Smartwatches have come a long way since Seiko introduced the first smartwatch Ruputer in 1998 on 10th June. The early models of smartwatches best served as notifiers for smartphones, but the latest versions are as versatile as the latter. Modern-day smartwatches are as smart as smartphones, which implies that you can use the former in place of the second for most purposes.
Nowadays, you can use a smartwatch to good effect for keeping track of fitness goals, enjoying your favorite songs, and even making calls. However, smartwatch technology has not progressed as rapidly as that of smartphones, but you’ll still be able to see remarkable improvements in design, software, features, battery, and much more. The premium smartwatches come equipped with mobile cellular functionality; support Wi-Fi technologies like GPS, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth, and have built-in cameras.
You can also record footages with the smartwatch camera and transfer all your photo and video files to your computer or smartphone.
Read more: Best Rugged Smartwatches
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Best Smart Watch with Camera in 2021: Buying Guide
The best smartwatches come across as real extensions of your smartphone, enabling you to make or receive calls, stream music, surf the net, and so on. A smartwatch that you wrap around your wrist just like a regular wristwatch also comes with a range of inbuilt sensors, including an accelerometer, barometer, and a heart-rate monitor. Most of the built-in sensors in a smartwatch, by and large, come in very handy for keeping track of your fitness or workout objectives.
Sony, Garmin, Samsung, Apple, and Fitbit are the major players in the smartwatch market, controlling over 70% of the market share. While shopping for an appropriate smartwatch, you’ll come across two distinct types –general-purpose or basic smartwatch and specialized smartwatch. You use a general-purpose smartwatch mostly for working in synchronization with your smartphone and hence serve as an extension of the latter.
A specialized smartwatch, as its name indicates, is designed exclusively for serving a particular purpose. For instance, you can use a unique smartwatch for finding your way in and out of a remote location, getting weather updates, and so on. Diving and hiking watches are the best instances of specialized watches, and such smartwatches tend to be extremely hardy and resilient.
Standard features of a Premium Smartwatch
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Apps
The best and the most popular smartwatch brands come preinstalled with a variety of apps. The number of apps that a particular smartwatch model supports invariably depends upon the OS that drives the system. The majority of smartwatches available in the market either run on Apple or the Android (Google) OS.
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Notification updates
Smartwatches keep you updated on events, activities, and important announcements. If you pair your smartphone with a smartwatch, the latter will always notify whatever messages appear on the former.
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Delivering texts and messages
Watch OS or Wear OS-based smartwatches facilitate responding to messages and texts via the application of speech recognition technology.
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Media playback management
Most of the smartwatch brands you’ll find in the market these days allow you to pair them with your smartphone for media playback management. For instance, when you’re enjoying a song or music on your iPod, you can match the device with an Apple Watch for changing the volume or the track.
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GPS
A topnotch smartwatch usually comes with GPS functionality that lets the device pinpoint your exact location while you’re jogging or running.
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Fitness tracker
The bestselling smartwatches invariably come with extremely efficient fitness trackers that keep updating you on your wellness goals. Fitness trackers in smartwatches make the most of built-in sensors such as heart-rate monitor, gyroscope, accelerometer, compass, and barometer that help in monitor your workout program.
A smartwatch’s fitness tracker can also enable you to keep track of everyday routine activities like walking, striding, or pacing up and down staircases. If you’re looking for a smartwatch that features high-level fitness trackers, go for a Fitbit model.
Factors to Keep in Mind before Choosing a Suitable Smartwatch
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Features
It does not need to be emphasized that you’d want to use the smartwatch for some particular purpose or purposes. So make sure the product you’re deciding to buy supports the features that will enable you to accomplish the objectives for which you’d want to use it. For instance, if you’re going to use the smartwatch for achieving your fitness goals, then go for a product that features the appropriate sensors.
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Durability
You’d want to use your smartwatch for the long-term so that you can get the best returns on your investment. A smartwatch constructed from durable materials such as reinforced plastics or alloy metal guarantees that the product will be long-lasting.
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Battery Life
A quality watch usually comes with a heavy-duty battery that allows you to use the watch at least for a day without recharging. That said, you’ll also come across smartwatches that’ll enable you to use them consistently even for a week without a recharge.
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User-friendly
You won’t be able to take advantage of a smartwatch’s features; it is not user-friendly.
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Companionability
Before you purchase a smartwatch of your choice, ensure that it can be paired up with your smartphone or other digital devices.
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Comfortable to wear
If you’re going to wear the smartwatch for hours, ensure that it fits snugly on your wrist and makes you feel comfortable wearing it.
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Waterproof/Water-resistant
Moisture incursion could adversely affect the smooth functioning of the watch in the long run. Hence, see to it that the product you’re about to purchase is waterproof or at least somewhat water-resistant.
Reviewing the Best Smart Watches with Camera in 2021
| Product | Best Feature | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Samsung Gear 2 Neo Smartwatch | - IP67-certified water-resistant and dustproof design - Built-in IR blaster and WatchON features for monitoring your TV without the remote - S Health for tracking fitness goals | 4.8 |
| 2. Padgene DZ09 Bluetooth Smart Watch with Camera | - Broad-spectrum compatibility: Companionable with many Android and iOS phones - Multifunctional smartwatch: Comes equipped with a host of practical features and apps - Dual connectivity mode: Can be paired up with phone via Bluetooth as well as GSM 2G/2.5G SIM card | 4.7 |
| 3. Scinex SW20 16GB Bluetooth Smart Watch GSM Phone | - Hassle-free pairing with Android/iOS smartphone via Bluetooth - Capacitive responsive 1.5" touch-screen - 16GB memory expandable up to 32GB | 4.5 |
| 4. Collasaro Sweatproof Smartwatch Camera with SIM Card | - Equipped with a large number of functionalities - Compatible (without SIM card) with Android phone via Bluetooth for triggering companion mode - Insert the SIM card for use as a smartphone | 4.5 |
| 5. Le Pan Pro Smartwatch | - CNC processed - 350mAh heavy-duty polymer battery - Supports GPS, Wi-Fi, G-sensor, Bluetooth, and other functionalities | 4.3 |
1. Samsung Gear 2 Neo Smartwatch – Best of the Best
If you’re looking for a smartwatch that’ll be an extension of your smartphone, then don’t look beyond the Samsung Gear 2 Neo. This Samsung smartwatch has been designed with meticulous care to suit your preferences and tastes and sync with your lifestyle. You can bet you’ll never lose focus as you can track your fitness, make calls, and receive real-time notifications right from your wrist.
You can always stay trendy by personalizing the lock screen, font, and background of the smartwatch. Make your Gear 2 Neo compatible with Gear Manager for organizing apps, adjusting camera settings, disabling, and enabling features. The 1.6″ super AMOLED display is prominent enough to display emails, texts, messages, and other notifications.
Features
- IP67-certified water-resistant and dustproof design
- Built-in IR blaster and WatchON features for monitoring your TV without the remote
- S Health for tracking fitness goals
- Built-in standalone music player
- Smartwatch can be customized as per your preferences and needs
Pros
- Compatible with a multitude of Samsung Galaxy phones and tabs
- Standalone music player compatible with Bluetooth headphones
- Pedometer, S Health, and heart rate sensor for achieving fitness goals
- Get instant notifications from the phone, apps, and 3rd-party apps
Cons
- Incompatible with most Android and iOS phones (other than Samsung Galaxy)
- Voice recognition feature will not be available if you’re not pairing the watch with a Samsung Galaxy phone
2. Padgene DZ09 Bluetooth Smart Watch with Camera –Best Smartwatch for Selfies
The Padgene DZ09 Bluetooth Smart Watch with Camera surely has to be one of the most versatile smartwatches out there. This smartwatch has a multitude of functional features that you can use to the hilt. For instance, it has a 0.3MP camera with remote control functionality that is ideal for taking selfies.
Additionally, this watch can be synchronized with both Android and iOS smartphones, thus enabling you to make calls, surf the net, read messages, and so on. The smart anti-loss feature guarantees that you’ll never lose touch with your smartphone-the watch vibrates or rings the moment your phone is 10m away. You can keep track of all your workout efforts like swimming, jogging, and running in terms of duration, distance, and calories burnt via app synchronization.
This smartwatch from Padgene is incredibly durable and resilient as it is made of quality acrylic and reinforced glass. The DZ09 Bluetooth Smartwatch is water-resistant to an extent, which means it’ll remain unaffected in rainwater.
Features
- Broad-spectrum compatibility: Companionable with many Android and iOS phones
- Multifunctional smartwatch: Comes equipped with a host of practical features and apps
- Dual connectivity mode: Can be paired up with phone via Bluetooth as well as GSM 2G/2.5G SIM card
- Stylishly designed and durable
Pros
- Outstanding 1.54″ OLED display increases visibility even in darkness
- Comfortable to wear thanks to the soft strap, ergonomic design, and anti-sweat matte surface
- Embedded with features like activity tracker, sleep monitoring, pedometer, and remote capture
- Heavy-duty 380mAh Li-ion battery offers 5 hours Talktime and 180 hours of standby time
Cons
- Does not support many functions and features when paired with iOS phone
- 0.3 camera did not get enough for taking realistic snapshots
3. Scinex SW20 16GB Bluetooth Smart Watch GSM Phone – Offers best value for money
The Scinex SW20 is another versatile smartwatch incorporated with a host of useful features, offering excellent value for your investments. You can receive calls on this smartwatch as well as make calls even when your smartphone is not close by. The embedded camera is capable enough for capturing snapshots and recording footage when you’re traveling and not carrying your camera or smartphone.
Featuring a 16GB internal memory ensures that you’ve more than adequate space for storing all your videos and photos. Use this smartwatch from Scinex as a supplementary device for sending and receiving SMSs, notification emails, and WhatsApp messages. You can connect this smartwatch with your iOS or Android smartphone via Bluetooth.
Features
- Hassle-free pairing with Android/iOS smartphone via Bluetooth
- Capacitive responsive 1.5″ touch-screen
- 16GB memory expandable up to 32GB
- Camera good enough for recording videos and capturing images
- Limited one year warranty
Pros
- The anti-lost feature helps trace phone when the latter is lost or misplaced
- Equipped with a host of versatile features including remote capture and push notifications
- The distinctive and elegant design will suit both men and women
- Sleep monitor for tracking sleep quality and duration
- Phone can be used at least for two days with a single battery charge
Cons
- Does not support some features as claimed by the manufacturer
- Metallic dial cover is somewhat flimsy
- Poor customer service
4. Collasaro Sweatproof Smartwatch Camera with SIM Card –Best Smartwatch for Women
The Collasaro Sweatproof Smartwatch will not only look classy on your wrist but will also enable you to accomplish numerous tasks. You can make calls, capture photos, monitor sleep patterns, enjoy music, track activities, send SMSs, locate misplaced phone with this smartwatch. The 1.54″ TFT HD LCD has a 240 x 240 resolution ratio, which means you can see everything.
At the same time, you can make good use of the extra features such as calculator, stopwatch, calendar, alarm clock, and so on. The inimitable electroplated watch case is available in black, silver, and golden finishing. For making this Collasaro smartwatch function almost like a smartphone, you simply need to insert a SIM card.
Features
- Equipped with a large number of functionalities
- Compatible (without SIM card) with Android phone via Bluetooth for triggering companion mode
- Insert the SIM card for use as a smartphone
- 1.54″ TFT HD LCD
- 2.5D radian capacitive touch-screen
Pros
- Dual-mode operation: can be activated via SIM card and paired with a smartphone through Bluetooth
- Make the most of music player, voice recorder, pedometer, camera, and host of other features
- 350mAh battery keeps the smartwatch active for hours on end
- 16GB SD card included for backing up files and documents
Cons
- Companion mode works only with Android phones
- This smartwatch is not waterproof or even water-resistant
5. Le Pan Pro Smartwatch – Best Smartwatch for those on a budget
The Le Pan Pro Smartwatch features a 1.39″ AMOLED circular HD display, a 2MP camera, embedded GPS, speaker microphone, and many other impressive features. The built-in GPS map tracker with satellite positioning and voice assistant comes in handy for pinpointing your exact position or location. This smartwatch also features an intuitive heart rate monitor that makes the most of a sensor to notify you of your heart rate.
You can enable the battery to power the smartwatch for a longer duration if you turn-off apps running in the background or lessen the screen brightness. After pairing the watch with your iOS or Android phone, you can go through the notifications directly on the watch. The built-in 2MP camera is ideal for taking photos of relevant documents and files when you’re not carrying your smartphone.
Features
- CNC processed
- 350mAh heavy-duty polymer battery
- Supports GPS, Wi-Fi, G-sensor, Bluetooth, and other functionalities
- OGS Capacitive touch screen
- Camera and music can be remote controlled
Pros
- Pairs perfectly with Android 5.1 phones powered by MTK6580 Quad-Core processor
- Loaded with multiple features and apps
- Supporting app for both Android and iOS phones
- Built-in heart rate monitor and GPS
- Anti-lost notification
Cons
- This watch is compatible only with phones running on Android 5.1 or above
- Poor battery life
Conclusion
So, there you have it-five best smartwatches with an integrated digital camera that comes to your aid when you need to capture photos or videos. Of course, the quality of these footages or pictures cannot be compared with those you capture with a Smartphone’s camera or a standalone digital camera. So, deciding to buy a smartwatch based on its camera (and its effectiveness) does not make practical sense.
However, you can buy a smartwatch with a camera that you can use (when you’re not accessing your smartphone) for clicking images of documents or taking selfies. If you want good returns on your investment, then go for the Scinex SW20, and if you’re looking for a budget-friendly model, then buy the Le Pan Pro Smartwatch.
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