How to choose a smartwatch — what it measures and what it does not

Choosing a smartwatch looks easy, but there is a big gap between advertising and reality. The box says “blood pressure”, “blood oxygen”, “sleep analysis”, while in fact a cheap watch does not measure these with medical accuracy. So first find out what a watch is genuinely useful for. The smartwatch section of the Dona catalogue has 10 models, from 193,000 to 497,000 UZS.

What a smartwatch really gives you#

The list is short, but real:

• Notifications. You see who is calling or messaging without taking the phone out of your pocket. Most people buy a watch for exactly this.
• Steps and activity. A step count and a reminder when you have been sitting too long. The count is approximate, but it is enough to track your daily activity.
• Pulse. Shows your pulse during a workout. It is not a medical device, but it is useful for keeping an eye on running intensity.
• Sleep. Shows how many hours you slept fairly accurately, while the sleep phases are only a rough estimate.

What it does not give you: the blood pressure and blood oxygen readings on a cheap watch are not usable even for comparison. Do not rely on a watch for medical decisions.

How long the charge lasts#

Here the screen type decides. A watch with an AMOLED screen looks beautiful but uses the charge faster. A model with a plain LCD screen lasts longer. The “10 days” in the description is measured with the screen not always on. If you turn on the always-on screen and all-day pulse monitoring, the real time drops to 2-4 days.

A practical tip: if the watch lasts less than 3 days on a charge, you need to get used to charging it every night, otherwise it ends up in a drawer.

Models with a calling feature#

The catalogue has models labelled “Call Version” or “Bluetooth calling”. This means the watch has a microphone and a speaker, and you can talk through the watch when the phone is nearby. An important point: this is not a SIM card. The watch connects to the phone over Bluetooth, and if the phone is far away, calls do not work. A watch that works on its own needs 4G, and that is only found in kids’ models.

GPS watches for kids#

This is a completely different product. A kids’ watch has a slot for a SIM card, works on its own on the 4G network and shows parents the child’s location through an app. Parents can call the watch and allow only approved numbers.

What to look for: 4G support (the 3G network is already outdated), location by WiFi and LBS as well as GPS (GPS does not work inside buildings), and water protection, because a child washes their hands. The SIM card and tariff do not come with the watch; you get them separately from the operator.

Real prices (Dona, September 2026)#

Prices are taken from the app catalogue as of 10 September 2026. A seller can change a price at any time; the current price and availability are shown on the product page in the app.

• Hoco Y33 — sports watch, calling feature — 193,000 UZS. The cheapest entry point.
• Hoco Y31 — notifications, pulse, steps — 220,000 UZS.
• Hoco Y35 — 1.46-inch HD screen, Bluetooth calling, water-resistant — 226,000 UZS. A balanced everyday choice.
• Gear Fit — light fitness band shape — 259,000 UZS.
• Hoco Y38 — larger screen, sports modes — 274,000 UZS.
• Hoco Y43 — notifications and health tracking — 298,000 UZS.
• Hoco Y22 — metal case, classic look — 324,000 UZS.
• Hoco Y107 — for kids, 4G, GPS + LBS + WiFi, water-resistant — 403,000 UZS. For a school-age child.
• Galvin — the most expensive model in the section — 497,000 UZS.

What to ask in the live stream#

Two things about a watch only show up in a live stream: whether the screen fades in the sun, and how the case sits on the wrist. The seller puts the watch on and turns it to the camera, and you see its thickness and the width of the strap. Many watches look too big on a woman’s wrist, and a photo cannot tell you that. Ask: “Is the screen readable in the sun?”, “Can the strap be replaced?”, “Is the menu in Uzbek or Russian?”. The last question matters especially for cheap models.

It also helps to look at things that work alongside a watch: wireless earbuds, and a power bank if you need to charge every night. Prefer a plain watch? See how to choose a wristwatch.