart watches will serve as a sensor and a device for collecting information, and statistics and analysis can be found on a smartphone. The screen displays:
- current time and date;
- heart rate in a given interval;
- steps taken in a day;
- up to 10 notifications from different messengers that the user configures through the application;
- time of the last sleep;
- Brief reporting of physical activity (distance, average speed, steps).
The following programs are presented as trainings:
- running on the street and on the track;
- walking;
- exercise bike;
- swimming;
- free workout.
There is no automatic recognition of the sport.
Specifications:
Dimensions (edit) | 17.2 x 43 x 11.5 mm |
Available bracelet colors | black, blue, pink |
Support | Android 4.4 and above, iOS 9 and above |
Moisture protection | IP68 (you can swim and take a shower) |
Options | Receiving SMS, notification of an incoming call, vibration. |
Monitoring | sleep, calorie consumption, steps, running, continuous heart rate monitoring, silent alarm |
Display | AMOLED, color, touch, backlit, 0.95 ”, 240 × 120 pixels |
Sensors | Accelerometer and heart rate monitor |
Battery | Capacity 100 mAh, charge up to 1.5 hours, battery life up to 17 days |
The best men's smartwatch with full functionality
This category includes a Russian development that has 36 patents - the Healbe GoBe 2 smart watch. They have all the necessary options for monitoring physical condition, receiving notifications. But the uniqueness of the men's bracelet lies in the latest and high-precision technology. It can analyze not only the calories burned, but also the consumed ones. The indicator is not displayed immediately after a meal, since the device needs time to process data and it can take from 3 to 10 hours. In addition, the smart watch instantly notifies its owner about a decrease in water balance and the need to immediately drink water. These options are important for those looking after their health.
Various sensors take the body's indicators in a non-invasive way, and a special program conducts analysis based on statistical data. The calculation is based on the needs and characteristics of your body.
Another interesting feature is stress detection. The intensity of life is increasing, and more and more people experience stressful conditions, which undoubtedly has a negative impact on health. Therefore, men's smart watches are capable of analyzing various parameters of the human body and immediately reporting on the onset of stress. It can be associated not only with the environment, but also with overwork.
The system works according to the following principle:
Timely assistance to your body allows you to avoid many diseases. Therefore, the system also offers 5 ways to reduce stress:
Along with this function, there is a similar one - control of the emotional background. A male device can detect joy, anger, sadness, irritation, etc. It happens as follows: the sensors measure the heart rate, the level of sweating, summarize the obtained indicators and analyze them. If there is emotional overstrain, a corresponding message will appear on the screen.
If you have emotional stress, then the developers of the male device advise you to apply the following measures:
- take a walk in the fresh air;
- close your eyes and relax your muscles;
- listen to pleasant music;
- slowly take 10 deep breaths and exhalations.
Specifications:
OS Compatibility | Android 4.3, iOS 8 |
Protection | IP68 (waterproof, you can even swim and dive up to 50m) |
Monitoring | sleep, calories consumed and burned, thermometer, stress level, water balance, heart rate |
Sensors | G-sensor, heart rate monitor, pedometer, bioimpedance sensor, gyroscope and magnetometer, piezosensor, galvanic skin response sensor |
Battery | Li-Ion, battery life 49 h, 350 mAh |
CPU | STLED524 |
Dimensions (edit) | 18.5 x 35.2 x 57.4 mm |
The weight | 45 g |
Monitoring | Calories, steps, heart rate, stress level, water balance, sleep |
Best stylish mens smartwatches
One of the stylish men's smartwatches can rightfully be considered the Samsung Galaxy Watch. they are available in two colors, which also determine the size of the case: 42 mm - black, and silver steel only 46 mm. The complete set includes:
- dock station;
- Micro-USB cable;
- 5 V 700 mA charging unit;
- additional half of the strap.
The male model's design is classic and reminiscent of a mechanical watch. They have a massive body with recessed glass, which serves as additional protection against impact and damage. Menu control with a rotary bezel. Over time, it can acquire a slight backlash, but this does not affect the moisture resistance.
The strap is only black silicone. But it has a classic mount and dimensions, so you can install any strap from a regular watch on a men's smart watch. If you are swimming in a pool or in open water, then you should use silicone accessories.
The glass surface has an oleophobic coating to prevent fingerprints. Screen with good anti-reflective coating. Brightness adjustment up to 10 steps. Screen matrix: Super AMOLED.
The side buttons are large and rubberized to prevent slipping. It is especially convenient to operate in water.
The device has an operating system Tizen 4.
Functional:
- display of the current time;
- outside temperature;
- number of steps taken;
- alarm;
- pulse;
- floors climbed;
- calories burned;
- training, including in the pool.
The male model has a built-in memory of 4 GB, of which 1.5 GB are available to the user, which makes it possible to install third-party applications.
There is a built-in microphone and speaker, so calls can be answered directly from the device. You can reply to messages with templates, write text, or record an audio message.
Autonomous working time with connected monitoring is about 3 days. Magnetic charging in the form of a docking station.
The display shows an analog clock, a variety of which can be installed from the Samsung application or third-party platforms. When you bring the watch to your face, you can hear a ticking sound.
Specifications:
Number of Cores | 2 |
Operating system | Tizen 4 |
GLONASS and GPS | there is |
CPU frequency | 1150 |
Display | Super AMOLED, resolution 360 × 360, diagonal 1.2 " |
Sensors | gyroscope, accelerometer, light sensor, heart rate monitor, barometer |
Vibration signal | there is |
Battery | capacity 270 mAh, battery life 45 h |
Memory | Operational 768 MB, built-in 4096 MB |