Alongside the arrival of the camera centric ZenFone Zoom in Malaysia, Asus is sweetening up the deal by also announcing the arrival of the ZenWatch 2 which is a second generation Android Wear device announced at Computex 2015. The ZenWatch 2 in particular is not the best smartwatch out there but it has a good balance between price and what you get in terms of hardware.
Asus ZenWatch 2 Key Specifications
1.63-inch or 1.45-inch AMOLED display
320 x 320 or 280 x 280 resolution
Snapdragon 400 SoC (8026)
512MB RAM
4GB memory
49.6 x 40.7 x 9.5mm (700g)
300/400mAh battery
IP67 certification
Just like all Android Wear devices, the ZenWatch 2 will also be compatible with an iPhone running iOS 7 and above in addition to supporting Android 4.3 and above devices. As for pricing, Asus Malaysia says the ZenWatch 2 starts at RM 649 and goes up to RM 899 for the fancier model with a metal strap. No official word as to when the ZenWatch 2 will be available for purchase but we'll update you on the details once it becomes available.
It looks like today is not only a Nexus day but Huawei has also surprised the crowd with the arrival of their first smartwatch into the Malaysian market. Introduced as the Huawei Watch earlier this year, this smartwatch from Huawei runs Google's Android Wear platform and will definitely pair up nicely with the just announced Nexus 6P which is also from Huawei and also other Android smartphone as well as the iPhone.
Huawei Watch specifications
1.4" AMOLED 400 x 400 display
Sapphire crystal cover glass
Snapdragon 400 processor
512MB of RAM
4GB memory
300mAh battery
42 x 42 x 11.3mm
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g
Bluetooth 4.1 LE
What sets aside the Huawei Watch from the competition is that is comes in a premium build that rivals both the Moto 360 and Samsung Gear S2. In addition to the round display, the Huawei Watch also has another thing up its sleeve and that is the cover glass protecting the circular display is actually sapphire crystal which is a stronger element than diamond. The Apple Watch (non-sport edition) also comes with a sapphire crystal display.
In terms of availability, Huawei Malaysia will be offering three versions of the Huawei Watch in Malaysia which is the stainless steel model with a stainless links bracelet (RM 1,799), another stainless steel model with a leather strap (RM 1,799) and the last one with a black plated stainless steel case with a black stainless steel links bracelet (RM 1,999).
Just like the Nexus 6P, the new Huawei Watch will also be available for purchase starting this Thursday (December 10) through Vmall. Sadly, there is no Nexus 6P and Huawei Watch bundle but if you buy the former, you will get a Chromecast for free
Earlier this year, Swiss watch maker Tag Heuer announced that they are partnering with both Intel and Google to create their first connected watch. Well, after the much anticipated wait, Tag Heuer officially unveiled the new Tag Heuer Connected smart watch that runs on Google's Android Wear platform and features a premium titanium frame with their signature precision lasered etchings.
On the front of this $1,500 Android Wear smartwatch is a 1.5" 360 x 360 circular display and as expected, powering Tag Heuer's first venture into the smartwatch world is an Intel processor (dual core 1.6GHz/500mHz) paired with 1GB of RAM, 4GB of storage, a 410mAh battery and the usual array of wireless connections.
In terms of the software experience, Tag Heuer says that customers will get their hands on some exclusive sports applications as well as three custom watch faces that is exclusive to the Tag Heuer Connected. The software and hardware has been tuned to make the watch portion of the device tick like an actual mechanical watch.
But if you are planning to get this smartwatch, it probably isn't about the Android Wear experience as it is able to do the basics like beam notification to your wrist and track steps but it does not have features like heart rate tracking. However, Tag Heuer is mostly selling this as a high end timepiece with the 'connected to eternity' hashtag but while this is probably the most expensive Android Wear smartwatch to date, it is considered affordable when you compare it to other watches from the company.
Despite the theme to get you connected to eternity, Tag Heuer has already got you covered if you think that the digital smartwatch experience is not to your liking. After two years, you will have the option to trade in your Tag Heuer Connected for a genuine Carrera mechanical watch for an extra $1,500 which is actually a pretty good deal since the price of a Carrera itself is well over $3,000.
In the mean time, Tag Heuer will start offering their new Connected watch to customers in the US starting today for $1,500 and expect to see it become available in other Tag Heuer shops worldwide in the coming weeks and months ahead. As referenced by the microsite, the Tag Heuer Connected will retail in Malaysia for MYR 6,100.
