Are Smartwatches and Wearables Dead?

[MSFTisMIA]

Smartwatches are experiencing a slow, painful death - Business Insider

As a user of Android Wear, I cannot help but wonder if what we're seeing in the current market for wearables as listed in the article above as a sign of trouble.

I've got a Huawei watch one Wear 2.0 and a Moto 360 on Wear 1.5. There's a lot on Wear Goggle has done solidly, but there are some headscratching changes and that unanswered question about the necessity of wearables in the first place. I think smartwatches and wearables overall are useful and have a place.

But I'm curious to hear what others think...

 

[amyf27]

I love my gear s3 frontier watch

 

[Jaycemiskel]

I personally think Android Wear is headed downhill. Just look at how it's been difficult to even get the updates out for manufacturers and more and more are pulling out. I do feel that Samsung will continue to make them though.

 

[MSFTisMIA]

I personally think Android Wear is headed downhill. Just look at how it's been difficult to even get the updates out for manufacturers and more and more are pulling out. I do feel that Samsung will continue to make them though.

I agree some. The differences on Wear 2.0 and 1.5 are Stark in some of the choices Goggle made...and I'm not sure it made things for the better.

 

[Doug Moffat]

Have the S3 Frontier. The smart watch is most assuredly not dead.

 

[MSFTisMIA]

So how are people using their watches? I got mine for notification management as I moved to using phablets.

 

[amyf27]

Have the S3 Frontier. The smart watch is most assuredly not dead.

Same here.

 

[amyf27]

So how are people using their watches? I got mine for notification management as I moved to using phablets.

Mine I use for heart rate during endurance activities and for occasional calls. Also use sometimes for Samsung Pay

 

[Doug Moffat]

So how are people using their watches? I got mine for notification management as I moved to using phablets.

About 90% notications; 10% calls.

 

[Morty2264]

I used to think they didn't; until I bought a cheap smartwatch and used it for about six or seven months. I loved it! I used to never wear watches so I liked knowing the time while I was at work; but I really like seeing how many steps I've taken. And how many calories I've burnt, etc. So when I graduated to my Fitbit, I really loved seeing how many kilometres I've walked; how much I've slept each night; and how many minutes I've been active during the day. I find that it's a good motivator.

Plus, I'm not permitted to use my phone at work, so using my phone as a way to record my movement has never been an accurate route of measurement for me.

 

[Almeuit]

I don't use one. It sounds nice but 200-300 for a watch is just insane to me.

 

[J Dubbs]

I would love a full fledged, water proof watch-phone that was completely self contained, had full Bluetooth capabilities, a Moto voice/Cortana style hands free system, and built in complete fitness tracking.

If that already exists let me know ;-)

And btw Fitbit makes complete crap, don't waste your money...... I own a flex, and just recently purchased their top of the line surge. Both are junk, as is their horribly coded app, but funnily enough the basic flex is a way better device than the 4 times as expensive surge. That's probably the reason their sales have dropped over half along with their stock value. They'll be gone soon.

Read their forums before you purchase, I should have :-(

 

[dov1978]

I heavily rely on my smartwatch. I started with the Samsung Gear S, got a few Apple Watches, Fitbit Surge, then a Sony Smartwatch 3 and a ZenWatch 2 which I'm using now. I have a manual job so work most of the day wearing gloves and can't easily just pull out my phone for every notification or if I want to send a message. A smartwatch is invaluable for that and being able to do all this hands free. I also do a lot of running and exercise so I use them for tracking runs and streaming music too. Once you get past the novelty factor and don't expect to have a full blown smartphone on your wrist then you get the true use of them.

 

[chanchan05]

They should stop thinking of smartwatches like phones. People don't buy a new watch every year, like They do with phones. There's only so many things you can put on smartwatches.

 

[Morty2264]

I don't use one. It sounds nice but 200-300 for a watch is just insane to me.

True that. My Fitbit was 200-ish and that was a difficult pill to swallow. Yes they do a lot but 200 bucks is a big thing!

 

[Mike Dee]

True that. My Fitbit was 200-ish and that was a difficult pill to swallow. Yes they do a lot but 200 bucks is a big thing!

I had a Zenwatch 2 for 30 days and it wasn't bad but I returned it. Android 2.0 was released just before I returned it so I didn't get to test drive the new OS much. I really want the Huawei but I'm waiting for a deal.

 

[MSFTisMIA]

True that. My Fitbit was 200-ish and that was a difficult pill to swallow. Yes they do a lot but 200 bucks is a big thing!

I think that's the big thing right now...pricing. fortunately, digging around can find some some deals to test drive wearables in different categories.

 

[dov1978]

I had a Zenwatch 2 for 30 days and it wasn't bad but I returned it. Android 2.0 was released just before I returned it so I didn't get to test drive the new OS much. I really want the Huawei but I'm waiting for a deal.

Aw 2.0 made the ZenWatch 2 so much faster and usable. I picked mine up for peanuts and you can still get great deals on them. For anyone looking for a cheap smartwatch this is the one I'd recommend. I highly doubt anyone can find an AW 2.0 watch with built in speaker for less.

 

[MSFTisMIA]

As a long time user, I've got some gripes with AW 2.0. I keep that on my OG Huawei watch and Wear 1.5 on my Moto 360 2015. It's hard to convince some people the merits of an extra device they need to charge in addition to their phone and or tablet.

 

[Mike Dee]

Aw 2.0 made the ZenWatch 2 so much faster and usable. I picked mine up for peanuts and you can still get great deals on them. For anyone looking for a cheap smartwatch this is the one I'd recommend. I highly doubt anyone can find an AW 2.0 watch with built in speaker for less.

The Zenwatch 2 has dropped in price within the last 2 months. Dropped right after I bought it....I still might buy it again. I had the gunmetal band which was more than the leather. The leather band is down to 119 on Amazon. 79 dollars for a refurb.