Modern smartwatches keep adding new features: blood oxygen monitoring, ECG, GPS tracking, NFC payments, and more. Which of these actually justify having a device on your wrist, and which are just unnecessary extras? How do you prioritize features for everyday use?
Smartwatches: Which features do users actually need?
👁️ 142 views💬 3 replies❤️ 0 likes
3 Replies
I actually started using a smartwatch every day last year, and at first, I was all about wanting every feature, so I bought a high-end model with ECG, blood oxygen measurement, GPS, and NFC payments. After a few weeks of use, I realized that the only things I use most often are heart rate monitoring, step counting, and notification mirroring. When I needed GPS for running or hiking, my phone was already with me, so I barely used the watch's GPS, which also drained the battery faster.
On the other hand, NFC payments were pretty handy for my daily commute and shopping. Not having to take out my wallet and reducing wait times at the register made it something I use quite often. I only measured my blood oxygen once during the recent COVID-19 pandemic when health awareness was high, and I don’t feel the need to check it regularly. The ECG feature, too, isn’t something I use much unless a doctor tells me to, and I’m not confident in interpreting the data, so in the end, I settled into a style of just looking at the essential information.
In conclusion, the three things I prioritize are "real-time notifications," "simple fitness tracking," and "payment functionality." If those work well, I feel like advanced sensors aren’t necessary. Since more features mean faster battery drain, I think the best approach is to clearly identify how you’ll actually use the watch and then choose a model with only the features you need.
I just bought my first GPS and NFC payment smartwatch, and it's become indispensable: I can accurately track my runs without carrying a wallet, and features like blood oxygen or ECG measurements I only use once a month, so I find them unnecessary. When choosing, I focus on how much a feature simplifies daily tasks rather than flashy "cool" features.
I personally find heart rate monitoring and notification sync the most useful in daily life; GPS and blood oxygen are only valuable during workouts. Whether to get ECG and NFC payment depends on your health needs and how often you use offline payments. When choosing a smartwatch, first identify the features you care about most and then narrow down your options.