Smartwatch facts for kids

This page is about smartwatches generally. For the Sony brand, see Sony SmartWatch.

A Samsung Galaxy Watch

A smartwatch is a small wearable computer that looks like a regular wristwatch. Most modern smartwatches have a touchscreen for you to tap and swipe. They often connect to your smartphone to do many cool things.

Older smartwatches could do simple tasks like calculating numbers, showing the time, or playing games. Newer models are much more advanced. They can have apps, their own mobile operating system, and connect using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Some can even play music or act as FM radios. The fanciest ones can even make and receive phone calls, just like a mini phone on your wrist!

Inside, smartwatches have a bright LCD or OLED screen. They run on a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. Many also have GPS to help you find your way. Some even have tiny digital cameras or slots for microSD cards. They also have sensors to measure things like temperature, movement, altitude, and light. Many smartwatches are also activity trackers. They can count your steps, check your heart rate, and even measure your sleep. You can use them for maps, health apps, calendars, and changing the watch face to match your style.

A Look Back: Smartwatch History

Early Ideas

The very first digital watch was called the Pulsar. It came out in 1972. Later, in 1982, a Pulsar watch could store 24 numbers. This might have been the first watch with memory you could program!

The Seiko Data-2000 with its docking station, from 1984

In the 1980s, as personal computers became popular, Seiko started making watches that were like tiny computers. The Data 2000 watch, released in 1984, could store 2000 characters. It even came with a small keyboard to type in information. This data was sent to the watch wirelessly.

Seiko made many more "RC Series" watches in the 1980s. The RC-1000 Wrist Terminal was the first Seiko watch to connect to a computer. It had 2 KB of storage and could connect to popular computers like Apple II and IBM PC.

During this time, Casio also became famous for its "computer watches" and calculator watches. They even made fun "game watches."

The 1990s: New Connections

Timex Datalink Model 150 worn by Commander William Shepherd on the International Space Station in 2006

The Timex Datalink, launched in 1994, was special. It was the first watch that could get data wirelessly from a computer. You could download appointments and contacts to the watch using flashes of light from your computer screen!

In 1998, Steve Mann created the world's first Linux wristwatch. He showed it off in 2000 and was called "the father of wearable computing."

Seiko also launched the Ruputer in Japan in 1998. This was a wristwatch computer that could show graphics and run apps. It was later sold as the Matsucom onHand PC. In 1999, Samsung released the SPH-WP10, the world's first watch phone. It had a small screen and could make calls.

The 2000s: Getting Smarter

The first Linux Smartwatch, shown in 2000

In 2000, IBM showed a test version of the WatchPad. This wristwatch ran Linux. It had memory and could connect using Bluetooth. Citizen Watch Co. hoped to sell it to students and business people.

In 2003, Fossil released the Wrist PDA. This watch ran the Palm OS and had a tiny touchscreen. It was seen as a big step forward, but it was a bit heavy.

Microsoft also launched its SPOT smartwatch in 2004. SPOT stood for "Smart Personal Objects Technology." These watches could show information like weather, news, and sports scores. This information was sent through FM radio waves.

Later, in 2009, Hermen van den Burg launched the Burg. This was the first smartwatch that could work on its own with its own SIM card, without needing a phone. Samsung also released their S9110 Watch Phone, which was very thin.

The 2010s: Big Growth

A Sony Smartwatch 2 display

Inside an Amazfit Bip smartwatch

A Samsung Gear 2 smartwatch with a camera

The Sony Ericsson LiveView came out in 2010. It was a watch that acted as an external screen for Android phones.

The Pebble smartwatch became very popular in 2012. It raised a lot of money through a website called Kickstarter. The Pebble had a black and white screen and could connect to Android or iOS phones using Bluetooth. It was also waterproof, so you could swim with it!

In 2013, many companies started making smartwatches. Experts thought it might be the "year of the smartwatch." This was because the parts were getting smaller and cheaper. Companies like Acer, Apple, Google, LG, Microsoft, Samsung, and Sony were all working on smartwatches.

One challenge for smartwatches was battery life. Most only lasted a few days. New screen technologies were also being developed.

The HOT Watch by PHTL, which lets you take calls on the watch strap

The speaker and microphone on the HOT Watch strap

In 2013, new smartwatches like the Samsung Galaxy Gear, Sony SmartWatch 2, and Qualcomm Toq were launched. The HOT Watch allowed users to make calls right from their wrist.

In 2014, the Samsung Gear 2 was released. It was one of the first smartwatches with a digital camera. At the Consumer Electronics Show in 2014, many new smartwatches were shown. Google also introduced its Android Wear platform.

A person wearing a modern smartwatch, an Apple Watch

On September 9, 2014, Apple Inc. announced its first smartwatch, the Apple Watch. It started shipping in 2015. The Apple Watch was designed to compete with regular watches, not just other smartwatches. Its screen only turns on when you lift your wrist or touch it.

In 2015, Samsung showed off the Samsung Gear S2. It had a cool rotating ring for easy use and was waterproof.

At the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show, Razer released the Nabu Watch, which had two screens. Luxury watchmaker TAG Heuer also released a smartwatch.

In 2017, Apple released the Apple Watch Series 3. This model could connect to cellular networks on its own. This meant you could make calls and send messages right from your watch, without your phone nearby!

Samsung Galaxy Watch and smartphones

In 2018, Samsung launched the Samsung Galaxy Watch series. Apple also updated its Apple Watch Series 4 with a bigger screen and a feature to detect unusual heart activity. Qualcomm released a new chip for smartwatches that helped save battery life.

The 2020s: Future Tech

In 2020, an Apple Watch app called NightWare was approved to help people with PTSD-related nightmares. It vibrates when it senses a nightmare based on heart rate and movement.

As of 2025, smartwatches have become even more advanced. They have better health tracking and more ways to connect. Newer models can detect sleep apnea and warn about unusual heart rates. Some even analyze coughs to check for lung problems.

Smartwatches Today: Features and Uses

Market Trends

Smartwatches became very popular in the 2010s. Today, people often use them to track their fitness and as "companions" to their smartphones. Experts believe that smartwatch sales will continue to grow a lot in the coming years. Top companies making smartwatches include Apple, Fossil Group Inc, Garmin, Google, Huawei, Samsung, and Xiaomi.

Common Features

Many smartwatches made today can work completely on their own, without needing a phone. Some are great for sports. They have GPS to record your workouts. You can upload this data to a computer to see your progress. Some watches can even show maps and your current location.

Smartwatches often have activity tracker features. These are like the ones on GPS watches used for training or outdoor sports. They can help with workout programs, track your speed, and connect to heart rate monitors.

Other smartwatches work best when connected to a smartphone, usually through Bluetooth. Some only work with phones that have the same operating system. When connected, the watch can show you calls, SMS messages, emails, and calendar invites. It can also show information from your phone apps.

Staying Connected with LTE

Since about 2015, some smartwatches have come with LTE support. This means they can connect directly to 3G or 4G mobile networks. You can make calls and send texts right from your watch, without needing your phone nearby!

Staying Safe: Security and Health

Keeping Your Data Safe

Some very cheap smartwatches sold online have had security problems. They might collect too much of your personal information. They might also store your data in ways that are not very safe. Sometimes, you can't even stop them from collecting your data.

These watches might also not be very accurate. For example, some could detect a heart rate even when they weren't being worn! This means they might not be reliable for health tracking. In the United Kingdom, a new law was passed to make sure smart devices, including smartwatches, meet certain security standards.

Health Concerns

A study in 2024 found that some smartwatch straps have high levels of chemicals called PFAS. These chemicals can be harmful and might get into your skin. The study suggests using straps made of silicone instead, as silicone does not contain PFAS.

Fair Tech: Social Considerations

Fairness in Design

Sometimes, smartwatches don't work as well for everyone. For example, they might track heart rate less accurately for people with darker skin. This happens because many smartwatches use a green light to check blood flow. This green light doesn't go through melanin (the pigment that makes skin darker) as easily. This can make the heart rate readings less precise for some users.

Your Data and Privacy

Smartwatches collect a lot of personal health data. This includes how active you are, your heart rate, and your sleep patterns. This information is often stored online. Companies and researchers might be able to access this data.

There have been times when this data was not used properly. For example, a company called Fitbit faced concerns in 2011 for sharing personal health data without users knowing. Another time, a fitness app called Strava allowed users to share their running routes. This accidentally showed the locations of some military bases around the world. It's important to be aware of what data your smartwatch collects and how it's used.

How Smartwatches Work: Operating Systems

A smartwatch needs an operating system (OS) to run, just like a computer or smartphone. The OS is the main software that makes the watch work and allows you to use apps. Here are some popular smartwatch operating systems:

HarmonyOS: This OS is made by Huawei for their smart devices, including their watches.
Tizen: This is an OS developed by the Linux Foundation. Samsung has used Tizen for many of its smartwatches, like the Samsung Gear series.
watchOS: This is the special operating system made by Apple Inc. just for the Apple Watch.
Wear OS: This smartwatch operating system is developed by Google Inc.. It used to be called Android Wear.

Smartwatches for Everyone

A child's smartwatch in China

A child wearing a smartwatch

In China, smartwatches have become very popular with schoolchildren since about 2015. They are often advertised as safety devices. These watches are usually colorful and made of plastic. They let children make and receive calls and show the time. Some can even measure the air temperature.

Children's smartwatches are also sold in many other countries.

Smartwatches can also help older people or those with disabilities. They can report their location to a caregiver if they fall or get lost.

Smart Strap

A "smart strap" is a special watch band that has extra features built into it. For example, a smart strap might have a tiny webcam, an ECG sensor to check your heart, or other sensors to measure things about your body. These straps can add cool new abilities to your smartwatch!