With their advanced features and intuitive interface, connected watches today meet more and more needs, both in terms of communication, well-being and health. Enough to make it an ally for generations to whom they were not necessarily initially addressed.
There are hundreds of models on the market, at all prices, with more or less features. Some are more oriented towards sports and outdoor activities. These are the models sold by brands like Garmin, Fitbit or Polar. Others are more focused on well-being and health, like Withings products.
Under the leadership of smartphone manufacturers, watches have especially become telephone extension. They allow you to receive notifications, write messages, make calls and interact with applications without having to take your phone out of your pocket. The most popular model is the Apple Watch, which works exclusively with an iPhone. The big brands in the Android universe have also entered the niche with Samsung, Google and Xiaomi. These devices are compatible with all smartphones but generally give their full potential with the models of the brands that market them.
Sensors to track activity, well-being and health
Most of these watches feature a series of sensors capable of monitoring different health indicators. The most advanced models, such as the Apple Watch or the Samsung Galaxy Watch, for example, havea heart rate sensor. This component will take the pulse and measure heart activity during and after physical activity. Some devices also have an ECG sensor that will measure the beats continuously and send an alert in the event of an abnormality.
The newest watches are also equipped a fall detector. Like specialized devices for the elderly, they carry sensors which will analyze the wearer’s movements and alarm themselves when acceleration is followed by a shock. The watch will then ask the user if they are well or if they want to call a loved one or the emergency services. A function which can be reassuring for people losing their autonomy and their loved ones.
Current watches also generally offer the ability to analyze sleep quality. Some promise to distinguish the phases of deep and paradoxical sleep, but the results should be taken with a pinch of salt. Others carry an oximeter, a sensor that will measure the oxygen in the blood to identify respiratory disorders likely to affect recovery, such as sleep apnea. The Huawei brand has even launched a watch capable of measuring blood pressure using an integrated blood pressure monitor that inflates on the wrist.
Results that do not replace a medical diagnosis
Please note, however: while the information provided by these products can help identify disorders, it should not replace a medical diagnosis. Connected watches can be good tools for monitoring chronic pathologies, if they are combined with the expertise of a healthcare professional.
Also on condition ofput the price on it : because not all models are equal and it is better to trust the most established players in the sector such as Apple, Withings or Samsung. Count from around 200 euros for a model equipped with recommended sensors. 300 to 500 euros for the latest models on the market and up to 800 euros for the most sophisticated.
Beyond health indicators, connected watches can above all act as sports coach to help you stay in good shape. They will make it possible to measure the steps taken during the day and the kilometers traveled by bike or on foot. These functions are offered in dozens of more affordable models, starting at 80 euros, from Xiaomi or Huawei, in particular.
The best models will stand out for their waterproofness, their ability to distinguish between different sporting activities and to measure heart rate during exercise. And also their autonomy. Keep in mind that the more connectivity functions linked to the screen and GPS a watch offers, the more its autonomy will be limited, approximately 24 hours. This is the main flaw of the Apple Watch or the Galaxy Watch. Conversely, more modest watches dedicated to sporting activity and well-being can easily be used without being recharged for several days.
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