You can attest to the fact that smart watches has gained popularity over the years. They have become a perfect choice for some people largely because of the integration of certain peculiar choices.
With major tech giants like Apple, Samsung and Google advancing and pushing boundaries as to the possibilities of a smart watch, technological innovation has given rise to questions. And one of those is, Can Smart watch replace Phones?
By examining the key features and functionality of smart watches, we can determine how they really compare to Smartphones and whether they can really replace them in various aspects of our lives by exploring the capabilities and limitation of smart watches.
Smart Watch Capabilities
By examining the key features and functionality of smart watches, we can determine how they really compare to Smartphones and whether they can really replace them in various aspects of our lives by exploring the capabilities and limitation of smart watches.
1. Calls
The most important need of a phone is to make calls. Do you know that Standalone smartwatches have a built-in cellular connectivity that allows then to make calls or send messages without having it connected to a smartphone. Popular Standalone smartwatches that can make calls includes;
A. Apple Watch Series 9: It has unique features that enables it be a viable device for calls like; GPS, Bluetooth, and Cellular capabilities, Messaging Options – Predictive text, MMS, IM, Email, and Text messaging/SMS, SOS messages, Speaker-phone capable, Haptic Engine: Vibrating Alerts for incoming calls, messages or notifications, Visual and Vibrating Alerts – Incoming calls, messages or notifications, Voice Notes and reminders.
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B. Samsung Galaxy Watch 6: With similar features as the Apple Watch Series 9, you can make calls with your Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 by just doing following steps;
- first sliding your fingers upwards starting from the bottom of the screen of your smart watch
- Next, Press the phone icon
- Press the keypad number and key in the required number
- Press the call icon
- Finally press the end icon when you are done with your call.
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C. Google Pixel Watch 2: Before this smartwatch can be efficient in call making, you have to first ensure that your Pixel Watch 2 software is up to date as the steps below apply to the most recent version. Then all you have to do is to tap Dialpad then dial the 10-digit number. Easy right?
2. Messaging
Your Smartphones are also very necessary for texting friends and families. Amazingly, even smartwatches can do that now! All Android smartwatches, including the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 and the Google Pixel Watch 2, can receive and send text messages without using your phone. But first, you must activate the feature to receive text messages on your smartwatch.
However, there are differences between an LTE Android smartwatch and a Bluetooth/Wi-Fi Android smartwatch. While an LTE Android Smartwatch can send or receive text messages and make phone calls without using your phone, the Bluetooth/Wi-Fi version of the Android smartwatch can only send and receive text messages if you have access to your smartphone.
3. Emails
The Samsung Smartwatches when linked to your email app on your Samsung phone enables you to reply to, delete, access emails anytime, even when you’re away from your phone or computer or even edit your email account. But note that the email feature is not available on Samsung smart watches connected to iOS devices. However, if you are using an Apple Smartwatch, you can access the mail feature after it has been connected to your iPhone.
4. Notifications
Of course, notifications keeps you at breast with what’s going on around you. It could be messages, alerts, notices and even chats from your social media accounts. Can smart watches give you all notifications like your phone would? The answer is Yes. The unique feature of ‘Haptic alert’ when turned on announces incoming alerts and notifications by causing your smart watch to vibrate in this instances. But, you must link your smart watch to your phones and allowed preferred notifications to show on your smart watch.
Smart Watch Limitations
Despite having impressive capabilities, Smart watches are still faced with numerous limitations and challenges that are yet unresolved by Wear OS technology. These challenges includes the following;
- Small Screen Size; Smart watches have a very small screen surfaces that makes it very difficult to perform certain task especially those that require more detailed information and interaction on a larger surface area. Example of this tasks are browsing webpages, reading lengthy documents or even scrolling to revisit past messages.
- Limited Battery Life; Battery life of Smartwatches are incomparable to that of smart phones. If smart watches are converted to carry out most functions or tasks done by a smartphone, its battery wouldn’t last as long as a phone would.
- Limited Processing Power: The processing power of every device is very important as it ensures performance. Smart watches have less processing power than phones which can result to a slower performance and unable to perform intensive tasks like gaming and browsing the internet.
- Application Limitations: Smart phones are more suitable for applications as they are more advanced and compatible to handle mobile applications like camera, games, and the host of others.
Comparison Between Smart Watches and Smart Phones
| Category | Smartwatches | Smartphones |
|---|---|---|
| Convenience | Quick access to notifications, calls, and messages without using a phone. | Less convenient for health tracking, but offers more functionality in general. |
| Screen Size | Small screen size, which makes detailed tasks difficult. | Larger display provides better visibility and functionality for various tasks. |
| Health and Fitness Tracking | Specialized health and fitness tracking; monitors metrics like heart rate, steps, and more. | Less convenient for health tracking compared to smartwatches. |
| Advanced Software | Limited processing power; less powerful than smartphones, with slower performance and multitasking. | More advanced operating systems with broader app compatibility and more powerful performance. |
| Battery Life | Limited battery life, often requiring daily or every-other-day charging. | Longer battery life compared to smartwatches, generally lasting longer on a single charge. |
Conclusion
While smart watches has evolved greatly in its features compared to previous generation, it is yet to be developed as much needed to replace a Smartphone. With its present limitations, it can not comfortably be depended on as a substitute without incurring certain consequences like loss of certain information that can only be compatible with a Smartphone.