Applies to all full Android smartwatches
1- While able to run almost any app, most apps do not format to the screen properly (small text, hard to access buttons, slide menus often difficult to access)
2- Small batteries, so these are not heavy use devices and on average should get you through a work day with some battery to spare
3- No always on display or tap to wake (but wrist rotation to wake on all watches)
4- “OK Google” does not work, you have to open the app to use Google voice commands (it’s a Chinese watch thing)
5- NOT WEAR. So thinking these are Wear, or Wear like, will frustrate you to no end
6- Their primary function is as a standalone device, not a companion.
Companion Mode
1- Cannot use watch’s speaker/mic for calls
2- App notifications are simply that, notifications. So no reply options, open on phone, etc… (M2D does help get around some of this)
3- Remote control of phone’s camera/music/etc is limited
Standalone Mode
1- Cellular reception will not be as good as a regular phone (tiny antennas)
2- Will require a BT headset for calls in noisy conditions
Firmware
1- Update support is a not limited to brand but individual models of watches. This means that just because one watch from a a brand was well supported does not mean the other are.
2- All firmware should be considered late stage beta at best. This means that there are almost always bugs. Sometimes obvious ones, and sometimes far more subtle but still not so nice ones.
3- Porting Wear MIGHT be possible but would eliminate almost all standalone capability, which is their primary function. So the RASC Team will not explore this possibility.
Watchfaces
1- Cannot use Wear faces natively (early support for WatchMaker faces can be found in Eric’s Universal Launcher)
2- ClockSkin watches (X1, X3, X5, Q3, LEM5, etc) cannot use APKface watches faces (KW88, I2, I3, Blitz, LEM3, etc)
3- The same applies for APKface watches and ClockSkin faces
4- Extended info like weather, and so one are not possible on custom APKface faces
5- Detailed info like notification counts and such are not possible on ClockSkin or APKface faces
6- Advanced capabilities like shortcuts are not possible on on ClockSkin or APKface faces
Customization
1- No watch found here offers full launcher customization. This means widgets are limited to stock widgets only.
2- App drawer sorting is limited or non-existent.
3- In the case of the X5+, quick apps are locked
Water Resistance
1- By design, the watches with a one piece case back can/should offer better water resistance.
2- Despite what marketing may claim, none of these watches are swim capable. Not even the Blitz.
3- IP54, 55, 56 watches are not rated for immersion of any kind, accidental exposure only
4- At best, IP67 is accidental immersion only
5- No IP68 watch is truly swim capable as there is a 30 minute time limit to exposure. IP68 also has no specific depth rating, it’s whatever the manufacturer wants.