It was just last year that I started regularly using a smartwatch not only as a fitness tracker, but as a daily wear fashion accessory. Gradually, I realised that it has become an important part of my ecosystem and I was dependent on my smartwatch for my daily activity tracking, answering the phone and reading texts and emails.
Seeing there is a huge potential in this segment, a lot of companies are now jumping in to provide different kinds of people with a smartwatch that specifically suits them.
Here's a look at some that we sampled.
Toreto Bloom
The Toreto Bloom smartwatch is the most basic offering on this list and something that people on a budget can consider. The Bloom sports a metal body that kind of looks strikingly similar to an Apple Watch.
The 1.3-inch display though small manages to squeeze in most of the information like step count and calories burned.
Though the watch has a strong suite of features inside, I wouldn't bet big on its accuracy. It is IP68 water resistant and comes with silicon straps for a good fit.
Apart from this, the company claims that the watch can test blood pressure, track heart rate and offer calorie burning readings.
It runs on both Android and iOS and has been priced at Rs 3,499 but can be bought online for as low as Rs 2,999.
Ojoy A1
Here's something for the kids and especially for the parents who want to keep a close eye on the whereabouts of their children and at the same time make it look cool.
First look at the Ojoy A1 smartwatch tells us that its meant only for kids. At 51 grams and a plastic body, it doesn’t take a toll on the child's wrist and the 1.4-inch retina display is perfect for the colourful animation the watch's OS has to offer.
The Ojoy A1 offers SIM card support, and 4G connectivity and even on-board GPS to track the child via the watch's native app. It even comes with a dialer which supports only 10 callers and has been bundled with an SOS button for emergencies.
It's IP68 waterproof and comes with a 2-megapixel front camera. But I really don't know what that camera is for as the selfies clicked are quite low-res.
The 800mAh battery inside can provide ample backup for more than a week and it also comes with all the essential fitness tracking features like step count and exercise tracking. Not that kids need all that information.
The Ojoy A1 comes with a box price of Rs 12,999, but alternatively is available online for Rs 9,999.
Honor Watch Magic
The Honor Watch Magic is a perfect smartwatch for the ones looking for utility as well as aesthetics. It’s well priced at Rs 12,999 and is a good, long lasting companion for your smartphone.
In terms of the design, the Honor Watch Magic can easily be pulled off as a classic analogue watch that looks retro yet it offers multiple watch faces and straps which makes it versatile.
It sports an AMOLED display which is vibrant even under direct sunlight. The watch has excellent battery life and can easy last 7 days with a full charge and on-board GPS running.
It has an extensive array of apps and fitness tracking features that make it the perfect fitness companion.
The only thing that bothered me is that it doesn’t support caller ID and that is a deal breaker for many. At this price point, it is one of the best smartwatches you can buy out there.
Fitbit Versa Lite
Fitbit launched the Fitbit Versa last year and the smartwatch received a good response back then. Now, the company is offering a lighter and a cheaper version of the same dubbed the Fitbit Versa Lite which has been priced at Rs 15,999.
The Versa Lite sports an identical design to the Versa. However, it comes with more colour options. The 1.3-inch colour display remains the same as do most of the watch features.
The Fitbit Versa Lite does not offer on-board storage for music nor does it support NFC. It is a good looking watch and its water-resistant capabilities means you can take it for a swim as well.
The Versa Lite offers 4-day battery life. However, it misses out on on-screen workouts which I feel is a big miss.
Armani Exchange Smartwatch
And finally, for the aspirational segment of the user base, which is looking for brand value and utility at the same time we have the Armani Exchange digital smartwatch.
Brand Armani usually comes with a heavy price tag attached to it and so does the Armani Exchange at Rs 22,495 (starting price).
Not a watch that screams “drop dead gorgeous”, but it does look good on one’s wrist. You’ll need to customise the fit according to your wrist if you want the sensors at the back to do justice to the watch’s fitness tracking features.
It comes bundled with Google’s Wear OS which on the Exchange felt a bit buggy and slow to respond. The dial on the right of the watch face helps navigate the interface. A feature I liked.
It sports a gorgeous display and comes with multiple watch faces to set according to your mood.
The 300mAh battery inside is underwhelming and gave me only one day of usage time, which is a big bummer for this watch.
However, the corporate class is going to love this smartwatch.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)