The Ultimate Guide to Fixing a Smartwatch with Microphone Problems

The Ultimate Guide to Fixing TV Aspect Ratio Problems

Having issues with the way pictures display on your TV screen? Seeing annoying black bars on movies or missing edges on images? This likely indicates an incorrect aspect ratio setting on your television.

Not to worry! In this comprehensive guide, I will explain what aspect ratio means, why it is important and walk you step-by-step through how to diagnose and fix any aspect ratio problems on your TV.

What is Aspect Ratio?

The aspect ratio defines the shape and size of an image or screen by the proportional relationship between its width and height.

It is represented as a ratio for example 16:9, 4:3, 21:9 etc. This denotes the width relative to the height.

Some common standard aspect ratios used for TVs are:

• 16:9 The most prevalent widescreen aspect today, with a width of 16 units and height of 9 units. Used for HD and UHD TVs. Offers a cinematic movie experience.
• 4:3 The traditional fullscreen TV aspect ratio, with a width of 4 units and height of 3 units. Was used on older CRT tube televisions and smaller TVs.
• 21:9 An ultrawide or stretched aspect with a width of 21 units and height of 9 units. Provides an immersive panoramic viewing experience.

When the aspect ratio of the content doesnt fit the screen properly, it can cause all kinds of picture and video display issues on your TV.

Importance of Matching Aspect Ratios

Ideally, the content aspect ratio should match the native aspect ratio of your TV screen for proper display without distortion or cropping.

For example, most TV shows and movies are natively filmed in 16:9 widescreen today. So they would look best on a 16:9 HDTV screen, filling the display perfectly edge-to-edge.

If you play 16:9 footage on an older 4:3 TV, it may get cropped or have black bars. Conversely, retro 4:3 content viewed on a modern 16:9 display may look stretched out.

Fixing aspect-related problems comes down to matching the source material and TV display size/shape. Lets look at some common causes behind aspect ratio issues.

Why Do I Have Aspect Ratio Problems on My TV?

Some typical reasons for incorrect picture aspect ratios on television are:

• Your external source device like a BluRay player, game console or cable box is outputting video at a different aspect than your TVs screen, causing a mismatch.
• You have the wrong Picture Size or Display Mode set on your smart TV. E.g. 16:9 show played in zoom mode appears stretched.
• Overscan is causing your TV to crop picture edges and not show the full image area being sent by the source.
• The broadcast or streaming content itself has an incorrect embedded aspect ratio signal compared to the actual video dimensions.

Lets go through some steps to properly diagnose what is causing the aspect ratio issues on your specific TV setup.

How to Troubleshoot Aspect Ratio Problems on a TV

To get to the root of any aspect-related picture issues, we need to isolate where the problem lies. Follow these methodical troubleshooting steps:

1. Check Source Device Aspect Settings

First verify if the external device connected to your TV like a BluRay player, game console, streaming stick etc has its video output configured correctly:

• Consult the settings on the source device if available to confirm the current aspect ratio for video output.
• Match this to your TVs native aspect. For most TVs this would be 16:9.

2. Inspect TVs Picture Size/Mode Settings

Next inspect your TVs own display settings related to aspect ratio:

• Check the current Picture Size or Picture Mode set on your TV. This controls the aspect.
• Try changing modes to see if it fixes the issue. E.g. 16:9, Zoom, Stretch, Original etc.

3. Test Different Sources and Content

To isolate if the problem is specific to one source or input:

• Try your external source device on different ports like HDMI 1, HDMI 2 etc.
• View content from alternate sources like built-in Smart TV apps, antenna/cable channels.
• Check if the aspect issue appears on multiple sources or just one.

This will reveal if the aspect ratio discrepancy is due to the source/input or some global TV setting.

Adjusting Aspect Ratio Settings on a Smart TV

Modern smart TVs provide picture size/mode options to change the aspect ratio as needed for proper content display. Heres how to access these settings on some popular brands:

Samsung Smart TV

Go to Menu > Picture > Picture Size and select from options like:

• 16:9 Standard Best for modern widescreen content
• Custom Manually adjust aspect
• 4:3 For 4:3 material, avoids stretching

LG Smart TV

In the Settings menu, go to the Aspect Ratio section. Adjust the slider to choose from modes such as:

• Original Unscaled output, preserves source aspect
• 4:3 Crops 16:9 to 4:3 by adding black bars
• 16:9 Stretches 4:3 to widescreen 16:9 if needed

Sony Smart TV

Navigate to Settings > Display > Aspect Ratio and Screen. Pick from choices like:

• Full Enlarges the picture to fill the screen
• Normal Displays based on incoming content aspect
• Wide Zoom Expands 4:3 to fill 16:9 screen

Vizio Smart TV

Press Menu > System > Aspect Ratio. Select your desired mode:

• Normal Unscaled original aspect
• Wide Stretches 4:3 content to 16:9 aspect
• Zoom Magnifies picture without distortion

Keep adjusting the Picture Size/Aspect Ratio settings until your content displays correctly without black bars or cropping.

Adjusting External Source Devices and TV Inputs

For aspect ratio issues due to source devices like DVD players, PCs and game consoles, you will need to configure both the source and TV input carefully.

Match Aspect Ratios

• Set the source device video output aspect to match the native aspect ratio of your TV screen (usually 16:9).

Enable Just Scan or 1:1 Pixel Mapping Mode

• Eliminates overscan on the TV input for full edge-to-edge image display.
• May be labeled differently on some TVs Dot by Dot, 1:1 Pixel Mode etc.

Use HDMI ARC/eARC for Automatic Aspect Handling

• ARC/eARC ports can communicate aspect ratios between connected devices, auto-correcting mismatches.
• Requires compatible HDMI cables and port connections.

Digging Into Overscan and How to Fix It

Overscan is a major cause of aspect ratio issues on TVs. Lets take a deeper look at what it means and how to fix it:

What is Overscan?

• Refers to a TV displaying a cropped image that cuts off the outer edges of the video signal.
• Results from older analog signaling practices that assumed edges were not important.
• Still persists on some TVs due to continued use of these older standards.

Overscan Measurement

• Amount of overscan is measured in percentage of image that is cropped.
• E.g. 5% overscan on a 19201080 signal would cut off 96 pixels (5% of 1080) from top and bottom.

How to Fix Overscan

• Enable Just Scan or Dot by Dot modes on TV input to show full signal.
• Adjust display areas on source device output to reduce size if needed.
• Change to different HDMI input on TV if one port has issues.

With overscan fixed, you can correctly view the full picture at the intended aspect ratio.

Specific Aspect Ratio Issues and Solutions

Here are some common aspect-related picture problems and tips to resolve them:

Black Bars Appear on Movies

• Set Picture Size to 16:9 expanded/zoom mode to minimize black bars.
• Match BluRay player output to 16:9 TV native aspect.
• Use HDMI cables/ports supporting ARC for automatic switching.

Images Look Stretched or Distorted

• Change Picture Mode to Original or 4:3 to avoid stretching.
• Adapt source device to output at TVs native aspect.
• Turn off any zoom or wide filters on TV.

Picture Edges Cut Off

• Eliminate overscan on TV using Just Scan mode.
• Adjust source device scan/display area for full image.
• Try different HDMI input ports in case one is cropping.

Gaming Looks Squished

• Match console resolution to native TV resolution.
• Enable widescreen mode in the game display settings.

Recommended Aspect Ratios for Different Uses

Here are the ideal display settings for various TV usage scenarios:

Conclusion

I hope this detailed guide gives you a good understanding of aspect ratios, causes for aspect-related issues and how to troubleshoot problems on any TV. The key principles are:

• Match content source aspect ratio to native TV aspect
• Adjust Picture Size/Mode settings appropriately
• Eliminate overscan for full image display
• Use proper cables/ports supporting ARC/eARC

Applying these tips systematically should help resolve any aspect ratio problems you face on your Samsung, Sony, LG, Vizio or other television models. Feel free to reach out if you need any help getting that perfect picture!

Related

10 Best Smartwatches With Speaker & Mic in 2023

A smartwatch with a speaker and microphone can mainly perform three functions:

1. It can make calls and send voice notes.
2. You can use a voice assistant on these. (Google, Alexa, SIRI, and Bixby)
3. These watches can stream music.

The first two features are very handy. The third seems good in theory, but the speakers on most smartwatches sound so bad that most people prefer not to have this horrible experience.

Anyways, smartwatches with a speaker and microphone are few and far between. As we make a living by smartwatch reviews and testing, it was quite easy to make a list of them. We hope that this exhaustive post would help you find a suitable smartwatch for your needs.

There is a brief buying guide below to help you think outside of these two specs. Choosing a smartwatch only because it has a speaker and microphone is not what we recommend, especially if you intend to invest more than $200.

Disclaimer: If you buy through affiliate links on this article, we may earn a commission without any additional cost to you.

10 Top Smartwatches with Speaker and Mic in 2023

All the smartwatches in this pick offer a smooth experience. As you read the reviews, keep in mind that all the smartwatches are not equal, some are better than others, way better. However, as far as the speaker and microphone are concerned all these watches are up to the task.

Best For iOS:

Key Features & Specs:

• eSIM: Yes
• Size: 44mm Version
• Weight: 47.1 g (1.66 oz)
• OS: watchOS 7.0, upgradable to 7.1
• Display: Sapphire crystal glass | 448 x 368 pixels (~326 PPI density) | 1.78 inches, 10.0 cm2 (~60.0% screen-to-body ratio) | Retina LTPO OLED, 1000 nits (peak)
• Always-on Display: Yes
• Storage & Memory: 32 GB and 1 GB
• Battery Life: Up to 18 h (mixed usage)
• GPS: Yes, with A-GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS
• NFC: Yes, Apple Pay (Coverage: 41 countries worldwide)
• Water Resistance: 50m water resistant
• Voice Assistant: Yes, Siri
• Fall Detection: Yes
• Sensors: Blood oxygen sensor, Electrical heart sensor, Third-generation optical heart sensor, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Ambient light sensor

Apple Watch Series 6 is the latest watch by the company and it works only with iPhone devices. Apple hasnt budged on its time-old policy of a closed ecosystem. This works only with iPhone: the old ones and the new ones, from iPhone 6, 6S to iPhone 12, 12 Pro.

The watch has a speaker and microphone and so does its predecessor, Apple Watch 5. So if you are on a budget, and dont need advanced features like a SpO2 sensor and Always-on altimeter or an extra-bright always-on display, you can choose the latter.

What good a speaker and microphone can do, if the watch doesnt have cellular connectivity? iPhone has two versions. Go with the LTE model if you want to get the best out of the watch.

For those who dont know, even the LTE Apple Watch needs an iPhone to set up. But in Apple Watch Series 6, you can use one phone to set up more than one watch for your family members who dont have an iPhone or any smartphone for that matter.

For instance, you want your parents or kids to have the Apple Watch for their safety: the smartwatch has an emergency call feature, a fall detection sensor that activates it, an onboard GPS that is pretty accurate, and it is one of the few FDA approved ECG watches around.

If you dont want to invest $100 extra in the LTE version, the WiFi version has a pleasant surprise for you. This is the only Apple watch that supports the 5 GHz radio band. In laymans terms, it means fast speed and seamless experience when browsing or streaming on your Apple Watch.

Siri, the voice assistant on the Apple Watch, is the best of the best. It is the fastest most reliable voice assistant you get in a smartwatch.

Pros

• Extra bright Always-on display
• Snappy Voice Assistant (SIRI)
• Highly accurate Optical heart rate tracker
• Excellent Design

Cons

• Expensive
• Poor battery performance

Why should you buy it?

If you own an iPhone, buy an Apple watch for the best compatibility, no matter what is the watch model. You buy Apple Watch Series 6 not for its speaker and microphone, but its jaw-dropping display, powerful features, and health benefits.

One of the few smartwatches that balance health or fitness features with smartwatch features.

Best WearOS Watch With Speaker And Microphone:

Features and specs:

• eSIM:No
• Size:45 mm Version
• Weight:100 g (3.52 oz)
• OS:Wear OS by Google
• Display:1.28 AMOLED / 416 x 416 / 328ppi /
• Always-on Display:Yes
• Storage & Memory: 1GB , 8GB
• Processor:Snapdragon Wear 3100
• Battery Life:Up to 18 hours
• GPS:Yes
• NFC:Yes (Google Pay)
• Water Resistance:3 ATM
• Voice Assistant:Yes (Google Assistant)
• Speaker and Microphone: Yes
• Connectivity:Wifi, Bluetooth, LTE
• Sensors: Accelerometer, Altimeter, Ambient Light, Compass, Gyroscope, Off-body IR, PPG heart rate, GPS

Review:

Fossil Gen 5, the fashion-focused smartwatch, has an LTE version too, released at the start of this year. The Flagship model is popular among fans for reasons other than the hardware. It has absolutely nothing to do with the speaker and microphone pair though it has both.

Fossil Gen 5 can be paired with both Android and IOS smartphones, though you might not be able to respond to messages or calls when pairing this device with an iPhone. It is one of the best watches to pair with Google Pixel Phones.

The watch has a crisp AMOLED display, not better than Apple Watch Series 6, and yet better than most. The casing size is large, though the display is small. No matter if you are indoors or outdoors, the always-on display is bright enough to view in all conditions.

It runs WEAR OS (previously known as Andriod Wear). Like WatchOS, it has thousands of third-party apps to choose from, but in speed and overall performance, it doesnt even come close. For your information, Apples WatchOS is the gold standard of the wearable operating system.

The watch has a voice assistant: Google Assistant. It has Google maps and an inbuilt GPS to navigate. Other popular features include the Messenger app, Spotify support, Google fit, and Google pay. You can make calls and send the text on the watch but there is one limitation. Your phone needs to be connected to the internet, the watch to a trusted network, even when they are not

The battery life of the watch is the chunk in the armor. In nearly all WearOS devices, except for Mobvois Ticwatch, battery performance is as bad as you get in the Apple Devices. To compensate for it, Fossil has many modes to conserver battery life. But in the long run, none of them works.

Pros

• Value for the money
• Can call and send messages over Wifi
• Has Google Assistant and Google Pay
• Crisp Display

Cons

• Poor battery Performance
• Limited fitness features

Best Battery Life:

Features and specs:

• eSIM:Yes
• Size:45 mm
• OS:Wear OS
• RAM & Storage:1Gb & 4 GB
• Processor:Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 4100 Platform.
• Display:1.4 Retina AMOLED (454 x 454)
• Always on Display:Yes
• Speaker and Mic: Yes
• Battery:3 days
• Weight: 42.3 Oz
• Water and dust Resistance: 10 ATM (up to 100m)
• Voice Assistant:Yes, (Google Assistant)
• NFC:Yes (Google Pay)
• Color:Shadow Black
• Strap Material:silicone (Other bands are also available)
• Connectivity:Bluetooth and GPS, 4G LTE
• Sensors: PPG heart rate sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, e-compass, ambient light sensor, low latency off-body sensor

Review:

Ticwatch Pro 4G packs the most powerful processor by Qualcomm for wearable devices, Snapdragon Wear 4100. The watch has cellular connectivity as a better alternative to WiFi, and unlike other WearOS devices, lasts for 3 days with mixed usage.

Like Fossil Gen 5, it has all the bells and whistles of Googles WearOS. You get Spotify to stream music online or download for offline experience, Google Assitant as a powerful voice command tool, and Messenger App to timely respond to messages on Facebook.

The speaker in this Ticwatch is not as impressive as that in Apple Watch. The microphone is reliable though. You can pick calls right on the wrist and can make calls even when is your phone miles away. But for not, the cellular connectivity is exclusive to Verizon.

Being an affordable alternative to Apple Watch for both Android and IOS devices, the watch does make several tradeoffs. The most obvious is the build quality. Instead of using metallic casing through and through, the watch has a mixture of the metallic bezel and plastic casing. Like Fossil Gen 5, it is water resistance for up to 5m.

Ticwatch Pro 4G comes with a promise of 3 days battery life, and surprisingly enough, even while running WearOS, it manages to deliver on it. Except for, when you use all power-hungry features like 4G, GPS, and high-brightness display at once. A balanced approach would get you the magic number, 3 days. An extremely cautious approach, using the watch on basic mode, can get you 35 days.

Pros

• Fast processor
• Dual Screen Technology
• Value for money
• Battery Performance is up to the mark

Cons

Why should you buy this watch?

Ticwatch Pro 4G is an affordable alternative to Galaxy Watch 3 and Apple Watch for Android users. It runs the most powerful processor and the WearOS by Google. You would have access to thousands of third-party apps to customize the smartwatch. Plus, you would have practical features like Google Assistant, Google Pay, Google Fit, on-board GPS right on the wrist.

Features and Specs:

• eSIM:Yes
• Size:44 mm
• Weight:42 g (1.48 oz)
• OS:Tizen by Samsung
• Display:1.4 AMOLED / 360 x 360 / 328ppi
• Always-on Display: Yes
• Processor: Exynos 9110
• Storage & Memory: 4GB , 1.5 GB
• Battery Life:20-50 hours
• GPS:Yes with A-GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
• NFC:Yes (Samsung Pay)
• Speaker and Microphone: Yes
• Voice Assistant:Yes, Bixby
• Water Resistance:5 ATM IP68 + Military Grade 8100
• Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wifi, 4G LTE
• Sensors:Heart rate, Electrocardiogram, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Barometer, Ambient light, altimeter

Review:

Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 offers features that are beyond its price tag. It is hands down the best alternative for Apple Watch for Android Users, and certainly the most affordable one. But, it is also compatible with the iphone running iOS 9.0 or above.

There is a long list of features, and we will discuss them one by one.

The watch has a relatively thin profile than other Samsung watches. And yet it manages to fit inside a speaker and microphone, 4 GB storage, 1.5 GB RAM, and a fast processor. Apart from that, it has NFC for contactless payments and onboard GPS for seamless position tracking while you are out running or biking.

Active 2 has three options for connectivity. Bluetooth 5 and Wifi 802.11 b/g/n to use it as a cell phone accessory and 4G LTE that makes it a standalone device for calling and texting. Bluetooth connectivity offers battery economy, LTE drains battery no other features can match.

The voice assistant, Bixby, needs to be updated as it is slow and has limited functionality. At least in the Voice Assistant feature, Ticwatch Pro 4G has an upper hand over this watch.

The watch runs Tizen OS. For those who have never heard about it, TizenOS is the proprietary OS by Samsung for its wearable devices, and it is fully compatible with Android. In terms of speed, it is faster than WearOS in Android Watches and slower than WatchOS in Apple devices.

However, there is one major drawback of TizenOS. It doesnt have as many apps as the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, The watch has built-in apps such as Spotify, Strava, MapMyRun, MyFitnessPal, and Endomondo.

As a great plus, the watch has advanced health sensors like Electrocardiogram and heart rate sensor. Other sensors include Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Barometer, and Ambient Light.

1.39-inch super AMOLED display is its highlight feature. Unlike other Galaxy watches, you get a touch rotating bezel for easy navigation as well as two physical buttons on the left side. The display is brighter and crisp and easy to read in outdoor conditions.

We picked the 44mm size watch for you, suitable for the average wrist size. But for those looking for a slim and small watch, a 40 mm watch is also to avail. The band is replaceable, and it comes with a leather strap as standard. It is available in more than three colors.

Always-on display and LTE would drain battery life much faster than other features, however with mixed.

Pros

• FDA approved ECG
• Crisp, bright display
• Offline music and Spotify support
• Affordable

Cons

• Voice assistant, Bixby, is slower

Why should you buy this watch?

One of the few FDA-approved ECG watches, Samsung Galaxy Active 2 is the best alternative to or Apple Watch Series 6. It costs nearly half the price and yet has all the powerful features.

Other than the price and health features, this watch has the best speaker-microphone pair, the features that get you here in the first place. You can call and send voice notes even without pairing them with earphones, and also without a smartphone around.

Features and Specs:

• eSIM:Yes
• Size:45 mm
• Weight:53.8 g (1.9 oz)
• OS:Tizen by Samsung
• Display:1.4 AMOLED / 360 x 360 / 328ppi
• Always-on Display:Yes
• Processor: Exynos 9110
• Storage & Memory:8GB , 1 GB
• Battery Life:20-50 hours
• GPS:Yes with A-GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
• NFC:Yes
• Speaker and Microphone: Yes
• Voice Assistant:Yes, Bixby
• Water Resistance:5 ATM IP68 + Military Grade 8100
• Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wifi, 4G LTE
• Sensors:Heart rate, Electrocardiogram, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Barometer, Ambient light, altimeter, SpO2

Review:

Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 is the Latest watch by the company and the most expensive one too. In terms of features, it offers only one or two more than Samsung Galaxy Active 2.

In design, Samsung has reverted to its classic Galaxy watch design. It has large buttons and a physically rotating bezel and that makes the watch appear bulky. Unlike, Active 2 it comes with elegant, leather-like bands. You can replace the band with a convenient quick-release mechanism.

The Galaxy Watch 3 bears the latest iteration of Samsungs Tizen OS on the software front. It runs smoothly but the difference is imperceptible when compared to Active 2. However, the watch has doubled the storage from 4GB to 8GB. Those who appreciate offline Spotify playback would find this update irresistible.

Also, the Galaxy Watch 3 has a large battery, thanks mainly to a larger overall size of the watch: 45 mm. It lasts longer than Active 2, and mark the scale at 3 days with mixed usage.

Like Active 2, it can call and take voice commands, thanks mainly to a built-in speaker and microphone. The latter two offer refined audio quality.

Pros

• 8 GB storage
• Compatible with both IOS and Android
• Battery performance.
• Standalone Smartwatch

Cons

Why should you buy this watch?

If you are on a budget or looking for an affordable yet practical smartwatch that strikes a balance of being a handy piece of tech and a fashion-forward wrist accessory, pick the Samsung galaxy to watch Active 2. Otherwise, Galaxy Watch 3 is a better alternative.

• eSIM:No
• Size:40.5 mm Version
• Weight:50 g (1.7 oz)
• OS:Fitbit OS
• Display:1.58-inch display AMOLED / 336 x 336 /1000nit
• Always-on Display:Yes
• Storage: 4GB
• Processor:N/A
• Battery Life:Up to 6 days (Smartwatch Mode)
• GPS:Yes, Plus GLONASS
• NFC:Yes (Fitbit Pay)
• Water Resistance:5 ATM
• Speaker and Microphone: Yes
• Voice Assistant: (Google Assistant and Alexa)
• Connectivity:Bluetooth, Wifi
• Sensors: Electrical sensors compatible with ECG & EDA app, Skin temperature sensor, optical heart rate sensor, Gyroscope, Altimeter, 3-axis accelerometer, Ambient light sensor, Vibration motor

Review:

Fitbit Sense is the most expensive watch by Fitbit, and in features it is similar to its predecessor Fitbit Versa 3. The only major improvements are features like ECG and blood oxygen sensor. If we compare the Apple Watch Series 6 with Fitbit Sense, we would find an erringly similar list of sensors. However, Fitbit Sense is inexpensive in comparison.

The smartwatch packs a1.58-inch AMOLED screen with always-on display feature. The overall design is similar to the Versa, except with a stainless steel edge around the square watch face instead of aluminum. Also, the watch is litter thicker. The watch is stylish and has a solid build quality. 5 ATM rated, it is suitable for open water swimming.

Fitbit recently received FDA clearance for its ECG sensor in the US and its now available for use in the US and US territories, Canada, New Zealand, some European countries and Hong Kong. Apart with that, it tracks stress with its unique EDA sensor, sleep and heart rate.

Also, it tracks SpO2 or blood oxygen readings and even body temperature, but not on-demand as in Samsung Galaxy Watches. Rather, you would have to select a specific SpO2 watch face before you go to bed. The sleep tracking is done in the same way, it gives you a detailed breakdown on your stages of sleep and a sleep score each morning.

Fitbit is leading the evolution of smartwatches from a smartphone accessory to a health device. Already at this point, it is better than Apple and Samsung when it comes to a holistic health tracking.

As a smartwatch, it has little to offer. It has 4 GB storage for offline music playback, a speaker and microphone pair for Bluetooth calling, and Fitbit Pay for contactless payments on the go.

Pros

• FDA-approved ECG sensor
• Long Battery Life
• Comprehensive Health Features

Cons

• Limited Third-party support

Why should you buy it?

Fitbit Sense is the most up-to-date health watch by the company that is compatible with both Android and iOS. Along with Apple and Samsung, Fitbit has FDA clearance for its ECG sensor.

Being a health watch, it packs other fitness sensors like skin temperature sensor, optical heart rate sensor, Gyroscope, Altimeter, 3-axis accelerometer, Ambient light sensor, and Vibration motor.

So if you are looking for an affordable Fitness-focused smartwatch, of course, that has a speaker and microphone, Fitbit Sense is hands down the right choice.

• eSIM:No
• Compatibility:Android, iOS
• Size:44 mm
• Weight:100 g (3.52 oz)
• OS:Wear OS by Google
• Display:1.28 AMOLED / 390 x 390 / 328 ppi
• Always-on Display:Yes
• Storage & Memory: 1GB , 8GB
• Processor:Snapdragon Wear 3100
• Battery Life:Up to 20 hours
• GPS:Yes
• NFC:Yes (Google Pay)
• Water Resistance:3 ATM
• Voice Assistant:Yes (Google Assistant)
• Speaker and Microphone: Yes
• Connectivity:Wifi, Bluetooth
• Sensors: Accelerometer, Altimeter, Ambient Light, Compass, Gyroscope, Off-body IR, PPG heart rate, GPS

Review:

Emporio Armani Smartwatch 3 is almost identical to Fossil Gen 5 except for the design and a hefty price tag. Armani along with Puma and Diesel have released smartwatches in the past couple of years under Fossil Umbrella, so no wonder that their features overlap.

This watch is quite expensive and if you are not a diehard fan of the brand, there is little reason to skip Fossil Gen 5 and Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 for this one.

Aluminum casing and silicone strap, the watch is light in weight and stylish. You can replace the straps. The watch is fairly thick at 12mm with a chunky 44.5 mm casing thats big enough to easily glance at.

There is a tiny logo on the crown and another one on the back, but you cant make a show of it given that they are subtle. The watch sizing and overall design makes it more suitable for large and thick wrists.

Just like Fossil Gen 5, the watch has a 1.28-inch AMOLED display. But it offers lower 390 x 390 resolution with 328 pixels-per-inch. The display is crisp and sharp with plenty of watch faces to choose from.

Unlike the previous generation, this watch has a speaker and microphone. You can call right from your wrist given you are connected to your phone via Bluetooth. Also, the speaker is very useful for those who enjoy exercise read-outs or Google Assistant responses. This smartwatch has Wi-Fi connectivity too.

Other smartwatch features include Google Pay, Spotify Music, Starva and so on. The smartwatch is pretty mediocre when it comes to health and fitness tracking as it doesnt have advanced features and is overpriced for those it is offering. The watch has a GPS and heart rate sensor onboard, can track steps and heartrate but nothing more than that. The Google Fit app is way behind in competition when compared to Apple and Fitbit watch smartphone apps.

Pros

• Premium Design
• Google Pay, Google Assistant
• Stylish Watch
• AMOLED display with Always-on mode

Cons

Why should you buy this watch?

This fashion-focused watch is for brand-loyal fans for which only the fact that it is an Emporio Armani Smartwatch is enough. This overpriced watch runs WearOS and is similar in functions to Fossil Gen 5.

It wont come anywhere near Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 or Apple Watch Series 5 in performance and features even if it demands top dollars from users.

Features and specs:

• eSIM:Yes
• Size:49 mm
• Weight:63 g
• OS:Tizen by Samsung
• Display:1.3 AMOLED / 360 x 360 / 278ppi
• Always-on Display:Yes
• Processor: Exynos 7 Dual 7270
• Storage & Memory:4GB , 768 MB
• Battery Life:20-50 hours
• GPS:Yes with GLONASS
• NFC:Yes
• Speaker and Microphone: Yes
• Voice Assistant:Yes, Bixby
• Water Resistance:5 ATM IP68
• Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wifi,
• Sensors:Accelerometer, gyro, heart rate, barometer

Review:

Samsung Gear S3 would only be available as refurbished on ecommerce store as the watch itself is discontinued by the company. However, you can get frontier edition available on the Samsung store.

Gear S3 is a big (read really big) watch with somewhat chunky design. It is suitable for large or thick wrist, circumference greater than 9-inch and so dont have a universal appeal. However, if you have a thing for big, flashy smartwatch this Gear S3 is just the right watch for you.

Other than the large display, this smartwatch make contactless payment via Samsung Pay, has built-in GPS and GLONASS for standalone position tracking and even have LTE connectivity to make calls without phone.

Gear S3 itself is not a rugged watch though its frontier edition is. The watch is resistant to sweat and rain but you cannot swim with the watch. However, the watch is dust-proof. The frontier edition is not only resistant for up to 50m, it is approved by military standards for rugged performance.

The smartwatch has a speaker and microphone, and as we mentioned earlier it can make calls. Other than that, you get a voice assistant to control your IoT devices.

The drawback with Samsung watches is the companys self-developed TizenOS. It has limited third-party app support to make use of its solid hardware. The problem is consistent with all Samsung smartwatches. Also, the OS lacks a few key features when it is connected to an iOS device. Samsung needs to capture a wide audience of developers to get its OS going.

The smartwatch allows you to stream music on Spotify, but you cannot download it for offline music playback. Also, streaming music and calling features would deplete the battery very fast (it would hardly last 2 hours). The battery performance is solid if you use it cautiously.

Pros

• Suitable for large wrists.
• Cellular connectivity and Contactless payment
• Solid Display

Cons

• Limited third-party apps
• Chunky design

Why Should You Buy This Smartwatch?

The watch is suitable for large/ thick wrists. The health features are limited and even though it has solid hardware, the software limitation is one of the major drawbacks.

Features and Specs:

• eSIM:No (nano-sim)
• Size:48.9 x 45 x 12.6 mm
• OS:Wear OS
• RAM & Storage:768MB & 4 GB
• Processor: Snapdragon Wear 2100
• Display: 1.2-inch AMOLED Touch | 390 x 390 pixels | 326 ppi
• Speaker and Mic: Yes
• Battery:24-48 hours
• Weight: 57 g (2.01 oz)
• Water and dust Resistance: IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins)
• Voice Assistant:Yes, (Google Assistant)
• NFC:Yes (Google Pay)
• GPS: Yes with GLONASS
• Connectivity:Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, LTE
• Sensors: Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Heart Rate, Barometer, and Compass.

Review:

Huawei watch 2 is an old watch with features relevant till today. Like Gear S3 it is a bulky watch with chunky casing that contributes to its formidable look. However, the watch is unsuitable for small or slender wrists.

Latest Huawei watches runs it proprietary OS, but not the Watch 2. This one runs the WearOS and unlike other Android Watches, it has pretty solid battery performance. Thanks mainly to its large battery and tweaks in the software, Huawei watch 2 can last for more than 2 days with mixed usage.

The design really disappoints when compared to latest smartwatches, and even if we compare it with the contemporary smartwatches. The cheap plastic casing with a use-less metallic bezel coupled with its rubber strap makes the smartwatch unimpressive in overall style. The small screen and chunkier build further dissuade some users to pick this watch.

The watch has a quality speaker and microphone, the sound quality is nowhere near the Apple watch which we discussed above. But the Huawei watch 2 has affordable price tag as its major highlight.

Rather than the latest eSIM technology on modern watches, this smartwatch requires a physical sim inserted into the watch to make use of 4G connectivity. But it drains the battery like a hungry shark devouring its prey.

Alternatively, you can stay connected via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. You can stream music on the watch and even store it for offline music playback. It has 768 MB memory to allow you to run multiple apps without hiccups and 4 GB storage to store audio files and apps on the watch.

There are two editions: Sports and Classic. We are here reviewing the former (sports). It has a 1.2-inch AMOLED display a screen resolution of 390390 pixels, and a pixel density of 326 PPI. More items can easily fit on screen. Unfortunately, it doesnt have an always-on display mode. The watch is protected through a Corning Gorilla Glass. It is IP 68 rated which means that it is waterproof up to 1.5 meters for only 30 minutes.

Pros

• Feature-packed smartwatch
• Affordable
• Light-weight and comfortable

Cons

• So-so design
• Water-resistance is below average (not suitable for swimming)
• Chunky design.

Why should you buy it?

The reason is quite simple: you are looking for an affordable watch, and dont care any less about its design, but are keen on practical features. Huawei Watch 2 is an old smartwatch with features relevant to the day.

The company has discontinued the smartwatch and you would find refurbished units on the eCommerce store.

• eSIM:No
• Size:47 mm
• OS:Wear OS
• RAM & Storage:512 MB & 4 GB
• Processor:Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100 Platform.
• Display:1.39 Retina AMOLED (400 x 400)
• Battery:3 days
• Weight: 42.3 Oz
• Water and dust resistance: 5 ATM (up to 50 m)
• Voice Assistant:Yes, (Google Assistant)
• NFC:No
• Strap Material:silicone (Other bands are also available)
• GPS:Yes + GLONASS + Beidou
• Connectivity:Bluetooth, Wi-Fi,
• Sensors:Accelerometer, gyroscope, heart-rate sensor, low latency off-body sensor

Review:

Ticwatch E2 is a practical watch that may not be the most powerful Wear OS watch around, but it would get the job done. This watch is dirt cheap when compared to other watches on this list, and yet it features all the practical features plus a speaker and a microphone.

The speaker-microphone combo can be used to take calls on the watch, interact with Google Assistant and for listening to music or voice notes. However, keep in mind the smartwatch speakers, and by that mean all smartwatches, are not as good as that of phone due to design limitation. So dont set your bars too high.

With Wear OS on board, you get access to some of the most popular apps like Strava, Spotify, Messenger, Google play music, Messenger, Dexcom, Google maps. It also has Google Assistant for voice commands. I kid you not; it works smoothly though not as fast as Siri on the Apple watch.

Wi-Fi Connection makes it easy to transfer data between the watch and wearable device, and also takes you one step closer to a standalone experience.

Ticwatchs two limitations for any meaningful use of Wifi is its slow, outdated processor: Snapdragon Wear 2100. Plus, The small RAM and Storage capacity. But dont get me wrong, it is still enough for run-of-the-mill chores.

You can get important notifications on the watch when your phone is out of Bluetooth range and can control IoT devices over the Wi-Fi connection.

Another highlight feature of the watch is its water resistance. 5 ATM rated this watch is suitable for open water swimming in pools and is completely dust proof. You can replace the straps while swimming with breathable or nylon straps for lasting performance. The watch is comfortable to wear.

Also, the watch has a super crisp display and a large screen size. Its 1.39 Retina AMOLED screen offers 400 x 400 resolution which is pretty extraordinary for a cheap watch like Ticwatch E2.

Pros

• Dirt Cheap
• Crisp display
• Googles Wear OS and its bells and whistles
• Suitable for swimming
• Can take calls

Cons

• Slow processor
• Limited health features

Why should you buy this smartwatch?

Ticwatch E2 is the cheapest smartwatch with a speaker and microphone. But more than that, it offers a range of practical features like Google Assistant, calling and texting over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and Spotify support.

It might be laggard in performance due mainly to its old processor and WearOS, but even that is acceptable when you dont have to pay more than $150 for a watch.

Buying Guide:

There is an ultimate smartwatch buying guide for first-timers. We have tried to cover the basics here for people who are in rush.

Operating System:

Apart from Apple watches, which have WatchOS, all other watches are compatible with both Android and IOS devices. However, you may encounter compatibility issues with iPhones.

Also, other than Apple watches, you may have to sacrifice one or more features while pairing a smartwatch with iPhone.

Unlike smartphones which have IOS and Android as only two options for users, smartwatches run a myriad of platforms. Samsung Watches have Tizen; Apple watches have Watch OS; Fitbit, Garmin, and Suunto have their own proprietary OS, and another creed runs Wear OS (previously known as Andriod OS)

WatchOS is the snappiest of all, whereas WearOS is notoriously slow.

Budget:

Dont buy an expensive watch if you get all your prefered features in an affordable one. The best watch for you needs not to be the most expensive in the market.

But as you are looking for a smartwatch with a speaker and microphone (presumably to make calls and use voice assistant), you will have to set aside at least $200 for it. Surely, there are cheaper watches in the market but they make trade offs here and there, and dont have, what we call balanced set of features.

To illustrate this, lets say you buy a $100 watch with a speaker and microphone. What if the watch dont have enough storage to save your important memo or enough battery life to last through the day.

Build Quality:

Of course, buying online you wont be able to assess the build quality of the smartwatch. You will have to rely on the experience of others.

As a standard, you get silicone band with each watch, but most of the watches allows you to replace it with something more premium, like a leather or metallic strap.

In case of casing, the watch would either be metallic or plastic and in most cases a combination of both. Plastic watches tends to be on the affordable side of spectrum, where as metallic watches on the expensive side.

Metallic watches are rugged and longlasting, but they might be a little heavy and chunky in design.

Display:

Retina OLED display of Apple watch is Gold standard of smartwatch screen. AMOLED display also offers the best resolution and contrast ratio. LCD screen technology is what you would find in only cheap or practical watches. (for instance, multisports and outdoor gps watches made by Garmin and Suunto)

Other than screen technology, you must take account of the screen brightness and resolution. The higher the resolution the more crisp would be the display and the capability to fit more items on screen.

Standard smartwatches have display size ranging from 1.2-1.6-inches. You would have to make this decision in accordance with your wrist size.

Battery life & Charging:

Dont buy an Apple watches if you need a smartwatch that could last more than 15 hours. Obviously, if the watch has a speaker and microphone, you would spend more time making calls, sending voice memos or using voice assistant.

You would need WiFi or cellular connectivity for it, and they would drain watchs battery life like hell. Plus, if the watch has AMOLED display, it would obviously add a further strain on battey.

Buy a large watch, it would have a large battery and therefore a decent battery performance. Conversaly, if you have slender wrist, you should chose a watch that has a different battery modes and a superior battery technology.

Water Resistance:

Having to take off your watch each time you take a shower, or get into a pool, would be a pain in the neck. You should consider a smartwatch that is water resistance for up to 5m in water, so you can swim or take bath without having to remove it frequently.

Usually smartwatches come with IP or ATM rating. Pay close attention to it. Make sure that the watch fullfil the bare minium of water resistance. (ATM 5 or IP68)

Cellular connectivity, Contactless Payment & GPS:

Cellular smartwatches are expensive buy they would provide you a true standalone experience. You can make calls, send text, and email without having your phone around all the time.

If your watch have NFC, it can make contactless payment. Apple Pay has the most wide coverage across different continents, Google and Samsung Pay follow closely.

Alongwith the NFC, a standalone GPS in the smartwatch would allow you to leave your phone at home while you are out for a run.

Fitness & Health Features:

Make sure the smartwatch have a HR sensor, if not more advanced sensors which include FDA approved ECG sensor, SpO2 sensor, and temperature sensors.

Not only the presence of these features, but their accuracy do matter. Also, the smartphone app of the watch should be refined: it should not drain the battery life, have meaningful metrics, and give you detailed insights.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should you prefer a smartwatch with speaker and microphone?

A smartwatch equipped with a microphone and speaker can make calls, set alarms, stream music on apps like Apple Music, Spotify, and has voice assistants, such as Siri, Alexa, Bixby, and Google Assistant, to control IoT devices.

Can you record audio on a smartwatch?

Yes, definitely. But if recording audio or voice memo is what your ultimate need of a smartwatch, you can opt for sleek smartwatches that doesnt have a speaker but a microphone. They also tend to be a more affordable.

Which is the best affordable watch with a microphone and speaker?

Ticwatch E2 is the best affordable smartwatch with a microphone and speaker. It has Google Assistant, Spotify support, storage capacity for audio files and a ton of other exciting features.

How to check audio quality of a smartwatch?

There are three ways you can check the smartwatchs audio quality, but for all these the prerequisite is have a smartwatch.

1. Connect the watch to a Bluetooth speaker to check the quality of microphone.
   1. Or if the watch has both microphone and speaker, record a short audio on the watch and phone at the same time. Play the recorded audio simultaneously, the difference would be obvious.
   2. For those watches which have only a microphone, you can connect the watch with a Bluetooth headsets to check the quality of recorded audio.