ASK CAPPIE THE COMPUTER CAT
SMARTWATCH & TRACKERS Dear Cappie, Is a smartwatch just another name for fitness tracker? They both tell time and tell you how many steps you take each day so is there really any difference? Which would be better for me to buy? Confused Jackie
You are correct that there is a lot of overlap between smartwatches and fitness trackers, which means there is no definitive answer as to which is better. Many fitness trackers have expanded beyond just tracking health and exercise (steps per day, types of exercise, pulse rate, sleep patterns, blood pressure, oxygen levels, etc.). Meanwhile, many smartwatches have added health apps to track steps per day, distance covered, heart rate, calories burned, pulse rate, etc. Just about every smartwatch today is also a fitness tracker, but not many fitness trackers are smartwatches. The basic answer for which is best for you is to start with the question: do you want a smartwatch? If not, look for a fitness tracker. A smartwatch is a miniaturized version of a smartphone. With a smartwatch you can receive and reply to texts, answer phone calls (cellular model), get directions, view maps, email, and, depending on other apps installed, do other social media updates. It’s like having your phone on your wrist. Smartwatches have advanced features like music control and built-in Bluetooth (to connect to wireless headphones), builtin mics for calls and voice assistant, and NFC for on-thego payments. They also come in cellular models, which allow
them to operate independently from the smartphone (so you can leave it at home). Note that smartwatches are available for either an Android or Apple operating system, both of which offer most of the same health fitness apps. The Apple Watch is the only smartwatch that runs the Apple OS (operating system) so you must have an iPhone if you purchase an Apple Watch. However, there are many different types of Android smartwatches that run Google’s Wear OS. In addition, a Wear OS watch allows you to load apps that run independently of your phone. You need to check. Some smartwatches have features that work only when paired with a compatible phone, e.g., you can answer calls only if you have a phone with a similar operating system.
GPS, blood oxygen, ECG, color touchscreen, etc.). The most affordable smartwatches, on the other hand, run from $200 to $400+, like the Fitbit Versa 2 ($180), Samsung Galaxy Watch4 ($249), or Apple Watch Series 7 (from $399). Depending on size of the watch, the materials used, type of wrist band, and if it’s a cellular model, the prices can get substantially higher. Fitness trackers tend to have better battery life than smartwatches and can last several days to several weeks on one charge. Most smartwatches require to be charged daily.
View the digital version of “Ask Cappie” monthly column by going to www. grandinfo.com. Click on the More News>Grand Lifestyles Magazine> to choose the month you want to view. Special thanks to Bob and Joanna Hays for sharing their photo adorable cats, Phoebe and Steve (long haired).
Which device to buy depends on your specific needs and on how much you want to spend. Do you primarily want to track health and fitness, or do you want a smartphone on your wrist? Is budget an issue?
Fitness trackers have been around longer than smartwatches due to their one specific goal (tracking your health) and their ease of use. Generally, fitness trackers are less expensive than smartwatches: most fitness trackers can be purchased for $29 to $250--but there are exceptions--the Garmin Fitness Tracker, for example, costs about $600. Usually, the more you pay for a fitness tracker, the more options it has (basic fitness tracking vs
Grand Lifestyles | July 2022 | suncitygrand.com
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