Garacesh Posted October 18, 2016 Posted October 18, 2016 I know there have been threads about this previously, but we all know tech moves fast, and I figure with Christmas coming up a few of us might want to treat ourselves (or our loved ones, honest!), so a new thread can't hurt I'm looking to replace my ≈£20 Sony SWR10 (which by the way, I'd definitely recommend for a barebones, cheap fitness tracker/notification alerter) with something a bit more meaty. I find myself wanting to wear a proper timepiece, but thing'll start getting a bit cramped on my wrists without replacing something, so why not kill 2 birds with one stone? Budget of about £150 but can go higher if something really dazzles me. Must definitely 100%: Have the ability to pair to my phone via Bluetooth (I think this is a given with all smartwatches though ) Vibrate-on-alert Have some kind of way for me to tell it which apps I care about (so it tells me about text messages and emails, for example, but not other apps that might create notifications) Look pretty Pedometer Not be a credential leaking, phoning-home or bloatware-ridden piece of junk. It would be nice to have: Heart-rate monitor Low-end other app functionality, such as displaying my calendar, weather apps, Google Maps, etc More than a week's battery life in one charge IFTTT compatibility Flashable with a reasonable range of custom ROMs I honestly do not care if it has: (These are really not selling points to me) A microphone Speakers "OK Google"
OkayiDave Posted October 18, 2016 Posted October 18, 2016 I think my Samsung Gear S2 Classic is brilliant. Not sure about flashing it though. I can get through most of a week without a recharge if needed but tend not to as it charges fairly quickly on its dock.
Localtechie Posted October 18, 2016 Posted October 18, 2016 Definitely recommend a pebble steel or round. The pebble interface is simply works and does just enough to be a smartwatch without annoying you constantly. I had a smartwatch 3 and sold it because android wear just got on my nerves and the pebble has a 10 day battery life!
Meldrew Posted October 18, 2016 Posted October 18, 2016 I have a fairly recently purchased Motorola 360 1st gen. It cost me £100 and I think it does most on your list. Meldrew.
foofighterjim Posted October 18, 2016 Posted October 18, 2016 I got a Moto 360 2nd gen in June and I absolutely love it. It fully completes your must have list and some of your like list. (battery lasts about 3 days, not sure about rooting can't honestly see the point). It does not have speakers so taking calls is not an option on it. As a side I wouldn't buy one right now with Android Wear 2.0 on the map for next year, I think there will be a lot of new devices out to take full advantage of it.
pete Posted October 18, 2016 Posted October 18, 2016 I have a Motorola 360 v2. It does most of the stuff on your list apart from: More than a week's battery life in one charge - depending on what you've got on you'll get 3-5 days. No idea about custom roms or IFTTT, haven't looked into either. I paid ~£210 for mine within a month of them coming out using a randomly-googled discount code.
Garacesh Posted October 18, 2016 Author Posted October 18, 2016 not sure about rooting can't honestly see the point Sooner or later, the device will be "unsupported". Usually this takes about 18 months to 2 years.. I'd like to be able to continue to update my device beyond that. Plus custom ROMs remove bloatware, optimise the O/S and add additional functionality.
foofighterjim Posted October 18, 2016 Posted October 18, 2016 Plus custom ROMs remove bloatware, optimise the O/S and add additional functionality. Only if they are from a reliable source. It could be quite the opposite otherwise.
Localtechie Posted October 19, 2016 Posted October 19, 2016 The original pebble released in 2013 is still supported. I would recommend a pebble to anyone!
Garacesh Posted October 19, 2016 Author Posted October 19, 2016 I'm fussy. I don't like the look of the square smartwatches Though the Pebble Round doesn't look too bad. Moto 360 looks pretty nice too. But it's features that'll sell it to me. I'll probably start investigating feature lists and reviews today or tomorrow. I'll need to investigate if I can use the Samsung Gear line of watches. I know there was an issue with rooted S7 Edge's and Samsung Gear due to de-Knoxing. Asus ZenWatch 3 looks absolutely gorgeous but I can't find a release date.
Rob_D Posted October 19, 2016 Posted October 19, 2016 +1 for the moto 360 - (although this is subjective) I think it's the most "watch like" of the current stock of smart watches. And as others have said it's got everything on your must and a good chunk of your would like. If you find something with a weeks battery life I'd be interested to see it my 1st gen 360 can do around 2 days between charges if it has to. Only thing that missing I'd have liked was the option to physically plug it in to charge, so I don't have to bring the wireless cradle with me when I go away.
foofighterjim Posted October 19, 2016 Posted October 19, 2016 If you find something with a weeks battery life I'd be interested to see it my 1st gen 360 can do around 2 days between charges if it has to. Only thing that missing I'd have liked was the option to physically plug it in to charge, so I don't have to bring the wireless cradle with me when I go away. Agreed, when I went on holiday this year I just left the 360 at home and went with my old analogue watch. It did get a little confusing only looking at my wrist to tell the time.
simpsonj Posted October 19, 2016 Posted October 19, 2016 Worth looking at my watch, a LG Watch Urban (LG WATCH URBANE) though it has reached end of life software wise, it ticks off all your main points, and the first two of your would likes. - - - Updated - - - Though the heart rate monitor is a one time snapshot, rather than a constant check, so I've never really used it.
DalekSec Posted October 19, 2016 Posted October 19, 2016 I have a fairly recently purchased Motorola 360 1st gen. It cost me £100 and I think it does most on your list. Meldrew. +1 For the Moto 360, love it. I had a pebble before and didnt want to leave the pebble brand as i did like it but since i got the Moto 360 i havent looked back!
Garacesh Posted October 19, 2016 Author Posted October 19, 2016 Wow, it's so petty to say, but that little bit of not-screen at the bottom of the Motorola 360 would get on my nerves to no end!
DalekSec Posted October 19, 2016 Posted October 19, 2016 Wow, it's so petty to say, but that little bit of not-screen at the bottom of the Motorola 360 would get on my nerves to no end! I hardly notice it tbh, i thought i would be a bit annoyed aswell but nope! Doesnt bother me at all and i have medium OCD!
Garacesh Posted October 19, 2016 Author Posted October 19, 2016 (edited) After looking over reviews, I'm very tempted by the Gear S2 Classic. The wheel seems like a fantastic way to interact and honestly, it sounds preferably to everything being a touch interface, but with very little in the way of custom O/S' on XDA, and the proprietary Tizen O/S, I'm hesitant. Edit: A'ight, S2 Classic it is. Should arrive tomorrow. Woo. Edited October 19, 2016 by Garacesh
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