Touchscreen vs. Buttons: Why the Swimming Smartwatch Needs Physical Controls

Swimming smartwatches are essential for tracking performance in the pool, whether it's measuring lap times, monitoring heart rate, or tracking your intervals. While many modern smartwatches come with sleek touchscreens, these often fail to provide the reliability swimmers need.

If you've ever used a touchscreen smartwatch while swimming, you know how frustrating it can be when the screen doesn’t respond or when phantom touches throw off your workout data.

In this article, we’ll explore why a swimming smartwatch with physical buttons is a much better choice for swimmers who want accurate, dependable, and uninterrupted performance.

The Problem with Touchscreens Underwater

How Touchscreens Fail in Water

Touchscreen smartwatches rely on capacitive technology, which senses the electrical charge from your finger to detect input. While this works perfectly in dry conditions, water introduces a problem.

Water, particularly salt or chlorinated water, conducts electricity, interfering with the touchscreen’s ability to detect touch. This leads to two main issues for swimmers:

• Unresponsive Screens: The screen may not register your touch, leaving you unable to control your smartwatch mid-swim.
• Phantom Touches: Water can trigger the screen, causing the watch to pause or stop your workout without you intending it.

For swimmers who rely on precise timing and data during training, this is a major problem. Inaccurate or unreliable data is not only frustrating, but it also affects the quality of your workout tracking.

"Water Lock Mode": Is It Enough for Your Swimming Smartwatch?

What Is Water Lock Mode?

Many swimming smartwatches come with a feature called “Water Lock Mode” to prevent accidental touches in the water. This mode disables the touchscreen, so it doesn’t register any inputs. While it can prevent phantom touches, it also comes with drawbacks.

The Limitations of Water Lock Mode

The main issue with Water Lock Mode is that it restricts your ability to interact with the watch during your swim. You cannot pause your session, record lap splits, or change settings while swimming.

For swimmers who need to track specific data or adjust settings in real-time, this is a significant inconvenience.

Additionally, unlocking the screen once you’re out of the water can be time-consuming, often requiring multiple steps. This interruption disrupts your flow and could lead to inaccurate data.

Impact on Training

When you're in the middle of a high-intensity swim set, stopping to unlock the screen or being unable to record a lap split can break your rhythm. This not only disrupts your focus but could also lead to missed data or inaccurate tracking of your performance.

Why Swimming Smartwatches with Physical Buttons Offer More Control

Reliable Feedback You Can Feel

The key advantage of a swimming smartwatch with physical buttons is the tactile feedback they provide. When you press a physical button, you feel a "click," giving you immediate confirmation that the action has been registered.

This is crucial for swimmers because it confirms that the command has been accepted, even underwater. With touchscreens, you can’t always be sure if your touch was registered, especially underwater, but physical buttons provide certainty.

You don't need to look at the screen or second-guess whether the command was accepted.

Control Without Interrupting Your Swim Flow

For swimmers, maintaining focus and rhythm during a workout is crucial. Physical buttons allow you to perform essential actions, such as starting or stopping the timer, recording lap splits, and tracking intervals, without having to break your stroke or lift your head to look at the watch.

This keeps your swim rhythm intact, allowing you to stay focused on the workout without unnecessary breaks or interruptions.

Uninterrupted Performance in Any Water Condition

Physical buttons are not affected by water's conductivity, meaning they work perfectly in wet conditions. Whether you're swimming in a pool, ocean, or even in saltwater, physical buttons remain consistent.

This ensures you can track every part of your swim accurately without worrying about water-based interference affecting the watch's performance.

KOSPET TANK M4: A Reliable Swimming Smartwatch with Physical Buttons

The KOSPET TANK M4 is a perfect example of a swimming smartwatch with physical buttons that works well underwater.

With 10 ATM water resistance and IP69K certification, this watch is designed for swimmers, divers, and athletes who need reliable, accurate tracking during water-based activities. 

The physical buttons on the TANK M4 provide precise control for tasks like recording lap splits, pausing workouts, and tracking intervals. You can trust the buttons to work without interruption, even when submerged.

also read: Top Sports Watches for Men Waterproof for Swimming

How Physical Buttons Benefit Swimmers

Accuracy in Tracking Data

For swimmers who rely on data to improve performance, accuracy is essential. Physical buttons ensure that your lap times, interval splits, and pacing are recorded correctly.

Unlike touchscreens that might fail to register your input underwater, physical buttons provide immediate and reliable feedback. This makes physical buttons the best choice for those who rely on accurate, real-time feedback during their swim.

Durability and Long-Term Use

Physical buttons are far more durable than touchscreens, especially when exposed to water. A touchscreen may degrade over time, especially when exposed to water regularly, causing it to lose sensitivity or malfunction.

Physical buttons, on the other hand, are built to withstand water pressure, wear, and repeated use. They’ll keep performing reliably throughout the life of the smartwatch, offering long-term value for swimmers.

No Disruptions to Your Focus

One of the most important aspects of training is maintaining focus and rhythm. When you use a smartwatch with physical buttons, you can control your device without breaking your stroke or taking your eyes off the water.

Whether you're tracking lap splits, intervals, or pace, the physical buttons let you do all this while staying focused on your swim. This is crucial for swimmers who want to improve their performance without interruptions.

Touchscreen vs. Physical Buttons for Swimming Smartwatches

Conclusion

Choosing the right swimming smartwatch comes down to reliability and performance. While touchscreens may look sleek and modern, they often fail when submerged in water, causing frustration and unreliable data tracking. 

For swimmers, a swimming smartwatch with physical buttons provides seamless control, keeps your focus on the workout, and ensures that your data is tracked accurately.

Don’t settle for a touchscreen that may fail mid-session — opt for a watch with physical buttons to get the most out of your swim.

FAQs:

What is the minimum water resistance rating required for swimming?

You need at least 5 ATM (50 meters of water resistance). This rating ensures the watch can withstand pool swimming and surface water pressure. However, 5 ATM does not protect against hot showers, steam, or deep-sea diving.

Should I choose a touchscreen or physical buttons for accurate lap counting?

Physical buttons are generally superior. Touchscreens are prone to malfunction and ghost touches when wet. Dedicated buttons offer reliable, immediate tactile feedback, which is crucial for accurately logging splits and controlling structured swim intervals.

How reliable is the heart rate monitoring on a smart watch while swimming?

The watch's built-in heart rate monitoring is often inaccurate underwater due to water flow interference. For competitive athletes requiring precise data, it is recommended to pair the smart watch with a compatible external chest strap monitor.