This post was most recently updated on September 5th, 2019

People often say smartwatches are a waste of money. Unfortunately, those who say this simply don’t understand just what a smartwatch is capable of doing. In this post, i will be presenting to you 8 lifesaving features of smartwatches.

Before I go into how a smartwatch can save your life or save you from danger, I would love to narrate how my standalone smartwatch was able to save me from “unlawful detention” in the hands of the Nigerian police. So go ahead and check out our guide below. I am pretty sure you will have a solid understanding of whether a smartwatch is right for your lifestyle by the end of the article.

Back in the year 2015, I was arrested by special anti-robbery squad”. Our vehicle was flagged down and hey asked of our phones. Of course, I own an iPhone and a Samsung. They asked where I got the money to buy two big phones. I answered them by saying my occupation/profession demands the use of up-to-date gadgets. I told them I am a “tech-blogger”. They asked for my ID card which I don’t have as at then. And I was taken away in their vehicle.

These guys dispossess me of my phones so I couldn’t communicate. They later accused me of internet fraud that although they had no proof, the will soon get me. I was told to pay as um if I want to be off the hook. I bluntly told them I won’t pain anything because I am innocent. They left me in their station with one junior officer and when on another operation from 9 am till 6 pm.

Luckily for me, I was wearing my smartwatch which is a full standalone one with an option for a sim card. I managed to make a call while in the restroom. When the officers arrived, they started threatening me that they would lock me up. I told them that my lawyer is already on his way that if I am not allowed to go before 6.30pm, that he will come and release me. Just in time, my lawyer’s call came through on my phone that is with them and they were shocked. In a nutshell, they released me and without knowing how imaged to make a call. Warning, please don’t let them catch you make that call otherwise you could be in trouble.

Don’t miss: Now You Can Get Smartwatches, VR Headsets, and Other Gadgets Here

What is a Smart Watch?

A smartwatch is a wearable computerized wristwatch with functionality that is enhanced beyond just timekeeping and is often comparable to a personal digital assistant (PDA) device. While early models can perform basic tasks, such as calculations, translations, and game-playing, modern smartwatches are effectively wearable computers.

Many smartwatches run mobile apps some even run android operating systems, while a smaller number of models run a mobile operating system and function as portable media players, offering playback of FM radio, audio, and video files to the user via a Bluetooth headset. Some smartphone models, (also called watch phones) feature full mobile phone capability and can make or answer phone calls.

Major Categories of CATEGORIES OF SMARTWATCHES

• Hybrid Smartwatches
• Branded Smartwatches with GPS: Watches in this category include apple watches, Samsung gear and other watches with only GPS.
• Branded Watches with GPS & Cellular:  Examples of these includes Apple series 4 gps + cellular, galaxy gear S3 frontier LTE, LEMFO KW88 Smartwatch.
• General/Generic smartwatches: This performs basic smart operations but they lack a GPS or LTE/3G

Generic Standalone Android Smartwatches

My money is always on generic standalone smartwatches because they afford users full customization. Before you can fully benefit from my lifesaving tips of smartwatches, you must own a generic watch with 3G/4G, Wifi, GPS. Additionally, this watch must run on Android OS.

Some Popular Smartwatches

Lifesaving Features of Smartwatches

In this section, i shall be appraising the 8 lifesaving features of smartwatches. Before I proceed, Let me give you some strict fact and prerequisites to turn a smartwatch into a lifesaving gadget.

Characteristics of a Watch that can Save you from Danger

• Firstly, such a watch must be fully independent off a smartphone. In other words, it must be able to make use of its own internet connectivity. Such strict features as 3G/4G, Maps, voice recorder, the internet browser, GPS must be on such a watch and they must work fine.
• Secondly, if you are staying in a vulnerable environment, ensure that your smartwatch is always in silence. You wouldn’t want to alert your captors.
• Furthermore, your smartwatch design should have the characteristics of a regular watch. you can change the straps to ensure this.
• In addition, please don’t go about telling everyone that you are wearing a smartwatch. who wants to know should know of their own volition.
• Other equally relevant features include good battery life, heart rate, calories and so on.

8 Lifesaving Features of Smartwatches That you Need to Know

Below are some 8 features that are present in many smartwatches which is capable of getting you out of danger or even death. Some of these features can also prevent impending calamity such as heart failure, diabetes and much more.

• A Smartwatch is Capable of Saving you Kidnappers

A standalone smartwatch especially can save you from kidnappers. This can be achieved in two ways. First, ensure when you buy your watch, you enable the GPS and you are subscribed to a service that can help you find your device. In addition, watch out for those little lacks of concentration from your kidnappers once you detect one, send a preconfigures SOS SMS to any of your favourite contacts.

Warning! to have a good chance, don’t buy a common or brand name smartwatch. Secondly, don’t use ringtones or vibration alerts on a smartwatch that you want to use in highrisk areas. Most importantly, ensure you avoid areas where you can be kidnapped.

• Smartwatches can be used to get proofs and Evidence for later use

The second lifesaving ability of a smartwatch is the fact that you can use it to record events. Some smartwatches come with an inbuilt camera and voice recorder. Let’s assume you are in a situation whereby you don’t trust the person 100% and you want to get some proofs, you can easily start your voice recording app on your SW prior to your appointment with such a person.

Alternatively, you can take a stealth picture on the other party in the meeting as evidence. This could be a lifesaver when your partner is trying to deny a fact simply because you didn’t document it.

Note: All ways document and sign any agreement or contract regardless fo your relationship with the parties involved. Furthermore, it is an actionable offence to take pictures of people without their consent. Only record the voice of people or take their picture if it is absolutely necessary yo do so without their consents. You must have a good defence to do this.

• Smartwatches Can help you Keep Critical Appointment

Imagine a situation whereby you miss a critical appointment just because you are away from your phone? Every average smartwatch comes with a calendar app. You can document this and remember important and critical tasks even when you are away from your phones. Smartwatches are good to remember outdoor notifications.

• You won’t lose your Way with a Smartwatch

As long as there is internet connection on your watch, you won’t lose your way regardless of your location. Now just think about modes of transportation were using a smartphone isn’t an option, like a motorbike or a cycle. A smartwatch can be super-convenient in these scenarios.

During trips, you can set the destination in Google Maps and turn the phone screen off. On your Android Wear smartwatch, a persistent notification card shows you the distance before the next turn. This is great because sometimes on a long straight road you don’t get voice prompts as often, and a quick tilt of the wrist is all it takes to get some reassurance.

The only downside here is when you are not using a smartwatch with an Android OS and the watch doesn’t come with a builtin map.

• A good smartwatch’s Battery will be on while that of your phone is Dead

If you find yourself in an area where there is an unstable power supply, a standalone smartwatch is a way to go. The battery of standalone smartwatches can last several days on a single charge. All thanks to the fact that they don’t need to connect to a phone in order to function. Some smartwatches last as long as 10 days.

• You can prevent catastrophic Ailment or health condition with a Smartwatch

The fact that a smartwatch is a wearable that stays on your wrist, makes it more convenient than a phone in tracking your health status. Apps such as pedometer, heart rate monitoring, calories, cholesterol, blood pressure can all be track with a smartwatch. Suffice to say, Many smartwatches have fitness tracking as a core feature.

Now, let’s imagine a situation where you are on medication, a smartwatch can be handly to alerts you of that impending serious health issue so that you can prevent it.

On the lighter note, you can also monitor pregnancy with this. All you need to do is to set your alerts accurately. Make sure you receive a beep and vibrate alert for important notifications.

• Smartwatches can be used to relieve stress or Kill Boredom

Apparently, you can take your media along with you everywhere you go. For one, youtube is available on most smartwatches, the same as Spotify. You are in greater luck if you own a standalone watch as it will allow you to store your media files such as music and videos offline in an external SD card. When you are lonely, bored or stressed this can be the needed rescue.

• A Smartwatch can Protect the Privacy of your Phone

As we all know, no one can see your phone if you don’t bring them out. A smartwatch will do a better job of keeping your phone private when compared to handsfree because it can function as a phone on its own.

You can send messages, reply to chat messages, view social media apps and so on on a good smartphone without bringing out your phone. You may want to consider this if you are the reserved/conservative type or you just don’t want unnecessary attention to your phone.

People can easily judge how rich you are from the price of the phone(s) you own.

• Finding a Stolen or lost Phone is Easier if you own a Smartwatch

As you well know, losing a phone or keys is an extremely frustrating experience. It always seems to happen before some important occasion that we just can’t be late for!

Thankfully a smartwatch can render this inconvenience a thing of the past.

Most of them have a “Find Phone” feature. You can connect your phone or any device with it and you will be able to ring it through your watch whenever you wish.

Lost your phone? Just press a few buttons on your watch to locate it in seconds.

What Kind of Smartwatch if the Best?

I will recommend a standalone smartwatch over one that must be connected to your phone before it performs optimally. As at the time of writing this post, the best multipurpose standalone smartwatch is the “KingWear KW88 3G Smartwatch Phone”

The reason why i consider this the best standalone smartwatch is becase it has everything you can wish for in a watch and more. it is indeed a true standalone smartwatch. Every smartwatch that has the features below is considered a good standalone smartwatch.

What to Look Out For in a Good Smartwatch

New to the world of SIM smartwatches? Check out these key points to consider before you buy.

• it should be truly standalone

Now, not all these watches work truly independently from your phone. There are those that form their own LTE/3G/4G connection using a SIM card or eSIM card and those that are simply an extension of your cell phone. Using a Bluetooth connection they are able to connect to your phone and make calls in this way. This means they must always be in Bluetooth range of your phone to work.

• It shouldn’t be too heavy on your wrist
• GPS, 3G/4G support.
• The battery life should be acceptable and big enough. Minimum of 400mAH or larger
• Sim card slot should be present if you don’t have eSim in your contry.
• Android OS 5.1 or newer is preferable.
• Fitness Tracking: Heart rate monitoring, Pedometer
•  Tools: Browser, Music, Alarm clock, Sound recorder
•  Weather: Yes (When connected to the network)
•  Others: On-screen display as much time; social networking applications, messages, schedules, meeting reminders
• Setting: Bluetooth settings, Sound, Display, Customization Options, Power Save Mode, Flight Mode, System Update, Reset
•  Support: MP3,MP4 media player, Record Sound
• Should have a camera so as to be able to record video or take Picture.
•  Support: Download Facebook, Twitter, Yahoo, Skype, GPS Navigation, and other applications.
• water resistance
• If you are interested in one of the best standalone smartwatches we currently have, you may need to take a look at the KW88 or gearbest or amazon