Smart watches are among the most successful wearables. While the first generation of smart watches still suffered from teething problems such as weak batteries and little additional benefit over a smartphone, second-generation watches offer a wide range of functionalities.
According to market analyst IDC, something over 21 million smart watches were sold worldwide in 2015. In 2016, the figure is predicted to rise to over 34 million. That means smart watches are among the most popular wearables at present. Yet, in spite of their already substantial sales, the miniature wrist-worn computers are still in their infancy according to the Stiftung Warentest consumer organisation, and have not yet appealed to the mass market. In September 2015, the organisation tested 12 smart watches at prices between 140 and 700 euros. While they were all able to display short messages, e-mails or fitness data, even the better watches exhibited some failings. Most could do little without a smartphone, and so offered little in the way of added value. They also exhibited major weaknesses in terms of battery life: eight of the 12 watches tested failed to keep running for 24 hours.
The appeal will grow
Next-generation watches are now being launched onto the market, however. Ramon Llamas, Research Manager at IDC, is convinced: “Smart watches will soon have developed from simple add-ons for a smartphone to portable computers capable of handling communications, messaging, apps, and many other functions. The smart watches of today are completely different from the smart watches of the future. Mobile connections, health sensors – and not forgetting the exploding third-party apps market – will be game-changers, driving both the appeal and the market value of smart watches.”
Golfing with GPS
One example of such a multi-functional watch is the Vivoactive from Garmin. The GPS watch is able to measure the wearer’s speed, distance covered and time when running or cycling and can also measure heart rate in combination with a chest strap. Swimmers can measure their distance as well as the number of strokes they take to cover a specific distance. For golfers, the watch provides distance data to the start, middle and end of the green, as well as to distinct points on the fairway, at over 38,000 courses worldwide. The Vivoactive also scores highly as an activity tracker, motivating wearers to adopt a more active lifestyle with personalised daily goals. The watch can connect via Bluetooth to other devices such as smartphones and provides notifications of incoming calls, e-mails and other messages. Functionality will be customisable in future based on free apps and widgets. And of course, it can tell the time, too.
30 days’ power
Things are also improving with regard to battery life: the Vivoactive’s battery is claimed to last three weeks, while Vector even claims the battery in its smart watch will provide power for 30 days. The British company has succeeded in cutting the power consumption of its watches by combining an energy-efficient microprocessor with an intelligent power management system and an e-ink display. Those watches also have their own app store. And from 2016 onwards, Vector will also be opened up to third-party app developers. And the British wearables manufacturer is not tied to any one operating system. Its current range of 12 watch models is compatible with iOS, Android, and Windows smartphones. “Smart watch platforms will lead the evolution,” asserts IDC’s Ramon Llamas. “As the brain of the smart watch, they manage all its functions and processes, many of which interact with the user. They run all the apps and connect to the smartphone.” According to the analyst, Apple’s watchOS is currently the market leader, followed by Android, or Android Wear – though the list of companies using the latter system is continually growing. Traditional watchmakers such as Fossil and Tag Heuer, who are now also entering the smart watch market, particularly tend to use the Google operating system.
Advancing into the luxury segment
The Tag Heuer Connected, for example, is a genuine combination of traditional watchmaker’s skills and state-of-the-art wearable technology. The luxury watch is instantly appealing thanks to its elegant design. Various watch faces, closely simulating the look and functionality of a real dial, can be downloaded from the manufacturer’s app store. As an additional bonus, Android Wear provides wearers of the Tag Heuer Connected watch with a wide range of Android apps to download. The key apps – including Google Fit, Google Translate, Google Maps and Google Search with voice recognition – are pre-installed on the watch. The Swiss watchmaker does not yet appear entirely convinced of its smart watch, however: all buyers of a Tag Heuer Connected watch are offered the opportunity to swap it for a mechanical watch with a genuine Swiss movement at the end of the two-year warranty period ….
(Picture credits: Vector Watch)