@FabienPionneau), Laure Renouard
Updated on 29/01/22 at 11:00 am Share:
Companion to the smartphone, the connected watch or smartwatch is the missing digital nomadic link. Ever more complete, it interfaces with our mobile, monitors our health and can even be used entirely for sport.
Every major smartphone manufacturer now has at least one connected watch in its catalog. Apple, Samsung, Huawei, Xiaomi or even Honor, the mobile brands are answering the call. Specialist manufacturers are also well established, including Fitbit and Withings with an emphasis on fitness and health, Garmin for sports and Fossil. However, it is Apple that dominates the market with its Watch models, the best-selling range of connected watches in the world.
Manufacturers struggle with new features, while the designs evolve relatively little in the end. In the rectangular format of the Apple Watch, most smartwatches prefer the circular format. Whether chosen to be an extension of your mobile phone or for its sports-oriented functions, the smartwatch can have many advantages. Our comparison, which is enriched with new models throughout the year, helps you choose the watch that best suits your needs. Our tests assess the performance of features such as GPS, heart rate measurement, waterproofing, battery endurance, comfort for sports or everyday use. You must also choose the connected watch that offers the best compatibility with your smartphone, whether you have an iPhone (iOS) or an Android mobile. The price and quality of the different models vary a lot, and the choice sometimes turns out to be difficult. Some watches are content to be phone relays for notifications when other smartwatches are much more complete for use in all conditions, with why not 4G compatibility.
Companion to the smartphone, the connected watch or smartwatch is the missing digital nomadic link. Ever more complete, it interfaces with our mobile, monitors our health and can even be used entirely for sport.
Every major smartphone manufacturer now has at least one connected watch in its catalog. Apple, Samsung, Huawei, Xiaomi or even Honor, the mobile brands are answering the call. Specialist manufacturers are also well established, including Fitbit and Withings with an emphasis on fitness and health, Garmin for sports and Fossil. However, it is Apple that dominates the market with its Watch models, the best-selling range of connected watches in the world.
Manufacturers struggle with new features, while the designs evolve relatively little in the end. In the rectangular format of the Apple Watch, most smartwatches prefer the circular format. Whether chosen to be an extension of your mobile phone or for its sports-oriented functions, the smartwatch can have many advantages. Our comparison, which is enriched with new models throughout the year, helps you choose the watch that best suits your needs. Our tests assess the performance of features such as GPS, heart rate measurement, waterproofing, battery endurance, comfort for sports or everyday use. You must also choose the connected watch that offers the best compatibility with your smartphone, whether you have an iPhone (iOS) or an Android mobile. The price and quality of the different models vary a lot, and the choice sometimes turns out to be difficult. Some watches are content to be phone relays for notifications when other smartwatches are much more complete for use in all conditions, with why not 4G compatibility.
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Let yourself be guided by our experts
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? Which smartwatch is compatible with Android or iOS?
Today, smartphones mainly consist of models running iOS (Apple iPhones) and Android. Most smartwatches are compatible with both systems, but not all functionality is guaranteed. An iPhone user will be better served by an Apple Watch than an Android mobile owner. Better to ensure the compatibility of the chosen model with your smartphone.
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⌚️ Should you choose a smartwatch with a needle or a touch screen?
There are 2 types of watches, with LCD or Amoled screen (touchscreen or not) and with a classic dial with needles containing some connected uses. The latter do not offer as many uses, but have greater autonomy. If you want more functions, prefer touch screens.
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? Are all connected watches reliable for sports?
For connected sport addicts, some models specialize in sports analysis with more or less expertise. Built-in GPS, heart rate tracking, dedicated apps and built into the system, there's plenty to do. The functions sometimes even go so far as to recognize the activity practiced: running, walking, cardio, swimming, cycling, "sleep" mode ... If you plan to use your connected watch for water sports, it is better to choose a waterproof model, obviously.
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? Which bracelet for my connected watch?
Changing the strap of these watches is not necessarily easy. Some adopt standard formats of 18/20/22 mm, others impose proprietary formats, sometimes by obligation (GPS, speaker in the clip). It will therefore be necessary to be attentive to the sizes of bracelet communicated according to the size of your wrist.
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? How are connected watches tested?
Testing a connected watch first comes down to exploring all the possibilities offered by the product, but also its wearing comfort, practicality, robustness and relevance. As for the screen, when there is one, we analyze its brightness in the laboratory and also appreciate its readability in all circumstances. Finally, we judge the autonomy as we go through our tests and continue the tests long enough - two weeks minimum - to observe the efficiency of the battery, whatever the uses and frequencies of use.
