The Best Budget Smart Watch
Contents
| Best Budget Smart Watch | Price | Rating | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garmin Forerunner 30 | £99.99 | 4.5 / 5 | View |
| Garmin Vivosmart HR | £97.98 | 4 / 5 | View |
| Fitbit Versa 2 Smartwatch | £174.23 | 4.5 / 5 | View |
| Garmin Forerunner 35 Smartwatch | £119.00 | 4.5 / 5 | View |
| Garmin Vivoactive 3 | £198.00 | 4.5 / 5 | View |
| TicWatch E2 Smartwatch | £145.99 | 4.5 / 5 | View |
| Apple Watch Series 3 | £195 | 4.5 / 5 | View |
| Amazfit Bip | £86.81 | 4.5 / 5 | View |
| Huawei Watch GT 2 | £141.99 | 4.5 / 5 | View |
| Garmin vívofit jr 2 Smartwatch | £79.99 | 4.5 / 5 | View |
From fitness tracking to contactless payments and phone notifications, smart watches & GPS Watches have become the go-to form of wearable technology in modern times.
Naturally, you’d expect that this wealth of high-end features would result in a high-end price, right?
Not quite!
You can actually get a decent smartwatch without breaking the bank. While it may not come with all the bells and whistles offered by premium brands, you’ll still be able to enjoy high levels of functionality. But to find one in a sea of cheap smartwatch models flooding the market, it will take more than a little due diligence.
In this article, we will be looking at some of the most sought-after features in smartwatches and reviewing a couple of the best budget smart watch for 2020.
Read on to discover more!
Best Budget Smart Watch – Buyer’s Guide
Smartwatches are a lot more like smartphones when it comes to shopping for one. If anything, most of the features you consider when buying a smartphone are very features you should look for when picking out your new smartwatch.
Some of these include:
Display
Just like in smartphones, smartwatches also come with unique display functions. For example, some watches may have a full-colour touchscreen whereas others only offer a simple black and white display.
Additionally, the watches have different ways of displaying the notifications and alerts on your phone. While some will only show icons for the alerts, others display the whole message behind the alert.
You want to take a good look at the display of the watch you are thinking of picking and understand its full functionality.
Check if it handles the notifications and alerts according to your preference. You’ll have to decide if you’re okay with switching between looking at your watch and phone or you’d rather read the entire notification on the watch.
Battery Life
The battery life is always an important feature for potential smartwatch buyers. Some watches may last just half a day while others can go as long as weeks on a single charge cycle.
Typically, the power cycles are determined by the features supported by the watch, the apps that are running concurrently, and the size of the battery.
This is why it is very important to look at the battery life rating before picking the watch. If you’re your schedule for the day means that you’ll only be able to recharge the watch after getting back home in the evening, then you’d be safe with a smartwatch that will last you a full day.
Ideally, choose a watch with a battery rating that can accommodate your schedule.
Water Resistance
This is another feature that will prove crucial. Remember that the watch will be stuck on your watch for extended periods, so you might find yourself forgetting that it’s even there.
Some watches water-resistant, meaning you won’t have to worry about damages in case of any accidental splashes or slight downpours.
Others retain this property even when fully submerged to a certain depth of water, allowing you to go for a swim with the watch on.
Remote Functionality
Aside from displaying alerts and notifications, there’s a lot more that smartwatches can do. Some models to perform functions like finding your misplaced phone or turn on the playlist directly from the watch.
Others will even let you check into a location on Facebook with the simple tap of a button.
You can also find watches with voice control features that let you issue audio commands to control your smartphone. These are all things you should consider when picking out a smartwatch and determine whether they will enhance its practicality.
Fitness Tracking, GPS, Heart Rate, etc.
Fitness trackers continue to attract as more people are getting sold on the idea of healthy living, and smartwatch manufacturers won’t be left behind by the gravy train.
You’ll find many models integrating activity-monitoring functions such as a built-in pedometer that tracks the number of steps you make. If you’re planning to acquire a smartwatch primarily for fitness purposes, you’d be wise to consider models that offer fitness-tracking features.
Others will also keep track of heart rate as you exercise and provide GPS information that shows your current location and route direction.
Some will even go as far as to offer female health features like the ability to log periods, record symptoms, and compare the cycle against stats like activity and sleep.
Design and Appearance
The design of the watch might not be at the top of your priority list but some people to tend integrate all the accessories they are wearing into their overall outfit. In this case, even a smartwatch can be used to enhance your sense of style and fashion.
You want to look at the aesthetic appeal of the watch as far as colour and design are concerned.
Is it something that you would wear with a suit as you go for a business meeting or is more suited for a casual weekend with the troop? You want to make sure that the watch appeals to you before buying it and don’t shy away from considering these cosmetic elements if you have a specific design in mind.
Price
The cost of any product is something you always want to look at before deciding to purchase. Smartwatches come in varying price ranges, from the cheapest that will cost you less than 100 pounds to the premium brands with a price tag to rival a brand-new iPhone.
Usually, the price will be influenced by the number of features offered by the watch.
You’ll, therefore, want to balance between the features you’re looking for and the price to make sure you go home with the smartwatch you desired without overhauling your account balance.
The Best Budget Smart Watch- Reviews
| Best Budget Smart Watch | Price | Rating | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garmin Forerunner 30 | £99.99 | 4.5 / 5 | View |
| Garmin Vivosmart HR | £97.98 | 4 / 5 | View |
| Fitbit Versa 2 Smartwatch | £174.23 | 4.5 / 5 | View |
| Garmin Forerunner 35 Smartwatch | £119.00 | 4.5 / 5 | View |
| Garmin Vivoactive 3 | £198.00 | 4.5 / 5 | View |
| TicWatch E2 Smartwatch | £145.99 | 4.5 / 5 | View |
| Apple Watch Series 3 | £195 | 4.5 / 5 | View |
| Amazfit Bip | £86.81 | 4.5 / 5 | View |
| Huawei Watch GT 2 | £141.99 | 4.5 / 5 | View |
| Garmin vívofit jr 2 Smartwatch | £79.99 | 4.5 / 5 | View |
Garmin Forerunner 30
When it comes to quality entry-level priced watches you can trust, Garmin is one of the go-to brands in the market. This is possible because of models like the Garmin Forerunner 30 in their extensive product line. This fitness-dedicated watch has proven to be a top seller on Amazon and especially popular among athletes and fitness enthusiasts.
If you’re into jogging and physical activities, it doesn’t get better than the Garmin Forerunner 30.
The best part of it all is that it will cost you less than £100.
This watch supports all-day activity tracking and will provide you with stats on your steps, burned calories, and remind you to move when you’ve been sitting for a long time. The built-in Move IQ feature will automatically detect and classify every activity you engage in.
The watch also features a VO2 max monitor, which enables you to record your level of fitness over time. Typically, this is a feature that is reserved for the top-end devices in the market yet this one of the most affordable models to feature that. You also get useful training tools like Auto Lap, Auto Pause, and speed selection to help guide you through your workout regimen.
A wrist-based heart-monitor will keep track of your heartbeat all day and night to make sure that its in top shape.
Meanwhile, there is built-in GPS support to help you track how fast, far, and where you run during your exercises.
What makes the Forerunner stand out from other cheap models as far as the GPS and heart-rate monitor are concerned is that these functions are pretty accurate.
Other basic features to note on this smartwatch include smart notifications for texts and calls, as well as the ability to track runs with the Live Track feature.
The battery will last up to five days in smartwatch mode and around eight hours in GPS mode. Unfortunately, the watch doesn’t offer a touchscreen, although there is a fantastic app that you can use to control it.
Pros
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Live Track function
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GPS support
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Great value for money
Cons
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No touchscreen
Garmin Vivosmart HR
If you’re looking for a solid and affordable no-frills smartwatch that you can wear all day long, the Garmin Vivosmart HR Smart Watch is an option you might want to try out! This health-based watch displays everything from steps and distance to calories to ensure that you always stay ahead of your fitness journey.
This watch has a small 2.53 by 1.07 display and its pretty lightweight design will make you forget you still have it on your hand.
A wrist-based tracker follows up on your heart rate through the day and at night to provide you with more accurate information on burned calories.
The fitness tracker will also offer stats on the distance covered and steps made while providing call, text, email, social media, and calendar alerts. But you won’t be able to make direct calls with this watch.
It also features a built-in alarm clock that will remind you to keep going through a vibration or bar alert.
The smartwatch learns your activity level and sets a customised daily step goal then auto-syncs this with Garmin Connect.
This ensures that you don’t backtrack on your daily fitness regime. There is even an integrated barometric altimeter to track your steps when you take the measures and gauge your exercise intensity against set goals for you to easily keep track of your progress.
There is also GPS support to provide metrics on pace, distance, and personal records and the watch is compatible with Android, Windows, and iPhone when you want to access more apps.
For more detailed tracking of your calories, you can set up an account on then link it to your Garmin Connect account if you have one. This will enable you to compare your total calories consumed against total calories burned, and get you to participate in challenges with other weight losers.
When it comes to battery life, this smartwatch will last up to five days before you recharge it. Its screen design is also simple, convenient, and non-intrusive for a generally easy-to-use functionality! The Garmin Vivosmart HR belongs on our list of the best budget smart watch for 2020.
Pros
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Long battery life
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Fitness tracking
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Easy to operate
Cons
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Can’t make direct calls
Fitbit Versa 2 Smartwatch
The Fitbit Versa 2 is one of the most exciting smartwatches for Android you’ll get in the market right now. This comes as no surprise in the current trend of fitness-focused watches that the market is taking.
The smartwatch takes all the exercise-related features you’d expect from a Fitbit fitness tracker and stacks them into a smartwatch.
You’ll also appreciate the extras on offer such as Amazon’s Alexa voice assistance and sleep tracking. However, you won’t enjoy the technical finesse, polished design, and sheer number of compatible apps that you find in an Apple watch.
This is one of the compromises for a watch in its price range. Nevertheless, it’s still a nice option for those looking to buy a watch primarily for their health and fitness.
The Versa 2 comes with solid fitness fundamental features to make for accurate monitoring of your stats and a user-friendly smartphone app that puts the all in one place for effortless examination of your progress.
These include round the clock heart rate tracking to optimise your effort during exercises and track your calorie burn rate. You can also take advantage of the supplementary Fitbit premium service, which offers extra training sessions and detailed stats in real-time.
The smartwatch provides you with timely notifications of texts, calls, calendar events, Facebook, Gmail, etc.
Additionally, you can send instant replies right from your wrist but this will only work when your phone is within range.
The in-built Amazon Alexa ensures that you get breaking news on different issues while enabling you to set alarms and reminders.
A voice command feature has been included to let you control smart home devices by simply speaking into your phone. The battery of the Fitbit Versa 2 will last you at least four days with the watch tracking everything between morning and nighttime without the need to stop the charge.
One of the things that might not impress you on this smartwatch is its modest design.
The 1.4” display comes in basic black and white colours and it always remains on.
Overall, in terms of being the best budget smart watch, the Fitbit Versa 2 is respectable, especially when you consider its affordable price tag.
Pros
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Long battery life
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Alexa voice assistant
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Great for fitness tracking
Cons
-
Uninspiring design
Garmin Forerunner 35 Smartwatch
Garmin made an ambitious leap into the world of smartwatches and this included creation the brand’s own operating system to run their watch models. The Garmin Forerunner 35 is one of Garmin’s entry-level offerings but comes with a level of confidence that will appeal to any athletic smartwatch enthusiasts.
This manufacturer had no time for gimmicks when designing this watch. Emphasis was laid on getting all the fundamentals right, and a few bonus features were thrown in to produce a watch that perfectly balances affordability and quality.
The watch features GPS and dedicated tracking modes for activities such as biking and running.
Its battery will also last up to 9 days before it dies on you.
You also get a heart rate monitor to check on your health at all times. In short, the Forerunner 35 comes into its own when you consider its everyday smartwatch features.
The thoughtful and sporty design makes it the perfect option for an exercise watch, with an easy-to-read color display.
Notifications are delivered via a vibration function, which is conveniently non-intrusive while the Move IQ feature automates tracking your exercises.
Pros
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Improved fitness tracking
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Simple and practical design
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Automatic upload of fitness metrics
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Long battery life
Cons
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Failing charging facility
Garmin Vivoactive 3
The Garmin Vivoactive 3 is another tremendous offering from Garmin that any fitness enthusiast will be glad to get their hands on, and sits nicely in our search for the best budget smart watch. It delivers an all-round performance that includes multi-sport tracking, daily-heart rate monitoring, as well as GPS in a slim and lightweight package.
The appearance of the watch is generally modest, with a rounded design featuring a high-resolution colour touchscreen for easy readability.
Its lightweight build and comfortable silicone straps make for a practical all-day wearable.
You get basic smart notifications on calls, messages, emails, etc. and the ability to reply with prewritten texts.
The Vivoactive 3 is a fully-fledged fitness smartwatch that includes sports apps like cardio, yoga, running, swimming, strength training, etc. You get the choice to download preset workout and even create customised ones. It also comes with fitness monitoring features such as fitness age estimates, VO2 max, as well as all-day stress tracking and a relaxation-based breathing timer.
In short, this is the kind of fitness wearable you won’t want to take off even after leaving the gym.
Despite being primarily dedicated to sports and fitness, the manufacturer added features like NFC payments and direct notification responses for practical use throughout the day.
On the downside, the Garmin Vivoactive 3 may not offer you the smart services of an Apple Watch or Android Wear watch, and this is mainly because the number of applications that can be installed is limited.
Just think of it as the perfect bridge between a smartwatch and a fitness device.
Another thing to note is that it can be considered the best budget smart watch premium brand as far as price is concerned.
Pros
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VO2 max
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Slim and lightweight
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Ideal fitness watch
Cons
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Limited number of apps
TicWatch E2 Smartwatch
The TicWatch E2 Budget Smart Watch is a great contender for the best budget smart watch you can get in the UK.
The budget-friendly smartwatch is powered by Google’s Wear OS. While you might not enjoy the full complement of features like NFC (Near Field Communication) for Google play, the majority of key bases have been covered to provide you with a dependable smartwatch experience.
As far as appearance is concerned, this watch is only available in black that is fully polycarbonate and the ergonomic silicone straps feel natural on your wrist.
The look can be summarised as sporty and will look good on you on those laid-back casual weekends.
The watch features a circular 1.39” AMOLED screen with 400 by 400 resolution, which is quite impressive at this price range.
If you want to go swimming, you dive right into the water with this watch thanks to its waterproofing qualities. The manufacturer further included the ability to track your time inside the pool, making it one of the company’s core sports model.
You can also use it to keep abreast of fitness level with the integrated heart rate monitor while GPS tracking with satellite support ensures that you never lose your way in town.
Furthermore, you can make use of Mobvoi’s Tichealth apps, which can be a great alternative to Google’s health and fitness tracking applications.
The battery will last 1.5 to 2 days, which is standard for Wear OS watches and enough to get you through your day’s schedule. The TicWatch is not the most stylish smartwatch out there, but the performance is solid enough to give you a fun experience.
Pros
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Great value for money
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Nice display qualities
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Waterproof design
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Heart rate monitor and GPS tracking
Cons
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No NFC
Apple Watch Series 3
Apple is a brand known for its premium-priced gadgets but with this smartwatch, we must commend them for considering the budget buyer. How can you have an article searching for the best budget smart watch and not include this beauty! (Which is often on sale!) While it may not the best in the Apple watch series, it is still a solid smartwatch that will offer you the experience you’re looking for.
The Apple Watch Series 3 features all the specs you’ll expect from an entry-level smartwatch. It is equipped with everything from fitness tracking, GPS tracking, an optical heart sensor, accelerometer, as well as gyrometer for accurate workout readings.
This means it is functional enough to wear when going for your early morning gym session and still retain it even as you run your daily errands.
The watch boasts an elegant aluminium case that gives it a stylish look and it is also waterproof, so you can go for a dip with it on without worrying about damaging your prized possession.
Thanks to a dual-core processor, the Apple Watch series offers fast and accurate performance.
The display might be smaller compared to the Series 5 and 4, but it’s clear enough for vivid readability.
Other useful features that enhance the all-day functionality of the watch include notification on calls, texts, emails, as well as the ability to reply to them and receive or make calls from your watch.
As if that’s not cool enough, there’s Siri assistant to go with alarms and note reminders.
Finally, the battery will last up to 18 hours.
Pros
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Pretty fast and accurate
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Crystal clear display
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Enhanced activity tracking
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Waterproof
Cons
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Shorter battery life
Amazfit Bip
There are several things about this watch that will appeal to you but the most exciting has to be its £51, which provides you with the cheapest way to earn a smartwatch. The Amazfit Bip Smartwatch comes with a stylish touchscreen design, as well as lengthy battery life, smartphone notifications, heart-rate monitor, among others.
This is more than you can ask for a smartwatch this affordable!
While most smartwatches will ordinarily go for around two days on a full charge cycle, this watch is equipped with a powerful battery that can last up to 45 days.
Although this possible when most of the smart features are turned off, it is still jaw-dropping by industry standards.
The watch also features GPS and GLONASS support for accurate workout tracking. This means it will serve you diligently during your fitness journey.
You’ll be able to track daily activities such as indoor running, cycling, walking, etc.
Not to mention that you’ll get sedentary reminders whenever you start getting lazy. The same is true for notifications on your calls, messages, emails, and other apps on your phone.
The Amazfit Bip’s 1.28” screen isn’t stellar by any means, but you can console yourself with it being a color display. Also, it always remains and will be practical when used as an ordinary watch to show time.
On the downside, this smartwatch lacks an app store, and this limits the number of smart features you can access. Otherwise, it is a lightweight and comfortable watch that you’ll even forget it’s still on your wrist.
Pros
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Powerful battery
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Lightweight and ergonomic
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Smart notifications
Cons
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No app store
Huawei Watch GT 2
With the Huawei Watch GT 2, the company ditched Google’s Wear OS and opted for its own Lite OS, resulting in longer battery life for this smartwatch. Instead of days of use, you enjoy the services of the GT 2 for weeks and this is complemented by fairly appealing design for a smartwatch under 150 pounds.
This watch is available in two size options, both of which feature a stainless-steel casing surrounding the 1’2” AMOLED touchscreen.
Its ergonomic straps are interchangeable while physical buttons have been included to serve as an alternative to the touch function when you want to check your notifications on the watch.
The Lite OS keeps things streamlined on this watch, denying you the opportunity to download apps or even make payments from the watch.
Nevertheless, it will still display notifications and a built-in music player will keep you entertained whenever you’re feeling bored.
This watch will be a great companion for your early morning runs; it comes with the new Sp02 sensor that sensor to enhance its health-monitoring abilities.
This includes a full-time fitness trainer and 15 workout modes that you can use for guidance during your fitness training.
The watch also supports sleep tracking, real-time heart rate monitoring, as well as pressure monitoring to track your fitness progress throughout the day. You’ll be able to view all the data concerning your step count, burned calories, and periods of high and medium intensity activities.
This is in addition to everyday features like message notifications and email alerts.
The Huawei Watch GT 2 is further built with a dual positioning system (GPS and GLONASS) to detect more satellites and facilitate positioning accuracy. Overall, this smartwatch will look good on your wrist and the features it offers are more than reliable at this price range.
Pros
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Extended battery life
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Multiple sports modes
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Cool design
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Durable stainless-steel casing
Cons
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Basic smartwatch features
Garmin vívofit jr 2 Smartwatch
If you want to sell your child on the ideal of healthy living at his tender age, then you need a gadget that will appeal to him. This is where the Garmin Vivofit Jr 2 comes in!
This incredible smartwatch comes with a cute, adventurous, and kid-friendly design that will convince your little one to start getting physical without having to spend beyond your budget.
The watch is available in variously patterned designs that incorporate popular cartoon characters like Minnie Mouse, Spider-Man, and The Avengers.
It is durable enough to survive the constant bumps and drops that you’d expect from the rough habits displayed by kids. The battery will also last up to one year, so you don’t even have to take it off your kid’s wrist.
The built-in apps are meant to specifically cater to the needs of a younger audience.
These include a variety of engaging games that are supposed to keep the user active. However, you still get the more traditional smartwatch features like a pedometer and accelerometer. You even get a function that will remind your child to take part in a mandatory hour-long activity.
Pros
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Ideal for kids
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Very long battery life
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Reminds kids to keep active
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Interactive display design
Cons
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Data tracking can be a little off
Conclusion
Whether you’ve been living a healthy lifestyle for a while now or are looking to embark on a weight loss journey, these smart gadgets will help to keep you on the straight and narrow!
But they will do more than just that; they also come in handy when you want to check on your smartphone notifications without too much trouble.
This article suggests to you several contenders for the best budget smart watch in the UK market. They make a great starting point for those who want to get their maiden smartwatch experience.
