14 DAY TRIAL // I love technology. I had and tried all sorts of gadgets and smart devices in the last couple of years, but never a smartwatch, and I think it is time to ask your opinion on the matter, simply because there are so many such devices out there that it is overwhelming.
First of all, if you didn't figure it out already, this is not an Android Wear shopping guide for new users who want to buy a smartwatch and don't know which one to choose. I'm writing this article because I would like to ask you guys for some suggestions before I attempt to spend money on something that I might regret later.
To begin, this is not my area of expertise. I write about Linux technologies, in general, but that doesn't mean I cannot buy whichever gadget I like/want/need. In the last two months or so, I was troubled with the idea of buying a smartwatch, so I've searched on the Internet for shopping guides and articles about the best or worst smartwatches.
During this search, I have discovered that there are a great number of smartwatches out there, some from companies that I never knew existed. I even went to some brick-and-mortar shops to look at some smartwatches and try them on. Again, they had so many, from brands that I don't want to trust, that I didn't know which one to buy.
I want it to replace my fitness band
I would like to inform you guys that I currently have a fitness band, a Fitbit Charge, that I like very much. I use it when I run and when I sleep (mostly to wake me up at specific hours, not to monitor my sleep). But I love watches in general. I can't afford to buy all the watches I want, and when I heard that smartwatches have so many faces, I immediately fell in love with the idea of having a single watch to rule them all.
So, yeah, I'm buying a smartwatch because I want to replace my fitness band and I want it to have all the awesome faces I love, especially some retro ones from famous brands like Casio Illuminator. I need the alarm function, but I bet that all smartwatches have one, so this won't be an issue. The problem is that I can't test these smartwatches in real life, to see if the screen is readable or not.
I mean, I don't want to buy a watch that only I can see, in dark rooms. I don't want to have something dark on my wrist, I want it to be visible at all times, like a normal watch. Is that possible? Then, I want it to be from a well-known company, like Sony, ASUS, or Motorola/Google, and to have support for the latest software versions available from Google.
Which one do you recommend?
So, bottom line, I want a cool, good looking smartwatch that is not that expensive, includes all the faces I can think of, has a bright display that can be easily seen in daylight, and has access to the latest software updates, when they are released by Google. If it's not too much to ask, I would like you guys to please tell me about your experiences with Android Wear smartwatches, and which one do you think suits my needs.
To be honest, I like the Sony SmartWatch 3, but I also like the LG G Watch R. Oh, and one more thing, I don't like Apple Watch's design, so don't even bother mention it here. Also, I bet that Apple Watch does not even support those retro faces I want to have on my smartwatch. I'm eagerly waiting for your suggestions, and I'll keep you posted when I buy my first ever smartwatch!