boAt Wave Arcade Review: Large Curved Display with BT Calling
In this blog, we will talk about the boAt Wave Arcade smartwatch.
It is one of boAt’s most affordable smartwatches, which comes with a large display, Bluetooth calling function, and a metallic frame.
Additionally, it boasts a range of features that place it among the top smartwatches in its category.
Through this comprehensive review of the boAt Wave Arcade, we will delve into all the details and determine whether it is a suitable choice for you.
boAt Wave Arcade Review
Bottom Line
The boAt Wave Arcade provides a good display and build quality, as well as a decent calling experience.
It is a feature-packed smartwatch, and if we consider all its features, it is a worth-considering option, provided it falls in the under 2000 rupees segment of smartwatches.
Pros
- Premium aluminum design
- Decent calling experience
- Lock screen
- Quick Reply
Cons
- Thick bezels
- No option to transfer or mute calls
boAt Wave Arcade Specs
| Display | 1.81-inch |
| Resolution | 240×284 px |
| AMOLED display | No |
| Sports modes | 100+ |
| Watch faces | 100+ |
| Voice assistant | Yes |
| Heart rate monitoring | Yes |
| Spo2 monitoring | Yes |
| Blood pressure monitoring | No |
| Step counter | Yes |
| Bluetooth calling | Yes |
| In-built GPS | No |
| Durability | IP68 |
| Quick reply | Yes |
| Emoji support | No |
| Music Storage | No |
| Wake gesture | Yes |
| Always-on display | No |
| In-built games | Yes |
| Calculator | Yes |
| Camera control | Yes |
| Music control | Yes |
| Battery life | Up to 5 days |
Design & Build Quality
The design of the boAt Wave Arcade is visually appealing.
On one side of the smartwatch, you see a function button, while the other is equipped with a mic and speaker.
On the back, you will find a charging port and various sensors.
In addition to its attractive design, the build quality of the boAt Wave Arcade left a strong impression on me.
This smartwatch comes with a metallic frame which provides you with a solid build quality; although the backside is made of plastic, but the quality is quite good.
And the silicone straps have been given in it, which you can replace with any 22mm quick-release strap.
Their quality is very good, and it does not cause skin irritation at all.
To sum up, the boAt Wave Arcade lives up to expectations in terms of design and build quality; you should go for it if these aspects are of utmost to you.
Display & UI
The boAt Wave Arcade flaunts a 1.81-inch HD display, making it one of the largest display smartwatches out there.
It comes with a resolution of 240×284 px, which is capable of providing you with better quality.
Although it does not have an AMOLED display, if you want, just look at these top AMOLED display smartwatches.
One more thing I like about it is that it has a brightness of 550 nits, so you will have no problem using it in outdoor conditions.
However, I was disappointed with one thing it has slightly thick bezels, which affects the experience of using it somewhere.
Regarding its user interface, you can access the control panel by swiping down and the notification panel by swiping up.
Swiping left brings you to the widget section while swiping right takes you to the menu.
In short, I am pleased with the user experience of the boAt Wave Arcade.
It has a smooth, lag-free interface, and the wake gestures also function well.
Watch Faces
You will find over 100 cloud-based watch faces on the boAt Wave Arcade smartwatch, which you can install via its companion app.
But the interesting thing is that this smartwatch has about 20 built-in watch faces which you can change on the go.
The app allows you to create custom watch faces where you can add other elements and use your own images.
Bluetooth Calling & Notifications
boAt Wave Arcade is a Bluetooth-calling smartwatch with a single-chip Bluetooth function.
This feature allows you to make calls without connecting separately via Bluetooth.
As for the quality of the microphone and speaker, the boAt Wave Arcade smartwatch provides a decent experience.
It may struggle in crowded places but generally performs well in indoor conditions.
It has the ability to save up to 50 contacts, which is a convenient feature compared to the typical limit of 10 contacts on most smartwatches.
Unfortunately, it does not have the option to transfer or mute calls, which is a bit of a disappointment.
In that case, you can take a look at these top smartwatches with internal storage that allow you to save countless contacts.
Apart from this, you also get SMS and social media notifications, which you can customize from its app.
One notable feature of the boAt Wave Arcade smartwatch is that it allows you to reply to notifications, which is not common among smartwatches in this price range.
Health Monitoring
In boAt Wave Arcade, you get to see a heart rate monitor, SpO2 monitor, stress monitor, and sleep monitor, which work with great accuracy.
I also compared them with medical equipment and got pretty accurate results.
To summarize, the boAt Wave Arcade is generally capable of providing accurate health monitoring, although there may be occasional inaccuracies.
Sports Modes
boAt has provided a lot of good features for fitness enthusiasts in this Wave Arcade smartwatch.
It supports more than 100 sports modes, including Ballet, Darts, Frisbee, Line Skating, Curling, Hockey, Archery, and Cross Country Skiing.
And since it’s also IP68 water resistant, you’ll be able to use it while swimming.
Off-topic, If you are an avid athlete, the following guides will help you find the perfect sports companion.
Battery Life & Charging
According to the company, the boAt Wave Arcade smartwatch has a battery life of approximately seven days, but it lasts for about five days in normal use.
If you use the Bluetooth calling feature, it will last for approximately two days.
This smartwatch does not support fast charging and takes about 2 hours to charge fully.
For more, also check out this helpful guide on how to improve smartwatch battery life.
App Functionalities
You can connect the boAt Wave Arcade smartwatch to your phone with the help of the boAt Wearables app.
This app allows you to analyze all your health and fitness data in one place.
In addition, you can use it to install watch faces, customize smartwatch settings, or set your fitness goals.
Other Features
Other notable features of the boAt Wave Arcade smartwatch include a built-in calculator and games, as well as the ability to control your phone’s camera and music player.
Additionally, the boAt Wave Arcade smartwatch has a Find Device feature that vibrates and plays the ringtone, making it more useful and enjoyable to use.
Who Should Consider And Who Shouldn’t
The boAt Wave Arcade smartwatch may be a good option for those with a limited budget who want a calling smartwatch with a square display.
Here are some more limited budget guides to consider:
However, if you prioritize premium features such as an AMOLED display or GPS, you may want to consider other options.
You can refer to The Best Smartwatches with GPS or The Best Smartwatches with Alexa smartwatch guides instead.
Related Smartwatch Guides:
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- Ambrane Wise Glaze Review: Low Budget Smartwatch with AMOLED Display
- Fire-Boltt Rise Review: Bezel-less Display and Premium Build