So I want te find the most feature rich smartwatch that doesn’t send data to the manufacure. I have tried the Pinetime watch, but it died after 6 months.
Infinitytime (OS) was not realy that feature rish, so I want to secrufise an Open Source watch OS. But I still want to connect it with Open Source software, like gadged bridge.
What is my best option under €200? Maybe the Xioami Mi band 7 (€50) that is supported by gadgedbrigde?
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Personally this has been the most feature rich/open source one I could find, and it’s what I ended up going for, there’s an opensource app store, direct integration with gadgetbridge, a decent always on display much like the amazfit bip S, which also means a long battery life.
This is pretty amazing, I was not expecting it to be such a reasonable price considering the specs. What’s the battery life like?
It can get up to 4 weeks, though my experience is closer to 4 days to a couple of weeks, I think it depends heavily on what apps you’re using, how much you’re moving about and how much stuff you’re installing
On the website, it says the battery life’s 4 weeks.
If you can find a Pebble, they still work perfectly and the manufacturer doesn’t even exist anymore!
Hmm, fitbit bought most of the company, then Google bought them.
anything that’s compatible with Gadgetbridge should be okay. it keeps everything on your phone and doesn’t even request a network permission, so the device can’t phone home.
incidentally, I’ve got the Mi Band 7 (connected via Gadgetbridge] and I quite like it.
This. I’ve been using the Fossil Collider HR with Gadgetbridge for over a year. I love it, and I love that it’s keeping my data safe
Pebble is peak smartwatch. Fight me on it, I wont change my mind. Its just smart enough, without being too smart. Battery lasts for days, its waterproof, and side buttons instead if some impossible to use tiny-ass touchscreen. Perfection.
Pebble is a discontinued smartwatch developed by Pebble Technology Corporation.
😶
Garmin does that too if you want to buy something from a company that still exists.
Fossil offers a hybrid smartwatch now to full those shoes. I really liked mine when I had one, but it didn’t fit my hands free needs well enough.
I’ve also used a pinetime running infinitime for the past year, and I agree that it’s not exactly feature rich. I like it though.
I’ve heard that ‘bangle.js’ is an open source watch as well, with a decent feature set.
Been pretty happy with my Garmin Instinct. It has a cloud connection of course but seems pretty decent privacy wise.
I love my Garmin watches but they aren’t really known for privacy or security. They had a ransomware attack in 2020 and the Connect service was down. It’s speculated that they paid the ransom.
Their support is top-notch as well. My Instinct started having serious battery life issues a few months out of warranty. They still replaced it no questions asked when I reached out to their support and asked if they offer a battery replacement service. That said, the Instinct at least isn’t a true smart watch. It doesn’t run apps, isn’t touchscreen, don’t have NFC, etc.
I’m in the same boat. The buttons on my Pebble Time Steel are going, and I don’t know what I’m going to replace it with.
the Pinetime watch, but it died after 6 months.
Oof, that’s a shame. That was on my list of possibilities.
Ive been considering buying a new old stock “backup pebble” for when mine goes. Basically the perfect smartwatch
Yeah, there really is no decent alternative, yet. While I agree the LCD screen smartwatches look better and are more fancy, but I really like the e-Ink – always on, readable in full sun, and only having to charge it once a month or so. The hybrid idea is a decent alternative, but you lose customizable faces; I’m willing to sacrifice that for long battery life, though, so that’s probably where I’ll go next.
I don’t understand why there isn’t more of a market for e-Ink watches, though. I mean, there are a bunch of us, but apparently not enough to sustain a company.
I would say amazefit is the better option, check the compatibility with gardggetbride before buying.
I bought an Amazefit bip 3 years ago and am using Master for Amazefit, sadly the developer stopped updating the app. The watch/band supports only step counter, heart rate measure, sleep tracking. So, whatever options the app provides work fine for me.
I need to look for other app options when I upgrade.
Sleep tracking? I’m ootl with smart watches in general so forgive this ignorant comment, but I assume for this to work…you have to sleep with the watch on?
Yes. Have to wear the watch while sleeping.
Cool, thanks for the clarification. Did it take some getting used to and/or are you a pretty heavy sleeper? Interested in the sleep tracker aspect but unsure if it would be useful if it ended up disturbing sleeping more.
I’m waiting for the next batch of Watchy’s so i can’t say if it is any good, but I have high hopes. They have a handy spec comparison chart between Watchy, Pine time, Bangle.js, and the beloved Pebble.
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Smartwatches do have features an analog watch doesn’t have. I’m pretty sure OP already knows about the existence of analog watches.
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Controlling music without taking out your phone, health stuff like heart rate sesnor or sleep recording or whatever that’s called, being able to switch clock designs when you get bored of it
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throwing it away in 3 years is the best feature
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For me it’s easily paying subway fare, seeing notifications, leaving my phone home for a quick errand (but could make a call if absolutely necessary). I have a small child, so having hands free abilities is great. If I could degoogle it and run only open source linux/android, I would. But nfc payments will never work with such a thing even if the software existed.
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I ride a motocycle and listen to books in my helmet, I got a pinetime (great btw) so I can control my audio and have gps. Other then gluing a phone to my gas tank (I have done, its not safe or good) there is not really an option other then a watch.
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I know you mentioned infinitime, but the PineTime is seriously great and can be flashed with custom firmware to improve functionality. I have had mine for a while and flashed wasp os and then back to infinitime without it ever breaking. Worst case, you are out 30 bucks.
I got two Xiaomi bands, I think it was band 4, but neither work after like two years
Also sleep tracking sucks with gadget bridge, it was better with notify, so at that point it’s crap hardware with closed software
How does sleep tracking work with watches in general? Do you have to wear the watch as you sleep?
Yes, you do, it tracks your movement and heart rate
