Watch face protection
The material from which the transparent cover of the display is made.
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Plastic. Inexpensive, moreover, quite durable and impact-resistant material: even with a strong impact, the plastic is more likely to crack than crumble into fragments. At the same time, scratches easily appear on such a surface, and over time it inevitably becomes cloudy. Because of this, plastic is found predominantly in inexpensive wearable gadgets.
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Glass. In this case, it can mean both classic silicate glass (the same as, for example, in windows), and some original types of impact-resistant glass that are not related to
Gorilla Glass(see below). Regular glass costs more than plastic, but not by much, and it looks better and stays clear longer due to its scratch resistance. The main disadvantages of this material are fragility and a tendency to crumble into sharp fragments upon impact. Impact-resistant glass types are devoid of this drawback to one degree or another, but they are also more expensive. According to the price category of the gadget, you can quite accurately determine what kind of glass it uses — ordinary or shock-resistant.
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Sapphire. The coating made of synthetic sapphire is used exclusively in premium-class gadgets — this is due to the complexity of its production and, accordingly, the high cost. On the practical s
...ide, sapphire is extremely scratch resistant (it is only possible to scratch such glass with a diamond or special tools), but at the same time it is fragile and easily breaks from impact.
— Gorilla glass. A family of shock-resistant glass types created by Corning and widely used in modern electronics, including wearable gadgets. In addition to strength, Gorilla Glass is also distinguished by good scratch resistance, while being relatively inexpensive (by the standards of such a coating), which has led to their popularity. However, the specific properties of such glass depend on its version; Here are the options that are relevant for modern wearable devices:
- Gorilla Glass v3. The oldest current version was released in 2013. Nevertheless, even such a coating is noticeably superior to traditional glass (not to mention plastic) in terms of transparency and scratch resistance.
- Gorilla Glass v4. Version released in 2014. A key feature was that the development of this coating focused on impact resistance (whereas previous generations focused mainly on scratch resistance). As a result, the glass turned out to be twice as strong as in version 3, despite the fact that its thickness was only 0.4 mm.
- Gorilla Glass SR+. The first version of Gorilla Glass, designed specifically for smartwatches and other miniature wearable gadgets; presented in 2016. According to the creators, the scratch resistance of such coatings approaches those of sapphire glass while maintaining the main advantages of Gorilla Glass — high strength and transparency. In general, for this material, superiority over "alternative options" is claimed by 70% in terms of strength specs and by 25% in terms of optical properties.
- Gorilla Glass DX. Another type of glass, specially designed for wearable devices. It was released in 2018 at the same time as the DX+ version (see below). Of the key improvements in Gorilla Glass DX, in particular, increased anti-reflective properties and an increase in the contrast level of the visible image by 50% are announced; the latter, among other things, allows you to reduce the actual brightness and, accordingly, the power consumption of screens without compromising image quality, which is especially important for miniature wearable devices. And this material differs from the DX+ type coating, on the one hand, by lower scratch resistance, and, on the other hand, by higher anti-reflective specs.
- Gorilla Glass DX+. Almost the same as the original version of DX, related to the same specialization — wearable wearable gadgets and other miniature devices. At the same time, DX + has a higher scratch resistance, but has slightly worse anti-reflective specs. Otherwise, these types of coverage are almost identical.
Extra features
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Built-in player. The presence of a player in the smartwatch allows you to use the gadget to listen to music. There is no need to connect to the phone for this. The songs will play directly from the watch. Therefore, these devices must necessarily have an impressive (as for a watch) amount of storage and be able to connect to headphones (for connection with headphones).
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Light sensor. A sensor that monitors the brightness of ambient light. One of the most popular ways to use this feature is to auto-adjust the brightness of the display: in bright light, it increases so that the image remains visible, and at dusk it decreases, which reduces eye strain and energy consumption. In addition, other more specific features may be provided — for example, turning on the screen when pulling back the sleeve of clothing.
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WiFi. A technology originally used to access the Internet via wireless access points, but more recently also used for direct communication between two devices (such a connection has several advantages over traditional Bluetooth). In wearable gadgets, the first option is most often provided, although the second is also found. However, the specific uses of Wi-Fi may be different depending on the device: accessing websites and various Internet services, remote communication with smart home systems, remote control of digital cameras and other electr
...onics, transmission of the GPS- coordinates via Internet (in children's beacons), etc.
— NFC. Wireless communication technology over short distances (up to 10 cm). The methods of its application, including in wearable devices, may be different. One of the more popular options is using contactless payment (see below); however, the presence of such a function does not hurt to verify separately. Another common feature is the simplification of Bluetooth connection with a smartphone or tablet that also has NFC: instead of manual configuration, it is enough to bring one device to another — and they will automatically establish a connection, all that remains is to confirm it. Other ways of interaction may also be possible, for example, launching a “sports” application on a smartphone when bringing a fitness tracker to it. And theoretically, more specific options for using NFC are also allowed — for example, as a travel pass, ID, etc. Actually, in many models of wearable gadgets, the set of these methods is limited only by installed applications.
— Contactless payment. The possibility of using a wearable gadget for contactless payment. This feature is found only in models with NFC (see above); it actually turns the device into an analogue of a credit card with a chip and allows you to pay without taking the card out of your wallet — just bring your hand with the gadget to the terminal reader. This provides not only additional convenience, but also security. So, bringing the watch to the terminal is definitely easier than reaching into your pocket or purse for a credit card — especially if your hands are busy shopping. And instead of a traditional card, from which an attacker can copy basic details such as a number, CVV code and expiration date (for example, by “peeping” them with the built-in camera), a gadget is used that transmits this data in encrypted form and does not display it explicitly anywhere.
To use contactless payment, usually, you need to synchronize your gadget with your smartphone and set up such payment in the Google Pay or Apple Pay system. But to make payments, a smartphone is no longer required — many wearable devices are able to perform this feature completely autonomously (although this possibility still needs to be specified separately).
— Accelerometer. A sensor that determines the direction of gravity, as well as the accelerations acting on the device. This allows you to track two parameters at once: the current position in space and various physical influences (like tapping or shaking). Most often, the accelerometer is responsible for two main features: automatic rotation of the image on the screen, as well as the operation of the pedometer (in fact, the presence of such a sensor is almost guaranteed to mean the presence of a pedometer, see "Possible measurements"). However, there are other ways to use this sensor — for example, rejecting an incoming call when shaking the watch, turning on the screen when tapping on it, etc.
— Gyroscope. A device that allows you to track the turns of the gadget in one direction or another. Typically used in conjunction with an accelerometer. The gyroscope improves the accuracy of positioning in space (which has a positive effect on the quality of the pedometer and other similar functions), and also provides additional options for managing gestures. However, the specific applications of this sensor are highly dependent on the model.
— Camera. The watch/bracelet has its own built-in camera; its location and purpose differs from model to model. In some devices, the lens is located on the front panel, above the screen, and the matter is limited only to video communication and taking selfies, while others allow you to shoot “classic” photos or videos. At the same time, it is worth noting that anyway, the specs of such cameras are usually very limited — for example, the resolution rarely exceeds 2 megapixels, and autofocus is provided only in the most advanced models.
— Flashlight. Built-in flashlight — usually in the form of a small LED mounted directly in the case. Usually, it has a relatively modest brightness, but it can still be useful for simple tasks like lighting your path at night, lighting in a garage or basement, etc.Battery life (GPS)
The time that the gadget is able to work on one charge of the battery (or supplied battery) when using a GPS sensor.
This parameter is specified mainly for high-end tourist watches designed for experienced travelers, military, rescuers, divers, pilots, etc. Such devices use advanced GPS receivers, which themselves can consume quite a significant amount of energy; in addition, the operation of the receiver is inevitably accompanied by the use of other features — transferring navigation data to another device (usually via Bluetooth), working with its own built-in maps, etc. Therefore, the battery life while using GPS turns out to be rather modest — it can be significantly less time in active and even less in normal mode (for both, see above).
We also remind that the battery life mentioned in specs is approximate — in fact it may differ (in one direction or another, depending on the use scenario). Nevertheless, it is quite possible to evaluate the actual capabilities of the watch and compare them with each other: the difference in the claimed battery life usually proportionally corresponds to the difference in practical battery life.
Clasp options
The type of clasp used on a gadget's strap or bracelet.
The most common types of clasps today are the
classic buckle,
folding clip, folding lock,
magnet,
snap fastener, and
Hook-and-loop. If several options are indicated in the specs at once, it means that the gadget is supplied or can be supplied with different strap options using different types of fasteners. Here is a detailed description of each type:
– Classic (with buckle). Clasp resembling a belt buckle; originally used in traditional wristwatches, but nowadays it has become widespread in smart gadgets. On one half of such a fastener there is a U-shaped or similar frame with a special pin, on the second — a row of holes. When fastening, the second half is threaded through the frame, and the pin is fixed in one of the holes. At the same time, by choosing a particular hole, you can adjust the size of the strap. In addition, the advantages of the classics are reliability, neat appearance and compatibility with many strap materials (with the exception of metal bracelets).
— Clip (unfolding). An option for metal bracelets. The most widespread type of clip, consisting of two curved plates connected by an axis. When unfastened, they open like a book, increasing the overall length of the bracelet and allowing you to easily r
...emove the watch from your hand, and when fastened, they fold close to each other and are fixed, securing the bracelet on your wrist. Another, less popular variety is the “butterfly”, which has two flaps that, when opened, rise like wings. In general, the clips are very easy to use, but difficult to set up. They fasten and unfasten with literally one click, but it’s impossible to reconfigure the size of a bracelet with a clip “on the go” — you have to disconnect and reconnect special latches, which requires an additional tool and some skill.
— Magnetic. A fastener in which a strong permanent magnet plays the role of a latch. Such devices are simple and convenient both in use and in adjustment: for fastening and unfastening, it is enough to “stick” or “unstick” a magnet, and size adjustment is carried out right at the time of fastening — by tightening the strap to the desired length. The main disadvantage of such a clasp is that it can only be used with metal bracelets made of magnetic alloys — for example, steel.
— With lock. A clasp that resembles the buckle described above, but has a slightly different principle of operation. On one side of the strap with such a clasp there is a latch pin, on the other side there is a loop of a D-shaped or other shape, as well as a number of holes. When fastening, the side with the pin is threaded into the loop and then fixed in one of the holes; By choosing one or another hole, you can adjust the length of the strap. This design is especially suitable for rubber straps, it is simpler and at the same time more reliable than the buckle, which can also be used with such straps.
— Hook-and-loop. Classic hook-and-loop closure, used exclusively with fabric straps. Like magnetic clasps (see above), such clasps allow you to very accurately adjust the length of the strap right in the process of fastening. Among the disadvantages of Hook-and-loop, in addition to restrictions on the materials of the strap, it is worth noting the tendency to reduce reliability as it wears out. Therefore, nowadays, this type of fastener is quite rare, and is almost never used as the only one available — usually Hook-and-loop is supplemented with another option, for example, a latch.
— Folding lock. Clasp in the form of a detachable lock, the halves of which are on different halves of the bracelet. It is used with finely woven metal bracelets, the so-called "Milanese" ones; at the same time, one half is fixed motionless, and the second can move along its part of the bracelet — in this way the length is adjusted. A tool may be required for adjustment, but the procedure itself is simple — much easier than with clips. And the low prevalence of folding locks is mainly due to the fact that Milanese bracelets are rarely found in smart wearable gadgets.Waterproof
The degree of protection against water according to the WR standard, which corresponds to the body of the gadget.
WR (Water Resistant) is a rather specific standard that was originally used in traditional wristwatches. It describes the static water pressure that the device can tolerate without consequences: for example, WR30M corresponds to a pressure at a depth of 30 m (i.e. 3 bar). However, the physical features of such measurements are such that this figure corresponds very poorly to the actual allowable immersion depth. For example, the mentioned WR30M level only provides protection against accidental splashes, while
the WR50M allows you to endure maximum exposure to rain or running water when washing your hands. The lowest level that allows complete immersion under water is
WR100M, but only to a minimum depth and without “extreme” like surfing or diving from a tower. And for more serious activities, like water sports or diving, you should pay attention to gadgets with water protection at the level of
WR200M, and even WR300M.
Dustproof & waterproof
The level of dust and water protection according to the IP standard, which the gadget corresponds to.
This parameter is usually denoted by the letters IP followed by two characters (
IP55,
IP56,
IP57,
IP65,
IP66,
IP67,
IP68,
IP69) — for example, IP68. The numbers indicate the specific degree of protection: the first — dust resistance, the second — water resistance. Instead of one of the numbers, there may be the letter X (
IPX5,
IPX7,
IPX8) — this means there is no certification for this indicator: for example, an IPX7 device has a moisture resistance of 7, but has not been tested for dust protection. However, a high degree of protection against water automatically means good dust resistance.
Here are the levels of dust protection (first digit) found in modern wearable gadgets:
5 — dust resistance. Some dust may get inside, but it does not affect the operation of the device. There is no point in specifying lower levels, as they do not provide protection against dust.
6 — full dustproof (dust ingress is completely excluded).
The second digit describes the r
...esistance to moisture, here the options can be as follows:
4 — resistance to water splashes from any direction. It is considered the minimum level of water protection, which makes sense to indicate in the specs: in particular, it allows you to endure exposure to rain without consequences.
5 — resistance to water jets from any direction. This level allows you to endure heavy rain and makes it possible to at least calmly wash your hands without removing the gadget.
6 — protection against strong water jets and impacts of sea waves. It is undesirable to completely submerge such a gadget under water, but it can be used even in a strong storm and not removed during the shower.
7 — the possibility of short-term immersion under water to a shallow depth (up to 1 m), without constant operation in immersed mode. With such a device, usually, you can even swim — but for a very short time (several minutes) and without diving. However, it is worth noting that not every gadget with this level of protection normally tolerates water jets (that is, compliance with level 7 does not necessarily mean compliance with lower levels 5 and 6).
8 — the possibility of a long (more than 30 minutes) stay under water at a great depth (more than 1 m), using in submerged mode. The specific limit of depth and time may be different, it should be specified separately; there are both gadgets with basic capabilities that allow you to dive a couple of metres, and diving models with an allowable depth of several tens of metres. Similar to level 7, water jet resistance is not guaranteed in this case.
9 - the possibility of almost unlimited time spent under water when diving to a certain depth, using the device in submerged mode. Level 9 also guarantees resistance to hot water under strong pressure - wrist gadgets with this level of dust and moisture protection can withstand high-temperature water jets under pressure.Weight
In most cases, the weight of the watch body itself is indicated as the weight of the model, since the strap is removable and can be replaced with another one. However, there are also models when the weight is presented with an included strap. Anyway, if the manufacturer indicates a specific method of measuring weight (with or without a strap), we add this information.