Frequent questions
- Construction and display
- Functions and environment
- Sport
- Charging and battery
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Why does the display have a blue tinge?
Some customers may be surprised by the blue backlight of the display, which often does not show official photos at all. Although this may be a malfunction in rare cases, it is usually a standard feature of the transflective display that is typical of sports-oriented models.
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Do smart watches need protective glass / foil?
The most endangered part of a smart watch is the display itself, or the glass located above it. The main part of the device therefore has protective glass integrated from the factory, although its durability and properties vary according to the specific type. The parameters of the degree of protection can be easily determined especially for branded glasses. The highest series of smart watches, on the other hand, often use an expensive alternative in the form of sapphire crystal, which boasts perfect scratch resistance due to its extreme hardness.
Whether your device has integrated protection or not, you can of course achieve higher resistance by gluing external glass or foil. The purchase price of such accessories is relatively low and the possible replacement of a damaged piece is also very easy. Next to the offer of protective glass, which you will find here, you can have the glass glued on selected models even during the purchase itself. -
Is a smart watch waterproof? What do ATM and IP mean?
Only some smart watches are waterproof, and you also need to take into account the degree of durability. It is usually given in atmospheres (ATM) or degrees of protection (IP). In both cases, it depends on the specific value and its meaning, which will be presented to you in the table in the article How to choose a watch for swimming or diving.
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How to replace the strap?
The vast majority of smart watches offer the possibility of exchange, but the condition is a compatible strap. This must correspond not only to the fastening system (QuickRelease, QuickFit…), but also to the width (18 mm, 22 mm…). The easiest way is to buy accessories which directly mentions support for your model. It is also important to consider the properties of the individual materials, of which we emphasize especially silicone, which does not absorb moisture and is thus an ideal choice for sports and water fun.
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Why there is not Czech interface on smartwatch?
Currently, only some world manufacturers offer Czech or Slovak. In general, these are mainly well-known giants (Apple, Garmin, Samsung…), while for less common brands we often have to make do with English or another world language. However, the situation is constantly improving and we can find Czech on more and more facilities.
The acquisition of smart watches that are not intended for the European or world market can also limit the number of languages. These are most often models reserved for Asia (especially China), which many customers order abroad with a view to saving money. For such devices, there is no official way to add additional languages, and often only Chinese is supported. -
Is it possible to use unofficial mobile applications?
In addition to official applications from the manufacturer itself, we can also come across unofficial alternatives attracting bonus features or wider setup options. However, developers of such applications have only a limited amount of information, which naturally increases the likelihood of disrupting the proper functioning of some functions or the operation of the entire system. Therefore, traditional applications represent a more stable and secure solution in the long run, which we recommend to most users.
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Is it possible to install other applications and dials?
In addition to the basic range of functions and dials, a large part of the smart watch also has the option of further expansion. A limited number of dials can be found in the watch itself, other variants hide official and unofficial mobile applications. However, the largest selection is offered by a possible online store, which, however, is only available to some manufacturers.
The situation is similar in the case of applications, where again it depends on access to the online store. It can be accessed both from the watch itself and from the official mobile application. Some dials or applications must first be purchased, but their price is tolerably several (ten) crowns. -
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Some features, such as notifications, weather forecast, or voice assistant, only work when you have a Bluetooth connection with your smartphone. The only exception is smart watches equipped with Wi-Fi technology, which maintains access to the Internet and thus ensures the running of applications even without a smartphone within range. Smart watches with LTE connection to the mobile Internet are also becoming more and more widespread, similar to the need for smartphones.
Also think about the distance between the two devices, because connection between the phone and the smart watch might get lost, which causes outages. Bluetooth has a limited range depending on its version (see here), which can be only a few meters.
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Why does the heart rate measurement show inaccurate values?
The measurement of the heart rate from the wrist is influenced by a number of factors which practically rule out a perfectly accurate result. The anatomy of a specific user, tattoos in place of the watch, but also the skin tone play a role, as darker skin limits the penetration of the light flux of the sensor. It also depends on the ambient temperature or the type of activity performed, especially for sports that require movement and clenching of the wrist (tennis, rowing, strengthening…). Insufficient tightening of the strap and subsequent movement of the sensor, which prevents stable measurements, is also a frequent and easily remediable problem.
For the reasons mentioned above, it is clear that monitoring the heart rate from the wrist is more of an indicative indicator designed primarily for recreational use. More demanding users, on the other hand, may consider purchasing a chest strap, but only selected smart watches can connect to it. -
Why do the pedometer deviate?
The smart watch counts steps based on integrated sensors that record the movement, acceleration and tilt of the device. In everyday life, however, we use our hands throughout the day, and some actions may be incorrectly evaluated as steps. On the other hand, walking does not have to be taken into account if the movement of the hand with the device is restricted, for example when carrying luggage or pushing a pram.
You can also try a small test. If you repeatedly do certain sitting activities (working on a PC, knitting, using a smartphone on the couch…), try to record the number of steps at the beginning and end of such an activity. This will give you a more realistic idea of whether and to what extent such activity can affect the final results.
The pedometer therefore serves only to find out how much exercise we undergo daily, so that we can adjust our lifestyle accordingly. However, more demanding athletes can use GPS (or satellite system), which offers slightly more accurate values. -
What is the purpose of GPS?
GPS (or another satellite system) is used to determine your current position, which allows you to determine the speed, mark the route on the map, navigate to the destination and much more. Some smart watches offer even more interesting functions related to GPS, such as guidance to the starting point or remote location tracking to secure adrenaline athletes or younger children.
Although we do not find integrated GPS in all smart watches, any absence is often compensated by the possibility of using the GPS of a mobile phone. Thanks to this, we obtain practically identical data without over-discharging the watch' s battery. However, more demanding athletes can be hindered by the cumbersome smartphone, which they will have to carry with them at all times due to GPS.
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How to charge a smart watch?
An adapter (charger to an electrical outlet) is standard in the package, and the USB end of the power cable most often ends up in the USB connector of a computer or laptop. But you can also use chargers for smartphones or other devices, just choose an adapter with the appropriate certification and parameters required by the manufacturer. Most often it is an output voltage of 5 volts and a current of 2 amps, but always check the values in the relevant manual.
For precautionary reasons, many manufacturers (such as Fossil) do not recommend the use of USB hubs, USB hubs or power banks, so as not to affect the amount or stability of electricity.
We have prepared details on charging electronic devices for you in a separate article How to charge properly, which you will find here. -
Why does a smart watch discharge too fast?
Battery life varies greatly from model to model, which does not depend on the purchase price, but rather on the focus of the watch, the operating system present and the level of use of functions. We can find a variety of devices on the market with endurance from one day (Apple Watch…) to many months (Garmin Enduro). However, as the actual endurance may differ from that specified by the manufacturer, we recommend monitoring our reviews, in which we usually test battery life.
The level of use of individual functions is also key, and while some users are satisfied with just observing the time, others want to make the most of all the elements present. The most energy-intensive functions include GPS, all-day monitoring (heart rate, stress, breathing…), music playback or Always-On (display always on).
Unexpectedly fast discharging can occur even if the smart watch is incorrectly disconnected from the smartphone, which is usually the result of incorrect phone settings. Smartwatch then constantly tries to re-establish the connection, which significantly increases the rate of discharge. So make sure your smart watch is really connected to your phone.
From the point of view of several years of use, it is also necessary to take into account the gradual degradation of the battery and thus a decrease in the maximum capacity. We also achieve less durability with worse care, especially by exposure to extreme temperatures, which are generally not good for batteries. -
How to store smart watches for a long time?
If you store the device for a long time (weeks to months), be sure to charge it first. If the electric current falls below a certain value, it will no longer be possible to recharge the battery. The financial cost of replacing the battery can be close to the purchase price of the smart watch itself, and therefore it is unprofitable.
At the same time, store the device in a place where it is not exposed to direct sunlight or too low or too high temperatures. A normal room temperature of around 20 degrees Celsius is ideal.
