Why buy a smartwatch? The pros and cons

As wearable technology becomes more popular, it’s no surprise that smartwatches are on the rise. But do you really need one and what do they even do?

If you are deciding whether you should invest in a smartwatch or are wondering whether a smartwatch is worth it, we’re here to give you the pros and cons to aid you in your decision-making!


In this blog:


The pros of a smartwatch

They keep you connected

If you’re looking for a way to stay connected without having to carry around your phone all the time, a cellular smartwatch might be a good option for you. They’re perfect for people who want to stay connected but also want to be able to keep their phone in their pocket or bag.

And it’s not just cellular smartwatches that can keep you in the loop. While GSP smartwatches will need to be connected to your iPhone and within a certain distance, they’ll also be able to make and take calls as well as send and receive texts.

You can use apps

Another of the many smartwatch features is that you have access to apps on your watch. While most of these apps are just scaled-down or adapted versions of phone apps, they can still be really useful on your wrist.

Depending on the make and model of your smartwatch, you should be able to access apps that track your health and fitness, timers and clock apps, weather apps, YouTube and even some games apps made just for smartwatch playing!

They help you find your phone

Most smartwatches come with a “Find Phone” feature that you can use if you ever lose your phone.

To use your smartwatch, you’ll need to connect it to your current phone. This way, if you ever lose your phone, you can use the “Find Phone” feature to ring your phone through your watch.

The same goes for if you lose your watch or any other devices connected to your watch. If you’ve lost your watch, you’ll be able to use the same feature on your phone to ping your watch even if it’s on silent.

You can track your health and fitness

What does a smartwatch do, we hear you ask? For health and fitness, it can count steps, distance, calories, heart rate, pulse rate, sleep and some even go beyond this. So when it comes to smartwatch benefits, this is a big one!

While it’s true that you can somewhat track your health and fitness on your phone, nothing compares to the accuracy of a smartwatch. Along with the improved accuracy, they also have much more features that can help you track your health and fitness. This is why many people are turning to smartwatches to help them get in shape and stay healthy!

Most smartwatches are water resistant too, meaning you can use them to count laps in the pool or keep track of the sweatiest of workouts without fear of damage.

The battery life is better than a phone

If you’re still sitting here thinking that all these features are doable with your smartphone, you’re technically right. But the one thing that your phone can’t beat a smartwatch on is battery life.

Depending on the make and model of your watch, the battery life will vary, but generally they can last up to 10 days between charges with standard use. Compare that to any smartphone, which would likely need to be charged every day or two at most. So if battery life is a major concern for you, a smartwatch is the way to go.

The cons of a smartwatch

They can be expensive

One of the main reasons that people second-guess a smartwatch purchase is the price. The newest Apple Watch starts at $399, while the latest Samsung Watch starts at $249.

If you can’t afford to spend $250+ on a watch, there are some other options you can take into consideration before ruling out a smartwatch. Older models are often cheaper than the latest releases, so if you can find an older model that has all the features you want, you should be able to snap one up for less.

Another option for buying a smartwatch without overspending is to consider buying a refurbished model. You can buy both older and newer refurbished models, so this is a great option if you want to knock even more money off an older model or if you still want to buy the newest model but don’t want to pay out full retail price.

Not every make and model has the same features

Before you buy a new smartwatch, make sure it has all the features you’re looking for. There are many different makes and models available, so you can’t assume they all offer the same thing. For example, some watches focus on fitness and health features, while others have more phone-like features.

They’re not to everyone’s style

If you’re used to traditional watches, you may find that smartwatches are a bit unsightly.

The Apple Watch is rectangular in shape, which goes against the traditional round clock face. Most smartwatches have rubber straps, which can be off-putting for some. Luckily, there are lots of straps available, including different colors and materials, so the strap shouldn’t be too much of an issue.

If you’re looking for a traditional watch with a metal strap or near similar, you might have a difficult time finding the perfect style for you.

If you’re happy with your phone, they’re not necessary

It’s no secret that a smartwatch isn’t a necessity. In most cases, your smartphone can do everything a smartwatch can do – albeit not as efficiently.

So before you shell out for a smartwatch, ask yourself whether there are any features on a smartwatch that you can’t already do on your phone. If the answer is no, then you might not need a smartwatch after all.


Think a smartwatch is worth it? Save money when you go refurbished with Decluttr! We have plenty of refurbished Apple Watch and refurbished Samsung Galaxy Watch models available at great prices.

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