Smartwatches are one of the newest mainstream technological innovations and the majority of them are not cheap. Apple Watch, possibly the most trendy and pricey version in the market, comes in a variety of models priced from moderately expensive to very high-end.
According to Apple, the cheapest model is priced between $349 and $399. The most expensive watches range between $10,000 and $17,000, with 18-karat gold casings and a fancy array of bands. Other smartwatches, which are priced significantly lower than Apple’s products, include the Samsung Gear S2, Pebble watch, Fossil Q, LG G Watch, and the Motorola 360.
Some of the benefits of these watches include “fitness tracking,” meaning the watch can monitor the intensity of your daily physical activities, including your heart rate, according to wearable.com. Users can even send this information to their friends’ devices as well.Most smartwatches are Wi-Fi and Bluetooth equipped, capable of connecting to one’s smartphone. This connection between the phone and the watch allows users to respond to text messages, voice calls, and emails on their wrists, rather than rummaging through their purses or pockets to reach their phone.
Do the benefits of these watches justify the high costs? Students who already own a smartwatch gave their feedback. Stop Khemthorn, a senior majoring in ICS Humanities from Bangkok, Thailand, said, “I think my smartwatch is very classy… it looks modern. I bought it because of the design rather than the capability of it.”
Another student, Mireya Hernandez, a freshman from Chicago, Ill., majoring in EXS, shared similar thoughts about smartwatches as opposed to normal watches. “Honestly, I wouldn’t even care about the price. I would do it just for the look of it.”
Other students voiced their opinions in opposition of the sudden demand for smartwatches, including Connor Thomas, a freshman also from Chicago with an undeclared major.
“I feel that the majority of people who buy a smartwatch already have a smartphone, so I’m not really sure why they need another one. I wouldn’t buy one just for that reason, because I already have a phone that does everything the watch does.”
Whether or not the benefits of a smartwatch compensate for the high costs is essentially up to the consumer. Immediate acknowledgment of social media notifications, emails, text messages, and voice calls without the effort of reaching for your cell phone are characteristics that Apple Inc. says helps promote its products.
Electronics may either enhance or detract from conscious awareness, according to Elder Teixeira’s discourse during April’s LDS General Conference. “The habit of setting aside your mobile device for a time will enrich and broaden your view of life, for life is not confined to a…screen,” he stated.
Teixeira encouraged members to enjoy the blessings that technology brings into our lives, but in moderation as to not forget life’s precious moments.