The Importance of Water Resistance in Smartwatches
Best water-resistant smartwatches in India for 2023
A smartwatch offers a host of features and allows you to track important health and fitness data. One of the things that you need to keep in mind while purchasing a smartwatch is checking whether it is water-resistant or not. Smartwatches these days offer protection against water and allow you to use them while exercising or swimming.
Many brands manufacture water-resistant smartwatches in India, but the price may vary as all of them offer different sets of features. To help you decide which smartwatch to buy, we have curated a list of some of the best water-resistant smartwatches which you can buy right now.
How we do our research
Our ranking criteria
We consider each smart watchs features, compatibility, durability, shape, design, and display quality. Additionally, we also consider other factors such as accuracy in data, brand, price and more.
Things to look for while buying
Design and build
Usually, there are two dial options when buying a smartwatch, a traditional round one and a square or rectangular one.
Coming to build quality, cheaper smartwatches rarely offer materials like metal for the casing or leather for the straps. They have a plastic finish with silicone straps that don't last long. When you are going for the premium brand you can expect better build quality.
If you are regular in sports activity then look for a watch with IP certification.
Display
It is important to consider the capabilities and quality of the display as it shows you all the essential information. Look for a watch with a good display that works well indoors as well as outdoors, especially under direct sunlight. Make sure the smartwatch has a responsive touch and protective glass.
Apart from these, you should also consider the display type, AMOLED display is much better when compared to LCD as it offers better colours and contrast
Battery life
Today, battery life remains one of the most popular features but still, most smartwatches offer limited battery life. Look for a smartwatch with 2-3 days battery life as they have features like cellular support, continuous heart rate tracking and other biometric sensors.
Budget
When buying a smartwatch, set your budget and restrict your search within. It will help you to find the best product at affordable prices.
Features comparison
| Smartwatch | Display and features | Battery life | Product link |
| Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 | Super AMOLED display, health monitoring, running analysis, sleep tracking, blood oxygen, 120+ home workout programs | 1+ day | Buy On |
| Apple Watch Series 6 | GPS, Always-On Retina display, ECG app | 18 hours | Buy On |
| Amazfit GTS2 Mini | AMOLED Display, SpO2 Level Measurement, 14 Days' Battery Life, 70+ Sports Modes, Built-in Amazon Alexa | 14 days | Buy On |
| Fire-Boltt Beast | HD display, IP67 rating with heart rate monitor, sleep & breathe monitor | 8 days | Buy On |
| Samsung Galaxy Watch Active | AMOLED display, 39 built-in trackers, 24/7 Activity Tracking | 1+ day | Buy On |
| Hammer Pulse 2.0 | IP67 rating, blood oxygen monitoring and multiple watch faces | NA | Buy On |
| GOQii Smart Vital Lite | Blood Oxygen, Fitness, Sports & Sleep Tracking | 7 days | Buy On |
| Pros | Cons |
| Accurate health data | Expensive |
| Good display and touch response |
| Pros | Cons |
| Display | Expensive |
| Battery life | Limited compatibility with apps |
| Pros | Cons |
| AMOLED display | Durability |
| Accurate data |
| Pros | Cons |
| Multiple sports mode | Average build quality |
| Value for money |
| Pros | Cons |
| Good display | Expensive |
| Accurate data | Basic design |
| Pros | Cons |
| Display | Durability |
| Accurate data | Basic design |
| Pros | Cons |
| Display | Data accuracy |
| Design | Build Quality |
Smartwatch water resistance: The technology demystified
Are you the kind of person who removes their watch before doing the dishes or washing your hands? If so, thats because old habits are hard to break.Today, the vast majority of smartwatches are built with some degree of water resistance, so that relatively benign contact with moisture will not be fatal to your expensive timepiece. Here are the ratings and specifications you should look for, whether you wear your watch while operating a gardening hose or scuba diving.
Water-resistant versus waterproof
A water-resistant product is not waterproof, and right now, there is no such thing as a waterproof watch. Water-resistant is the lowest level of protection, meaning that the item is designed to make it difficult but not impossible for water to seep through. Waterproof means the item is impervious to water, no matter how long it is submerged. A watch may also be advertised as sweatproof, but that is another measure entirely, as sweat has corrosive chemistry water, uric acid, sodium chloride, and lactic acid that is much more damaging to electronic equipment than plain water.
For smartwatches, waterproof actually means water-resistant as specified by the manufacturer under certain test conditions. Water resistance is measured by Ingress Protection / International Protection (IP) or atmosphere (ATM) ratings. Its generally either one or the other for any given item.
Water resistance is not permanent and can diminish over time and under certain conditions. Dropping your watch so that it absorbs impact is generally bad for repelling water over time. The same goes for exposure to substances like soap, solvents, sunscreen, hand lotions, and insect repellants and wearing your watch in a sauna or steam room.
If youre shopping for a smartwatch or fitness tracker for use while freestyle swimming, make sure to check the company website and read the manual. Thats where youll find all relevant use parameters for the product. Search for water-resistant in the documentation to jump right to the critical fine print. Ignore the marketing, ad copy, and especially any images associated with the products use around water, as it can all be misleading.
IP rating
The IP rating is defined as the water and dust resistance for electronics. This rating is published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) an equivalent European standard is EN 60529. A rating of IP followed by X and a number means the item has been tested in water only. IP followed by two numbers means testing has been completed for dust/dirt resistance (first number) and water resistance (second number). In addition, these devices are rated IP68, a device rating standard outlined by the IEC. IP68 devices, for example, are dustproof and shielded from continuous water immersion.When IP is followed by both a number and an X, that means its been tested for dust resistance only, not for water resistance. Heres the breakdown to make it clearer:
- IPX0: Not protected.
- IPX1: Dripping water falling vertically (water equal to 1mm or 0.039inches of rainfall per minute).
- IPX2: Dripping water when tilted up to 15 degrees (2 1/2 minutes in all tilt directions for 10 minutes, with water equal to 3mm or 0.12inches of rainfall per minute).
- IPX3: Spraying water (from a spray nozzle for one minute per square meter for five minutes, or from an oscillating tube at 10 minutes with a water volume of 0.07 liters per minute).
- IPX4: Splashing water (for 10 minutes with a spray nozzle or oscillating tube).
- IPX5: Water jets (oneminute per square meter for at least three minutes, with water volume of 12.5liters per minute).
- IPX6: Powerful water jets, such as heavy spray, driving rain, boat washing, and rough outdoor sea conditions (oneminute per square meter for at least three minutes, with water volume of 100 liters per minute at a distance of 3 meters or 9.8 feet).
- IPX7: Temporary immersion in water, including splashes, rain, or snow, and showering (up to 1m about 3.3 feet of static water for up to 30 minutes).
- IPX8: Continuous immersion in water beyond 1 meter, as specified by the manufacturer. This should ring a bell for buyers because that means the manufacturer of your watch is setting the standard of how it performs beyond the IPX7 level.
- IPX9K: Protected against high pressure and temperature water jets (with watervolume at 14 to 16 liters per minute at a distance of 0.10 to 0.15 meters or 3.9 to 5.9inches).
A separate Dive rating complies with EN13319 and allows for splashes, rain, showering, swimming, and diving into water, as well as snorkeling, high-speed water sports, and scuba diving.
ATM rating
ATM ratings are somewhat more popular for smaller wearables like smartwatches and fitness trackers, though these can use IP ratings, too, which used to be primarily for larger items such as headphones, smartphones, and speakers. A measure of 1ATM equals the normal pressure at sea level. Atmospheres map to pressure testing measurements, which are then translated into water depth to determine how much the device can take. For example, a smartwatch that carries a 5 ATM rating means it can withstand depth pressure of 50 meters. Water pressure can vary, particularly when swimming, so a smartwatch or fitness tracker can carry an ATM rating but still not be safe for immersion in water. Devices with a 1 ATM or 3 ATM rating should not be used for swimming.
- 1 ATM: Depth pressure of 10 meters (33 feet). Avoid contact with water.
- 3 ATM: Depth pressure of 30 meters (98 feet). You can get caught in the rain or wash your hands because theres protection against splashes.
- 5 ATM: Depth pressure of 50 meters (164 feet). Limited submersion in water, like when swimming in a pool.
- 10 ATM: Depth pressure of 100 meters (328 feet). Extended submersion in water, like for snorkeling in the ocean.
- 20 ATM: Depth pressure of 200 meters (656 feet). High-impact water sports like surfing and jet skiing.
MIL-STD-810G rugged ratings
The most commonstandard for rugged devices is MIL-STD-810G, an overarching classification with many durability subcategories, like protection against drops and impact. This standard relies on a battery of tests that simulate environmental conditions like shock and vibration. For example, the MIL-STD-810Gs shock test requires 26 drops across five devices onto 2 inches of plywood over concrete. While product manufacturers must meet those specifications to sell to the military, consumer products like smartwatches can tailor or abbreviate the tests they perform. For non-military purposes, the standard describes 28 variable tests that engineers and designers can tailor and select to generate the most relevant test data possible.Here are just a few examples.
- 500.5: Low-pressure altitude
- 501.5: High temperature
- 502.5: Low temperature
- 503.5: Temperature shock
- 506.5: Rain
- 507.5: Humidity
- 510.5: Sand and dust
- 512.5: Immersion
- 514.6: Vibration
- 516.6: Shock
Apple Watch
Apple gives a specific lowdown on the water resistance features of all of its watch models. The first-generation Apple Watch had a water resistance rating of IPX7 under IEC standard 60529. Apple Watch Series 2and later have a water resistance rating of 50 meters under ISO standard 22810:2010.
Classic Buckle, Leather Loop, Modern Buckle, Milanese, and Link Bracelet Bands are not water-resistant. You can wear your watch while exercising, washing your hands, or walking in the rain. Series 2 or later is OK for shallow water swimming in a pool or ocean, but not for scuba diving, water skiing, or other activities involving high-velocity water or deep submersion. If it touches anything thats not fresh water, Apple says the watch should be cleaned with fresh water and dried with a lint-free cloth.
Samsung Galaxy Watch
According to Samsung, the Galaxy Watch passed military specification MIL-STD-810G testing against 10 specific conditions, including drops from 4.9 feet, extreme temperatures, dust, shock/vibration, and low pressure/high altitude. The Galaxy Watches are also water-resistant up to 50 meters per ISO standard 22810:2010. They are not intended for scuba diving. Samsung warns buyers to avoid excessive, sudden temperature changes and high-velocity activities. The remedy for watches connecting with anything but fresh water is similar to Apples solution of rinsing in fresh water and drying after use in seawater or chlorinated water.
Garmin
Garmin makes a variety of sports watches with a wide range of specifications. The Descent Mk1 ratings are 10 ATM and Dive (designed to comply with EN13319), which means that you can go scuba diving with this watch. The Garmin Swim 2 is rated 5 ATM, while the Fenix 6S Pro is rated 10 ATM and can measure your underwater wrist-based heart rate. The Vivoactive 4 series has a 5 ATM rating.
Bottom line
Getting the best performance from your smartwatch and keeping it safe in the process means knowing what you intend to use it for and making sure that the product is up to the task. When youre buying a smartwatch, do not rely on ratings or marketing copy, because the meanings of ratings can vary according to what the manufacturer tests and the testing protocols. Instead, go by the manufacturers product guidelines of what kind of immersion the product can withstand.
Assume that any waterproof claim is limited to less than 1 meter (3 feet) unless otherwise stated. Also assume that buttons, ports, and dials cannot be used while the device is exposed to water. In all other instances where you dont know for sure, use your common sense to protect your valuable device, and err on the side of caution. If an activity sounds dangerous to your device, it probably is.
Dont forget about your watch band. Metal or leather in water is a definite no-no, but silicone or nylon sport bands should stand up to water just fine. While manufacturers test under lab conditions, the real world often presents tougher challenges to your smartwatch, and no device will stand up to abuse, regardless of how rugged it is.
