Why do people spend money (and quite a lot of it) for devices that have less functionality than a smartphone?

  • Tablet is just a bigger screen, but not same power like a laptop.

  • Smartwatch is just tracking device that sends even more of your personal data.

And BOTH are another battery that you have to worry about.

  • _bcron_@lemmy.worldEnglish
    5·
    2 days ago

    I have a Garmin for trail running, but it has a compass, offline maps, barometric altimeter, bunch of other stuff. I used it to plan a 2000 mile route through Canada while driving last summer because my phone had shit-tier 2G/3G roaming. I have it scheduled to go into ultra battery conservation mode when I should be sleeping and only need to charge it every 2 weeks.

    It also records activities even without a phone, just need internet to upload it to Strava later, so pretty handy to be able to run without a phone (Strava or it didn’t happen lol)

    • Ogygus@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      1·
      2 days ago

      What Garmin are you using?

      I could look into a watch that needs to be recharged never every few weeks.

      • _bcron_@lemmy.worldEnglish
        1·
        2 days ago

        I have the Fenix 6X, which normally lasts 4-5 days with all bells and whistles enabled. Three settings I use to extend the battery to 2 weeks:

        Disabled backlight on gesture, kept backlight enabled on keypress, set backlight to 5% and 4 seconds.

        Disabled SPO2/oximetry (huge battery hog and doesn’t ruin functionality of other things to disable)

        Battery Saver set on a schedule for 10 hours per day - disables wifi/bluetooth. Basically an extreme ‘do not disturb’.

        But the two week figure is when I’m not doing many if any activities. Every other Wednesday it gets to around 20% and I charge it, but when I was running a lot it was closer to once a week.

        Fenix 7 apparently has even better battery life tho so you might be able to wring 3 weeks out of that thing