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We tested the Bay Alarm Medical SOS Smartwatch and found that it offers good value, but lacks premium features.
Bay Alarm offers a number of great medical alert packages and plans, each one designed to protect seniors in a different way. Our favorite? Bay Alarm’s SOS Smartwatch.
Bay Alarm certainly didn’t invent the smartwatch, but smart watches were originally engineered with health and fitness in mind. No surprise, then, when Bay Alarm realized smartwatches also make for stylish medical alert devices.
When we tried out the SOS Smartwatch recently, we were impressed both by how responsive this device was to our health needs and how many built-in conveniences it included.
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 and the battery life is shorter than some competitors’. Ultimately, though, the device does its job effectively. It provides on-the-go protection, and it’s stylish and convenient. We think it makes an ideal accessory for any active senior.
Bay Alarm Medical has an impeccable reputation for protecting seniors. All of their systems feature reliable equipment and responsive monitoring. The SOS Smartwatch is no exception with a simple SOS button on the side you can press for immediate help. It also supports fall detection which automatically calls help if you fall and can’t push that button.the
Of course, almost every medical alert system includes these features. Unlike traditional systems, though, you can wear your smartwatch anywhere, so you’re always protected. Just press the SOS button and you can talk with Bay Alarm’s monitoring team using the watch’s two-way talk immediately. Then, they can dispatch emergency personnel directly to you using the watch’s GPS.
Of course, the SOS isn’t going to replace an Apple Watch. But then, that’s not really what it’s for. Its primary purpose is to keep you safe in the event of a medical emergency. It’s still stylish and comes with useful smartwatch features, though. That’s why it takes a spot on our list of best on-the-go medical alert systems.
Holding the Bay Alarm Medical smartwatch
Needless to say, the SOS Smartwatch costs a lot less than an Apple Watch. Like we said, though, it’s more apt to compare the SOS Smartwatch with other on-the-go medical alert systems. So, here’s how it compares to the SOS All-In-One 2, SOS Micro, and Medical Guardian’s MGMove.
SOS All-In-One 2 | SOS Micro | SOS Smartwatch | Medical Guardian MGMove Smartwatch | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | 72 hours | 36 hours | 16 hours | 24 hours |
Can be used at home | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
GPS location tracking | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Wi-Fi location tracking | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Fall detection | Yes (optional add-on) | Yes (optional add-on) | Yes (optional add-on) | Yes (optional add-on) |
Monthly fee | $44.95 (with fall detection) $34.95 (standard) |
$44.95 (with fall detection) $34.95 (standard) |
$49.95 (with fall detection) $39.95 (standard) |
$42.95 |
One-time equipment fee | $149 | $149 | $199 | $200 |
$200 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 $149. You’ll also pay more long-term since the monitoring fee is five dollars more.
In addition, we should point out that the Bay Alarm SOS Smartwatch costs exactly the same as Medical Guardian’s MGMove, but significantly less than the $299 UnaliWear Kanega Watch.
Bay Alarm offers all of its packages in two versions. You can get the standard version or, for an extra $10, add fall detection. Charging extra for this service is standard in the medical alert industry. The fact is that, while it can be a life-saving feature for some seniors, not everyone needs this extra protection. By making it an add-on, companies like Bay Alarm ensure that those who don’t need it don’t have to pay for it.
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.
If you choose the smartwatch, you can add a 360° Bundle for $25 a month extra. Basically, this bundle includes an in-home system in addition to the watch so you’re covered whether you’re at home or out and about. In addition, the 360° Bundle includes several accessories such as a lanyard, a wearable emergency button, and a wristband. As with all other Bay Alarm plans, you can also add Fall Detection.
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 | $49.95 per month |
|
SOS Smartwatch 360° Bundle | $64.95 per month |
|
Additional charger | $49 |
|
Lock box | $30 |
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Vial of Life kit | $8 |
|
Warranty plan | $2.95 per month |
|
If you’re looking for the capabilities you’d get from an Apple Watch or Samsung Galaxy Watch, the SOS is going to disappoint. Nevertheless, we found it came with a number of handy extras. It still has some smart watch features, including:
The SOS may not be as smart as an Apple Watch, but it comes with useful features aimed at keeping seniors safe. It also costs less than you’d pay for a regular smartwatch. It offers solid protection and convenience for the money.
Did You Know? Keeping track of your steps could save your life. Older adults who walk at least 4,500 steps per day lower their risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular events by over 75 percent.1 Every 500 steps beyond that is associated with even lower risks.
Features and specs offer one way of getting to know a medical alert device. Let’s talk a little about the experience of buying and using the SOS, though. We wore it for over two weeks. What was it like living with the Bay Alarm system day-to-day?
Holding the Bay Alarm Medical smartwatch
Bay Alarm Medical makes purchasing a system easy. They clearly lay out the main options on their pricing page to help you choose a system. Then, follow the four steps, adding any extras you want. Your total price updates on the right-hand side, which helped us stay within our budget. Finally, you’ll create an account, check out, and wait for your system to arrive.
Once we decided to buy the SOS Smartwatch plan with Fall Detection, we selected it, and Bay Alarm let us decide between monthly, quarterly, or annual payments. We’re used to getting a discount by paying for a longer plan upfront, but Bay Alarm only gives free shipping and a free month at most. That’s why we stuck with the monthly plan.
Next, we started selecting options to customize our kit. First up was selecting between a seven or eight-inch wristband size. We went with the large. Then, we added the lock box and Vial of Life kit. We put our house key in the lock box so emergency responders could get in during an emergency, and filled out the Vial of Life so they’d know our health conditions, too.
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 will note that we were a little put off by Bay Alarm’s delivery times. At checkout, we were told these average between four and six business days. We were disappointed to find that there aren’t any speedier options. More importantly, our equipment didn’t actually arrive in that time frame. It took over a week to get our boxes.
Before we did anything else, we plugged our SOS in to charge. The device came with a minimal charge, but we wanted to make sure it was full of juice before we put it through its paces. No problems there: the charger plugs into any standard outlet.
We were disappointed in the watch’s six to eight hour battery life. Most medical alert smart watches we’ve tested last between 16 and 24 hours. Other mobile wearables like emergency buttons and lanyards can go as long as 10 days between charges. Six to eight hours will cover you for a night out on the town or a shopping trip, but a full day event could leave you vulnerable.
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.
Monthly fees for 24/7 professional monitoring from Bay Alarm Medical start at $27.95 for a landline at-home system. On-the-go systems start at $34.95 per month. You can add fall detection for an extra $10 per month.
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.
American Heart Association. (2023). For older adults, every 500 additional steps taken daily associated with lower heart risk. https://newsroom.heart.org/news/for-older-adults-every-500-additional-steps-taken-daily-associated-with-lower-heart-risk