What Can a Smartwatch Do?

A few years ago, they were still considered a technical gimmick for geeks, but today you see them on almost every wrist. But if you don't own such a smart companion yet, you might be legitimately wondering: what exactly is a smartwatch and is it really worth buying for me?

In short: a smartwatch is a small computer for your wrist. In most cases, it is connected to your smartphone via Bluetooth. But what can you actually do with a smartwatch once you have it on your wrist? In this article, we take a close look at the most important smartwatch functions, show you what a smartwatch really does better than a phone, and see which SIM card you need for maximum independence.

More Than Just the Time: The Top Smartwatch Functions

A modern smartwatch is your fitness coach, your navigation device, your wallet, and your communication center all in one. Here are the functions that make everyday life much easier:

• Fitness and health tracking: Whether you are training for a marathon or just want to reach your 10,000 steps a day: smartwatches measure your heart rate, track your routes via GPS, count calories, and even monitor your sleep quality. Some models can even record an ECG or measure blood oxygen saturation.
• Notifications on your wrist: WhatsApp messages, emails, or calls: you see everything instantly without having to pull your phone out of your pocket every time. Often you can also reply directly with short preset texts or via voice dictation.
• Contactless payment: Thanks to integrated chips and services like Apple Pay or Google Pay, you can simply hold your watch up to the checkout terminal to pay for your groceries or coffee on the go. No need to search for your wallet or mobile phone.
• Music control: You can control your Spotify or Apple Music playlists directly via your watch, skip songs, or adjust the volume of your Bluetooth headphones.

Which SIM Card Does a Smartwatch Need?

If you want to unlock the full potential of your watch, the choice of connectivity is crucial. There are two types of smartwatches on the market: Bluetooth-only Models (Standard): these watches depend constantly on your smartphone. If you move too far away from the phone, you can no longer receive messages, make calls, or stream music. Cellular Models (LTE/4G/5G): these devices have a built-in eSim. They can connect to the mobile network completely independently of your phone.

Are you wondering if you can use swype with your latest-generation smartwatch? Currently, we primarily support older models (such as those with a classic physical SIM). However, we are already working hard behind the scenes to develop solutions so that you can soon connect even the newest wearables seamlessly with swype!

Call and Stream Independently Without a Smartphone

When your smartwatch is connected directly to the mobile network, you enjoy ultimate freedom. Imagine going for a jog in the summer or heading out to the lake: you can simply leave your heavy smartphone at home and still be reachable by phone in case of emergencies. Furthermore, you can stream music or podcasts directly from the internet via your watch to your Bluetooth headphones, without having to download them beforehand.

The Best Choice: Which Smartwatch Fits Your Lifestyle?

In the end, choosing the perfect watch depends on what you plan to do with it. Are you an outdoor fan or extreme athlete? Then robust models from Garmin or Suunto with long battery life are ideal for you. Are you deeply rooted in the Apple or Google ecosystem and looking for a smart extension of your phone? Then go for the Apple Watch or the Pixel Watch.

Before buying, think carefully about which smartwatch functions are truly important to you and whether you will actually benefit from the extra price of an independent cellular connection (Cellular model). One thing is certain: once you get used to the convenience on your wrist, you usually won't want to live without it in everyday life.

If you have found the perfect watch and are still looking for the right tariff for your associated smartphone, take a look at our flexible offers: during registration you will find the right tariff for every need!