Samsung, Apple, Google, Fitbit, and Jawbone, what do these all have in common? They offer a wrist-sized accessory.
Some of them track your fitness goals, others function as a second phone, and the simplest ones only track steps.
Not sure which one is for you? Read our smartwatch vs fitness tracker guide below.
Benefits of a Smart Watch
Every big phone company is coming out with a smartwatch. Whichever brand you prefer, their benefits are mostly the same. See the following examples.
1. Helps You Prioritize
When you have a smartwatch with notifications enabled, it helps you decide if something is worth getting your phone out for.
Imagine you’re at work and you’re getting a call. Your boss is around the corner and you don’t know if they’ll see you taking a personal call. By looking at your watch instead of your phone you look like you’re checking the time – not using your phone at work.
2. It’s More Polite
The same scenario goes when you’re in a conversation or with friends. It’s much more polite to glance down at your watch than to take your phone out.
If you have to reply to something, you can do so quickly on your device and won’t get pulled into any apps.
3. It Connects to Apps
When you’re looking at your watch in a non-social situation, you use it to work with other smart devices.
Some smartwatches have Alexa and Google Home capabilities, along with music systems like Sonos.
Now you don’t have to know where your phone is to skip a song or ask Alexa to turn on the lights.
4. Saves Phone Battery
Speaking of that phone in your bag, using it less saves battery. Many people think that the Bluetooth feature on smartwatches eats battery, but it doesn’t.
The new type of Bluetooth (4.0) takes much less battery than you use turning on and off your phone screen. Keeping your Bluetooth connected won’t drain your phone nearly as fast as those every-five-minute checks.
5. Maps!
Newer smartwatches have google or apple maps on the face of their display. This is safer when you’re navigating while moving, no need to fish your phone out to see the next step.
Benefits of Fitness Trackers
Fitbit is the big name in fitness trackers, though Jawbone was one of the first ones. Fitbit has more offerings and fun multiplayer options. Learn about their benefits below.
1. They’re Smaller
Depending on the model of fitness tracker you get, they’re smaller than a classic smartwatch.
This is a plus for people who aren’t used to wearing a watch or don’t like a mini-tv on their wrist.
2. They Have Notifications
The newer fitness trackers have notification abilities, like smartwatches. They can tell you when you’re getting a call or text, though that’s usually the extent.
They tell time, have apps, and are like mini-smart watches. They’re perfect for people who want a little bird in their ear, but don’t need a phone on their wrist.
3. Accountability
Ever heard of an accountability buddy? We bet you’ve had one or two. These people help you stay on track with your goals so you hold yourself accountable.
Fitness trackers have built-in friend systems for this purpose. You can add people by email and see how they’re doing towards their goal.
Some fitness trackers even have competitions, where you see who can take the most steps in a day or weekend.
Fitbit Fitness trackers have little virtual trips you can take, like walking the Great Wall of China.
4. Checking in With Your Health
Fitness trackers make us all take a step back and connect with our bodies and keep up with the latest healthcare trends. In today’s busy world, that doesn’t often happen.
Adults aren’t going for checkups anymore because they take so long to schedule and sit through. It’s not normal to only see a doctor when there’s a problem.
While they’re not a replacement for a doctor’s visit, fitness watches bring us back to our body.
Not only do they encourage us to move more, with a built in tdee calculator, but they track heart rate and body patterns.
Now you can see any changes in normal patterns or reassess where you are.
The heart rate monitors on fitness trackers (like the Fitbit Charge 2) aren’t 100% reliable, but they’re not bad! Especially if you have high blood pressure, they help you track spikes throughout the day.
5. Individualized Goals
Whatever the reason is behind wanting a fitness tracker, you can set goals for yourself.
If you want to move more throughout the day, there are reminders for that.
Want to drink more water? Track that in your fitness tracker app. Some even have a way to track your meals and calories.
Track your weight loss or gain by syncing a smart scale to your tracker or manually input data.
The apps have push notifications that remind you to check in with yourself and your goals.
6. Regular Updates
While your fit tracker may not develop more features itself, the apps they come with an update.
The apps get new features yearly or twice a year, keeping you excited and engaged. For example, the latest Fitbit watch has apple pay.
That’s a new feature that’s both hardware and software, but they roll out new ones as quickly as they can develop them.
7. A Built-in Trainer
Along with apple pay, the newer and bigger-screen Fitbits come with a training program. The moves you’re to do next flash on your screen with a little tutorial of how to do them.
This means you don’t have to stare at your phone and find a plan in your screenshots, just look and go!
Smartwatch VS Fitness Tracker
Knowing which one is right for you depends on your goals. Do you need a mini-phone on your wrist? With the features of a smartphone but portable?
Then a smartwatch vs fitness tracker is the better choice for you.
If you’re just looking for a kick in your fitness routine with some smart features, grab a fitness tracker.
Buy whichever you’re more excited about, you’ll be more likely to use it and not forget about it after a month.
Want to get the skinny on other news and trends? We put out new content all the time! Check out our health section for more tips.
