Smartwatches have more features
Smartwatches are not always better
Fitness trackers are usually cheaper
FItness trackers under Rs 5,000
GOQii Vital 3.0:
Rs 1,999Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 6:
Rs 2,974Fastrack reflex 3.0:
Rs 2,245OPPO Smart Band:
Rs 2,799Realme Smart Fitness Band:
Rs 1,499Smartwatches under Rs 5,000
Gionee STYLFIT GSW7 Smartwatch:
Rs 1,799Maxima Max Pro Smartwatch:
Rs 2,999Zebronics ZEB-FIT7220CH
Smart Fitness Watch
:
Rs 3,499boAt Xtend Smartwatch:
Rs 3,499Amazfit Bip U Pro Smartwatch:
Rs 4,999Noise ColorFit
Ultra Smartwatch
:
Rs 4,999Fitness trackers above Rs 5,000
Wyze Band Activity Tracker:
Rs 5,497MorePro ECG PPG Fitness Tracker:
Rs 7,854Fitbit Charge 4 Fitness and Activity Tracker:
Rs 9,999Garmin vivosmart 4:
Rs 12,150Smart Watches
above Rs 5,000
Realme Smart Watch S Pro:
Rs 9,803HONOR Magic Watch 2:
Rs 11,999Fitbit FB507BKBK Versa 2:
Rs 13,999OnePlus Watch:
Rs 14,999Galaxy Watch4:
Rs 34,999A fitness tracker is a band with sensors that relay data to your smartphone, while a smartwatch has a screen that is essentially an extension of your smartphone, a wrist-bound device that allows you to check texts, emails and even social media.Over the last few years, however, the two devices have converged. Fitness trackers became more complicated, adopting screens and even the ability to show smartphone notifications, while smartwatches really leaned into the fitness side of things.Today, the old models of fitness trackers, like Jawbone and Pebble are almost obsolete. On the other hand, the most popular device for fitness tracking today, the Apple Watch is actually a smartwatch.But, there are a number of reasons for you to differentiate between basic fitness bands (also known as activity bands) like the Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 6 available at Rs 3,499 or the Fitbit Charge 4 available at Rs 9,955 instead of a smartwatch like Apple Watch which will cost you Rs 52,900 or a Fossil Gen 6 Smartwatch for Rs 23,995 The main difference between a fitness tracker and a smartwatch is the list of features and smart abilities.A smartwatch generally has all of the same fitness tracking abilities as a fitness tracker like heart rate sensors and built-in GPS for more accurate health tracking, along with coaching and specific workout tracking, which only the most advanced fitness trackers have.Smartwatches have more advanced smart features, like music control and built-in Bluetooth (to connect to wireless headphones), built-in mics for calls and voice assistants, and NFC for on-the-go payments.They also come in cellular models, which allows them to operate fully independently from a smartphone. Again, some of the more advanced fitness trackers can have some of these smart features and capabilities, but generally, most fitness trackers are way less versatile.One major difference between smartwatches and fitness bands is in terms of connectivity. While both offer Bluetooth as well as Wi-Fi as the connectivity options, smartwatches also come with cellular connectivity.Some smartwatches can be connected to the network either by a physical SIM or an e-SIM. What that means is that users can leave their smartphones at home and still receive calls, notifications, messages and also stream music via supported streaming apps right on their watch.Fitness trackers are definitely smaller than smartwatches and that is arguably the biggest appeal for them.The one feature that most fitness trackers have is battery life. Because smartwatches have large bright displays and are way more demanding in terms of power, they generally have worse battery life.A lot of people don’t like wearing watches because they’re big and bulky, but they still want something to track their steps and tell them how many calories they burned — that’s exactly what a fitness tracker is good at. They don’t have large displays and are relatively lightweight, meaning they’re also more comfortable wearing while you sleep.The cost of smartwatches can go up depending on its size, the materials it's made of, if it’s a cellular model and what fitness-focused features you want it to have.It comes with a body temperature tracker, 3 months personal coaching and 7 days battery life.This fitness band comes with a 1.56" AMOLED Screen and SpO2 Tracking. It has got 30 sports mode and claims to have two week battery life.It comes with a full touch colour display and 20 unique bandfaces. It has got 10+ sports mode and claims to have a battery life upto 10 days.It has a 1.1" AMOLED Display and an extra sport strap. It claims to support up to 12 days of use and supports both Android and iOS.It comes with an OLED display and is compatible with Android and iOS phones.It has a 3.3 cm (1.3”) full touch square screen and remote camera.It comes with 1.4" TFT IPS screen and runs on Realtek RTL8762CK chipset. It supports 10+ sport modes and has upto 15 days of battery life.It comes with a built-in Speaker & Mic and 1.75” square display. It has a metal body and 7 day data storage.It has a 1.69” HD Display with built-in Alexa. It has 14 sports modes and 5 ATM dust, splash and sweat resistance.It also comes with built-in Alexa and GPS. It has a 1.43” HD display, 60+ Sports Modes and 9-Day battery life.It has a 1.75" HD TruView Display and 60 Sports Modes.It has built in Alexa and comes with a fully customizable 0.95” AMOLED display. Its battery lasts 10-14 days with normal use.It comes with a 1.14-inch IPS color screen and can run upto 5 days when fully charged.It has built-in GPS and connects to your phone via bluetoothIt is made of rubber and some of its features are only supported on Android devices. It can run for 7 days without charge.This smartwatch comes with a 1.39 inch AMOLED touchscreen and it can control your music and can click pictures on-the-go when connected to your phone.It claims to have 14 days battery life and an AMOLED touchscreen. It packs 100 Workout Modes and has 4GB built-in memory for music playback.It comes with built-in Alexa and you can store 300+ songs in this device. It claims to have a 5+ day battery life.It has a 46mm dial and 110+ work modes. With 4GB memory you can store upto 500 songs and is compatible with One Plus earbuds and One Plus TV.It is only compatible with Android smartphones and it runs on Wear OS Powered by Samsung.
Did you know 1 in 5 Americans wear a smartwatch daily? Wearable technology usage has skyrocketed over the last few years, experiencing a 100% jump from 2016 to 2019. The global wearable tech market was valued at $61.3 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow 14% from 2023 to 2030. Consumers are increasingly comfortable wearing connected technology to track and monitor their health and fitness, from smartwatches to AirPods to cardiovascular monitors. As 74% of Americans are overweight, and 60% have a chronic health condition, these wearable monitors provide peace of mind, motivation, and more immediate access to medical information.
Within the wearable technology category, there are many different innovations, like smart glasses, smart rings, smart shoes, and smart clothing. Two other popular pieces are smartbands and smartwatches. While they sound similar, they are very different regarding features and usage.
One of the biggest similarities between smartbands and smartwatches is that they are worn on the wrist and look visually similar at first glance. Both can be synced to your mobile device and require some electrical charging.
While smartbands and smartwatches are somewhat similar, consumers who love wearable technology probably have a strong opinion of one or the other, depending on their use. Smartbands like Fitbits or Garmin fitness bands are often fitness-focused. These allow you to track your heart rate and view calories burned, steps walked, or blood oxygen level. Smartbands are typically less expensive, and their bands are often simple silicone.
On the flip side, smartwatches are often bigger and more expensive but have significantly more functionality. Smartwatches are all-in-one regarding fitness tracking, communication, messaging, apps, and more. The displays are often touchscreen-enabled with vibrant coloring and visuals, whereas smartbands offer simpler displays. Smartwatch bands might be leather or even look like fashionable bracelets.
And smartwatches like the Apple Watch Series 8 allow you to call friends, tune in to business meetings, and text family members right from your wrist.
However, when it comes to purchasing one of the other, smartbands often stand high above smartwatches for a few reasons.
Smartwatches can have extremely long battery life, like the Garmin Fenix 6X Pro, which lasts 21 days, or the Fitbit Versa 3, which can go for six days without a charge. On battery-saving mode, options like the Garmin Fenix 6X Pro can stay charged for 80 days. The PowerWatch Series 2 is an option that charges via body heat, so you never have to plug it in.
Because smartbands are fitness-focused, they often include significantly more advanced health features. The Fitbit Charge 5 has a built-in ECG app, which can notify users of atrial fibrillation and an EDA sensor that measures stress. The Honor Band 5 monitors and reports on sleep quality with its TruSleep Technology, analyzes sleep habits and even provides suggestions for a better night’s rest. The Xiaomi Mi Band 7 offers advanced workout metrics like VO₂ max professional workout analysis. When it comes to health monitoring, smartbands are the superior option.
Waterproofing is also a common feature in smartbands. The Xiaomi Mi Band 7 offers 5ATM water resistance, and the Garmin Swim 2 is completely waterproof in the pool and open water while still tracking heart rate, distance, pace, and stroke count. The SKG V7 has a water-resistant depth of 50 meters, making it fully submersible.
With smaller displays and lighter weights, smartbands are often more comfortable than clunky smartwatches. The average smartband only weighs a handful of grams, making it comfortable at night for sleep tracking or daily wear on the go. One of the lightest smartbands is the Xiaomi Mi Band 3i1, weighing just 38.2 grams.
Depending on the technology capability, battery life, and brand name, smartbands can vary significantly in price but are often cheaper than smartwatches. Smartbands like the Xiaomi Mi Band 6 are as low as $40, and the feature-packed Fitbit Charge 5 is only $150. This is significantly less than the Apple Watch Series 8, which starts at around $399 for a base model and goes as high as $799 without accounting for add-ons. Luxury brands have joined the smartwatch game, like the TAG Heuer Carrera Connected at $1,500 or the gold Apple Watch edition at $17,000. At their cheaper price point, smartbands are more accessible to the average consumer.
Featured Image Credit: Photo by Ingo Joseph; Pexels; Thank you!