Almost a decade ago, the first models of smart watches as we know them today began to reach the market: a full-color touch screen capable of reproducing any graphic or text, connection to our mobile phones and, of course, countless applications via those that we had access to simply by turning the wrist a little. Now as you know They are capable of doing virtually anything.
Two very different approaches
Now, from the same smart watches were born, over the years a variant arrived that is one of the most popular among users because we can consider it as an intermediate solution for a series of needs very specific. So if you think so, we are going to explain in which cases you have to opt for a smartwatch, and in which others for one of those so-called activity bracelets that are also known as smart bands.
Which one do you need to buy?
connected life
If your daily routine goes through constant use of social networks, messaging applications, etc., surely smart watches are more efficient when it comes to managing all the necessary connections with your phone. WhatsApp, Telegram, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, etc. They usually require a lot of attention, with notifications every so often, so it is advisable to enjoy a slightly larger screen to preview what they tell us. Some activity bracelets are also capable of doing so, but in a less efficient way and with limitations imposed by the vertical screen that they usually mount.
Leisure and entertainment
Even if we carry the phone with us, some smartwatch models are capable of managing music on their own, or the radio stations we listen to the most... even podcasts and audiobooks with the most popular applications. In this case, smart watches also win because it will be easier to manage all that content quickly and with applications designed to work on this type of screen, which is especially important if we connect wireless headphones directly to them or have 4G connectivity for not even having to worry about carrying your smartphone in your pocket.
Unfortunately, in the case of fitness trackers that handling is more limited and, in many cases, it is not even possible due to the limitations of the platform and the OS itself.
Productivity
It is sure that a good part of the information that you store in your phone has to do with work. Management of emails, agenda, calendar, etc. Well, we don't want to be annoying, but for the purposes of managing all that information, smartwatches are once again more efficient and executive. It is possible to consult from the native apps and respond, create reminders or whatever we need.
Physical activity
Here we can say that there are models of activity bracelets that really outperform smartwatches in utility and use that, although they usually arrive at the stores with suites of very complete physical exercise, with different types of training, in the end there is nothing better than one of these smartbands to save everything we move. Even to keep track of our heart beats per minute or menstrual periods, etc.
If you just want to know how much you have moved, what calories you have burned and adapt everything to a specific type of training, your most obvious choice is to get one of these devices.
Mobile payments and price
Finally we bring a function that It has become capital after the pandemic: paying with a contactless card in establishments. Here, there are watches that do it and bracelets that do it too, so things are tied and it will depend on what you choose after the previous four points, that this fifth can become testimonial.
As for the price, it depends on the model you want in any of the cases. As a general rule, smartbands begin to be offered in lower segments (starting at 25 euros), but there are also alternatives at the same price level as an Apple Watch SE (299), for example. So it will depend on how much or how little you decide to spend.