According to Barney (2023), the Apple Watch is a smartwatch produced by Apple Inc and first launched in 2015. In the beginning, the Apple Watch was designed to reduce the time users spend looking at their phones, however now it has redefined the way we interact with technology and manage our lives (Barney, 2023). Lanier (2022) states that the Apple Watch can serve as a health and fitness tracker. It can check and track user’s blood oxygen levels for users who suffer from illnesses such as asthma. The watch can also track the user's heart rate throughout the day and even during the user’s workouts. This is possible due to the sensors that are located at the back of the watch (Lanier, 2022). According to Loic (2022), Apple Watch can detect if the user has fallen by incorporating the accelerometer and gyroscope. Apple Watch will notify the user’s location to the user’s emergency contacts and local emergency agencies if the user remains motionless after a minute (Loic, 2022). The Apple watch is a valuable tool because it has built-in photodiodes to track users heart rate and incorporates the use of a gyroscope to detect if the user has a crash or fall.
Schuler and Stella (2022) state that the Apple Watch has built-in photodiodes to track users heart rate. The Apple Watch is one of the most precise heart rates monitors a user will find in any smartwatch. This is done using built-in photodiodes, which are light-sensing photo sensors that can recognize a string of rapidly flashing green LED lights. The watch can monitor the flow of blood through the user’s arteries by flashing those lights on the user’s wrist hundreds of times each second. This enables it to track the user’s heart rate, or how many times the user’s heart beats each minute. Due to this feature, the Apple Watch is a great choice for anyone who wants to monitor their exercise activity and learn more about other critical health issues like sleep problems or irregular heartbeats (Schuler & Stella, 2022).
As stated by Loic (2022), the Apple Watch can detect if the user has a crash or fall by incorporating the use of a gyroscope. A simple task, such as climbing a ladder to change a lightbulb, can become life-threatening if the user falls and is unable to get up. The built-in accelerometer and gyroscope of an Apple Watch Series 4 or later can recognize when the user has fallen. The Apple Watch will tap the user’s wrist, sound an alarm, and display an alert if it determines that the user has fallen. The Apple Watch will alert local emergency authorities and communicate the user’s location to the user’s emergency contacts if the user does not move after 60 seconds. Apple watch also has a feature called Crash Detection, which uses the Watch's sensors to detect when the user has been in a severe car accident (Loic, 2022).
According to Imran (2022), there are a few issues with the Apple Watch and one of them is that the Apple Watch without an iOS device, is worthless. Even though it offers a ton of features, the Apple Watch is essentially an Apple device that only functions with an iPhone. If the user now uses an Android handset and wants to get an Apple Watch, the user needs to upgrade to an iPhone, which can be a costly overall purchase. Since the Apple Watch app is a part of the iPhone, using the smartwatch without it is impossible. Apple does this to bind the user to its environment, and once the user starts settling in, it gets difficult to leave (Imran, 2022).
According to McGuire (2023) comparing the Apple Watch to Garmin smartwatches, Garmin smartwatches can be used both with iOS and Android devices thanks to the Garmin Connect software unlike Apple Watch which can only be used with iOS. The Garmin Forerunner 265 offers a 15-day battery life when used as a smartwatch but the Apple Watch series 8 has a battery life of approximately 18 hours. This means that the user must charge the Apple Watch almost daily. Garmin Forerunner 265 has similar features like the Apple Watch series 8 such as recording the heart rate and blood oxygen levels (McGuire, 2023).
In conclusion, users who do not use iOS devices and wish to have a longer battery life for their smartwatch can opt for the Garmin Smartwatch as an alternative. So long as the user takes advantage of everything it offers, the Apple Watch is a beneficial health tool. The Apple Watch is also unquestionably the best smartwatch if the user uses iOS as their operating system.
References
Barney, N. (2023, September). What is an Apple Watch? | Definition from TechTarget. TechTarget. https://www.techtarget.com/searchmobilecomputing/definition/Apple-Watch
Cimino, K. (2023, August 31). Apple Watch vs Garmin: Which is the right platform for you? Android Authority. https://www.androidauthority.com/apple-watch-vsgarmin-3059370/
Imran, S. (2022, March 22). 6 Reasons Not to Buy an Apple Watch. MakeUseOf. https://www.makeuseof.com/dont-buy-apple-watch/
Lanier, X. (2022, September 9). 65 Exciting Things You Can Do With the Apple Watch. Gotta Be Mobile. https://www.gottabemobile.com/things-apple-watch-can-do/
Loic, L. (2022, November 2). 6 Apple Watch Features That Could Save Your Life. MakeUseOf. https://www.makeuseof.com/apple-watch-features-that-could-saveyour-life/
McGuire, J. (2023, March 9). Garmin Forerunner 265 vs Apple Watch 8: Which should you buy? Tom's Guide. https://www.tomsguide.com/face-off/garmin-forerunner265-vs-apple-watch-series-8
Schuler, M., & Stella, R. (2022, September 30). These 8 Apple Watch Features Can Help You Better Manage Your Health. Business Insider. https://www.insider.com/guides/health/fitness/best-apple-watch-health-features
