I will always be a defender of smartwatches. I like them, and I believe they will one day replace smartphones. And I hope that watches will soon replace mobile phones. But for now, I can only say one thing about my Android Wear smartwatch: I get bored.
I do not use it
Don't think I don't like smartwatches or smartphones. Keep in mind that I dedicate a significant amount of time to writing about smartphones, and the rest of my time is spent on technology. I like smartwatchesAnd I hope that one day these watches will become smartphone replacements. I'll be one of those who buy a smartwatch and stop using my phone. What's more, I already have a smartwatch with Android Wear, a Motorola Moto 360But I have a basic problem, I get bored.
I'm not bored by the watch itself, nor by its functions. I'm bored by watches in general. I'm bored by having to be charging it every dayIt bores me that it has its own charging base and I have to take it everywhere when I travel, even the few times I go. watch faces. In the end, what happens is that I start to use it, and after a few days, I forget to charge it, it runs out of battery, I stop using it, and so it stays for a few weeks. Again, I use it, it runs out of battery, and I stop using it for a long time.
Of course, this is partly due to the fact that it does not have essential functions For me. And that's saying something, because I think it has some useful functions. For example, I really like being able to see notifications on my watch.mainly those from Twitter and other social media. It's very easy to keep track of any mention, retweet, or message. But the day I don't charge it, I can't wear it anymore. And it turns out I can use my phone just as well for Twitter or Facebook, so in the end, the smartwatch doesn't become essential for me, and I get bored.
It's useful, yes. It could be interesting for any user. But they still have a lot of room for improvement. There's talk that they could sell a lot of smartwatches, but they still bore me. They need to be better.They have to offer me the possibility of replace my mobileEven if it doesn't have all the features of this one, and if they ever manage to achieve that, I'll be the first to spend over 400 euros on a smartwatch. But in the meantime, smartwatches will continue to bore me, even though I like them.
If Wear OS drives you crazy: connection, pairing and restarts
Much of the frustration comes when things aren't working properly. If you've already synced your watch and phone and want to set them up again, make sure both are properly connected. They are turned on, nearby, and not in airplane mode.The initial setup may take several minutes while data is being shared; if your phone gets stuck on messages like “Getting watch details” or “Finishing” for too long, try this:
- Update your phone's Android device and the Wear OS app (or the manufacturer's companion app)..
- From the mobile app, tap Add a clock and repeat the pairing following the on-screen instructions.
- Check the bluetooth connection From the phone, restart the watch and mobile device, and try the connection again.
If nothing works, unplug and reset On the watch: Go to Settings > System > Disconnect and reset (or Unpair from phone). On your phone, in the Wear OS app, go to Advanced settings > Forget watchAnd in Bluetooth, also remove the device from the paired list. Then configure it from scratch. As a last resort, uninstall and reinstall the Wear OS app on the mobile phone.
Wear OS tips and tricks to get the most out of it and avoid getting bored
Little changes They make using the watch more agile and useful in everyday life:
- Screen lockActivate PIN, pattern or password to lock the watch when you take it off (essential if you use payments).
- Install apps from your mobile deviceOn your phone's Google Play, choose the Wear OS version and send them directly to your watch.
- Remove apps Uninstall apps you don't use from Google Play on your watch > My apps > Uninstall.
- Capture the screenFrom the Wear OS app on your mobile, go to Menu > Capture the watch screen and share it.
- Browse specifically via the web using a Wear OS browser or, if your watch is compatible, with the manufacturer's app.
- Spotify without mobile (Premium): Open Spotify on your watch, go to your playlist and tap “Download on Watch”; connect Bluetooth headphones.
- Personalized spheresUse watch face creation apps or manufacturer tools to design your own.
- Turn off “OK Google” If it doesn't work well on your watch, it can save battery and prevent phantom activations.
- Find my deviceLocate your watch from the Google website and make it play a sound if it's nearby.
- Saving mode battery and developer optionsActivate power saving mode, enable the developer menu, and disable animations to improve fluidity and consumption.
Advanced users: with great caution, you can remove system apps o install APK Use wireless ADB if the watch and PC are on the same Wi-Fi network. Enable debugging on the watch, connect via IP from the computer, and manage packets with adbIf you don't know exactly what you're doing, don't try it.
Battery: why it lasts so little and how to extend its life
The main reason I'm bored is charging it. The battery drains so fast. screen brightness, GPS, background appsWiFi/LTE and the continuous monitoring health. Some effective guidelines:
- Lower the brightness, turn off always-on display and use dark spheres if your panel is OLED.
- Cut off notifications, turn off radios you don't need, and limit continuous monitoring if you don't need it.
- Activate saving mode And, if your watch allows it, boost the savings when it drops below 10%.
- Keep updated Clock and apps: patches usually improve efficiency and background management.
- Uninstall apps or complications that drain battery; check it on the power consumption monitor.
Furthermore, the actual battery life depends heavily on the model: there are very capable watches with short battery life and others geared towards sports that prioritize days of use sacrificing functions. Environmental factors matter: heat degrades the battery and the cold This temporarily reduces its available charge. Regarding charging habits, avoid constant 0–100% cycles; partial charges are better. If you suspect the battery has degraded, in Spain it is usually possible to... replace it at authorized services.
When the connection is cut off
If you see the disconnected clock icon, bring the watch and phone closer together. If the problem persists, check BluetoothRestart both devices and repeat the pairing process from the app. If the watch overheats and the battery drains rapidly, suspect a problem. apps on loop or outdated firmware: update, restart, and uninstall the problematic software. If you don't monitor sleep, you can Turn it off at night or use Do Not Disturb to save money.
I still like them and I think I'll wear them daily when they can truly replace my phone. Until then, with these tweaks, tricks, and connectivity solutions, my Wear OS watch is more usefulIt consumes less and, above all, I get less bored Because he does exactly what I ask without me arguing with him or carrying him around all the time.
