Emergency call watch wins Kassen crash test. The Apple Watch is also suitable for seniors – but the Galaxy Watch less so.
Smartwatches can do a lot of things: measure your heart rate, relay your location via GPS, or send an emergency call to multiple contacts. The different models are aimed at seniors, with easy operation and simple design – something seniors shouldn’t feel embarrassed about.
Kassenrutsch and Gesundheittipp magazine tested seven models, five of which target older customers, and two of which were “regular” smartwatches from Apple and Samsung.
The top models also include the test’s loser, the Doro Watch. Problem: The Doro Watch only works with the Doro mobile phone. The emergency call is initiated using the watch, but is then sent via the mobile device.
So, if you encounter an emergency with this watch and you don’t have your Doro cell phone with you, you won’t be able to set off the alarm. Testing at the Müller-BBM laboratory in Munich also showed that the SOS trigger on the watch is not always directed to the cell phone.
The large James B7 smartwatch is the clear winner of the test
Not only the loser, but also the winner of the test is aimed specifically at the elderly: the B7 safety watch from James. It is very easy to use with just one button. The watch can be used to store up to ten emergency contacts, which can be called one by one. At the same time an SMS will be sent containing the coordinates.
However, the drop sensor in James’s watch is sensitive and can trigger false alarms: “The alarm was triggered even by slightly more violent movements. It can be annoying if you always have to cancel these false alarms,” says test director Jonas Fischer. A drop sensor was not evaluated because not all watches tested had a sensor.
Also “good”: Smartwatcher, Apple Watch, and Limmex
The Smartwatcher, Apple Watch SE 4G, and Limmex models also performed “good.” Apple Watch comes with many pre-installed apps, making it a model for tech-savvy people. Smartwatchers and the Limmex model are very simple emergency calls aimed at the elderly.
“Relatively complex”: TCL and Samsung
The “Adequate” rating was given to smartwatches from TCL and Samsung. They both have good sound quality for phone calls and good displays.
“However, their use is relatively complex, which makes it difficult for people with less technical knowledge to use the devices,” explains Jonas Fischer.
The prices of the devices range between approximately 239 and 400 francs. It should be noted that the James, Limmex and Smartwatcher models require a subscription with a monthly cost of between 10 and 29 francs in order for the emergency calling function to be activated.
