Overview
A year ago, I made my debut into the world of smartwatches with Garmin.
Plus, I wanted to know what life with a smartwatch is like, but you can't know that without using one.
Maybe I'll write a review after using it for half a year or a year.
As promised, here's my review after a year of use.
Did It Meet My Expectations?
Let's organize it by requirements.
Curiosity About Smartwatches
- Charging, for instance: Garmin lasts about two weeks, which satisfies me. I probably couldn't handle daily charging. I'm sure I'd forget some days.
- Sleep quality tracking: My skin got irritated. I endured it for a few months, but no. Despite hoping to get used to it, daily sweat-induced irritation was a deal-breaker. Disappointing.
- Smartphone notifications: It's great to notice notifications immediately.
- Heart rate monitoring: Knowing my average heart rate in different scenarios was interesting. In the 40s when sleeping and between 60 to 90 during normal activities.
- What's more: Surprisingly, I found myself checking my daily steps and stair-climbing count. It feels good to hit the daily target of 6,000 to 7,000 steps.
As a Running Watch
- Running without a smartphone: It's comfortable, but for Midori, finding ways to carry a smartphone more comfortably suits her lifestyle better than incorporating an expensive device just for running. After all, you'll use your smartphone anyway. Like going for a meal after running with friends. If you run long distances, you'd carry a backpack for drinks or rain gear anyway.
- GPS accuracy: Hmm. It seemed more accurate than the iPhone SE 2. But still, circular routes tend to be measured a bit short.
Other Aspects
- Life with a wristwatch isn't bad. It's handy to check the time at a glance, and it adds to the fashion aspect too.
In Summary
Smartwatches settled into a "nice to have, but not essential" position for me. Similar to things like "nice to have, but not essential, though I'll buy it" – take desk lights, for instance. The difference between the two is the price. An analog watch, requiring a few thousand yen for maintenance, can last for over a decade. But I haven't heard of a smartwatch worth tens of thousands of yen lasting that long.
I'm all for enriching my life, but when the price exceeds a certain level, it becomes a luxury that doesn't quite fit Midori.
