Hello.

For a long time I have considered smart watches to be a gimmick but since they have become more accessible and common now for some time, I was wondering what the people who own and use them think of them?

So what has your experience been of them?

One thing I am curious about is how functional these (especially the Android ones) are without being connected to a phone via bluetooth since bluetooth drains battery?

  • SFloss (they/them)
    41·
    4 years ago

    I’m an owner of both a Pebble Time and a Pebble Time Steel. I’ve also owned a Pebble 2 HR. Honestly for how cheap you can find Pebbles (got my Steel for $20) and their long battery life (my Steel lasts a week or more on a charge, maybe double that if it’s on airplane mode), they’re great! If you decide to use Rebble and pay the $3 a month, you can even use the dictation feature and respond to notifications with your voice! They also work perfectly with GadgetBridge.

    I also used to think smartwatches were a gimmick, and tbh after owning a couple I know for sure they are, 10x so for mainstream watches like WearOS or the Apple Watch. Being able to catch your notifications on your arm and responding to them is pretty convenient, but the excitement goes away after a while. Or maybe I’ve just lost interest. I don’t even bother looking at my steps, sleep, or setting up my watch to be able to ping my phone anymore. But I’ve gotten so used to the darn thing that I’ll never stop loving it.

      • GadgeteerZA
        2·
        4 years ago

        And of course displaying in bright sunlight. Well colour e-Ink is improving so who knows what may arrive back on the market in the future.