The Noise ALT Watch 1 enters a market where brands are now trying to sell an experience, and Noise wants you to buy into a design-first ecosystem backed by artificial intelligence (AI). Whether it be AI-generated watch faces or smart summaries in the mornings, the device tries hard to live up to the motto, ‘this is not just another smartwatch.’ Naturally, that also raises expectations, as when a brand talks extensively about AI and positions a product as a more premium alternative, we expect the experience to justify the claims beyond a presentation slide. So without any further ado, let’s deep dive and check if Noise was able to deliver what it marketed.
I used the Noise ALT Watch 1 as my daily companion for some time, and I came away with mixed but largely positive impressions. The Noise ALT Watch 1 surprised me in areas I did not expect, particularly with its display, notification handling, app experience, and health-tracking reliability. However, I too have a few complaints with the device, and some of them are in a critical department. So, the question is whether those compromises matter enough to keep it off your wrist. Let’s check it out.
The first thing I noticed when I unboxed the Noise ALT Watch 1 was its circular design, which gives it a more traditional look than the square alternatives. But, beyond the looks, once I started using it regularly, I realised that the build quality did not completely match the premium image that Noise was trying to project. At Rs 5,999, I expected something that felt a little more solid in hand. Despite featuring a metal body with an anodised aluminium bezel, the watch leans towards a plastic-heavy feel that occasionally reminds you of its price category.
That does not mean the Noise ALT Watch 1 feels poorly built. It is sturdy enough for daily use and never feels fragile, but the issue is more about perception. The marketing and design language suggest a premium experience, but the physical hardware does not always reinforce that impression.
I also took a fair amount of time to get used to the unusual crown placement. I am used to watches with a more traditional positioning of the crown, which is more towards the centre. However, this is a personal preference, and many people may not notice it at all. Also, the crown works fine for the most part. It’s just sometimes I felt that moving through the interface was not as smooth as I expected.
I found the Noise ALT Watch 1’s display to be quite impressive, albeit with a minor hiccup. On the good side, the 1.32-inch AMOLED panel is bright, sharp, and extremely easy to read outdoors. During my time with the watch, visibility under direct sunlight was excellent. Whether I was checking notifications, looking at fitness stats, or simply glancing at the time while outside, the display remained clear and readable.
Honestly, this is the kind of thing that most budget and even mid-range smartwatches just don’t manage to get right, so it’s genuinely nice to see Noise nail it. On top of that, the display barely picked up any dust or smudges, unlike most other watches I’ve tried in this price range.
I also put it through a proper stress test by wearing it during the daily chaos of Delhi Metro crowds, and honestly, I was a little surprised that the screen came out without a single scratch. That’s no small thing, especially since other watches I’ve tested in the same conditions ended up with quite a few scratches by comparison.
As for the ‘minor hiccup’ I earlier mentioned, I found the brightness adjustment of the device to be a bit finicky. There were occasions when the automatic brightness took slightly longer than expected to adapt to changing lighting conditions, or it never adapted unless set manually. While it was not frequent enough to become frustrating, it happened often enough for me to notice.
That said, the display still remains one of the strongest reasons to consider the ALT Watch 1. If you spend a lot of time outdoors, you are likely to appreciate what this panel offers.
Comfort was where my experience became a little mixed, as throughout the day, the Noise ALT Watch 1 remained comfortable enough for extended wear. It never felt excessively bulky, and I was able to work, walk, and go about my routine without constantly noticing it on my wrist.
However, as I always say, the silicone strap is not my favourite type, and my judgement remains the same with the Noise ALT Watch 1. The strap tends to accumulate sweat during prolonged use, especially in the current heat of Delhi. Furthermore, with time, this makes the watch feel less comfortable than it otherwise would, and I also noticed that sweat would occasionally build up around the sensor area, requiring me to clean both the strap and the watch more frequently.
I was also let down a bit while using the Noise ALT Watch 1 during the night. I usually sleep with smartwatches on purpose, since it’s the only real way to test sleep tracking and see how comfortable a device actually is over long hours. I’ve done this with quite a few other watches without any issues, but the ALT Watch 1 just didn’t sit right on my wrist at night. A few times, I genuinely felt like taking it off before bed instead of just leaving it on.
Now, this could come down to wrist size or personal preference, so your experience might be different. But for me, it didn’t make the cut as a comfortable overnight wearable.
Health tracking is probably the most important thing on any smartwatch these days, especially with brands pouring so much money into getting this right. The good news is that the ALT Watch 1 actually holds up well here. I tested it while walking, doing light jogging, and during my regular workouts, and the results were mostly the same each time.
The heart rate readings were quite accurate throughout most of the test period, and my SpO₂ measurements were also in line with my expectations. Sleep tracking proved to be accurate at depicting my sleep cycle, while the number of steps recorded was somewhat closer to the real thing.
Is the data lab-grade accurate? No. Would I trust it on a daily basis for fitness tracking purposes? Yes, certainly. In my opinion, the watch should be considered a tool for fitness and everyday monitoring, rather than one that provides absolutely accurate information. The readings may not always be precise, yet they are still accurate enough to follow your progress in terms of fitness level.
One of the most pleasant surprises during my time with the Noise ALT Watch 1 was the software experience. Connecting the watch via the NoiseFit application has been both fast and easy. I tried pairing it with an Android phone at first, and the process was lightning fast. Then I also tried connecting it to an iPhone and had the same nice experience.
Many people often forget about cross-device compatibility, which can be very useful in case someone switches their devices or simply owns several phones. The application itself is easy to use and offers fast access to all kinds of data and health information. I didn’t experience any problems during my testing phase, and the connection was steady all the time.
The performance of a smartwatch is determined by its ability to perform common tasks, notifications being one of them. Luckily for us, ALT Watch 1 has done great here.
The notifications came promptly and without delay, regardless of whether the battery was low or if the device had entered the power-saving mode. Such stability made this watch a practical companion all throughout the day, as I didn’t feel the urge to pull out my phone to check on the notifications coming in.
Bluetooth calls have been mostly positive, with decent voice clarity and no issues reported by callers hearing me. On my end, the sound quality was good at normal volume levels. However, I did notice some problems when the volume was turned up to the maximum. At full volume, the caller’s voice began to crackle and buzz, as though it was being over-amplified.
Noise marketed the ALT Watch 1 as an AI-focused smartwatch. But honestly, it didn’t live up to the hype for me. The morning briefs did show basic stuff like weather and temperature, but that’s about it, as nothing here felt unique or particularly useful.
The AI watch faces and the AI companion app left me disappointed too. I won’t go as far as calling these features completely useless, but they’re nowhere near the level Noise made them out to be. What I can say is they are eye-catching.
Long story short, the marketing made them seem much more impressive than they actually are, and this creates a noticeable gap between what is promised and what you get in real use. In my view, it is better to see these AI features as small extras rather than the main reason to buy the smartwatch. If you do that, you will probably have a better overall experience.
Battery performance is one of the most interesting aspects of the Noise ALT Watch 1 because your experience can vary dramatically depending on your settings. Under default configurations with many advanced tracking features disabled, the battery performs very well. In that scenario, I can understand how users might approach the brand’s claimed battery figures.
The problem is that most people buy a smartwatch to actually use its features. Once I enabled the Always-On Display and activated regular health tracking, battery life dropped significantly. In my usage, the watch typically lasted around two and a half days before requiring a recharge.
That is not terrible, but it is also not exceptional. It means you need to pay attention to battery levels and keep the charger nearby, especially if you rely on the watch heavily.
Charging from 0 to 100 per cent took approximately 82 minutes in my testing, which is acceptable for this category. If your goal is maximum battery life of 21 days, as claimed by the brand, then you can certainly achieve it by limiting features. However, if you’re using everything the watch offers, then don’t expect anything impressive.
Another area where I felt that Noise could have done a better job with the ALT Watch 1 is the customisation part of the watch faces. Though the available watch faces look fine, and there is a decent selection to choose from, I felt it lagging when compared with the other watches in the same price bracket.
One of the features that I particularly missed was the ability to customise colours on certain static watch faces. While it may sound like a minor detail, these small personalisation options make a smartwatch feel more personal and unique.
Also, it’s not a major flaw, and it certainly does not affect daily usability, but it is an area where I hope that Noise gives its users more flexibility with future software updates.
The Noise ALT Watch 1 is a smartwatch that gets many fundamentals right while simultaneously reminding you that it is still a first-generation product within a new lineup.
The display is excellent, notifications are reliable, along with the polished software experience and more.
At the same time, the watch is not without shortcomings, as the silicone strap may not be comfortable for everyone. Moreover, the build quality feels less premium than the design suggests, along with the average battery life and speakers.
Despite those criticisms, I would not call the Noise ALT Watch 1 a bad smartwatch. Far from it. If you are looking for a smartwatch with a bright display, dependable notifications, good software support, and health tracking that is accurate enough for everyday use, the ALT Watch 1 makes a compelling case for itself, especially at a price point of Rs 5,999.