Smartwatch features you should consider before purchasing in 2025

Smartwatches have become an essential part of modern life, offering much more than just timekeeping. They enhance everyday life by infusing tech-enabled health monitoring and convenience features. These wearables also act as companion devices for smartphones, making them versatile and indispensable. 

There are many smartwatch brands and models in the market, ranging from budget to premium offerings. These cater to a wide range of consumers depending on their needs and usage. Premium smartwatches often pack robust health monitoring features, whereas budget options are ideal for casual users. In short, there’s a smartwatch for everybody in 2025, whether you’re an athlete, health-conscious, or seeking convenient features on your wrist. 

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Choosing the right smartwatch in 2025 requires careful consideration of key features that would be useful for you. We list down the most important aspects to evaluate before making a purchase.

1. Fitness and workout tracking

While fitness apps on your smartphone can track steps, calories, and distance covered, smartwatches often take these a notch further. The wearable devices are capable of tracking plenty of workouts and sports, with premium models also offering access to advanced parameters for certain exercises. 

2. Health monitoring

Almost anybody who owns a smartwatch knows that they have got health monitor on their wrist beyond the basic tracking features. Most options in the market come with the ability to measure heart rate, SpO2 (blood oxygen levels), stress levels, and sleep patterns. These give useful insights into your general health and well-being. Many modern smartwatches also include a menstrual tracker for women. 

Premium smartwatches like the Apple Watch Series, Samsung Galaxy Watch 7, Pixel Watch 2 etc are also capable of detecting irregular heart rhythms, skin temperature, and more. These readings are for indication but can be very useful prompts to see a doctor. 

3. Connectivity

Today, all smartwatches across multiple price segments come with a built-in microphone and speaker for hands-free calling via Bluetooth connectivity. Premium devices are also offered with eSIM connectivity, so you don’t have to worry about leaving without your phone. Having GPS connectivity onboard is also useful for runners, hikers, and cyclists as they can check routes without having to rely on a smartphone. 

4. Design and build quality

Budget smartwatches may not be as durable as high-end options with premium materials and military-grade MIL-STD-810H standards. Hence, you need to consider this factor depending on whether you’re purchasing for casual usage or if you’re an outdoor enthusiast.

You should also check the IP ratings and ATM ratings of the smartwatch for water resistance. This is crucial in knowing if the device can be worn during various activities like swimming, showering, or performing activities in the rain. 

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To make things easier, smartwatches with robust and durable builds are ideal for adventurers who don’t want to risk damaging them in rough conditions. 

5. Comfort and customisation

Another aspect that you should consider is how comfortable it is to wear the smartwatch all day and even while going to bed if you want to track your sleep patterns. Some smartwatches have large, bulkier designs whereas others are slimmer. Adjustable straps and lightweight materials contribute to the overall comfort. 

Every smartwatch comes with interchangeable straps that can be purchased separately. This allows users to customise the look of their device and tailor it for different occasions. 

6. Battery life

Battery life varies across every smartwatch. Some models come with multi-day battery life whereas others need to be charged daily. This is directly related to the daily usage requirements as advanced features like continuous GPS and health monitoring sensors can drain the battery quickly.

Smartwatches also come with power-saving modes to extend the battery while retaining some necessary functions. It’s recommended to check the battery life under various usage scenarios to ensure that the device meets your needs. 

7. Convenient features

Convenient features on smartwatches are mostly common across various price brackets. Every option in the market comes with a notification display, weather updates, voice assistants, remote control of the camera and music playback, and more. WearOS-based and Apple smartwatches are also compatible with third-party apps instead of accessing them on a smartphone. 

High-end options also come with a built-in storage space for listening to music without the need for a phone. These also offer real-time translation tools and emergency SOS features. 

Investing in a smartwatch in 2025 is a worthwhile decision that enhances both lifestyle and well-being. The above aspects will help you pick up the right smartwatch for your needs.