The Sony SmartWatch is the grandfather of the smart watches. The smart watch today is becoming a convenient way for people to talk, text, check weather, and track runs without having to look at their phone. The Sony SmartWatch was released in early 2012, much earlier than other Smart Watches like the Apple Watch and Moto 360 Sport. For this reason, it captured the attention of many and became the original smart watch that users could show off to their friends and family. However, with the release of other smart watches, comparisons need to be made to see if the Sony SmartWatch is still turning heads. Price, usability, and compatibility are factors to take into considering if you’re wondering if you should buy the Sony SmartWatch.
Sony SmartWatch
The Sony SmartWatch has many features that a typical smart watch has. It shows wearers the time, tracks workouts, and lets users see incoming calls and respond to texts. Some of these features are better on the Sony SmartWatch than other devices. The ability to track workouts has been toted as being very accurate on this smart watch. The watch uses a gyroscope, compass, and accelerometer to relay very accurate fitness information. The GPS system, while helpful, tends to drain the battery quicker, but this is a common drawback of GPS use on all smart watches and phones. The watch also includes Bluetooth so users can listen to music while they workout.
Smartwatch Compatibility
Smart watches tend to pair with one company’s smart phone. The Apple Watch only works with iPhones while the Sony SmartWatch is only compatible with Android devices. The Moto 360 Sport is actually unique in that it can be paired with either Android devices or iPhones. iPhone users are generally limited in the number of compatible watches they can pair with their phone while Android users have a wider variety to choose from.
Voice Controls
All three smart watches can be controlled using voice, although what to say depends on the device. To activate the Apple Watch, users need to say “Hey Siri”. The controls on the Sony SmartWatch can be used by saying “Okay Google”. Watch wearers can then ask to check the weather, the score of a game, send a text message, or get the answers to factual questions. Because voice is such a key part of smart watch usability, having a virtual assistant that understands the speaker is very important. The Siri versus Google Assistant debate has generally sided with Google Assistant. The assistant is often more accurate in its responses and can answer more questions.
Sony Smart Watch Cost
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The Future of the Sony Smart Watch
Several features of the Sony Smart Watch put it ahead of its competitors. The GPS system is superior than other watches, it has Google Assistant to help users perform tasks, and it is one of the cheapest smart watches available. A common drawback that some users site is that it is not as stylish as the Apple Watch or other available models. In early 2017, the company had planned to release the Sony SmartWatch 4, however it called off the upgrade. Because many currently available smart watches have similar flaws (daily charging, for instance), the company wants to focus on figuring out how to solve these issues before putting out a product similar to the version released in late 2014. For now, users can still purchase the Sony SmartWatch 3 at a cheaper price than many other watches, and gain similar (if not better) features.