Use it or sell it?

October 4, 2023 11:31 AM

What is my use case for a smart watch?

I just ordered a Pixel 8 Pro, and part of the order is that it includes a free Pixel Watch that I cannot opt out of getting. I have never really wanted a smart watch, I don't think I need one, and I can't imagine anything I'd get out of a smart watch that I don't already get from a phone. What am I missing?

Basically, my day consists of:
- Sitting at home in front of my work computer for 8 hours a day, with my personal phone right next to me
- running errands, largely on foot/bike but occasionally in a car, with my phone in my pocket
- going to movies/shows where I very intentionally turn off my phone

I am also a cyclist, but I am not concerned with monitoring my rides (I use Strava's free tier, that's all I really need) or my physical state during rides.

I am also not particularly concerned about/interested in monitoring my health/sleep/steps; I've tried that in the past, and found that I never acted on the data I collected, so it was largely pointless to me.

Those seem to be some of the main use cases for a smartwatch, but I also am open to the possibility that I'm missing something. Am I missing something? Or should I just sell the smartwatch and thus reduce my out of pocket cost for the phone?

posted by pdb to Technology (15 answers total)

Use it for alarms (instead of an alarm clock).
posted by wenestvedt at 11:34 AM on October 4, 2023 [1 favorite]

Getting a wrist vibe for alarms is great, especially when riding a bike.
posted by Mitheral at 11:39 AM on October 4, 2023

Best answer: You might want to look into what options your favorite apps offer for a watch. For instance, my writing app of choice offers voice input from the watch which is an absolute marvel. I use it several times a day when ideas pop into my head on dog walks, bike rides, etc. Considerably more convenient than pulling out the phone, especially if hands are occupied.
posted by dobbs at 11:41 AM on October 4, 2023 [1 favorite]

In my experience the main use for a smartwatch is ringing alarms on your phone so you can figure out where you left the phone.

One thing that I really do like about my smartwatch, though, is that it lets me do tasks that I would otherwise do on my phone (listening to music, receiving notifications, alarms) *without* using my phone, because when I pick up my phone, even if it's for something simple like setting an alarm, I have a tendency to get sucked in and "just check" a few more things.
posted by mskyle at 11:42 AM on October 4, 2023 [2 favorites]

I set timers all the time on my smart watch. I love having reminders from my calendar pop up. I love being able to find my phone from my watch. I love getting notified about calls and text messages from my watch. I love having my watch for runs to track distance and pace (but I have a Garmin, not a Pixel, so there are different features there). I'm one of those people who tends to leave their phone wherever, though.

I don't know if something like fall detection would be a feature you would find reassuring. It's enabled when I'm running on my watch, looks like the pixel watch has a similar feature.
posted by skunk pig at 11:58 AM on October 4, 2023

Best answer: Given your lack of interest in most of the features, I think the main benefit would be easier access to notifications. If you find yourself frequently pulling your phone out of your pocket to check a notification, then just dismissing it, then being able to glance at your wrist instead is a bonus. But if you are already able to ignore the buzzing, or if you generally respond with a note or call, then I wouldn't bother. (If you don't open the box, you should be able to sell it for close to the list price of $350. And if you do ever change your mind and want a watch just for notifications, you can get a simpler and/or older one for much less.)
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 12:03 PM on October 4, 2023

Does your smart watch offer navigation? I've got one that I can upload routes to so that when I'm doing an activity like hiking or canoeing I can see where I'm supposed to go without having to get my phone. I've tried to use it for cycling but as my phone is already mounted on my handlebar that screen is much easier to see than the one on my wrist.

Also if the watch has fall detection then it could call someone for help if you got into an accident while on your bike.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 12:03 PM on October 4, 2023 [1 favorite]

Being able to see at a glance what the email or text message is from/about without having to get my phone out is really, really nice.
posted by mmascolino at 12:08 PM on October 4, 2023 [3 favorites]

I use the heck out of my smartwatch. I use it to keep track of my sleep, for reminders, as a backup alarm in the morning, and to alert me when I get a text or Google Chat message from my mom, husband, or a few friends. I also like to use mine to keep track of my exercise and steps and whatnot. Honestly, it's worth it just for the texts and alarm alone.
posted by maryellenreads at 12:13 PM on October 4, 2023

Oh, and weather!! I an a nerd about seeing what the weather is gonna be, and it's easy with my watch.
posted by maryellenreads at 12:14 PM on October 4, 2023

Best answer: I like mine precisely so I don't *have* to have my phone on me all the time. If I'm not picking up my phone, I'm wasting less time 'just checking instagram real quick or play this game for 5 minutes' which always turns into more.

Similarly, I keep my phone out of arms reach at night to avoid doom scrolling into the wee hours, and the watch is nice to have on so I can hit snooze in the morning without getting up.

And yeah also the feature so that I can find my phone.

If you don't feel like you need to reduce your phone dependency and you don't misplace it around the house, I feel like a watch might not be useful for you!
posted by greta simone at 12:51 PM on October 4, 2023 [2 favorites]

Best answer: I've found the health monitoring aspect more useful as I age, and I wished I had data from several years ago so I could compare my cardiac fitness then vs. now. Ditto for sleep; the watch helps me take a more active role in improving it.

But otherwise it just helps me avoid pulling out my phone so often, which comes in handy when traveling through airports or hiking etc. Which reduces my fiddling with social media.

And there was this one time I locked my phone in the car and had to call for help on the watch (staying very close to the car) while both devices drained to zero. I might spring for the cellular subscription next time.

But if it's not for you, that's fine too! It is an investment in time and energy.
posted by credulous at 1:08 PM on October 4, 2023

I know you said you don't care about the metrics of your body when cycling, but what about the metrics of your ride?

When I ride my bike, the screen on my Watch Ultra splits into three rows: current speed, average speed, elapsed time (you can choose to display what you wish). When I started riding my average speed was 17.5kph. Then, each ride or week, I would go up a point, so 17.6, 17.7... and now I'm pushing 30kph average (my max has been 29.7 and I'm finding it hard to beat). Without changing anything else about my life I've lost 30 pounds in six months just by paying attention to that one metric.

In addition, having notifications on your write while cycling is great. Expecting a call or text during a ride, you no longer have to stop and check your phone when it rings or dings. I don't know about you, but I get more calls/texts that I don't care about when waiting for one I do.

Above, someone said you could probably sell it for close to its actual price. Keep in mind that if it's a free giveaway with the new phone, a great many people will be selling them, which will affect demand which will affect price.
posted by dobbs at 3:20 PM on October 4, 2023

When I first got a watch, I didn’t act on my stand, move and exercise goals for a couple months, but when I did hit my goals for maybe a week in a row, I was really motivated to keep my streak going. And it did really change my level of activity. Maybe you could try again with the watch and sell it if you really don’t feel it is worth it. If the watch did become something you were using every day, the value would quickly be greater than whatever you could get from reselling it.
posted by snofoam at 4:12 AM on October 5, 2023

Art of Manliness had an article claiming he'd reduced his smartphone use with a watch, by setting it up to only show important notifications. Basically he's less tempted by the pick-up-your-phone-start-scrolling effect.

I have a running/multisport watch, so I mostly use it for fitness stuff. Other than that the notifications and the ability to pause/start music on my phone are the main uses I have. I have a Notes app ion it with a few useful numbers like the entry code to the gym, printer code at work, bicycle combination lock number etc, but I often need those when I don't have my phone with me.
posted by TheophileEscargot at 8:23 AM on October 5, 2023