What are you guys rocking for Fitness Watches?

I'm at a dilemma. I'm a Samsung fan, but their proprietary fitness app that logs your watch data "Samsung Health" put out a mandatory consent that basically says they're going to sell all your health data to vendors, business partners, employees, and 3rd parties. I know we don't have much privacy of our personal data in the digital age, but this is pretty bad.

I know Apple does the end to end encryption on all fitness data through Apple Health which actually is really awesome. But I'm kinda meh on Iphone and the Apple watch looks super poverty and lame. Nonetheless, this actually has me considering switching to Apple.

Another option is to keep an Android, but not use Samsung Health and Uninstall it and use a separate fitness watch like Garmin. The Garmins are expensive, but look amazing and the batteries last like 20+ days per charge. I just hate the idea of even having a smart watch that can't take calls or show texts or emails. Kinda defeats half the purpose. The Garmin wouldn't mirror my phone which is something I like from a smartwatch.

Before people roast me for not wearing a "real watch"... I love watches and have a roughly 8 watch collection. I wear those when I'm out. But I work from home and I have some fitness and weightloss goals I want to achieve and utilizing a smart watch can help.

Bump

Smart watches are fukin gey, answer the phone on your watch? u wot?

If you are using it for actual cardio then a garmin or coros

https://www.polar.com/us-en/all-watches/

These guys were doing heart rate watches before most; it really depends on what you want to know from a watch.

Google Pixel Watch 2

https://9to5google.com/2023/09/08/pixel-watch-2-design/

I got a Garmin Fenix 6x Sapphire for $300.

I used it because I needed a new hunting GPS and figured I would get something that could do dual duty. This is one of the few that doesn't NEED the smart phone to do it.

Very durable.
Battery life is 14 hours to 20 days or so depending what features are turned on. I use one that is roughly 7 days.
Band options are plentiful and switching them out is easy.
No touch screen, but durable buttons.
The Garmin Connect App is very solid.
Workouts are sub-par.
HR monitor has some issues if your wrist is bent like grabbing the railing of the stair stepper machine.
Watch faces are varied and mostly free. Currently running a pip-boy one as I like fallout and it pretty much functions like one.

I have a Garmin FR245 Music.

Only use it for running/cardio not interested in smart watch features I think they're gay but it can show text and emails, not sure about phone calls.

I'm not buying a smart watch unless it shows me the time as pussy oclock

Thanks. Sounds like you got a steal.

I'm pretty tech-dumbed down. I legit use my phone to call, text, answer outlook work emails, go on IG randomly, and browse the web. Pictures of course too, but basically all new phones take good pics.

All I want out of a "Smart Watch" is for it to look decent, track my heart rate and ECG (med issue), and track my steps. I always leave my phone on silent so I do like the text feature with a smart watch, which sucks because Garmin seems to be where it's at but I'd lose watch to phone function.

I don't ever answer my phone on my watch unless an emergency. But I always leave my phone on silent due to spam calls and being a professional that gets texts and emails all day. It's honestly not a deal breaker, but it's nice to quickly check your watch vs taking your phone out.

But like 90% I ever entertain a smart watch is because of the health tracking. I have "nice" watches I wear if I'm going out. I'm talking about the other 95% of the time when you're at home, at the gym, on a walk/run, etc.

I have the most basic Garmin, the Instinct. I think it was 200$. Has GPS so it will map hikes ect. It is just a basic screen but you can still read texts, caller ID, control bluetooth music devices.

If I don't use the GPS the battery will last about 2 weeks. I absolutely despise wearing jewelry but this thing has grown on me and I have been wearing it basically 24/7 for the last year.

Apple fan . I’ve got a lot of Apple products , so it only made sense to go with their watch. My watch is old, apple 4 , but does what I need other than oxygen saturation.
I have atrial fibrillation,so the heart specialist recommended a watch to monitor heart rate .
If I had the cash I’d buy the Apple Ultra watch . It may look a little more manly if that concerns you

You do get text notifications with Garmin. It is only the canned responses that are lacking.

However, your requirements don't aren't high enough to justify spending lots if you don't have to.

This was really helpful, guys.

I'm not a big tech guy and had no idea Garmin could do most of the sh!t Galaxy and Apple watches do like see texts, alarms, calls, music, etc. Mind blown.
I thought only the watch proprietary to your phone could do that.

After some research, I decided I'm going with a Garmin.
- I prefer Android phones so switching everything over to Apple would suck.
- I am tossing my old Galaxy watch and won't use a Samsung watch anymore now that I know they're selling my health data to 3rd parties and business partners.

Garmin it is.

I was stuck on the Epix Pro 2 which is ~ $850 with insurance discounts... but as a watch guy I saw the MarQ 2 and fell in love. It's the perfect daily watch... looks like an actual quality watch I'd wear to a dinner party, but has all the tech features of a modern Garmin. Hard to swallow paying $2,200 for a smart watch though! That starts to creep up to Omega territory and is in line with Tags.
I get the added smart watch functionality, but this thing is a tech piece which means it will depreciate bad.
You shell out for an IWC, Omega, Rolex, etc because you know they'll hold value if not even increase.
$2,200 for a watch that's probably worth half that in 2 years is TOUGH.

F*ck me....

I just realized...

If Samsung's privacy policy is to sell health data to 3rd parties and business partners (hence why I don't want to use Samsung Health and their Watch), then by downloading Garmin Connect to my Android, does that now give Samsung access to all of that info that they'll just go ahead and sell anyway?

Do I end up back at square one?

If so, I need to accept the sale of my health data or switch to Apple to run a Garmin.

Any tech brahs with privacy experience have input?

I just use that samsung app. i only ever turn it on when i'm riding my bike on trails. otherwise i'm not a fan of jewelry/watchesWho cares.. all these phones all listen to use and record all our date and store it. whether they flat out say they sell it or not, who cares IMO

Imagine spending hundreds of dollars for a "fitness" watch.......

G-shock

As opposed to $5000 for the sake of "horology"?

That's not entirely accurate from my research.

Yes, everything listens and collects... but have you read the privacy policies on your apps and devices?

Samsung Health (their proprietary app for fitness) recently gave an ultimatum to let them sell your health info to whoever they want, otherwise the app can't be used and data can't be stored to see health trends.

Apple doesn't do this. Garmin doesn't do this. Polar doesn't do this.

Samsung is literally telling you that although you already purchased a phone and watch, we're now changing our privacy policy and if you want tonuse our app (which stores and manages all of your health data) we have the right to sell that data to pharma, advertisers, government entities, etc.

Nothing is private in the digital world, but Samsung is actively giving its paying customers the middle finger.

I'm a tech idiot and even I know this.

i just use the run keeper app to log my hikes/runs. dont need a watch

I think the Rolex Sub is a sports watch if you are looking for some style when exercising

you could save a little if you are going pre-owned without papers and box

BP Doctor Non-invasive blood glucose ECG and PPG Smartwatch ECG5 is a good fitness tracker that also tracks heart rate very well. It comes with an ECG stand and a heart rate belt.

honestly this.nobody likes it but you cant run from big brother.honestly i dont think it matters what watch you use.ive got the watch classic and classic 3 and they are pretty good except the damn FDA hasnt approved of the blood pressure sensor or something in the US for some reason.thats the only thing i dont like about them.but yeah get the Garmin if it can do blood pressure for sure

im pretty sure your joking but used Rolex are usually worth more these days cause you dont have to go through crazy wait periods when buying new.so now used Rolex cost more than new now.they cant meet the demand.i think it takes a whole year for a master to make a new Rolex

and even thats a low number.havent seen a Rolex that cheap in a while

So then maybe you should stop supporting a company that so openly and blatantly does this?

You literally say they are giving their customers the middle finger.....yet you will continue to use and buy their products.

What does that say about you?

it means society is normalizing current day privacy invasion in exchange for the gratification of a new shiny toy.

I have one I bought off amazon for $17. Does just about all the stuff the others do.

Heart rate, blood o2 levels, sleep, all that stuff. has its own app which is ok I guess. Nothing special but I dont need anything special. I dont think its waterproof though, havent tried it in the pool.

My BP Doctor smartwatch can receive messages and calls when connected to my phone, and the ECG 2 itself also provides a dial pad. I think the price is right and it’s easy to use.