Health

How the Galaxy Watch4 Classic helped me build better habits

And break old, bad patterns

Published

January 9, 2022

MJ Jucutan

Smartwatches rarely stay on my wrist for a long period of time. Not because I don’t like them, but because I have to test wearables every month or so.

Having a job that requires you to test different smartwatches from several brands might be a dream come true for some people, but I find it highly cumbersome especially when I’m still trying to build the lifestyle that I want.

After I reviewed the Huawei Watch 3, I decided to slap the Samsung Galaxy Watch4 Classic on my wrist. Permanently. After all, I’m neck-deep in the Samsung ecosystem. It makes so much sense to use a smartwatch that will work with all my other devices.

Breaking and building habits

For a quarter, I made a pact to myself that I will build the lifestyle that I want. And boy, after months of using Samsung’s latest smartwatch, I realized I turned my life around using a small, functional accessory.

I never realized I’ve been changing my habits — which I consider the building blocks of a lifestyle, based on what I learned from a transformative book called Atomic Habits — through this nifty device.

If you’re reading this, you’re probably curious why I keep blabbering about turning my life around with just a wearable. And you’re probably skeptical, thinking I’m just selling an idea. But, trust me, this is a personal account of my transformation.

While changing my beliefs, mindset, habits, and learning more about myself are the main factors to consider, having a smartwatch helped me attain my goals in little, simple ways.

And based on Atomic Habits, change starts in the little things you do within yourself and your surroundings. (I won’t spoil you, so go ahead and read the book. It will change your life.)

Using my smartphone less

Like many young adults, I struggle with using my smartphone too much. With a job revolving around the latest gadgets, particularly these high-tech slates, it’s easy to fall into the rabbit hole of building an automated life.

But everything’s within your reach, right? Yes. Except I also deal with cranky mornings dashed with a little rush from all the emails and messages. I’m certain I’m not the only one bombarded with notifications as soon as connecting to the Wi-Fi. On top of that, I’m exposed to too much blue light — smartphones, tablets, laptops, televisions, and portable gaming consoles.

The dream is to lessen the time spent holding my smartphone and create a balanced life of being connected through my devices while being in tune with my physical surroundings.

Streamlining reliance on gadgets

Having had the Samsung Galaxy Watch4 Classic for more than a quarter now, I found appreciation for its basic features, especially when they all work seamlessly without delays. I answer calls, respond to chats, and check important messages at a glance.

I stopped using my smartphone for alarms, and instead of reverting to an old-school alarm clock, I just customized the smartwatch to ring and vibrate in a way that would really wake me up.

And there are a lot more features to enjoy; things we take for granted because we don’t know how to incorporate these features in our lifestyle simply because we don’t have to.

Years of covering smartwatches made me realize that these wearables are already advanced and have everything we need. People just really don’t know how to maximize these features to make their lives more efficient. And I, regretfully, fell in the same trap despite being able to test the latest smartwatches regularly.

Nevertheless, the Samsung Galaxy Watch4 Classic still stood out among the smartwatches that came across my wrists, especially in 2021.

To reserving my brainpower for more fruitful activities in life

Change my mind: Google makes navigating your digital life easier, especially if you’ve been with the Android ecosystem for years. This is why I still prefer using Samsung over Huawei — especially with the loss of Google Mobile Services. Surely, the Galaxy Watch4 Classic is the perfect Android smartwatch right now.

I’ve had my fair share of Huawei’s smartwatches (Yes, I do love them), and while they all pack unique tools in a robust build with flagship-rated power and a long-lasting battery that lasts for several days — they still require brainpower to seamlessly integrate the smartwatch to your devices and your day-to-day life.

And that isn’t something I don’t want to welcome in my life, moving forward. I prefer to make things simple and efficient. I prefer to use the last of my brain cells by doing things that are meaningful to me e.g. reading a book, playing a strategy game, doing more architectural sketches and gouache paintings, and learning new hobbies that make life more exciting.

If a device calls itself smart, it should be able to figure things out on its own so I can live my life to the fullest without worrying about how things work.

Compatibility is so important — in relationships or smartwatches

The experience with Galaxy Watch4 Classic, as compared to Huawei’s flagship Watch3 and Watch GT3, is much easier for someone with only three brain cells left functioning. One instance is when connecting the device and using the Samsung Health app — even on a non-Samsung device.

I’ve had trouble navigating Huawei’s Health app and connecting the devices to various smartphones, even with the likes of Honor 50. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Watch4 Classic works well with any smartphone. Although to maximize the device to the fullest, it’s best to use a Samsung smartphone — even if they’re old like the Galaxy S8 or an affordable one like the Galaxy A52.

Using apps that are appropriate for my lifestyle and compatible with my devices

One reason why we believe the Apple Watch is still considered the gold standard when it comes to smartwatches is because of its ecosystem, plethora of compatible apps, and plenty of straps and designs that match different personalities and lifestyles.

While the Galaxy Watch4 series isn’t enough to rival the Apple Watch, Samsung holds the crown when it comes to Android smartwatches.

Samsung really did it right, collaborating with Google for WearOS. Now, I get to route my map before heading out for a drive using Google Maps. And everything I download on my smartphone, if compatible with the smartwatch, gets automatically downloaded.

I get to respond to annoying Viber messages, control my music playback on Spotify or YouTube Music, and even use apps that help me continue the fitness journey that I started a year ago.

The Galaxy Watch4 Classic lets me track my progress during my Indoor Climbing session at Climb Central Manila

And there’s a reason why most of my friends use the Galaxy Watch4 series as well. It’s compatible with fitness apps we deem important in our lives. There’s Google Fit, Strava for my cyclist friends, adidas Running app for those who have a lot of will to run, Calm for my meditative chicas, and myFitnessPal which I also use for tracking my nutrition intake.

Overcoming the love-hate relationship with fitness

I used to have a love-hate relationship with smartwatches when they used to look like workout gears. It made it impossible to wear it in casual settings, which is counter-productive for those who aim to make fitness their lifestyle.

When I was still training with my coach, we came to a conclusion that it’s easier to make fitness a lifestyle when your space, clothes, and accessories are all workout-ready. I had to install dip bars, make the exercise ball and dumbbells visible right when I wake up and use a rubber mat to create a conducive space for my physical activities.

In the same way, the Galaxy Watch4 Classic was always ready to join me in my conquests. Aside from the health and fitness features it possesses, I like how it’s unassumingly a fitness-oriented device since I can sport it while wearing a dress shirt. And when used to accompany me in my workouts, it brims with features that will make the most out of your workout.

Living an active lifestyle

While it’s hard to be consistent when you live in an erratic, hectic schedule, the Galaxy Watch4 Classic reminded me to stay active. It asks me to move around, or perform stretches while I’m working consistently, sitting for hours. Even without its alerts, subconsciously, I get reminded to choose situations that will require me to be active.

Morning runs with my celebrity best friend

I used to take my electric scooter to move around the neighborhood, or use the car even when going to run my errands — which are sometimes within a kilometer or two away from home.

I struggled, of course, but the visibility of a lifestyle companion made me walk despite the unbearable, scorching heat. That, or I take the bicycle.

When I forget to choose the walking mode among the workout options, the Galaxy Watch4 Classic is smart enough to record your movements, and automatically switches to workout mode.

My forgetfulness is somehow saved by the highly perceptive sensors found on the smartwatch. And that high-tech functionality is what I welcome in my life.

Paying more attention to my health

I’m no stranger when it comes to a smartwatch’s health features. Every smartwatch I’ve tested has the same monitoring features to help you pay more attention to your health.

With my experience working with smartwatches, it’s the last habit I have to change. I’ve been paying more attention to my health ever since I slapped a smartwatch on my wrist.

But it’s still worth mentioning how you can solidify the habit you’ve started. It’s easy to forget stuff when you’re overwhelmed — tracking your health included.

The Galaxy Watch4 Classic’s rotating bezels made it easier for me to monitor my health. You can customize the tiles depending on your priority, but from the get-go, they have the necessary features presented accordingly.

At a glance, you can check the steps you’ve taken, the minutes you’ve been active, and the calories you’ve burned. I know, you’re already familiar with this one. These data are also accessible depending on your watch face.

Then, there are also tiles for heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen, stress levels, food and water intake, and even cycle tracking for women. Having easy access to these important data made me more aware of what changes I need to do.

To better night routines

There’s also Sleep Tracking which also coordinates with your phone, tracking your sleep through the snore or sound you make. Sometimes, I forget to wear my watch and leave it charging on the dock

There are days where you just really hit the snooze button and shut down from the world. Those times made my smartwatch and smartphone work together to record my sleep.

It won’t be able to check my pulse though. This is why I learned to take my smartwatch off when I’m taking a shower and doing my night routine. I get to pamper myself while my smartwatch recharges, so it’s ready to monitor my sleep and heart rate when I’m asleep.

That may be the only thing I didn’t like about the Samsung Galaxy Watch4 Classic. The shorter runtime could’ve been longer so I don’t need to recharge time and time again.

Anyhow, it helped me to really make an effort to perform a self-care routine. Even when I’m dead tired from a long day at work.

Working on my ideal body

It’s also worth mentioning how the Galaxy Watch4 Classic takes the spotlight with its body composition tool.

The new feature uses a technology called Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA). They’re basically little charges shot through your body to tell how much is fat and how much is skeletal muscle.

When you’re working on your dream body, knowing your body composition is essential to understand what changes you should make to your fitness program and diet.

Weekly, I check my body composition through the tool. It helps me decide how to adjust my lifestyle so I can reach my body goals. It can be tiresome to stay on this journey, but I’ve committed to taking better care of myself. And I’m elated that the smartwatch is well-rounded enough to accompany me in everything I wanted to do.

Designing the lifestyle I’ve been dreaming of

Frankly, I know I’m not yet there — living the life I’ve always dreamt about. A routine that works perfectly with my activities and schedule. A body that I can confidently flaunt across the cameras.

I’m still susceptible to the big changes in life that can shake my foundations, or push me back to square one and revert to my old, bad habits.

But I know I’m also far from where I’ve been. When I look in the mirror, I see a new version of myself. I jokingly state how I’m now in my version 2.4.9 as if I was a smartphone update. Although, it’s also true that I do get better over time. Because that’s what I intend to do with my life.

When you recognize the habits you want to change and take necessary actions to improve, you’ll get the results. Anything can be a tool to accompany you, as long as it fits the lifestyle you want to work for.

It just happens to be the Samsung Galaxy Watch4 Classic. And I’m happy to have it on my wrist and stay with me as long as it works.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch4 Classic retails for PhP 17,990 for the 42mm variant, and PhP 19,990 for the 46mm variant. Both sizes are available in Black or Silver colorways. You can purchase it in Samsung’s Online Store, official stores, and authorized retailers nationwide.

Accessories

HUAWEI Watch GT 4: Stride in style

Look good while doing your best

Published

October 24, 2023

MJ Jucutan

Gone are the days when smartwatches look hideous while slapped on your wrists. Back then, you could only choose between a stylish yet dumb watch or an actual smartwatch but with an ugly casing.

Huawei bridges style and smart technology, fusing both into one timepiece through the latest Huawei Watch GT 4.

Carrying that stylish DNA

The Huawei Watch GT 4 — like its predecessors — carries a style that makes you want to look like a serious adult who got their life together.

For an athlete, a fashionable statement isn’t what I’ll be going after. I’d need a smartwatch that keeps up with my training so I can be at my best during my races and competitions.

However, it looks sleek with its octagonal design on the 46mm variant that I was wearing. The diamond cuts and chiseled exteriors resembled luxurious, performance cars.

Somehow, the GT 4 has both: the ability to keep up in terms of performance and appearance. It complemented my race day outfits while also having enough power to provide me with relevant data at my fingertips. Its Always-On Display gave easy access to the information I needed, which I previewed on the 1.43-inch AMOLED screen.

With a 326 PPI density, it was easy to look at the screen and digest the information I needed when going out for a walk or a run — even under direct sunlight.

Put your best foot forward

A lot of my pre-race preparations include looking good. That means getting a wax, a haircut, a mani-pedi, and all other rituals to make me look and feel good. It’s literally putting my best foot forward — both for how I look and how I perform.

The Huawei GT 4 accompanied me for more than a month in preparing for my upcoming races. With a battery that lasts up to 14 days of usage (sometimes less when I train every day), I didn’t have to worry about recharging my device every day or two.

It’s more common for other smartwatches to drain their batteries after heavy usage. By heavy, I meant using the GPS, staying connected to the WiFi and Bluetooth, and using built-in apps while tracking relevant health information in the background.

Having a long-lasting battery means I can focus on working out and hitting my training schedule. Trust me, a lot of times you’ll postpone your training sessions because your smartwatch is still charging.

It’s an easy excuse, and sometimes, it becomes a habit that you won’t easily shake off.

Train at your own pace

A lot of smartwatches come with personalized plans that don’t really feel personalized. Sometimes, newbies find it difficult to follow through with a plan since the exercises are a bit more intermediate than a beginner.

Structured workouts are always the way when it comes to improving your physical progress and reaching your fitness goals. When I put on the GT 4, it didn’t have the data I accumulated throughout the year. Of course, it’s a new smartwatch.

But after using it for a week, it got access to the information it needed to build a plan tailored for me. The TruSeen 5.5+ heart rate monitoring technology helped in creating the health data since our heart rate is a great indicator of our overall fitness level.

Linking the GT 4 to the Huawei Health app gave me access to the running plans utilized through Artificial Intelligence (AI). The very first time I ran again after a three-week-long hiatus, the GT 4 gave me a run/walk guide based on the parameters I set. This felt like a nice touch, especially for beginners who don’t know where to start.

While I didn’t follow the training plan since I know myself and my body better, the smartwatch gave me the accurate pace I needed to complete my run on a terrain with over 200-meter elevation gain. (Yes, I still did walk for a total of three minutes — shorter than the 15-minute total suggestion of the smartwatch.)

Total control over your health

The Huawei Watch GT 4 is packed with health monitoring tools and intelligent features to help you live smarter. The smartwatch detects the regularity of your heart rate, tracks your sleep, and even assesses your lung function through a respiratory check.

To be honest, the GT 4 is far from being a health device. But having relevant information through your smartwatch which you can also preview on your smartphone through the Huawei Health app, gives total control of how your body’s functioning.

If you really care about your well-being, the overwhelming data can provide insights into how you can change your lifestyle. Until then, the Huawei Watch GT 4 will look like a mere accessory to help you look like you have your life together. It can be a powerful accessory if you let it.

Is this your GadgetMatch?

The Huawei Watch GT 4 isn’t the top-of-mind for athletes of all kinds. However, it’s beginning to look like it can be a great choice for athletes with a tight budget.

The compatibility isn’t limited to a Huawei device since it syncs well with both iOS and Android smartphones. That means anyone can enjoy the smart technology in this little trinket.

There are plenty of features that you can use or choose not to. I swear, I didn’t even need all of it since I’m focused on tracking my performance more than anything.

But for a smartwatch to have nearly everything to cater to everyday users, fitness enthusiasts, and other athletes — it’s remarkable.

The Huawei Watch GT 4 is a smartwatch that deserves your attention. You should look and gaze at it sometimes because that’s what they’re made for.

Price, availability

You can now purchase the HUAWEI WATCH GT 4 through offline and online HUAWEI Stores, authorized retail outlets, and leading e-commerce sites Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok price starts at PhP 12,999. Get freebies worth up to 6,297 until October 13.

Installment payments in Offline Huawei Stores are also available via Home Credit for up to 18 months and participating credit cards for 24 months with 0% interest.

Here are the prices for each variant:

Huawei Watch GT 4 (46mm)
- Black Fluoro Rubber — PhP 12,999
- Brown Leather — PhP 13,999
- Green Nylon — PhP 13,999
- Stainless Steel — PhP 18,999
Huawei Watch GT 4 (41mm)
- Black Fluoro Rubber — PhP 12,999
- White Leather — PhP 13,999
- Silver Two-Tone — PhP 18,999

Health

Honor’s eye comfort solutions promotes healthier sleep

A glimpse of HONOR’s novel technology and its battle against the effects of blue light

Published

August 15, 2023

GadgetMatch

We’ve all seen it.

A smartphone’s attempt to reduce blue light with display modes; eyeglasses specifically built to combat the light’s exposure; tips on preventing eye strain, and a lot more.

Blue light exposure from our digital devices has disrupted our health, particularly our circadian rhythm which helps regulate our sleep. It blocks the production of melatonin, a hormone inducing sleep.

Global technology brand HONOR aims to launch a crusade against blue light by incorporating eye comfort features into their smartphones.

Two of their devices — the Magic5 Pro and HONOR 90 — change the amount of blue light produced based on the time of the day.

Taking eye comfort for real

While most smartphones have a feature to reduce blue light exposure, they don’t really adapt to the environment, unlike HONOR’s devices.

The Magic5 Pro and the HONOR 90 have an eye comfort and sleep function that reduces the blue light by almost 40 percent in a spectral shift. This feature aims to contribute to better sleep patterns and reduce eye strain for the user.

In an interview and research with Dr. Glen Jeffery, professor of Neuroscience at University College London (UCL), the HONOR Magic5 Pro and HONOR 90 were tested for their eye-comfort solutions. Together with HONOR, Dr. Jeffery uncovered how the devices can contribute to promoting healthier sleep and relieving eye strain.

Watch the video to see how both devices fared.

Health

Redmi Watch 3 Active: Basic but better

This might just be the smartwatch to kickstart your fitness journey!

Published

August 9, 2023

MJ Jucutan

I always get questions on which smartwatch to get, knowing that my people know me as the guy who always has the latest smartwatch — changing wearables as if it’s just another pair of underwear.

Being in the intersection between fitness and technology for over three years now, I would attest that smartwatches are expensive. With only a few bucks to spare, you’re lucky to get a functional smart band that can track your basic needs. Up your budget a notch, and you might get a decent smartwatch to accompany you on your fitness journey.

This is where Xiaomi aims to break the barriers of smartwatches. The Redmi Watch 3 Active is an affordable smartwatch that’s definitely a step up from a smart band, especially when it comes to features, design, and of course, price.

Monitor what you only need

Smart bands barely have any screen real estate to preview your fitness data. Smartwatches, on the other hand, are built differently. The same goes with the Redmi Watch 3 Active, which has a 1.83-inch screen that makes it easy to view information.

Truth be told: Smartwatches can get intimidating, especially when it packs plenty of features. I sometimes get overwhelmed when I get my hands on flagship and premium smartwatches. There’s so much going on, tbh.

The Redmi Watch 3 Active, somehow, provides comprehensive data by showing only what you need. With its full-scale fitness tracking, it’s easy to monitor your heart rate and blood oxygen level. You can also see how many calories you’ve burned, how many steps you’ve taken, and if you’ve been moving enough to be closer to your goals.

Tracking your sleep, as well as stress levels, help give an overview of your current lifestyle and what you still need to change. These data may sound overwhelming, but these are pretty basic for a smartwatch. These are the only information you’ll ever need. Nothing fancy, just straightforward figures that might help you in your fitness journey.

The screen is big enough to house plenty of data, and swiping between widgets is easy. Although, not as smooth as most smartwatches. But then again, this smartwatch is considered entry-level, so temper your expectations.

More than just a fitness tracker

The most important indicator of your fitness level, for me, would be your heart rate. It shows how many beats per minute depending on the activity you’re doing. When I was taking photos of the Redmi Watch 3 Active, my heart rate spiked to over 100 bpm since I was under the sun trying out some calisthenics workout with my dip bar.

The accuracy may not be the same as most smartwatches, but seeing my resting heart rate go between 60-65 bpm means it’s close enough to my Apple Watch. FYI, my current resting heart rate as of writing is 58 bpm.

It’s pretty normal for athletes (some actually have lower) to have that low resting heart rate. A good indicator would be having 60 up to 90 bpm, which is counted as normal. If your resting heart rate is around 100 or beyond, it’s time for you to get off the couch and stop being a potato.

If you don’t have a gym membership — and a coach, even — then you don’t have to worry. The Redmi Watch 3 Active is equipped with over 100 workout modes, which include 10 professional workout modes.

It’s highly suitable for beginners since you can find workouts like running, walking, freestyle, hiking, and cycling. There are specific workouts as well, categorized into outdoor activities, training, dancing, combat sports, ball sports, winter sports, and recreational sports.

Suitable companion

After completing my first elite race at Spartan Stadion (a grueling 5KM race with 20 obstacles inside New Clark City’s Athletic Stadium) last mid-July, I took a short hiatus to recover from the race burnout.

Running in a category filled with national and pro athletes was exhausting for my mind, body, and spirit. It was a difficult test of my strength, pride, and willpower. The Redmi Watch 3 Active came a week after, prompting me to get back to taking care of my body with grace.

Somehow, the smartwatch’s advent into my life has impeccable timing. It was raining in Manila, endlessly, for days. I also didn’t have the energy to sign up back to the gym and start my training for Spartan’s Trifecta Weekend in November, dealing with post-race blues and personal affairs that caused me to lose weight.

I knew I had to resume training. Luckily, the Redmi Watch 3 Active’s different workout modes accompanied me in getting my strength back.

Train your mind and body

With jump rope as a workout mode, I get to measure my skips in the morning. There are also workouts that are highly specific depending on your equipment such as Dumbbell, Wall Ball, Barbell, Weightlifting, Deadlift, Burpee, and Sit-Ups.

Something more general includes strength, physical training, and functional fitness training. If you’re focused on certain parts of your body, the workout modes have the option to focus on the upper body, lower body, abs, and back.

As for me, I only pick functional fitness training when I do home workouts since I use bodyweight exercises that help with my athletic performance. When I’m training my muscle strength, I opt to do calisthenics using my dip bars and pull-up bar. There are no guides if you’re clueless about what workouts to do.

The training modes just allow you to see how many kilocalories you’re burning, the duration of your workout, and the intensity of your heart rate while performing the exercises. It’s usually categorized between light, intensive, aerobic, anaerobic, and VO2 Max — which refers to the maximum oxygen consumption. Usually, that’s when you hit your limit.

For everyday life

The Redmi Watch 3 Active pairs easily whether on an Android smartphone or an iPhone. With only the Mi Fitness app, you can see comprehensive data regarding your health and fitness.

Since it pairs seamlessly with any smartphone, the smartwatch makes it easy to read notifications, answer calls, check your calendar, and adjust music playback. You can even remotely capture photos from your phone using just the camera button on the smartwatch!

Even if it’s connected with Bluetooth and WiFi, the smartwatch lasts for at least 7 days — even when using it for different workouts. When on standby, the Redmi Watch 3 Active also indicates how much battery is left and how many days it would last. Fun fact: With several settings off and a full battery, the smartwatch promises up to 12 days of battery life.

In a way, the Redmi Watch 3 Active gives off an everyday smartwatch vibe. It has all the bells and whistles of a smartwatch, in a design that looks elegant when working out and balancing work and life.

The watch faces are customizable, with over 200 options to choose from. It also comes with optional straps to match your everyday style. Lastly, it’s lightweight and waterproof with a 5ATM. Just what you need out of a reliable smartwatch!

Is this your GadgetMatch?

The Redmi Watch 3 Active is quite packed for an affordable smartwatch. It has everything you’ll need to kickstart your fitness journey, and a little bit more. You can stop making excuses about having a smartwatch before starting to work out or sign up for a gym membership. This one’s highly affordable, priced at PhP 1,999, and available at Xiaomi’s exclusive Shopee store.

It’s not as smooth, powerful, and feature-packed as most smartwatches. You’ll need to shell out money for that, especially if you want to elevate your performance. But if you’re just starting out, this smartwatch is a must-have to cop. Xiaomi breaks the notion that smartwatches have to be expensive to be functional. The Redmi Watch 3 Active might just be the best value-for-money smartwatch right now.