Smartwatch buying checklist
Open a section, slide each spec to what you want, and print your own smartwatch wish list at the end.
The screen panel. AMOLED lights each pixel on its own, so blacks are true black, colours pop and it reads better outdoors than LCD.
Sharp, punchy and easier to read outside. Common even on budget watches now.
Keeps the time visible on a dimmed screen all day, like a normal watch. Without it, the screen stays dark until you lift your wrist.
Time is always showing. It often cuts battery life noticeably, so check claims with it turned on.
How bright the screen gets, in nits. It decides whether you can read the watch in direct sunlight on a run or a walk.
Your bank OTP is 482913
Can you read this in a bright room?
How the screen reads under bright light, roughly.
Readable outside on most days.
Sold by case size in mm or screen size in inches. A bigger screen is easier to read and type on, a smaller one sits better on slim wrists.
The size most people pick. Fits most wrists.
The sensors under the watch. SpO2 is blood oxygen, ECG is a reading of the heart's electrical rhythm, and skin temperature tracks changes overnight.
Adds blood oxygen checks, mostly useful for spotting trends while you sleep.
Not all sensors are equal. Cheap ones show a number for everything, but readings can be well off, especially during hard workouts.
Steadier readings in daily use and steady workouts. Mid-range and up.
The watch guesses your sleep stages and stress from heart rate and movement. Treat it as a trend over weeks, not a diagnosis.
Splits the night into stages and gives a sleep score. The stages are estimates.
GPS maps your route, distance and pace outdoors. Connected GPS borrows your phone's, so you must carry the phone along.
Good routes without a phone, can drift near buildings
A rough idea of route accuracy outdoors, not a measured figure.
Tracks runs and rides on its own, so you can leave the phone at home.
Sports the watch can track. A number like "150 modes" sounds big, but many just run a timer with heart rate. Auto detection starts tracking for you.
Lots of sports, and it notices a walk or run and starts recording on its own.
Days between charges. Brand claims assume light use with always-on display off, so expect less with GPS workouts and the screen always on.
A good balance of smart features and battery.
Most watches use their own magnetic charger, so losing it is a nuisance. Faster charging means a quick top-up in the morning covers the day.
Empty to full, sped up.
Around an hour and a half to full.
Some watches only work with one kind of phone. Check this first, because it rules out whole brands.
Most budget brands and Amazfit work with both, though some features may be missing on iPhone.
Bluetooth calling lets you talk through the watch while your phone is nearby. LTE adds its own eSIM, so it works with the phone at home.
A mic and speaker in the watch. Handy while driving or cooking. Common on budget watches.
NFC is a short-range chip for tapping the watch on a card machine to pay. In India it works only with certain banks and cards.
Use UPI on your phone as usual.
Some watches only run what they ship with. Others have an app store for maps, music, messaging and more.
A small store of watch faces and simple apps.
Updates fix bugs, improve tracking and add features. Cheaper watches often get few updates after launch.
Fixes and small improvements for a year or two.
IP67 and IP68 are tested in still water, so they cover rain, sweat and handwashing. ATM ratings are pressure tests, and 5 ATM covers swimming.
Survives a short dip, but it is not made for laps in a pool.
The case and the glass on top. Tougher materials survive knocks and scratches from daily wear.
Light and sturdy. The common choice on mid-range watches.
The band you wear all day. Watches with standard quick-release pins (often 20 or 22 mm) let you swap in cheap straps.
Sweat-proof and easy to wash. Best for workouts.
Your wish list
SMARTWATCH WISH LIST
by TechPP Insights
Your next smartwatch should have these minimum specs
Your picks will print here.
Scan to make your own wish list
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Choose at least one spec to print your wish list.
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