Asus ZenWatch 2 now on sale: Here's all you need to know

The Android Wear sequel comes in two sizes - find out more...
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The Asus ZenWatch 2, the much-murmured sequel to the Taiwanese company's debut Android Wear smartwatch, was officially unveiled at Computex in Taipei and is now on sale from the Google Store.

Read on for all the information about the Zenwatch 2...

Asus ZenWatch 2: Design and build

Like the Apple Watch, the ZenWatch 2 comes in two sizes - one measuring 49 x 41mm (model number WI501Q), with a 22mm strap, and a 45 x 37mm model (WI502Q), that sits on an 18mm strap.

The bigger one has a 320 x 320 resolution (278ppi), while the smaller version's ppi count of 273 is from a 280 x 280 panel.

Buyer's guide: The best Android Wear smartwatches

The frames of the new Android Wear options come in silver, dark grey and rose gold.

Asus ZenWatch 2 now on sale: Here's all you need to know

There are a plethora of strap options: a leather strap is available in khaki, brown, grey, blue and orange; there's a trio of stainless-steel link bracelets; and Asus has also teamed up with Swarovski for a leather strap with an embossed crystals.

The displays are the same 2.5D curved AMOLED ones that we saw on the original ZenWatch, covered in Gorilla Glass 3, and the only real design change is the addition of a standby button on the side, in the form of a watch dial.

Asus ZenWatch 2: Software

Running on Android Wear, the Zenwatch 2 also taps into Asus' existing smartwatch ecosystem with apps like FoneHelper, activity and fitness tracking with Asus Wellness, and Remote Camera all offer.

Remote Camera, which turns a smartwatch into an viewfinder, has been improved for the sequel with faster performance, more range, the ability to switch between the phone's front and rear cameras, and zoom skills.

Asus ZenWatch 2: Battery life

Earlier this year it was reported that the Asus ZenWatch 2 will boast a seven day battery life. Talking to reporters in Taiwan, the company's chairman Jonney Shih said, "As a companion device, its central processing unit and operating system should be more simplified than the current version, so that I can use it for up to seven days on one charge, rather than for just two days."

Wareable verdict: Asus ZenWatch review

However, the news is that, while the battery life has been boosted - we're looking at a life-cycle of around 2 days, not a full week. The bigger size option does come with a chargeback accessory for extra juice though, and charging is easier thanks to the new magnetic cable.

Asus ZenWatch 2: Hardware

The Asus ZenWatch 2 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and the water resistance has been bumped up to IP67, which means it can survive a 1m dunking for 30 minutes.

Asus ZenWatch 2: Price and release date

The Asus ZenWatch 2 is on sale now from the Google Store, priced at $149. There's no UK price as of yet.

We'll bring you a full review of the Asus ZenWatch 2 as soon as we've fully tested it.


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Paul Lamkin

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Wareable Media Group co-CEO Paul launched Wareable with James Stables in 2014, after working for a variety of the UK's biggest and best consumer tech publications including Pocket-lint, Forbes, Electric Pig, Tech Digest, What Laptop, T3 and has been a judge for the TechRadar Awards. 

Prior to founding Wareable, and subsequently The Ambient, he was the senior editor of MSN Tech and has written for a range of publications.


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