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We tested the Bay Alarm Medical SOS Smartwatch and found that it offers good value, but lacks premium features.
Updated January 17, 2025
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From the beginning, smartwatches were engineered to include health and fitness applications. In recent years, the medical alert community has recognized the potential such devices have for providing seniors with forward-thinking health monitoring options. Medical alert smartwatches typically feature fewer high-tech apps, but they offer a stylish option for older adults who want protection on the go. Natural synergy.
We took Bay Alarm Medical’s SOS Smartwatch out for a test drive recently and quickly discovered that it’s one of the better medical alert products on the market. OK, so it’s not an Apple Watch. Only Apple Watches are Apple Watches. This device does offer extras like GPS tracking, and quick response times in the event of an emergency. And, oh yeah, the SOS is also a whole lot cheaper than an Apple Watch.
Bay Alarm Medical smartwatch in box
Pro Tip: Check out our list of the best medical alert systems to compare Bay Alarm’s devices against some of the most well-known and trusted brands in the industry.
Are there downsides to the SOS? Sure. Automatic fall protection costs extra, for instance, and this watch’s battery life is a bit shorter than some competitors’. Still, at $159, it’s at least $40 cheaper than most of those competitors. Reliability at this price is something we don’t come across a lot, and it’s the key reason why we recommend the SOS so highly.
The SOS Smartwatch is designed to provide seniors with protection in case of medical emergencies. A prominent SOS button along the side summons emergency services anytime you need it. Users prone to accidental falls can add fall detection for a small additional monthly fee. In short, it’s a medical alert system.
Unlike traditional systems that only provide users with home security, the SOS offers peace of mind when you’re on the go. To that end, it includes features like GPS tracking and two-way communication. IIndoors, outdoors, shopping downtown, away to the beach, you’re covered in the event of any serious medical event.
It is not – not – a piece of tech to rival the iWatch. It’s not designed to be. It’s designed to keep seniors safe even when they’re roaming, and it can go toe-to-toe with the best on-the-go medical alert systems.
Holding the Bay Alarm Medical smartwatch
We mentioned that the SOS is far cheaper than a high-tech top-of-the-line smartwatch. It’s probably more useful, though, to compare its price to other Bay Alarm products. Here’s how Bay Alarm’s Medical SOS Smartwatch compares to the company’s SOS All-In-One 2 and SOS Mobile.
| SOS All-In-One 2 | SOS Mobile | SOS Smartwatch | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 72 hours | 6 days | 16 hours |
| Can be used at home | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| GPS location tracking | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi location tracking | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fall detection | Yes (optional add-on) | Yes (optional add-on) | Yes (optional add-on) |
| Monthly fee | $49.95 (with fall detection)
$39.95 (standard) |
$39.95 (with fall detection)
$29.95 (standard) |
$44.95 (with fall detection)
$34.95 (standard) |
| One-time equipment fee | $129 | $79 | $159 |
$159 is certainly not pocket change for most of us, and it’s worth noting that the SOS Smartwatch is more expensive than the SOS All-In-One 2, at $129. Keep in mind, though, that you’ll pay less over time with the SOS, since it makes use of Bay Alarm’s standard monitoring and fall detection plans.
In addition, we should point out that the Bay Alarm SOS Smartwatch is more affordable than Medical Guardian’s MGMove, which costs $199.95 (with a monthly fee of $39.95). It also costs less than the UnaliWear Kanega Watch, which costs $299 (with a monthly fee of $69.95).
Of course, there are some caveats, like that 16-hour battery life. Most mobile alert systems can last at least 24-hours, so users can charge them overnight and wear them throughout the day. With the SOS Smartwatch, remembering to recharge is crucial. The battery life might even deteriorate over time or when you add add-on features such as fall detection. More on that next.
Fall detection isn’t standard with an SOS Smartwatch, but to be fair, not everyone needs fall detection. With a Bay Alarm Medical SOS Smartwatch, you can subscribe to two plans in addition to the standard pricing. Of course, falls can be dangerous, and if you’re prone to falls, fall detection can be life-saving. Any time you fall – even if you’re unconscious or unable to reach your medical device – you can be sure someone’s on the way with help. You can add Fall Detection to your monitoring plan for a reasonable fee if it’s an add-on you think you need.
Pro Tip: If fall detection is a priority for you, check out our list of the best medical alert systems with fall detection to see how Bay Alarm stacks up against the competition.
The 360° Bundle costs $25 extra, but it comes with optional automatic fall detection as well as in-home protection. The plan offers several accessories, including a neck lanyard, a wearable button, and a wristband.
Holding extra pendant for Bay Alarm Medical home device
Here’s an overview of the add-on equipment Bay Alarm Medical offers.
| Add-on equipment | Cost | Features and functionality |
|---|---|---|
| SOS Smartwatch With Fall Detection | $44.95 per month |
|
| SOS Smartwatch 360° Bundle | $59.95 per month |
|
| Additional charger | $49 |
|
| Lock box | $30 |
|
| Vial of Life kit | $8 |
|
| Warranty plan | $2.95 per month |
|
We’ve tried to temper your expectations about the SOS as a smartwatch. If you’re expecting it to perform like a Samsung Galaxy Watch or a Fitbit Versa, you’re going to be disappointed. That said, this little device does come with some pretty nifty features. After all, it does deserve the name smartwatch. Here’s just a sampling of the extra you get with the SOS.
Even for a medical alert system, we think the SOS could use one or two additional features. How many times can we say it? This isn’t an Apple Watch, but it might be nice if it included an integrated caregiver app, for instance. Still, the SOS offers convenience in addition to safety. It’s also worth remembering that it’s about $650 cheaper than an Apple Watch, so there’s that.
We can talk in the abstract about the Bay Alarm Medical SOS Smartwatch all day, but that’s not going to give you a sense of how well this device operates day-to-day as a medical alert system. So let’s talk just a bit about what our experience of using the smartwatch was like.
Holding the Bay Alarm Medical smartwatch
Bay Alarm makes it simple to purchase the Medical SOS Smartwatch and all of its systems and packages. It’s easy to navigate the company’s website, and when it comes to the smartwatch, you can press the big “Buy Now” button. The website even includes an instant messaging customer service app, so you can ask any questions you have about this or other products.
Clicking “Buy Now” led to two additional steps. One allowed us to choose the service we wanted (the SOS Smartwatch was preselected) and the second let us pick from three packages (Standard, Fall Detection, and the 360° Bundle).
We selected the Fall Detection plan, and we were able to select one of the three billing options: monthly, quarterly, or annually. All three have the same monthly price, which surprised us. The quarterly plan comes with free shipping and the annual plan comes with a free month, but we’re used to getting discounts when we pay more up front. We liked that there were two wristband sizes to choose from. The standard size is for wrists up to 7 inches, and the large size is for wrists up to 8 inches.
Pro Tip: If the Bay Alarm Medical smartwatch doesn’t have you convinced, check out our review of the best medical alert systems worn as watches. Surprisingly, the Apple Watch landed on our list, but you’ll have to read the article to find out why.
We were then offered various accessories, including an additional charger, a lock box, and a Vial of Life kit. The next page asked us to sign up for a warranty for $2.95 a month. Finally, we were able to sign up and enter the information needed to make the purchase.
As we got closer to the checkout process, things got weird. Bay Alarm Medical advertises everywhere that shipping is free with certain plans, and the plan we chose should have granted us that. We weren’t able to make it work though. We tried contacting customer support, but we didn’t hear from them until it was too late.
To make matters worse, we could not figure out how to check out with all our devices. We had to order each one separately, which meant paying for shipping twice.
The cherry on top was waiting for our packages. Bay Alarm Medical estimates that shipping will take between four and six business days, but we didn’t get our devices for over a week.
Since we mentioned customer service, we should add that Bay Alarm Medical’s support is on the slow side. You can contact them by phone, email, and chat, but each method has specific office hours.
Pro Tip: Use our medical alert system buying guide to find out what you should look for in a device. It covers the features to consider, average cost breakdowns, company reviews, and what equipment is best.
If you work full time and can’t get a moment outside of your tasks, you may need to send an email and wait. We should note that the customer-support hours and experience are different from the 24/7 help the emergency call center offers. That was much better, in our opinion.
Upon arrival, the battery for the SOS Smartwatch was mostly charged, at 85 percent, so we were able to start setting it up right away.
Since we put in our medical information when buying the smartwatch, we didn’t need to re-enter it.
Upon putting on the watch, we instantly tested the response button. After holding the SOS button for five seconds, we had to wait for 16 seconds to get in contact with Bay Alarm Medical’s monitoring agents.
That response time is par for the course with most medical smartwatches, although the waiting period may be up to 50 seconds. That’s less than other medical smartwatches, such as UnaliWear, which has a waiting period of up to 66 seconds.
FYI: Most monitored on-the-go medical alert systems come with GPS. Read our review of the best medical alert systems that use GPS to pick the most accurate device on the market.
The fall-detection sensor also worked very efficiently. We tested it for a week, and it became more accurate over time.
The Bay Alarm Medical SOS Smartwatch currently does not come with an app for family members and caregivers to track you. The company’s website says that its team is working on an app, but the fact that it isn’t currently available is the device’s biggest flaw.
If you’re looking for a medical smartwatch on a budget, the Bay Alarm Medical SOS Smartwatch is a good choice. The device works exactly as advertised, but don’t expect much else from it. The fall detection was accurate during our testing, and the watch fit comfortably, never feeling too tight or loose.
The lack of apps outside of weather and steps leaves a bit to be desired, and the fact that Bay Alarm Medical hasn’t set up a tracking app for caregivers yet may steer you away. If you want to look for something more fashionable or from a name brand — and you don’t mind paying more to get more accessories — we recommend an Apple Watch.
If you have an older family member who doesn’t care about fancy tech and just needs an emergency system they can wear on their wrist, the SOS Smartwatch will do the trick.
Bay Alarm Medical is powered by 4G LTE cellular data. Depending on your area, the watch runs on either AT&T or Verizon.
That depends on what you’re looking for in a medical watch. The Bay Alarm Medical SOS Smartwatch has a simpler user interface and an easier learning curve. It’s also cheaper. The Medical Guardian smartwatch has more abilities for its wearers to play around with, including calendar alerts and messaging apps, and it has a tracking app that allows caregivers to track you.
After the up-front fee of $159, you’ll pay $34.95 a month to continue using Bay Alarm Medical’s services. If you want the trusty fall detection with your watch, you’ll have to pay an extra $10 a month. That isn’t bad, but we’d prefer it included with the monitoring fee.
No, Medicare usually doesn’t cover Bay Alarm Medical devices. Medicare generally doesn’t cover any medical alert systems, regardless of the company.
Yes, to a point. You probably wouldn’t want to take your SOS Smartwatch with you for a swim, but it offers protection from rainwater and you can use the device while showering, which is one of the times you need it most.
