Smartwatch vs. Smartphone: Why waste money on a smartwatch? Get all your tasks done with your phone instead – find out how..

Are you thinking of buying a smartwatch? Nowadays, good smartwatches start at a budget of at least 7,500 rupees. However, even after buying an expensive smartwatch, most people don't use most of its features, and you can perform the basic functions of a smartwatch using your phone. I also use my phone for basic fitness tracking instead of a smartwatch. If you also want to save money while tracking basic fitness, then today I'll explain my method. Through this, you will be able to track your steps, heart rate, and even sleep. So, without further ado, let's learn how to use your phone like a smartwatch.

Measure your heart rate with your camera flash.
One feature of a smartwatch is measuring heart rate, and many people buy smartwatches for this feature. However, you can do this with your phone as well. The phone's flashlight is used for this purpose. You can track your heart rate by installing apps like Google Fit or Instant Heart Rate on your phone. For this, you will have to place your finger on the flashlight, and as soon as the flash illuminates the blood flow in your veins, the camera will detect your heart rate.

Count your steps with your phone.
If you are going to spend thousands of rupees on a smartwatch just to count steps, then don't. Instead, you can measure your steps using your phone's accelerometer sensor. For this, you can download apps like Google Fit. This app uses the phone's accelerometer sensor to count and tell you the number of steps you have walked. For this, you just need to keep your phone in your pocket or hand while walking. Note that with the help of the phone's GPS, apps like Google Fit can count your steps quite accurately.

Turn your phone into a workout partner.
It's not possible to hold the phone in your hand during a workout. In such cases, I tie the phone to my arm or wrist using a sports armband. This frees up my hands while keeping the phone attached to my body. With this, I can view maps, change songs, and track my speed during workouts. It does most of the things a smartwatch does without costing me any extra money.

Track your sleep by keeping your phone near your pillow
One function of a smartwatch is sleep tracking, but sometimes wearing a watch while sleeping can disrupt your sleep. In such cases, you can use sleep tracking apps like Sleep as Android on your phone.  Simply leaving your phone near your pillow allows you to track your sleep.

These types of sleep tracking apps use several sensors in your phone to collect data related to your sleep. They can tell you how deeply you were sleeping based on your movements and breathing sounds or snoring. They also function as a "smart alarm" to wake you up at the optimal time.

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