Smartwatches nowadays perform a wide range of activities. It is no longer only a device to check the time, rather it is part of fashion, fitness and also reflects the tech knowledge of the user. And when it comes to solar smartwatches, it combines all of them with more advanced technologies.
Are you looking for a multidimensional watch and want to have an ultimate guide on solar smartwatch?
Looking further no more, we are here to provide you with all the necessary information you will need to know about the solar smartwatch to make the right choice.
Just stick with us through the article!
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Ultimate Guide On Solar Smartwatch In 2022
In this article, we will try to give you proper insights into solar smartwatches. Before digging into it, you may consider getting a brief introduction to solar smartwatches.
So, let’s get started!
What is a solar smartwatch?
A solar smartwatch is a type of smartwatch that operates by using light energy. Sophisticated features like prolonged battery performance and a superb GPS are included in an advanced quality solar smartwatch.
Every solar watch has a solar cell beneath the dial that transforms “light energy” into “electrical energy”.
You might not believe that the solar-powered watch actually was introduced in the 1970s with pretty basic features. But as technologies are advancing, as well as people’s adaptation with the technology is also increasing, solar watches manufacturers are coming with more advanced features.
Why is a solar smartwatch a better Choice?
If you are already a smartwatch user, then you might know the benefits that a smartwatch provides. And in every update, the futures and attributes are improving.
Yet, when using a smartwatch, the biggest concern is the battery. Even if you charge it throughout the whole night, your smartwatch’s battery still may die by mid-day as you are doing a lot of tasks on it.
But when you have a solar smartwatch, you won’t need to be worried about the battery as it keeps recharging when you are outside.
Apart from this, the regular watch’s battery may need to change after a few years, which decreases the quality of the watch, such as water resistance ability decreases and much more problems come with changing the battery. This problem can also be solved by solar smartwatches as their batteries last longer.
And not to mention, the design and shape variation of the solar smartwatches goes with almost every outfit, and obviously, they are largely eco-friendly.
How a solar smartwatch works
- Solar smartwatches are recharged by using light energy but it is not necessary that you should put the watch only under the sunlight.
- Any source of light is able to recharge your solar smartwatch.
- The solar watch usually comes with a solar panel on the display, case, or even on the bezel.
- Light energy is then converted in the solar panel into electric energy.
- As soon as the watch gets the light, the solar panel converts it into energy.
- However, there is also a power reserve on the solar watch that stores the extra energy that is not necessary immediately and to be able to use that energy later.
- It means, even if you are not under any light source, your watch still may operate till the stored power is over.
How to charge a solar smartwatch
Sunlight
Direct sunlight is the best method to charge your smartwatch. But as mentioned earlier, you can also use other sources of light to recharge your watch.
However, 50,000 – 100,000 lux of strong sunlight for 2-3 hours is enough to recharge your solar watch completely. The required light and time may vary from brand to brand.
Other sources of light
If you don’t have enough sunlight, you can also use a fluorescent lamp’s light to recharge the battery.
- If you keep your watch around 5 cm away from the 30W fluorescent lamp, it will provide around 100,000 lux.
- If you keep it around 20 cm away from the 30W fluorescent lamp, it will provide around 3,000 lux.
- In the office area, the light usually provides around 700 lux.
In this case, you may need a long period of time to recharge your watch completely. However, don’t forget that even if your watch isn’t under direct light, it continues to charge as you go outside or under any source of light.
Adverse Situations
There are also a few situations that are not suitable to charge your solar smartwatch. Those are as follow:
- When the watch is hidden beneath the sleeve of your shirt.
- When the watch is stored in an environment where the sunlight can’t reach for an extended period of time. For example the drawer of your cabinet or in your purse.
However, it is not enough to try to recharge your watch only by wearing it. Try to charge it intentionally on a regular basis under direct sunlight or other sources of light.
Tips for better charging
There are some tips that you can follow to ensure better charging of your solar smartwatch:
- Place your watch near the window facing the sun directly.
- When going outside, try to wear a sleeveless or folded sleeve shirt to get more sun exposure.
- If you’re charging your solar smartwatch with a fluorescent lamp, keep it closer to the lamp (5 cm).
Battery longevity of solar smartwatch
The battery longevity of a solar smartwatch varies from brand to brand. However, as mentioned above, solar smartwatch battery longevity is usually more than other smart watches. Here are a list of different brand’s solar watch with the battery longevity:
- Garmin Solar Instinct – Battery saver mode – 56 days
- Garmin Solar Instinct – smartwatch mode – 24 days
- Timex Men’s Expedition Scout Solar – 4 month reserve
- Casio Men’s Pro Trek Smart – 5 month reusable battery
- Haylou Solar Smart Watch – 30 days standby battery
Best solar smartwatches you can choose from
Garmin Instinct Solar
This watch comes with activity and fitness monitoring, multi-sport tracking, and more. Garmin’s Instinct line is designed specifically for outdoor enthusiasts.
Solar widgets, such as Solar Intensity, are incorporated into Garmin Instinct allowing you to monitor the smartwatch’s sun exposure over the previous 6 hours.
It also helps to track your sports activities such as running, swimming, hiking, bicycling, and so on. The watch also has an “ABC sensor (Altimeter, Barometer, Compass)”, which makes it ideal for outdoor activities like hiking, swimming, and running.
Pros:
- Syncing notifications
- Tracking sports and activities
- Available GPS system
- Monitoring of the heart rate and sleep
Cons:
- Doesn’t work with Garmin Pay.
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G-Shock Move
This is another most suitable watch for outdoor activities. “Time mode” of this watch allows you to track steps, synchronize notifications from your smartphone along with viewing the time.
Aside from that, it also has a built-in training feature for athletes. You may use it to keep track of your distance traveled, pace, calories burned, whether you’ve met your daily goal or not, and so on.
The watch also includes a compass, GPS, a barometer, and a thermometer. It also can be connected with your iPhone or Android smartphone via Bluetooth.
Pros:
- Indoor lights can be used to charge the device.
- Monitoring heart rate
- Bluetooth compatibility
- Built in GPS system
- Tracking sports activities
- In time-only mode, it is possible to operate without charging.
- Compass, barometer, and temperature make up the triple sensor.
Cons:
- In-depth sports activity analysis is unavailable.
- Some aspects of fitness tracking are not synchronized with the smartphone.
Haylou Solar Smart Watch
This device has Bluetooth connectivity and a built-in health tracking system, as well as a 30-day standby battery capacity and 15-day regular usage battery life. This watch also includes continuous monitoring of heart rate.
The 1.28 inch HD TFT-LCD touchscreen is available with three adjustable brightnesses that will delight you.
The Haylou solar smartwatch tracks your steps, and you can choose from 12 different activity tracker modes, such as cycling, jogging, yoga, trekking, and HIIT.
Pros:
- Bluetooth connection is available for both Android and iOS smartphones.
- Lightweight and comfortable.
- Fit app is built in.
Cons:
- Sleep tracking feature isn’t good enough.
Instinct Solar Tactical
This smartwatch is designed to meet U.S. military standards which include “810 for thermal shock” resistance and is water-resistant to 100 meters.
It includes a three-axis compass and a barometric altimeter, as well as numerous worldwide satellite navigation systems such as GPS, Galileo, and Glonass.
You may track a range of physical activities, such as swimming, running, biking, or strength training by this watch. And you also can track your daily health status with the “Pulse Ox” feature.
Pros:
- Sports application with predefined activities profiles.
- Maintain U.S military’s standard
- Stealth mode function to turn off wireless connectivity.
- Multi navigation systems.
Cons:
- Software is difficult to understand
Garmin Fenix 6 Pro Solar
If price isn’t an issue, the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro Solar can be your way to go. It has multiple navigation systems, including GPS, Galileo, and Glonass. This assures that satellite signals are received even in the most remote parts of the globe.
In addition, this smartwatch has music support features. You can listen to your favorite songs with apps like Amazon Music, Spotify, and others.
Moreover, this watch also has an “incident detection feature” which sends a message to the emergency contact along with your location, if the watch detects any hard fall during outdoor activities.
Pros:
- Support Garmin Pay
- Support music playback
- Support sports as well as vital tracking
- GPS, Galileo, GLONASS- navigation systems are available.
Cons:
- Really expensive
- The user interface is complicated
- Advantages of solar smartwatch
- Solar watches are eco-friendly by reducing the amount of non-biodegradable batteries on our earth.
- These watches are also pocket-friendly as they need almost zero maintenance.
- They also can reserve energy for a long period of time.
- It is possible to charge the solar smartwatch indefinitely by using sunshine.
- They are durable as they last longer.
- Don’t require recharging the battery often.
Disadvantages of solar smartwatch
- These watches need constant daylight to keep them charging.
- They are usually expensive, though, considering the service, the price is justifiable.
Things need to consider before purchasing
Brand
Consider buying a solar watch from a good brand like G- Stock and Garmin to have an original solar smartwatch. There are many products available in the market named “solar smartwatch”, but they don’t really operate like a solar watch.
Features
Choose a watch that will be able to fulfill your needs. Check the product details provided by the manufacturer before confirming your purchase.
Battery life
If you won’t be able to charge your watch often, try to buy one which has long battery life or which is able to charge automatically outside. Also, check the battery backup and the duration of charging.
How to take care of your solar smartwatch
For numerous causes, like long-term use, usage conditions, a rechargeable battery’s charging ability may gradually decline. Recharging cycles can also be shortened by worn or damaged mechanical parts or deteriorated fluids.
To avoid such situations, try to overhaul your watch after every 3/4 years. It will increase the longevity and service cycle of your watch.
Even if you don’t charge your watch in the sun, you may expose it to sunlight or another light source to keep the battery performing at its best.
It’s also not a good idea to keep your solar smartwatch in a dark place for an extended period of time.
Verdict
Hopefully, this article on ‘ultimate guide on solar smartwatch’ was able to give you perfect guidance on a solar smartwatch.
If you are considering going on a long trip, a solar smartwatch can be your perfect partner. Its long-lasting battery, GPS system, built-in compass, and water resistance will provide you the freedom to enjoy your journey.
However, even if a solar watch doesn’t need high maintenance like other watches, still try to take minimum care like recharging the battery and servicing the watch, for the better lifespan of your solar smartwatch.