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Smartwatches for the Space Age

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5 Best Options of Altimeter Smartwatch

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Altimeter Smartwatches

If you’re into hiking or climbing, a good quality altimeter smartwatch is going to be the best companion. Commonly referred to as an ABC watch (altimeter, barometer and compass), these devices provide the best data for adventures. They’re made to handle intense elements. ABC watches are durable devices with scratch-resistant and large screens with big side buttons. Suunto and Casio are the market leaders for altimeter watches however Garmin came through with some tough competition for high-end buyers. 

Here are 5 suggestions for great altimeter watches.

1. Garmin Fenix 5X

$600 / £339

The Garmin Fenix 5X is pretty pricey, but you get what you pay for. Firstly, it’s the best multisport altimeter smartwatch you can buy. This unit has full ABC functions, plus a heart rate monitor, GPS and GLONASS satellite capabilities. The Fenix 5 is different from the 5S and 5 is the addition of topographical mapping. The contour lines give detailed data for activities like hiking and mountaineering. Saying that, the Fenix 5 did have a smoother launch. Typically, the rest of the Fenix range, and even some Suunto devices, experienced some glitches.

The Fenix 5X is reasonably heavy, being 3.5oz, and quite bulky, being 2 x 2 x 0.7 inches. 

However, the biggest drawback is the cost. It’s also complex, but this isn’t a bad thing if you’re a hiking enthusiast. The price has certainly soared with each new release. Depending on your level of skill, the tech inside might be overkill if you’re interested in the basics such as elevation and barometric pressure. If you do want in-depth data, it has incredible navigation capabilities as well as a multisport feature to cover cycling, running and skiing.

Advantages: Topographical maps are incredible

Disadvantages: Expensive device which is quite complicated

2. Casio Pro Trek PRW-6000Y-1A 

$540 / £420

The Pro Trek range from Casio has always delivered a rugged and long-lasting device. However, the common downside has been a lack of any style. Typically, being made out of clunky plastics. The PRW-6000Y-1A finally deals with this, with what is easily the best-looking watch made by Casio. 

Firstly, they’ve stepped away from the classic plastic and gone for a white face on a black display. Furthermore, the band is sleek and has carbon fibre inserts. It has full ABC functions as well as a thermometer, stopwatch and what’s noted as accurate time. The best bit is the solar charging so you never have to charge it or replace the battery.

It’s reasonably light compared to other ABC watches; 2.57oz. It’s also slimmer, being 2.2 x 2 x 0.5 inches. This is potentially due to the lack of GPS function. 

It’s pretty pricey, which is a shame as you can get roughly the same functionality for a fifth of the price of other Casios on Amazon.

Advantages: Finally, a good-looking Casio.

Disadvantages: Expensive considering the lack of GPS 

3. Suunto Core 

$115 / £99

This is a simpler option but acts as an everyday multisport watch. Coming in at $130, the Core has a pleasantly surprising number of features and comes in a variety of colours. It’s fairly lightweight at 2.4oz 

It can tell you both sunrise and set times in 400+ locations as well as the change of pressure of reduction of daylight and a 7 day altitude log for those who like to hike.

Being toward the budget end, there are a couple of drawbacks noted by users. The band doesn’t like particularly heavy use and may need replacing, which comes at a cost of $50. The dark background with white text on the display is hard to read in bright sunlight. Arguably, this can be changed. Sadly, it doesn’t offer GPS tracking either.

Advantages: Great everyday performance and solid technology

Disadvantages: The band fails under heavy use and requires replacement

4. Suunto 9 Baro

Suunto 9

$499 / £399

On the higher end of the budget scale, the Suunto 9 Baro is their flagship ABC watch. Released in mid-2018 as a development of the Spartan Ultra, this version comes with pin-point GPS and a touch screen display that helps the user guide their way through an easy-to-navigate menu that offers breadcrumbing. It doesn’t compare to the likes of the Fenix 5X in terms of the topographical maps, however, the multisport tracking, heart rate monitor and overall user-friendly nature have proven popular with many people.

The best thing about this device is the battery life (which is lithium-ion). You’re able to select how often the GPS function monitors your location, which can have a huge impact on how quickly it drains the battery. You can opt for once every second, every 60 or 120. You can change your setting during activity. The Baro 9 will compensate for less GPS tracking by relying on other features like the compass, gyro and accelerometer. This offers an accurate picture of location, pace and distance. You’ll get an awesome 120 hours battery life from this as well as accurate information. 

Advantages: Unrivaled battery life (in certain settings).

Disadvantages: Navigation isn’t as great as alternatives

5. Garmin Instinct GPS Watch 

$300 / £199

This Garmin offering looks retro but on the inside holds all the tech you could want. A late 2018 release, the Instinct GPS is great for those into hiking and trail runners. It has a full ABS suite with a bonus of GPS navigation, wrapped up in a rugged body. There are fitness features like a heart rate monitor and specialised activity modes for cycling, hiking and open water swimming. 

The look and feel is a downside for some who want a more sophisticated-looking watch for everyday wear. It’s pretty slimline at 1.8oz, though. 

If you opt for this over the Fenix 5X, you’re giving up the better map and navigation functionalities. It does offer the TracBack feature, though. There have been a few complaints about the brightness and size of the screen not being adequate, too. Some put this down to a simplified design. Specific activity modes are also simpler than it’s sibling or the Sunnto range. This ABC watch is a fantastic mid-range offering that offers durability. 

Advantages: A decent price for a mid-range GPS off-road multisport watch

Disadvantages: Small display and lacking in maps and navigation functionality

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Top Smartwatch Apps for Hiking

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apps for hiking

Hiking is one of the most uplifting activities you can do. However it can be improved with the help of a little tech. With apps for hiking on your smartwatch you’re able to get a world of data that’s gathered while you walk. 

Let’s look at five of the best hiking apps that you can take with you on your wrist.

Alltrails

The AllTrails free app offers more than 50,000 trail guides so you can bike, hike and more. You can search the trail list or browse for trails near you, look at the reviews for the trails, and add your own. AllTrails lets you access topographical maps, images and reviews and once you’ve found a route you’d like to try, you can save it for offline use later on. While you’re on the trail, you can upload photos that you’ve taken on the way. You can also create tracks of your own.

AllTrails works best with the Garmin Fenix range and the Apple Watch.

ViewRanger 

ViewRanger is a wonderfully versatile GPS trail navigation app offering great content on the free version and even more advanced options on the premium version. Account holders can download free maps for offline use later on. The premium option lets users access map data such as USA and USGS Topographical maps. If you’ve got your smartphone with you, there’s an augmented reality skyline viewer that signposts peaks, hills and general points of interest, through your camera. 

There are 180,000 trails that you can download. You can explore them off-grid so long as you download the map before you go. ViewRanger comes with a handy WearOS compatible app. So you can hike knowing you have your trail right there on your wrist. 

ViewRanger requires a lot of pre-trail prep, but where’s the harm in being organised before you go on a trail? It lets you set up a plan for an upcoming trip. If you use your GPS function you can utilise trail tracking with their BuddyBeacon and this shares your real-time location (privately) with your chosen pal. 

ViewRanger works brilliantly on the Apple Watch.

Map My Hike

Under Armour teamed up with MyFitnessPal to create MapMyHike and it offers a really comprehensive data analysis on your hikes, trails and runs by utilising your GPS function. MapMyHike gives you automatic feedback based on your completed hikes (or any other activity) and motivates you to make improvements so you’re more efficient. MapMyHike, despite the name, does more than focus on hiking. It actually has hundreds of other activities like running, swimming and cycling that you’re able to log through the app.

The differentiator here is the social element. You can engage with other users in the community, where you can challenge and go head-to-head with other people to improve your skills over time.

This app is free, but that means there are some ads unless you go premium. In-app purchases include live-location tracking, so someone always knows where you are, for safety. You can monitor heart rate zones, too. 

The MapMyHike app works really well on any of the WearOS devices, but best with the Fitbit Flex 2. You can learn more about that here.

The app is free, but there is a premium subscription for $5.99 per month and that gives you access to things like bespoke training audio tips to keep you motivated along your route.

Endomundo

Endomundo is the most social app on this list. Created specifically as a social fitness network aimed at encouraging people to improve their health, users can monitor their fitness data using the mobile app and website. 

Endomundo can track things like running routes, calories burned, distance and heart rate. You can analyse your training performance and it’ll look at your input and offer tips for improvements. 

As with most of these apps, there’s a free and paid version. The former has ads, the latter doesn’t and brings additional features like being able to devise your own training plan. 

You can get Endomundo on either Samsung Gear or WearOS smartwatches. Here’s an overview of some Samsung suggestions for women.

Summary

Hiking apps are great for monitoring performance on a specific hike and can help bring general improvement in fitness over time. The apps also open up the world, quite literally, with thousands of trails and maps for you to try that you might never have known about before.

If those two benefits weren’t enough, you’re able to keep loved ones’ minds at rest by utilising the GPS function on your smartwatch to keep a live-track of your location. Should you find yourself in a sticky situation, they can quickly find you. You can keep your independence if you enjoy a solo hike, with less of the danger. 

Your smartwatch can act as a guide, instructor, fitness monitor and safety net, all in one.

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The Five Must-Have features to Look for in Running Watches (And Why)

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Running watches are a step up from your everyday fitness tracker. Most half-decent running watches have an accurate GPS function. What makes a running watch better is that you can use it to monitor your general fitness. However, a fitness tracker might not be able to accurately measure your running progress. 

A running watch can be an invaluable aid. So, here are five running watch features to look out for that will help you get the most out of it.

1 – GPS

Your running watch will use GPS to tell you your precise location through triangulation. The GPS function on your running watch will be able to give you information about your speed, distance and pace – useful insights into sessions and overall progress.

A running watch with accurate GPS lets you record a route and go back and analyse your data later. If you’re a trail runner, you’ll be able to see the elevation differences depending on terrain – one area where a running watch becomes more of a friend to the serious runner than a generic fitness tracker.

A good example of a reliable running watch with accurate GPS is the Garmin Forerunner 235.

2 – Elevation and Altimeter

Elevation data comes from GPS and gives more in-depth information, such as like the number of floors climbed. This feature is for those who are keen on climbing mountains, hiking in canyons and doing laps around known climbing sites. Barometers are becoming more commonplace in running watches because, without elevation data, some of the distance measured is lost. 

The Suunto Traverse is an excellent watch for this feature.

3 – Heart rate monitor

Being able to record your heart rate via a built-in sensor on the underside of your watch means you can monitor your pulse during a session. This translates into data that tells you when you’re either burning fat, increasing strength, or at the optimal cardio zone for endurance.

A good heart rate monitor will also give a fairly good indication of your maximum VO2 levels, max oxygen consumption and recovery rate. Watches with these features will be more expensive, but if you’re a serious runner who wants a detailed analysis of performance; you should consider spending the extra.

Saying that, the Garmin Vivosmart 4 offers this on a budget.

running watches

4 – Waterproof 

The reality is that a watch is never 100% waterproof. There will always be a limit to the amount of water pressure a device can take. If your potential running watch is only labelled as ‘water-resistant’ it’s advised you keep searching as it’ll only be able to withstand light rain or maybe a shower.

Look at the ATM rating. ATM means ‘atmosphere’ and 1ATM is the equivalent of 10m depth.

It’s worth remembering that testing is done in only about 10cm of static water with varying pressure applied to it. No one has put your potential watch on and dived to 200m to see if it’s still working. In real life, water is rarely still. Waves crashing, diving in, sudden torrential rain, all of these things cause a sudden change in water pressure. If you’re doing these things as part of your activities, the higher the ATM rating, the better.

Check out the best Waterproof Fitbit Watches coming in 2020

5 – Compatibility 

If you’re considering buying a serious running watch, you’ll be interested in the in-depth data it will give you. In order to read that data you’ll want to pick a running watch that talks to other devices like your smartphone and tablet or laptop.

The Apple Watch has long been hailed as the king of fitness watches. And thanks to the compatibility with apps like Strava, runners have been buying it in hordes since its launch. However, Apple products don’t play well with other brands. So, a Samsung Galaxy Watch, for example, might be more suitable if you use anything other than an iPhone, iPad, iMac or MacBook. 

Consider the third-party apps you’d like on your running watch that will help your progress. Do you use Spotify, for example? Some running watches will enable you to not only listen to your music but will select music based on your pace.

The Samsung Gear S3 Frontier is great for this.

Summary

All of the features mentioned above are aimed at optimising and customising your running session. This has the overall goal of improving your performance. The running watch that you end up choosing will depend on your taste (and budget), but also your training needs. Remember the most expensive isn’t always the best (some designer watches stand testament to this, such as Tag Heuer).

Most running watches these days are compatible with your smartphone so you really can make the most of analysing the data that your device is capable of harnessing. It works both ways, too, so that while the watch is collecting information about your performance, it’ll tell you about text, call, social and app notifications from your phone as you run. 

Design is important too. Do you want something lightweight so you hardly notice it on your wrist, or do you want something more rugged and hardwearing. And a final consideration is battery life. All of the above features will have an impact on the battery life of your device. If you’re an endurance runner, you’ll need to know how long you can rely on your watch. 

 Make sure to do your homework first with your needs in mind.

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The Suunto Traverse Review

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Suunto Traverse

The Suunto Traverse is a GPS-integrated smartwatch that promises the functionality of traditional GPS units. It’s the first watch from the Suunto brand to be designed specifically for wear outdoors. While this watch may be bulkier than conventional options, the engineering is incredibly solid. In fact, it’s a match to military standards.

The Background Of The Suunto Traverse

The Traverse collection was released by Suunto back in 2015. There are five watches within the range – the Amber, White, Black, Slate, and Graphite versions. All offer outstanding performance paired with attractive designs. The Traverse is made specifically to suit the needs of outdoor pursuits enthusiasts. Those who require a high-quality timepiece to wear during their adventures. For this reason, the Traverse is fully equipped with a host of advanced features. For Example GPS, a Bluetooth chipset, barometer, and compass.

Suunto Traverse with Orange Strap

What’s The Suunto Traverse’s Design Like?

The Traverse has a user-friendly interface. It features buttons that are used to select different screen options and functions. While it isn’t exceptionally intuitive, it’s fairly easy to get to grips with.

The watch is incredibly durable – something which is absolutely essential in an outdoor watch. Both face and straps are resistant to scratches and breakage. It’s waterproof to 100 meters so you won’t need to worry about wearing it in the rain or in a river. The strap is also waterproof and durable, made from comfortable silicone. For most people, this watch is easy to wear. However, if you have very small wrists, you may find it more difficult to wear for extended periods because of its bulk.

Does The Suunto Traverse Have Lots Of Features?

There is a wealth of features integrated into this outdoor-wear fitness tracker watch. This makes it a great choice for anyone who is keen to improve their fitness level in the outdoor environment while keeping a close eye on their progress over time. It goes without saying that this watch can also be used as a countdown timer or stopwatch. Furthermore, it features a digital compass to make navigating a breeze.

Another interesting feature of this watch is the inbuilt sensor which is capable of measuring the air pressure continuously. There are 3 different settings – altimeter, barometer and automatic. This watch displays your elevation and shows barometric and GPS altitudes which can be logged in to an altitude graph to easily track your progress. There is also a weather trend indicator that comes with a storm alarm function. Ideal if you’re out trekking or hiking.

The Suunto Traverse connects to the Suunto Movescount site. This allows you to view and download your activities and to export your GPS files to a range of other apps like Strava.

What Are The Suunto Traverse’s Fitness Tracking Functions?

Although the Suunto Traverse can track your heart rate, it needs a belt or wrist monitor which must be purchased separately. This is a bit of a downside and will also add extra cost to the price of your fitness tracker. On the positive side, it allows users to configure 5 different sporting modes. You’ll be able to see all the key data you need during your workout, including your pace, ascent, speed, and heart rate. After your workout, you can see a more in-depth analysis in the app along with GPS tracking.

This watch enables you to install as many as three apps for each sporting mode. You can either create them yourself or choose them from the Movescount app zone, enabling you to get even more information about your physical fitness. The Suunto traverse is a good choice of watch for anyone who likes to vary their outdoor sports between activities such as hiking, cycling, and paddling.

What Are The Main Advantages of The Suunto Traverse?

  • Solid military standard engineering
  • A fairly intuitive user interface
  • Comfortable silicone strap
  • Non-scratch screen
  • Integrated GPS tracking

What Are The Main Disadvantages Of The Suunto Traverse?

  • A slightly bulky design for anyone with slim or small wrists
  • No integral heart rate monitor
  • 8 Hour battery with GPS enabled

Is The Suunto Traverse Right For Me?

One of the best things about the Suunto Traverse is that it offers the combined functionality of a watch and a GPS unit. Comfortable to wear around your wrist, this device is robust enough to take anywhere, whether you’re hiking in the mountains or swimming in a river.

While it can be used at its most basic level to track your physical activity, it can be pushed to a higher level, allowing you to benefit from the advanced route and navigational options. The altimeter functionality allows more convenient tracking, while the storm alert option is an interesting additional feature – very useful for any outdoor enthusiast.
Despite this watch being rather bulky compared to some of its rivals, it can be worn relatively unobtrusively. Its ability to sync with the Movescount app means that it’s a breeze to track your progress over time.

It may not be a complete replacement for the most advanced GPS units that feature inbuilt mapping, but if convenience is your goal, this watch is pretty hard to beat. It’s much quicker to access than any GPS unit and as an added bonus, leaves your hands free.

Summary

The upshot is, if you love your outdoor pursuits and need a watch that combines a host of sports tracking functionality paired with sufficient robustness to withstand anything that the outdoor life can throw at it, the Suunto Traverse could tick all your boxes. On the other hand, if your preference is for indoor sports or you want a more streamlined, sleek option to wear on your wrist, you may want to look at one of the other options on the market today.

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Amazfit Stratos 3 – Does The Flagship Hold Up To The Hype?

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Amazfit Stratos 3 watch and display box

The third generation of Huami’s Amazfit Stratos 3 is certainly an upgrade from its predecessors in terms of functionality and design. By using higher quality materials and adding some popular features, the improvements blend a robust fitness tracking framework with a fashion-forward smartwatch.

The Amazfit Stratos 3 was released – with a whole selection of other smartwatches by Huami – to cater to the different requirements of wearable tech users and enthusiasts. The line also includes Amazfit GTR, Amazfit GTS, Amazfit Nexo, Amazfit Verge Lite and Amazfit BIP Lite.

The Stratos was introduced as a competitor to full-function sports watches by industry leaders like Garmin in a very similar shell. With the look and feel of a higher end smartwatch, does it live up to its claims?

Features

1.3″ full round always-on LCD displayStandalone music player
Provides smartwatch functionality including receiving calls, alerts and notifications4 GB storage capacity
19 sports modes and analytics availableIn-built air pressure sensor for altitude calculation
Water resistantTracks heart rate and sleep
14 day battery lifeContinuous GPS tracking

Appearance and Design

The Amazfit Stratos 3 looks similar to its predecessor when it comes to its 1.34 inch, round dial body, which is more robust now thanks to Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protecting the screen. The OLED is replaced by a Full Moon display, an always-on low-power colour panel that allows for greater visibility in various light without draining on the battery unduly. Additionally, it has a decent display resolution of 320×320 pixels that deliver vivid colours and clarity.

Its body is made from stainless steel, the bezel is zirconia ceramic and the bottom casing is plastic. This provides the durability required without weighing down the smartwatch and gives it a luxury look. The silicone strap is a standard 22mm and can be replaced if needed.

There are four physical buttons on its exterior allowing you to quickly perform certain functions without touching the screen.

Battery

A typical charge will depend on your usage, but you should get around seven days on the default Smart mode, which provides full functionality. Stripping down some elements by using the Ultra mode allows 14 days of uninterrupted use.

With 300 mAh Li-Ion Polymer battery and magnetic charging support, you can fast charge the watch to its full capacity within two hours.

Functionality

When it comes to performance, the Stratos 3 provides both fitness tracking and smartwatch capabilities. Its features include:

GPS Tracking

Up to 70 hours of continuous GPS tracking – it depends on what you’re monitoring – can be saved within the watch, providing accurate data to evaluate your running, walking, hiking or swimming sessions.

Multiple Sports Modes

Huami has increased the number of sports modes available from 11 to 19 activities with rich analytics backing each. They include:

RunningIndoor Cycle
TreadmillJump Rope
Trail RunPool Swim
WalkOpen Water
EllipticalHike
TennisTriathalon
SkiMultisport
FootballRower
Outdoor CycleFitness

Additionally, its Firstbeat algorithm allows you to view sport-respective data in order to help understand your current fitness potential and allow you to chart a path towards your goals.

BioTracker

No sports watch is complete without heart rate monitoring and the Stratos 3 is equipped with Huami’s proprietary BioTracker sensor to give readings. You can set the watch to continuously manage your heart rate and notify you in case of an excessively high reading or interval value.

Standalone Music Player

The Huami is one of the few fitness trackers come with its own music player enabling you to fill your workouts with your own music without a smartphone. You can use its built-in Bluetooth with a pair of headphones to enjoy tunes on the go – the watch comes with 4GB of storage giving you plenty of space to fill with your favourite playlists.

Swim Proof

With water resistance to a depth of 50 meters, the smartwatch can be used to track your swim sessions or rainy runs. It additionally uses GPS to accurately gauge your swimming position and analyse data like your pace, SWOLF and calorie consumption.

Advanced Performance Analytics

The watch comes with a companion app which uses age, height and weight data to provide analytics for your daily activities and performance. It relays the data through a well-designed UI packed with numbers and graphs to make it understandable. Additionally, it displays your GPS tracking route, heart rate figures and sleep pattern.

You can also use the app to customize the watch face with up to 100+ different options or set your own personal wallpaper.

Notifications

As a smartwatch, it show notifications from major apps while receiving call and message alerts. Unfortunately, there is no built-in mic or speaker so you can’t respond to calls. Notification details can be viewed by swiping down, but you will need your phone and its keyboard in order to reply back.

Lastly, the Amazfit Stratos 3 currently supports Android 5.0 and IOS 10.0 or above.

Main AdvantagesMain Disadvantages
Premium design with always-on displayNo NFC payment option
Long battery lifeNo microphone or speaker
Tracks up to 19 physical activities
Onboard music functionality with 4GB storage available
GPS tracking
Waterproof
Can receive calls, emails and texts
Sleep analysis

Summary

Overall, Amazfit Stratos 3 is packed with features for tracking your fitness activities while providing a comprehensive data against your personalized profile. It comes with on-device storage and playback allowing you to focus on your activities while providing fairly accurate GPS tracking to help you train efficiently. You’ll be able to track your efforts across 19 different fitness activities with accompanying analytics to help you review your performance and goals.

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Why Choose an Apple Watch

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Apple Watch

The invention of the smartphone has driven the evolution of the smartwatch – and Apple leads the way with its Apple Watch range, designed for convenience and style.

Apple’s smartwatches offer integration with iOS technology and excellent fitness tracking and wellbeing focused features.

The History of the Apple Watch

Since its launch in 2015 the Apple Watch has seen multiple iterations. The Apple Watch Series 1 and Series 2 were made available in 2016. The Apple Watch Series 3 arrived a year later. The Series 4 a year after that and in September 2019 the Apple 5 hit the market.

What Watch to Choose

Apple no longer sells the original Apple Watch or the Series 1, 2 and Series 4, though you can find good secondhand buys. Alongside Series 5 and Series 3, Apple is also currently selling the Apple Watch Nike+ edition and Apple Watch Hermes. The technical specification of these branded Apple Watches mimics that of the Apple Watch Series 4. The recently released Apple Watch Edition is described by Apple as having “all the innovations of Series 5 and the craftsmanship of traditional watchmaking”.

Apple Watches are available either as GPS or GPS +Cellular versions; the main difference being that the Cellular type allows the user to operate the Apple Watch without the iPhone being anywhere near.

If you’re considering purchasing an Apple Watch but not sure which model will suit your requirements, read on as we compare and discuss Series 2, Series 3, Series 4 and Series 5.

Design

Until Apple Watch 4, the look of each device was similar. Apple Watch has a larger screen – between 40mm and 44mm – and also includes haptic feedback on the digital crown. Series 5 is available in either 38mm or 42mm versions.

Apple watches from Series 2 and up are all waterproof with a 5ATM rating. This means that they are suitable to wear in water depths of up to 50 metres for 10 minutes – so you can shower and swim with confidence. On the Series 3, Apple says that although water is able to penetrate the speaker, sound vibrations help to expel the moisture back out.

Each generation of Apple Watch has allowed for plenty of personalisation with colour and material options. More recent versions such as the Series 5 have a bigger library of options with case materials in aluminium, titanium, stainless steel and gold.  Series 3 GPS+ Cellular option was available in ceramic, but this particular casing was discontinued with the introduction of Series 4. 

For added individuality, the wearer can swap the device straps to suit specific occasions. The Nike+ edition’s breathable strap sets it apart from the family. Furthermore, the Hermes in Series 4 has a great selection of fashionable straps.

Display

Series 5 is the only Apple Watch to have the always-on display feature. Undoubtedly one of its stand-out characteristics. The always-on function allows the wearer to quickly and efficiently do the simplest of tasks such as checking the time. The watch face will highlight key information such as date, time and weather and are refreshed even when the wearer’s wrist is down. To assist with preserving battery life, the display can be dimmed by covering the watch face, or it will initiate the dim mode automatically when the wrist is down.

Performance

The Apple Watch has never been particularly power hungry, but with each generation performance has improved. Series 2 houses the S2 integrated computer/System on Chip (SoC). Whilst Series 3 hosts S3 and saw the introduction of the dual-core.  Series 4 and Series 5 both operate on a 64-dual core processor. This affords activity that is up to 2x faster than the S3 processor.  

Despite no notable difference in the performance between Apple’s latest models, they retain their own unique SoC, S4 and S5 respectively.  Like the speed, each generation of Apple Watch has had more RAM giving the user more multi-tasking for their money; Series 2 at 512MB of RAM, Apple Watch 3 with 768MB and levelling off at 1GB RAM for series 4 and 5.

Apple has doubled the storage capacity with each new generation of Apple Watch; Series 5 boasts 32GB.  

Health and Wellbeing

With all Apple Watches, there is no need for a separate fitness tracker. Each generation of the Apple Watch has an inbuilt heart rate monitor, an accelerometer, a gyroscope and an ambient light sensor. However, it wasn’t until Series 3 that the device gained an altimeter and a magnetometer (enabling compass functionality) in Series 5.

Fitness enthusiasts can mould the Apple Watch into their very own activity co-ordinator using a variety of health and exercise apps. Each series offering increasingly advanced options with added capability, for example, Series 3 has ‘Activity Rings’ which allows you to monitor your daily movements whilst the improved Workout App in Series 4 includes yoga and hiking and is able to identify what exercise is being undertaken automatically.

New and impressive for Series 5 is upgraded optical and electronic heart sensors allowing more accurate heart monitoring including ECGs which is being supported by the American Heart Association.

Series 4 and 5 offer the wearer added protection against falls. The device can detect a fall and will contact the emergency services if it does not detect any movement within a minute.

GPS is available on Series 2, Series 3, Series 4 and Series 5 models, offering greater flexibility when out and about.

Features

There is no notable difference in battery life between the range of Apple Watches. Each offering in the region of 18-24hrs of battery use.

Bluetooth and Wi-fi are standard installations on each Apple Watch, but there is the added advantage of the cellular option from Series 3 upwards.

With each generation of the Apple Watch, the user is provided with additional apps and creative Watch faces.

Software / Operating System

Apple Watch

Like Apple’s smartphones, the brand’s smartwatches have a unique operating system labelled watchOS. WatchOS allows touch functionality and a whole directory of smart and fun features. It is watchOS that enables the device to be used for calling, texting, receive social media notifications and make purchases via Apple Pay. Like the iPhone Siri is also available on the range of Apple Watches and with Series 4 and Series the assistant works on a ‘raise to speak’ saving you having to wake it up with with a ‘Hey Siri’.

The current operating system is watchOS 6.1, and this will work on all version of the Apple Watch discussed here. Useful features in watchOS 6.1 include noise level notifications and you can now download apps directly, rather than having to use your iPhone.

Unlike its competitors, the Apple Watch range will only work with the iPhone; iPhone 5 running iOS 10 or later for Apple Watch Series 2 and for Series 3 either an iPhone on iOS11 or an iPhone 6.

Price comparison

The price you pay is dependent on the model, the casing, strap and the screen size. Apple Watches range in price from just under £200 for a Series 3 with an aluminium case and a sports band, all the way up to £1,500 for the special Hermes version of the Series 5.

Which will it be?

Whichever Apple Watch you opt for it is clear they certainly offer a suite of standard features to suit a variety of needs, and you can keep up to date with the latest releases of the operating system, keeping your device functional.

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