Am I Addicted to My Smartwatch? Balancing Health, Stress, and Tech
Am I Addicted to My Smartwatch?
Smartwatches like the Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch promise to enhance our lives with health tracking, notifications, and convenience. But the question remains: do they truly help us, or are they adding stress? Many users find themselves constantly checking their wrist for updates, blurring the line between useful alerts and compulsive behavior.
Health Benefits vs. Stress
Both watches offer advanced sensors monitoring heart rate, sleep, and even ECG, contributing to better personal health awareness. However, this constant data flow can sometimes lead to anxiety, as users fixate on every metric. Samsung’s Galaxy Watch boasts longer battery life, making it easier to stay connected, while Apple’s seamless ecosystem integration enhances user experience, especially for iPhone owners.
Finding Balance
Ultimately, whether these devices alleviate stress or amplify it depends on individual use. Smartwatches can be powerful tools if managed mindfully, but awareness of potential addiction is key to maintaining a healthy relationship with technology.
About the Organizations Mentioned
Apple
Apple Inc. is a leading American multinational technology company known for pioneering personal computing, mobile devices, and software ecosystems. Founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, Apple revolutionized technology with the first commercially successful personal computer and mainstream adoption of the graphical user interface (GUI), setting new standards in product design, user experience, and seamless integration across devices[2]. Headquartered in Cupertino, California, Apple’s product lineup includes the iPhone, iPad, Mac computers, Apple Watch, AirPods, and services such as the App Store, Apple Music, and iCloud. The company has built a vast ecosystem that enables third-party developers to expand product functionalities, strengthening its market dominance. Apple is widely recognized for its innovation in hardware, software, and services, with an emphasis on aesthetics and privacy. In 2025, Apple committed to its largest-ever investment initiative, pledging $600 billion over four years in the United States to boost manufacturing, research and development, and advanced technology sectors like artificial intelligence (AI) and silicon engineering[1][3]. This includes new manufacturing facilities, expanded R&D centers, and a program called the American Manufacturing Program (AMP) to encourage domestic production of critical components. These efforts support over 450,000 U.S. jobs and aim to establish a robust supply chain within the country[3]. Financially, Apple remains a powerhouse with a market capitalization of $3.84 trillion and annual revenue exceeding $400 billion. However, in 2025, it faced challenges including a 19% decline in stock value, intensified regulatory scrutiny from the U.S. Department of Justice over antitrust issues, legal disputes related to the App Store, and competitive pressure in AI technology[1][2]. Despite these hurdles, Apple continues to innovate, recently updating its software platforms with a unified "Liquid Glass" design and expanding its AI-driven personal assistant, Apple Intelligence[1]. Under CEO Tim Cook’s leadership, Apple balances technological advancement
Samsung
Samsung is a global technology powerhouse specializing in consumer electronics, semiconductors, and IT services. Founded in 1938 as a trading company, Samsung entered the electronics industry in 1969, initially producing black-and-white televisions. Over the ensuing decades, it expanded rapidly into semiconductors, telecommunications, and advanced technologies, establishing itself as a leader in innovation and manufacturing[5]. Today, Samsung Electronics, the flagship subsidiary, produces a wide range of products, including smartphones, TVs, refrigerators, memory chips (DRAM, NAND flash), mobile processors, OLED panels, and automotive electronics through its Harman division[3][7]. The company is renowned for its Galaxy smartphone series, including foldables and flagship models, maintaining strong market share by integrating AI capabilities across devices and expanding its ecosystem with new form factors like extended reality (XR) and TriFold devices[1][4]. Samsung consistently ranks among the world’s most valuable brands, holding 5th place globally for six consecutive years with a brand value of $90.5 billion in 2025. This recognition reflects its leadership in AI innovation, customer experience integration, and strategic investments in AI-related semiconductors[1]. The company aims to make AI accessible to 400 million Galaxy devices within the year, emphasizing democratization of AI technology[1]. Financially, Samsung Electronics reported consolidated sales of approximately 86 trillion Korean won and an operating profit of around 12.1 trillion won for Q3 2025, showcasing robust profitability despite market challenges[2]. The Mobile eXperience segment notably increased revenue and profit through efficient resource management and a flagship-first sales strategy[4]. Samsung also prioritizes sustainability, targeting net zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030, increasing renewable energy use to 93.4% in key divisions, and incorporating recycled materials into 31% of plastic components as of 2024. It runs global e-waste collection programs to promote circular econom
