HOLIDAY SALE • GET 50% OFF • EXPIRES date-locale
These Smartwatches Are Known for Being Senior Friendly And Boast Advanced Features Such as Heart Rate and SpO2 Monitoring... But How Do They Actually Perform?
By Caitlyn Ward
(Health & Tech) - Are you tech-savvy and looking for a smartwatch that jives with your lifestyle? You are not alone. The advances in technology are amazing, but oftentimes companies don’t think about us when they design our products. Luckily there are five smartwatches that were clearly built with our demographic in mind.
These smartwatches are all marketed as easy-to-use, accurate, durable, comfortable, and having a long battery life. But which one is the absolute best for you? I tried out each one, and here’s what I found based on the following metrics–senior friendliness (number and quality of health app, ease of setup, readability), battery life, price, and overall performance.
Let’s get started…
Senior Friendly: 95%
Battery Life: 100%
Price: $
Overall: A+
The two week battery life on the Spade & Co Health Smartwatch 4 is no joke–I was able to wear it every day, and only had to take it off to charge a couple times a month for an hour or so. Plus I found this link that gave me a 70% discount on the Spade & Co smartwatch for their Holiday Sale. Deals aside, the long battery life is a big deal for me, because it’s a hassle to charge a watch every couple days. Plus I often forget to do it. Meanwhile, it was super easy to set-up, navigate, and use. Some of the other brands took me a solid hour or so to figure out. The health apps worked great and were very accurate. Conveniently seeing my step count, blood oxygen levels, heart rate, and sleep cycle really helped me stick to my doctor’s recommendations. For example, when my heart rate goes above 80 BPM, I get a notification and know it’s time to practice my box breathing. The same app can also be used to detect atrial fibrillation early, so if you know you’re at risk, this watch might be a prudent choice. Also the SpO2 monitor really helps me stay on top of my mild apnea, and avoid sleeping on my back.
The wrist calling feature is also super cool, and was a nice added bonus. I use it to call my grandkids all the time. I wear this watch every single day, and it is hands down the overall best smartwatch for seniors.
By far, the Spade & Co Health Smartwatch 4 is the overall best smartwatch for seniors on the market.
Senior Friendly: 80%
Battery Life: 60%
Price: $$$$
Overall: B+
The Apple Watch Series 10 is very popular amongst my friends. It has the most applications of any watch on this list. I didn’t end up using most of the non-health related apps, however. The majority of my friends don’t use them either. We primarily just use the heart rate and SpO2 apps, which aren’t any better than the ones on the Spade & Co Health Smartwatch 4. Given this, the $400 price tag was too expensive. The battery life also left me wanting. While it can be extended up to 36 hours on low power mode (compared to the Apple Watch SE’s 24 hours, it still pales in comparison to the Spade & Co Health Smartwatch 4. I found it often died on me, simply because I’m too busy to constantly think about charging my smartwatch. If you really need the most powerful smartwatch on the market and are ready to charge it every day, the Apple Watch Series 10 is still a solid choice.
Senior Friendly: 75%
Battery Life: 70%
Price: $$
Overall: B
The Fitbit Sense 2 is another popular choice amongst seniors, but nothing about the watch really wowed me (given, nothing made me dislike it either). The health apps were functional, although I noticed the heart rate monitor lagged a bit compared to the Apple Watch Series 9 and Spade & Co Health Smartwatch 4. That was pretty frustrating for me, since getting early warning of an abnormal HR is important to me. Other than that, the battery life of 6 days is workable, but not spectacular. The $300 price tag was reasonable but still over 5x as expensive as the Spade & Co Health Smartwatch 4. The Fitbit Sense 2 managed to edge just ahead of the Garmin Venu 2 Plus in my ranking system, but honestly I couldn’t come up with a reason this watch would be a first choice for any senior.
Senior Friendly: 60%
Battery Life: 70%
Price: $$$
Overall: B-
Oddly enough, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro got some mentions in some other prominent retirement lifestyle magazines. The health apps worked as well as the Spade & Co Health Smartwatch 4, but everything else was underwhelming. The design was uncomfortably large, and will fit awkwardly on most people’s wrists. It was so uncomfortable, I often found myself removing it, defeating the purpose of its accurate heart rate monitoring app. Also,the touch screen also wasn’t as responsive as I liked and the three day battery life was underwhelming. For the price, all these cons simply couldn’t justify a higher grade than a B-.
Senior Friendly: 50%
Battery Life: 80%
Price: $$$$
Overall: B-
I keep hearing about the Garmin in my social circles, so I had to include it. The health apps worked great, but it was difficult for me to figure out. Also like the Samsung, it was uncomfortable to wear, which defeated the purpose of a great heart rate monitor. If you’re a Garmin loyalist, need the best GPS possible, or just love the way it looks, this watch might be for you. If not, there are much better options on this list, particularly the Spade & Co Health Smartwatch 4.
WIth four solid competitors, I wanted to take the time to tell you more about why I chose the Health Smartwatch 4 as my number one. I already told you about the unbeatable price, near unlimited battery life, ease of use, and comfortability, but why don’t I actually tell you about how this watch actually made me healthier.
Firstly, the reminder feature allows me to set medication reminders throughout the day. This ensures that I never miss a dose of my prescribed medications, even when I'm on-the-go or engrossed in other activities. The reminders are accompanied by a vibration and visual notification, which makes it easier for me to take my medications on time and avoid potential complications.
Additionally, the step counter has been a game changer. My doctor recommended I get in at least 7000 steps a day, and the Spade & Co Health Smartwatch 4 made me realize I really only get in 5000, even though I feel like I walk all the time. After wearing the Spade & Co Health Smartwatch 4, I finally started getting in the 7000 steps I need.
Furthermore, my smartwatch allows me to monitor my heart rate and SpO2, two vital parameters that my doctor has asked me to keep track of regularly. The watch provides me with real-time updates and alerts me if my heart rate or blood oxygen levels exceed the recommended levels. This has helped me take corrective measures, such as taking medication or seeking medical attention, when necessary.
Overall, my smartwatch has been an excellent companion in my journey to better health. With its reminders, step tracking, and health monitoring it has made it easier for me to follow my doctor's recommendations and take charge of my health. As a senior citizen, this has been invaluable, and I would highly recommend the Spade & Co Health Smartwatch 4 to anyone looking to improve their health and wellbeing.
For a limited time only, you can get it for 50% off here.
The Spade & Co Health Smartwatch 4 is compatible with any Android device (Android 6 and up) as well as any iPhone (iOS 9 and up). So if your smartphone is 8 years old or less, it will be compatible.
The Spade & Co Health Smartwatch 4 measures my steps, calories burned, heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and sleep with the accuracy of other top rated products.
I was able to get the battery to last over two weeks while tracking my steps, heart rate, and sleep. When I used some of the more advanced apps, such as the wrist calling feature, the battery life tended to drain a bit faster though. I still get over 10 days so it still far surpasses any rival product.
Setting it up was super easy! I literally opened it up, turned it on, downloaded the app and boom! A few minutes later it was ready to go. Also the interface and apps were super intuitive, so I didn’t even need to read the instruction manual.
Absolutely! The large, bold text and clear screen make this watch ideal for people with low vision or other visual impairments. I don’t even have to wear my glasses when I use this product!
I was officially converted into a Spade & Co Health Smartwatch 4 believer, and I hope you will, too!