At the IFA 2014, Asus took the wraps of its first ever Android Wear based smartwatch called the Asus ZenWatch. This smartwatch will definitely be a competitor to similar devices such as the Moto 360, LG G Watch R and Samsung Gear Live that are also powered by the same platform.
The ZenWatch features a curved 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass 3 screen at the front and a stainless panel on its back providing its emphasis on style. Despite the use of high-quality components, the Asus smartwatch is priced at $199 that makes it attractive.
Unlike its competitors, the ZenWatch is special as the Android Wear is topped with Zen UI. The smartwatch is compatible with smartphones that run on Android 4.3 or higher and it comes with a 9 axis sensor. It is claimed that the wearable will service as a personal wellness manager with it is combined with the ZenUI Wellness app that enables it to capture calories burnt, steps taken, heart rate, activity duration, relaxation level and exercise intensity.
The features onboard the ZenWatch are Watch Unlock, that will automatically unlock the device, Find My Phone to help in locating the paired smartphone, Tap Tap, Remote Camera, Cover to Mute for the incoming calls and Presentation Control that will let it use as a remote control and time management tool. Also, the Zen UI applications such as Do It Later and What’s Next are also a part of the ZenWatch.
On the specifications front, the Asus ZenWatch arrives stuffed with a 1.63 inch AMOLED display that has a resolution of 320×320 pixels and a pixel density of 278 pixels per inch. This is powered by a 1.2 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor backed by 512 MB of RAM and 4 GB of native storage capacity. Also, the Asus smartwatch comes with a 1.4 Wh battery under its hood.
Connectivity wise, the wearable device features Bluetooth 4.0, micro USB and an in-built microphone. It also features the IP55 water resistant rating and features a reasonable form factor.
Key Specs
| Model | Asus ZenWatch |
| Display | 1.63 inch, 320×320 |
| Processor | 2.5 GHz Quad Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 |
| RAM | 512 MB |
| Internal Storage | 4 GB, Non-Expandable |
| OS | Android Wear |
| Camera | – |
| Battery | 1.4 Wh |
