Asus ZenWatch smartwatch launching tomorrow in U.S.

Asus' first foray into the smartwatch world is the ZenWatch, and it's ready for launch.

The company has confirmed that its Android Wear-based device will launch tomorrow at Best Buy, and later in the Google Play Store for $199, making it the cheapest of the new smartwatches to hit the market.

While most of the specs and software are the same as other current devices, Asus is offering a classier (less sporty, less nerdy) design that actually looks somewhat similar to the announced Apple Watch with nice leather bands and a metal finish rather than plastic.

The full feature set:

Exquisitely-crafted using premium materials
-Sophisticated design enhanced by rose gold color layering
-Genuine stitched-leather watchband and quick-release clasp design
-100+ combination watch face choices to fit your mood and personality
-Vivid AMOLED display and Corning� Gorilla� Glass 3
Smart Companion
-Seamless ASUS ZenUI integration and enhanced functionality
-Automatically unlock your phone with ASUS ZenWatch
-Tap Tap and Find My Phone helps you locate your phone instantly if misplaced
-Simply cover ASUS ZenWatch with your hand to mute an incoming call
-ASUS Remote Camera frees users to take photos from creative angles where the viewfinder would be difficult to see.
-Presentation Control enables ZenWatch to be used as a remote control and time manager when giving a business presentation or lecture
Wellness manager
-Monitor and track a range of health-related statistics with the ASUS Wellness app
-Measures steps taken, calories burned, activity duration, heart rate, exercise intensity and relaxation level
-View an easy-to-understand relaxation score based on relaxation-level measurements

More info here.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 8 Nov 2014 23:58

SoTired

"The company has confirmed that its Android Wear-based device will launch tomorrow at Best Buy, and later in the Google Play Store for $199, making it the cheapest of the new smartwatches to hit the market."

The Microsoft Band is also $199, so I guess that would make the ZenWatch "tied for cheapest" of the new smartwatches.

Not sure how Afterdawn missed out on the news about the Band. There seems to be an article about every other smartwatch released in the last couple weeks, but the Band got no mention.

I've had one for a week. It's a nice device. It's clearly in its early stages, but is nice for what it does now, and there's a lot of potential for more as the software develops.

Personally, I think the watches that focus more on the "fitness band" aspect will be much more successful then those that focus on replacing the classic wristwatch (like the ZenWatch). The classic wristwatch is a piece of jewelry. The ZenWatch, Apple's iWatch or whatever it's called, etc., are reasonably nice looking, but I don't think the classic wristwatch crowd will see them as a replacement for wrist jewelry. I do believe the fitness crowd that may not otherwise wear a watch (like me) would be willing to wear a device that focuses more on 24-hour fitness functionality, while also offering notifications, etc., like the Band does. But we shall see.

9.11.2014 09:23 #1

hearme0

Asus = very cool

Asus Zenwatch and ANY OTHER NERDY, WEARABLE TECH = NOT COOL!

All you freaky nerds out there......do yourself and your social life a favor and don't geek out by wearing this garbage in public. While this one looks most 'mainstreamed' and most like an actual watch, it also seems to be the least feature rich.

WEARABLE TECH IS FOR DORKS!!

10.11.2014 14:09 #2

SoTired

Originally posted by hearme0: Asus = very cool

Asus Zenwatch and ANY OTHER NERDY, WEARABLE TECH = NOT COOL!

All you freaky nerds out there......do yourself and your social life a favor and don't geek out by wearing this garbage in public. While this one looks most 'mainstreamed' and most like an actual watch, it also seems to be the least feature rich.

WEARABLE TECH IS FOR DORKS!! I'm a dork. Thank goodness companies are catering to me!

10.11.2014 15:14 #3

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