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How Smartwatch Detect Stress? Samsung, Apple watch series, Fitbit & more

how smartwatch detect stress

How Smartwatch Detect Stress?

Smartwatches can detect stress levels in a user by using various sensors and algorithms. Some of the ways a smartwatch can detect stress include:

  1. Heart rate monitoring: A smartwatch can monitor a user’s heart rate, and sudden spikes in heart rate can be an indicator of stress.
  2. Skin conductance: Some smartwatches have sensors that can measure changes in the electrical conductivity of the skin, which can be an indicator of stress levels.
  3. Breathing patterns: A smartwatch can track a user’s breathing patterns, and changes in breathing can indicate stress.
  4. Activity levels: A smartwatch can track a user’s physical activity levels and changes in activity levels can indicate stress.
  5. Sleep patterns: Changes in sleep patterns can be an indicator of stress, and a smartwatch can track a user’s sleep patterns and provide insights into sleep quality.

It’s important to note that these methods are not foolproof and may not provide an accurate measurement of stress levels in every individual. However, tracking these metrics over time can provide valuable insights into a user’s overall stress levels and help them better manage their stress.

Best smartwatch for android phones: Samsung smartwatch

Samsung Smartwatch

Our choice for the best smartwatch is the Samsung smartwatch. It is smaller, cheaper, sportier and the best cheap smartwatch with LTE enabled. Samsung has developed its software (Tizen OS) and is powered by a dual-core processor. You can take calls without having your smartphone nearby. It’s giving strong competition to Apple smartwatches.

The smartwatch for galaxy Watch is anti-dust, water-resistant, sleek in design, and has useful apps for fitness enthusiasts.

It does not have a SIM insert section, but can be connected to your smartphone via Bluetooth for a smooth and faster connection.

Features

You can receive calls, and messages, respond to emails and can charge through its wireless dock with as much as 3 days of battery backup. We feel that it lacks on the battery side, is shorter than expected, and could have been better another downside on its limited collection of apps.

The Samsung smartwatch comes in two sizes, 46mm (with the bigger dial, anti-dust, and 5 ATM water-resistant) and 42mm (with the smaller dial, non-anti-dust, and non-water-resistant).

Display

The display looks more vivid now, and the slightly curved Gorilla Glass screen feels elegant plus it has a beautiful circular Super AMOLED touch screen.

Packed with a better-than-average battery life of 3 days, but in actual use, it is between 24 to 36 hours, depending upon the usage.

Features

This Samsung smartwatch can automatically track six types of exercise, including running and outdoor cycling, and is water-resistant for swim tracking (up to 5 ATM swim-proof – 46mm version).

Samsung’s smartwatches have offered onboard music storage of 4GB, but it’s the Spotify integration that makes the Galaxy Watch Active a perfect fitness companion. It is available in black, silver, rose gold, and green color.

It works seamlessly when it is paired with Samsung Galaxy Smartphone, similar to the Apple watch works when paired with the iPhone. However, you can also pair the Galaxy Watch Active with your iPhone by downloading the Galaxy Wear iOS app.

Battery

Samsung says that Galaxy Watch can last 45 hours on a charge, but upon practical use, that didn’t quite happen, as it only lasted a little longer than 30 hours with a workout and Spotify playback. But under normal use, it lasted longer than 36 hours.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch is lightweight and durable at the same time and its simple design makes it better for working out. Great to have health and fitness features at an inexpensive price than its competitors and does not limit its functioning to only Android but it also works with iOS devices.

The Galaxy Watch Active is the best android smartwatch, especially for Galaxy Smartphone owners. It’s sleek, responsive, and comfortable with accurate fitness-tracking features.

However, it lacks building more advanced health features, as the Apple smartwatch has. With that said, the Samsung smartwatch is still a great smartwatch and fitness tracker with health features at a reasonable price.

Second-best Smartwatch: Apple Watch Series 4

apple watch

The Apple Watch Series 4 is the best smartwatch ever, not a cheap smartwatch for iPhone but an expensive one. Its optical heart rate sensor-enabled high-rate alerts, actually allow people to get the information that they can even use in their medical treatments.

Display

The all-new Apple Series 4 comes with a bigger display, thinner case, a faster processor, W2 (wireless) Chipset, a second Generation ECG and advanced sensors inside. But the highest selling point of this smartwatch is its health features.

It is expensive compared to Samsung or other brands. But it is Apple, the most valuable company in the world. So with an expensive price, we’re getting an incomparable product.

The display was bigger in the previous version, it is now even better and they have removed the thick bezels around the watch’s display and brought the screen to the edge. The new Apple watch series 4 is larger than its predecessors, with as much as a 30% large display. The 40mm model OLED screen is by 394×324 sizes and the 44mm model is 448×368 sizes.

Features

The most selling point of this smartwatch is the health feature, which makes Apple watch series 4 unique from other brands. This watch has an electoral heart rate sensor that can give you on-the-go electrocardiograms in just about 30 seconds. The watch can also detect when you fall, its sensors can very well measure motion and impact.

Battery life

It is unchanged from its predecessors, Apple watch series 4 lasts about 24 hours on a charge and aims to deliver a minimum of 18 hours on a charge where it can easily run through the day. It, however, falls short of the fitness-focused Fitbit Versa and Samsung Galaxy Watch which both last 4 days on a single charge. Consumer reports also reviewed this model.

We wish the battery could last a little longer than 18 hours on a full charge, but it doesn’t. It also has a slightly rounded square design which we didn’t like much but it’s the completely individual liking of the design.

smart watch

The Apple Watch Series 4 looks greater than its predecessor Series 3, but it’s the health feature that makes all the difference. The very first thing you will notice about this watch is its screen size which is even larger than before. A thing to notice here is, that even the smaller version of series 4 has a bigger display compared to the larger version of series 3.

Apple has re-designed the entire watch and even the icons are much larger. Series 4 is larger overall. Even the 38mm size would be perfect for small wrists. They made it taller and wider. And 40mm is also very comfortable to wear.

Where it lacks

It has a slightly rounded-square display design and the battery life we think are two major things that are a little downside, and could have been better. However, if you’re using Series 0, you for sure need to upgrade to Series 4 as it is packed with completely improved and enhanced features. It is well worth the price.

Also best smartwatch: Samsung Gear S3 Frontier

The smartwatch for android phones, Samsung smartwatch Gear S3 Frontier is, although an old model (launched a year ago), still a popular one. A Bluetooth model that does not support 2G, 3G, 4G LTE mobile networks. It also lacks a very limited app selection just like the Samsung Galaxy smartwatch and it is quite heavy but more durable, ideal for rough use.

Here are a few reasons we think the S3 Frontier is quite a smartwatch you can consider buying. It is beautiful with its stainless steel body and rotating bezel for smooth navigation which lets you scroll conveniently and quickly through all the menu items, icons, and apps.

Display

The screen is bright, the colors are vivid, and the display is crisp and clear. It is strong and durable; it could even bear a fall from 5 feet. It looks bulky so those of you, who don’t like bulky watches on your (small) wrists, proceed with caution.

The display of S3 Frontier’s 3.29 cm (1.3) Super AMOLED 3.29cm (1.3-inch screen) looks like a true watch. From a built-in GPS and speaker to direct access to all the apps you need. It’s also built for you to go days without needing a recharge.

You get to feel free with the Gear S3 Frontier. The Bluetooth model requires a paired smartphone to make calls; you can answer or reject phone calls, turn off alarms, control the volume and display brightness levels. Browse apps and scroll through emails, all is possible with its circular bezel.

The Samsung smartwatch’s unique operating system (Tizen) can link to Apple and Android but it lacks apps, which are very limited. It also features several cool robust messaging options along with an onboard speaker and Mic which is very convenient.

Features

The best part of the Samsung S3 Frontier smartwatch is, that even if you forget to carry your Smartphone at home, you can still make calls (Bluetooth pairing is required), read all your emails, respond to them, get weather and news updates, and even download apps, doing all just by rotating its bezel.

Battery

Depending on the usage, the Samsung S3 Frontier battery life can last up to 3 days, but we found a more realistic figure of 24 hours. The display in GPS can drain the battery very quickly if you use it for a long time.

We also recommend you set your display setting to turn on only when you raise your wrist so it increases the battery life. The S3 charges wirelessly on a small stand, and the dial turns 90 degrees so you can easily see the time while it’s docked.

Summing it up

The Samsung Gear S3 Frontier smartwatch is our runner-up model, other than its biggest downside which we think could have more app collection; you can go for this model if it suits your need and requirements.

Best smartwatch for iPhone: Apple Watch Series 3

One of the biggest criticisms of the Apple watch series 3 is that it relies on the iPhone too much. This Apple watch with the LTE version is still not as self-reliant as Apple watch series 4.

In other words, it is not an independent device. Apple says when you’re away from your phone, this smartwatch makes your life easier as you’ll be able to receive calls, access your emails, open apps, and do a lot more. At the same time, you cannot be away from your phone for too long, it has its limitations too.

Features

Also, setting up and making phone calls became a struggle too, we think it was complicated. Nevertheless, after resolving it, a more frustrating thing happened when we noticed the device getting heated after a 10-minute phone call.

So much so, that I had to take it off for some time as it became very much uncomfortable. I had to reboot it to get the cellular network. Apple said that it had a Wi-Fi bug but it was resolved later. We must say not a very seamless experience though.

A good phone connection works well for phone calls, emails, Siri, and messages. Music also syncs more conveniently. Improvements in fitness tracking and added watch faces. It also adds a barometer to GPS and swims proofing.

Battery

One morning, I started listening to some Apple music while I’m doing exercise and my phone was away, by noon I noticed the battery had come down to 40% and in the afternoon when I reached the office, it was practically dead. We felt it was not up to the mark and certainly could have delivered more in terms of battery backup.

The non-LTE device was a great one though. The GPS version of the Apple smartwatch had solid fitness tracking features that were improved and enhanced. It also allows you to download a playlist from Apple Music and listen to it through a pair of Bluetooth headphones.

Plus it is much cheaper than the cellular model. The non-LTE version of the Apple watches series 3 is our recommendation that will suit most people. All features are the same, only it is the GPS version and not the LTE which has the cellular network option.

Where it lacks

Battery life takes a major hit during GPS workouts and also when making calls plus the device gets heated as well. 42mm cellular model is also expensive, and that is even before the monthly wireless service and Apple Music fees. The Apple Watch Series 3 LTE version has the best phone network but looking at its limited battery life it is not a must-have.

Best smartwatch for women: Fitbit Versa

Fitbit Versa is the best smartwatch for women. It is thinner and cheaper. Amazingly, it happens to have the same features as Apple’s more expensive smartwatch does, like onboard music storage and an app store. This is the best entry-level smartwatch for most people.

It is sleek in design, lightweight, and has almost stunning 4 days battery life, which means I’ve tracked a few nights of sleep, enjoyed my music, and checked all my Smartphone notifications along with working out without needing to recharge my smartwatch.

It also has a health tracking system made especially for females and an insightful sleep analysis as well. All these features make this device a great one. It, however, lacks the small app store with no onboard GPS.

The Fitbit Versa is still one of the best affordable and feature-packed smartwatches that most people will go for.

Features

The 39-millimeter Versa is slightly wider than the 38-mm Apple watch and feels much lighter in weight. The Versa does not have built-in GPS, it connects to your smartphone’s GPS. It can also store up to 300 songs and we found switching between the music and workout screens seamlessly which was very convenient.

The Fitbit Versa is clearly a mainstream smartwatch at an affordable price with a sleek design and style powered by Fitbit’s enhanced health-tracking system and properly designed apps.

Where it lacks

The only downside of this smartwatch we feel is its missing Onboard GPS. The new health-tracking features designed for females are also the best thing about this smartwatch.

Best smartwatch cheap: Huami Amazfit Bip

best smartwatch

The Amazfit Bip is extremely lightweight with a soft band that fits all wrist sizes quite conveniently and is one of the best cheap smartwatches. It has a GPS, a heart rate monitor, a pedometer, notifications, a decent fitness tracker, a transflective color display that will go easy on your eyes along with a good battery life capacity.

Drawback

Things that did not go well while testing, for example, its heart rate and step measurements are not always precise, we felt and its graphics are also of low resolution compared to other more expensive segment smartwatches. It also lacks music storage and controls, and it cannot respond to notifications.

Features

Despite all these drawbacks and lacking features, it is still our best pick in the cheapest category since it is an entry-level most basic smartwatch. This inexpensive smartwatch pretty much highlights all health and fitness.

Amazfit Bip has a polycarbonate, matte-plastic build, and 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass capacitive touch screen. Plus, the watch has IP68 water and dust rating, which means it’s protected from dust and can be submerged in up to 5 feet of water for 30 minutes without any malfunction or damage being caused.

The Bip comes in four colors – black, grey, green, and orange. Unlike the Fitbit Versa or the Apple Watch, the Bip has no app store and few compatible third-party apps on which it runs. Bip’s interface is very simple. You just keep swiping to the left for the major operations, tapping the one you want for more details.

GPS

The Fit app is particularly a phone-based sports app that measures outdoor activities like cycling, running, walking, and treadmill. Through its GPS, pedometer, and heart rate monitor paired with the Fit app, you can track your activities and set progress goals. The watch records your pace with or without GPS.

Battery

Unlike the Fitbit Versa or the Apple Watch, the Amazfit Bip has no dedicated app store, and only a handful of third-party apps are compatible with the watch. One of the Bip’s best-selling features is it’s stunning up to 45 days of battery life.

The Bip’s 190-mAh lithium-polymer battery is capable to last as long as 45 days under regular use, which includes activity and sleep monitoring, however, continuous use of GPS and constant heart rate monitoring will slow down the battery life to a much less number of days.

The Huami Amazfit Bip is one of the least-expensive fitness trackers with both GPS and a heart rate monitor. It has a couple of independent and compatible apps for iOS and Android.

Summary

If you are looking for sophisticated smartwatch features such as music storage, a dedicated app store, and the ability to respond to emails and texts, you’ll want something like the Apple Watch or Samsung Galaxy smartwatch and not Amazfit Bip.

But if you just want something that has the basic features of a smartwatch, and does not cost much, you can start by picking Amazfit Bip.

Comparison

Apple Watch Series 4 vs 3

Samsung Smartwatch and Apple Watch Series 4

Apple Watch Series 4 vs 3

Long story short, Apple Watch Series 4 is worth much more but even Series 3 has a lot to offer. It also depends on your needs and budget.

The battery life of both models is almost equal, between 18 to 24 hours of backup. Series 3 is available in 38mm (272×340) and 42mm (312×390), whereas Series 4 is available in 40mm (324×394) and 44mm (368×448).

The operating system for both Series is watchOS 5.1.3; however, Series 3 comes with a W1 (wireless) chipset and a first Generation ECG, whereas Series 4 comes with a W2 chipset and a second Generation ECG feature.

Storage

The music storage on Series 3 is 8GB with offline support for Apple Music playlists and Series 4 is 16GB of storage with offline support for Apple Music playlists. Both are water-resistant up to 50 meters (swim-proof). Both are GPS and LTE enabled.

Features

Apple Watch Series 3 has an optical heart-rate sensor, whereas Series 4 not only has an optical heart-rate sensor but is equipped with an electrical heart-rate sensor for electro-cardigans and Fall detection, Low heart-rate alerts, and an ECG app.

The Apple watch series 4 also has a next-generation accelerometer and gyroscope, which can detect motion and impact if you turn on the watch’s new Fall Detection feature.

Comparison

best smartwatch

Series 4 is expensive; Series 3 is affordable by comparison. To be honest, we feel cellular connectivity is not that important so you can go with the GPS version and ignore the LTE version moreover it saves you some money too as LTE is expensive, and GPS is less expensive.

Series 4 has an expanded display with no bezels that look beautiful and are good for accessibility. Pulling up a map of an area looks very much viewable comfortably in Series 4 compared to Series 3.

Final words

The Apple Watch Series 3 wins on size and price, if those are your biggest focus areas, along with great new fitness-tracking features, Apple Watch Series 3 is for you.

But the Apple Watch Series 4 has more advanced sensors, a larger, easy-to-use display, and by far the best health-tracking system and the potential to become even more powerful with software features. If these are your main concerns, you should go for Apple Watch Series 4.

Samsung Smartwatch vs. Apple Watch Series 4

Apple Watch Series 4, the most popular leader in the smartwatch segment, looks to further establish its position with brand new features such as a larger display, a built-in electrocardiogram, and fall detection. But Samsung too has introduced a new smartwatch, the Tizen OS-based Galaxy Watch, which has a good battery life and built-in LTE.

We have included Samsung Galaxy Watch on our list as our best smartwatch for Android Smartphone users and even iPhone users. Let’s look at some of the specifications differences and figure out which is best.

Comparison

Samsung smartwatch (46mm) has a bigger dial, Anti-dust, and water-resistant), and the (42mm) version is (a small dial, known as anti-dust and non-water-resistant).

Apple Watch Series 4 is available in 44mm and 40mm.

The battery life of the Samsung galaxy watch is standing at 4 days, whereas Apple Series 4 is backed by around 18 hours of battery life. So clearly Samsung is a winner here.

The display of the Samsung Galaxy is a circular Super AMOLED (360×360) whereas, Apple has a slightly rounded square OLED Retina.

Samsung is powered by an in-house OS by the name Tizen OS 4.0 and Apple is powered by WatchOS 5. Both models can store music with offline Spotify playlist support. Both are water-resistant as in swim-proof. Both have GPS, LTE, and heart rate, monitors.

Apple has guided breathing exercises, heart rate sensors, electrocardiograms, and ECG. When we talk about fitness features, Apple has led health and fitness sensors apart to the best of its ability, like it can let you know if your heart rate is too low.

Another feature in Series 4 is the electrocardiogram, wherein by holding your finger to the digital crown, the watch can measure your heart rhythm.

Samsung Galaxy Watch, on the other hand, offers health features including a stress management system in place that detects when your heart rate is high and can guide you through breathing exercises to bring the rate down. Galaxy also can track 6 types of workouts automatically.

Smartphone compatibility is great with the Samsung watch which works with both iOS and Android smartphones, whereas the Apple Watch has a limitation as it only works with iPhones.

Summing it up

Overall, Samsung’s Galaxy Watch remains our best pick for Android users. However, for iPhone users, the Apple Watch remains the best choice, given that device’s tight integration with the iPhone.

Even if you don’t want the premium features of the Series 4, the Series 3’s lower price makes the Apple Watch more compelling. We just feel its battery life could be a little longer.

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