STACK #204 Oct 2021

FEATURE LIFE TECH

of that, a professional-grade sports watch can cost close to $1500. Decide what features you want from your wearable, set a budget, and stick to it. Talk to me Most wearable technology will need to pair to a smartphone via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. There are exceptions where in-built cellular technology enables the device to connect independently, but if you intend to pair to an existing smartphone, it’s important to check that the operating systems are compatible.

a week. Garmin does a range of wearables that feature solar technology so the battery can be topped up when exposed to sunlight. Pay to play The ultimate in convenience is near field communication (NFC) technology. Left your purse or wallet at home? NFC functionality means you can pay for goods and services by simply tilting your wrist towards the electronic point-of-sale system. One beep and you’re done! LTE for the win! Be tethered to your smartphone’s connection no more! LTE/4G functionality on your smartwatch means you can piggyback off your smartphone’s data plan without needing to connect directly to it. So, you can listen to music, take calls, use apps and send messages completely independently. Ideal if you’re going for a run and you don’t want to take your bulky smartphone with you.

MAKING A SPLASH It’s fair to say that we’re a nation of aquaphiles, and the health benefits of swimming are countless. A smartwatch is a perfect companion for the pool or ocean. Depending on the watch, tracking can be as basic as heart rate and distance monitoring right down to lap and splits counting, stroke count and GPS for open water counting. Of course, make sure you pick a smartwatch with adequate waterproof protection. Here are four watches with excellent swim tracking technology.

Satellite satisfaction Once the preserve of the military, Global Positioning System (GPS) technology is used across a broad spectrum of industries, including fitness. Using satellites to determine your position and track your activities is an invaluable feature for data lovers who want to improve their fitness by analysing performances.

Garmin Instinct

Suunto 7 GPS Sport

For example, an Apple Watch exclusively uses Apple’s operating system, iOS. However, many wearables will not only work across proprietary operating systems, but can be used on iOS, too. On the charge Battery life depends largely on the screen size, how often you engage with the device, and what you use it for. Battery life can differ enormously: some devices need to be charged every 12 to 24 hours, while others can last for

Well fit! You could fill this entire magazine with the fitness features available to smartwatch users. Name a sport you participate in and there will be a heap of tracking, monitoring and coaching functions to help you push yourself to achieve, and maintain, a fitness goal. From Pilates to soccer, marathon running to rock climbing, you can find a smartwatch to cater for all your active needs.

Fitbit Charge 5

AppleWatch SE

Looking to track your fitness? Here’s a good place to start!

Fitbit Luxe A sleek, fashionable design, the Fitbit Luxe looks just as good on the wrist at dinner as it does running laps of the park. It can log and track up to 20 different exercises, and monitor and measure your heart rate, calories burned, steps, distance and sleep quality.

Fitbit Charge 5 The new kid on the block brings even more focus on fitness with all-day activity tracking, 20 exercise modes, in-built GPS, and a slew of guided workouts to keep you on the move. The health metrics include monitoring stress management, ECG and sleep tracking.

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