Smartwatches are becoming increasingly popular, and their functionality has gone beyond fitness tracking.
Today, smartwatches allow us to make phone calls, send text messages, and even stream online music on Spotify.
Knowing all this, one might wonder — do smartwatches use data to provide these features?
Smartwatches do use data in the same way as smartphones to enable internet-dependent features like streaming online music, checking social media apps, and receiving and responding to emails to name a few. The amount of data a smartwatch consumes depends primarily on the types of apps you use on your smartwatch and their usage frequency.
For example, if you use music or video streaming apps like Spotify or Youtube on a daily basis, it can consume a lot of data. For other apps like social media or email, the data usage will be relatively low compared to streaming apps.
That said, If you’d like to learn more about smartwatch data usage, keep reading to find out how much data a smartwatch uses, and how to reduce data usage on your smartwatch.
Why Do Smartwatches Use Data?
Smartwatches use data to enable certain features that require an internet connection. For instance, if you want to send an email or stream online music on your smartwatch, it’ll need an internet connection to download the email or music data.
Most smartwatches consume data from your smartphone via Bluetooth connection. And if your smartwatch has a Wi-Fi feature, you can connect it to the available Wi-Fi network to perform internet-based functions.
Some smartwatches even come with SIM card support and can connect to the internet independently of a smartphone. However, these types of smartwatches require a separate data plan to enable internet-dependent features and functions.
Do Smartwatches Use Phone Data?
If a smartwatch is connected to a smartphone via Bluetooth, it can use the phone’s data connection to transmit and receive data.
In fact, the majority of smartwatches are designed to be used in conjunction with a smartphone, and they rely on a smartphone’s data connections to provide features like online music streaming or app syncing.
For example, if you receive a social media notification (i.e. a comment on your recent Instagram post) on your smartphone, it will be automatically transmitted to your smartwatch via Bluetooth connection.
However, it’s worth knowing that some smartwatches have built-in cellular connectivity, which means they can connect to a cellular network independently.
Such smartwatches are popularly known as standalone smartwatches and they can have their own cellular data plan to perform internet-dependent functions.
How Much Data Does a Smartwatch Use?
As I said before, the amount of data a smartwatch uses depends on several factors, such as the type of apps running on it and their usage frequency.
On average, a smartwatch can consume between 10 MB to 50 MB of data per month if you use it only to read & reply to emails, WhatsApp messages, and check social media notifications.
However, the amount of data usage can vary significantly if you use highly data-intense apps like Youtube or Spotify.
Tips to Reduce Smartwatch Data Usage
Smartwatches have become a part of our daily lives, providing us with quick access to emails, WhatsApp messages, and social media notifications to name just a few.
However, if you don’t monitor your smartwatch data usage carefully, it can consume a great amount of data and deplete your data plan very quickly.
To help you reduce your smartwatch data usage, I have shared some excellent tips below:
1 – Use Wi-Fi Whenever Possible
If your smartwatch is connected to Wi-Fi, it stops using your cellular data. Therefore, you should always connect your smartwatch to a Wi-Fi network whenever possible.
For instance, if you are at home, work, or in a location with a known Wi-Fi network, make sure to connect your smartwatch to the Wi-Fi network to reduce your cellular data usage.
2 – Limit App Usage
Some apps on your smartwatch may consume a lot of data, such as music streaming apps, and limiting the use of such apps can help reduce data consumption.
For example, if you frequently stream music on your smartwatch, it may be a good idea to limit the number of songs you listen to in order to reduce your smartwatch data usage.
3 – Disable Notifications
Disabling notifications that you don’t need can help reduce your smartwatch data consumption.
For instance, you can consider turning off notifications for certain social media apps that you don’t use frequently.
By doing so, you can save a significant amount of data consumption because it will reduce the number of times your smartwatch connects to the internet.
4 – Optimize Sync Settings
Most smartwatches allow you to adjust the frequency of app syncing. And by adjusting the sync settings for certain apps, you can reduce data usage significantly.
For example, adjusting the sync settings for your email app to sync emails every hour instead of every 10 minutes can save a notable amount of data on your smartwatch.
5 – Keep Your Smartwatch Up-to-date
Keeping your smartwatch software up-to-date can also help in reducing its data usage.
You see, smartwatch software updates often include bug fixes and performance improvements that can optimize its data usage.
So, by regularly updating your smartwatch to the latest software, you can ensure that it’s performing optimally and consuming data more efficiently.
Final Note
Smartwatches have become a useful accessory for all of us.
They offer a convenient way to stay connected and access various features such as responding to incoming emails, WhatsApp messages, and streaming online music.
However, it’s critical to be mindful of your smartwatch data consumption to avoid exceeding your data plan limit.
By implementing the tips I have shared above, you can greatly reduce your smartwatch data usage.