By Julien, 38, an executive in tech, a demanding user of connected watches for over 8 years.
What you really have to know (before you plan)
After almost 9 years of use of connected watches and no less than 9 different models on the wrist, I acquired an experience that I would gladly qualify as a painful ... My first connected watch, a Samsung Gear Fit bought in 2016 by simple curiosity, paved the way for a long series of tests, errors and, let's be honest, disappointments.
Today, I wear an Apple Watch SE (2nd generation) and I do not intend to change it anytime soon. Here is why I do not recommend most alternatives, and above all, which absolutely avoid.
See Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Amazon reviews
The problem often starts even before purchasing. The marketing campaigns of alternative connected watches manufacturers are sometimes worthy of the best science fiction novels. Take the Amazfit GTS, with its clearly inspired design of the Apple Watch and its mirobal promises. On paper, it's almost better than a half price Apple! In reality? Approximate sensors, a rigid interface and doubtful reliability.
And what about "innovative" features that just don't work? The voice command on most alternatives is either nonexistent or so little reactive that it becomes unusable. Another blatant example: the ECG promised on the Ticwatch Pro 3 Ultra, which has never arrived in Europe despite the announcements.
There is nothing more frustrating than a device that lets you go when you need it most. My Fitbit Versa 2 simply planted in the middle of an important jogging, without the possibility of recovering the data. Imagine following a serious training program and losing all your statistics ...
Synchronization problems are also omnipresent. The Huawei Watch GT2 simply refused to connect to my phone on certain days, for no apparent reason. And what about the Mi Watch, unable to report incoming calls? These fundamental failures question the very usefulness of a connected watch.
| Do you want to dig the Huawei vs Samsung match? Read this ultra -clear comparative article.
If you buy a connected watch to monitor your health, beware of cheap alternatives. I noticed cardiac frequency differences of up to 20 beats per minute between certain models and reference medical devices. It is no longer imprecision, it is fiction.
The worst example? The Huawei Watch Fit who sent me three false heart alerts in one night. Result: unnecessary stress and a white night to ask me if I should call the emergencies.
As for the monitoring of sleep, most alternatives overestimate the deep sleep, creating a deceptive impression of good quality of rest. These inaccuracies can have real consequences on your decisions concerning your health.
Another black point. The Fitbit charges 4 deteriorated in record time: cracked bracelet after two months and scratched screen in just one week. The Colmi P8, on the other hand, did not last more than three weeks before returning the soul.
We find recurring defects according to the brands: fragile bracelets at Fitbit, capricious buttons at Mobvoi (Ticwatch), and glasses that stride at the slightest contact with many manufacturers. And let's not forget the allergic reactions - the silicone bracelet of the Amazfit Bip left me a nice memory in the form of irritation on the wrist.
See Apple Watch Series 10 and Amazon reviews
The user interface is often the Achilles heel of alternatives. The Huawei GT2 offers a rigid interface where personalization is a foreign concept. Wearos, despite its promises, offers a slow and buggy experience on many models such as Ticwatch E2, slow from the first days of use.
Third -party applications? Forget the richness of the Apple ecosystem. Most alternatives limit you to three or four basic applications, often poorly designed and questionable.
And what about integration with iOS? If you have an iPhone, prepare for serious limitations: no response to messages, no integration with Siri, non-interactive notifications ... In short, you lose a large part of the interest of a connected watch.
When problems arise (and they arise), customer service often does not help. My experience with Fitbit was particularly edifying: automated responses, absence of concrete solutions and refusal of reimbursement. At Amazfit, I had to wait three long weeks for a simple exchange.
Software updates, supposed to improve the experience, often end up getting worse. My Mi Watch Lite lost its synchronization capacity after an update. As for Mobvoi, the brand has simply abandoned certain recent models without providing them with major updates.
See Apple Watch SE (2ᵉ generation) and opinions on Amazon
"Why pay more for an Apple Watch when you can have the same features for half price?" This trap question forgets the hidden costs of alternatives. Take Fitbit, which locks certain statistics behind a paid premium subscription. Or these brands that require expensive proprietary accessories.
The Amazfit GTR 2 seemed to offer an excellent value for money with its premium look, but its features and reliability were anything but high-end.
The Fitbit Charge 5, although relatively affordable for purchase, turned out to be a financial abyss between bracelet replacements, premium subscription and recurring breakdowns. At this rate, you might as well invest directly in a quality watch.
Are there valid alternatives to Apple Watch? After all these experiences, I only see one that really holds the road: the Samsung galaxy watch. It is the only one that competes in terms of fluidity, ecosystem and reliability. But beware: its optimal integration requires a Samsung smartphone.
See the Apple Watch Series 10 (42 mm GPS + Cellular) and opinions on Amazon
If you hesitate between an Apple Watch and a cheaper alternative, my advice is simple: wait a little, save and opt for an Apple Watch SE. It offers most of the Apple experience at a more accessible price. The alternatives may seem attractive on paper, but over time, they end up generating more frustration than real savings.
I was even tempted to return to a traditional watch after my disastrous experience with the Ticwatch E3. A classic watch is zero headache, zero bug, zero disappointment.
After testing Amazfit, Fitbit, Huawei, Mobvoi (Ticwatch) and Xiaomi, my conclusion is final: 80% of the connected watches market, it is badly finished gadget that promises a lot but very little, or even nothing reliable.
If your budget is tight and you absolutely have a connected watch, the Galaxy Watch remains a viable option. For all others, especially iPhone users, Apple Watch (even in version is) remains the longest long -term option.
As with many tech products, the initial price is only part of the equation. Reliability, sustainability and user experience are largely worth the price difference. Your wrists (and your nerves) will thank me.
My name is Julien, I burned enough money in unnecessary watches to tell you that: fleeing the alternatives. Keep your energy for something else.
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