Analog Resurgence and Whoop Copies Make Smartwatches Uncool
Have you ever swapped a smartwatch for a classic watch to look sharper at a dinner or event? As someone who reviews the best smartwatches for a living, and who’s a keen runner and gym-goer, I analyse my sleep and movement data constantly. I am perhaps the biggest smartwatch advocate you’ll ever meet, yet I often choose an analog rotary watch when style matters because smartwatches stylishly fail to signal coolness in formal settings.
In 2024 that divide went public: a bride and groom who banned smartwatches at their wedding became a viral talking point, and a post on US News Hub Misryoum titled ‘Anyone else feel like Apple Watches ruin outfits?’ received over 2,000 upvotes and nearly 600 comments. Responses were split; many defended the devices’ health monitoring and notification roles, while plenty agreed they can look tacky. One commenter captured the sentiment plainly: “I wish we could find a sweet spot with wearable tech and not looking like a dork”.
The problem mirrors phones: ubiquity and sameness make smartwatches feel utilitarian rather than fun. They are lifesaving in some situations and excellent for fitness, but they tend to present as a black slab on the wrist and often interrupt instead of complementing an outfit. At the same time, a broader cultural pull toward lo-fi tech has emerged. Gen-Z’s embrace of retro and tactile gadgets — from wired earphones to compact cameras, a revived interest in physical media, and analog watches — signals a shift toward more deliberate, less screen-first choices. I wrote about how much I loved the cheap old Casio F-91W way back in 2023, and that sentiment fits the current mood about wearable style.
Wearable tech is reacting. Screenless “focus wearables” such as the Whoop MG, Polar Loop, Amazfit Helio Strap and even the upcoming Fitbit shown off by Steph Curry are gaining traction among fitness-minded users, and smart rings like Oura are being considered as discreet alternatives. A thread poster told US News Hub Misryoum, “I am legitimately looking into a fitness ring like Oura so I can wear my watches and still track steps and what not,” and I’m seeing many more screenless bands in classes and gyms. This change suggests consumers are trading visible tech flare for subtle tracking; it also opens doors for designers to collaborate with fashion brands to reframe wearable style.
Manufacturers should take note: emphasizing performance and partnering with traditional watchmakers could win back style-conscious buyers.
On the road and trails, though, displays still matter. Runners and cyclists rely on glanceable maps, pacing information and mileage, so function beats form in active settings. Customisable watch faces and always-on screens ease the aesthetic strain, but radical reinvention looks likely to remain the playground of niche brands such as Pebble. For now the industry faces a paradox: highly capable products that are, in many eyes, visually boring.
I think smartwatch wearers (and makers) have to accept the cold hard truth — they’re brilliant functional devices, but not fashionable ones. Leaning into a tech-forward aesthetic rather than forcing a slim, luxury watch mimic seems the realistic path forward, because when it comes time to put style first, I can’t ever see myself putting on a smartwatch over an old-school analog watch. Do you think smartwatches stylish or outdated? Vote in our poll on US News Hub Misryoum and tell us where you stand.