Asus has revealed more details about its forthcoming ZenWatch 2 smartwatch at its press conference at IFA 2015.
The smartwatch was previously unveiled at Computex, so the specs won't be a surprise to hardened wearable watchers, but the Taiwanese company revealed that it will hit shelves in October for a very impressive €149.
The ZenWatch 2 comes in two sizes - one measuring 49 x 41mm with a 22mm strap, and a 45 x 37mm model with an 18mm strap. However, Asus revealed that the line-up will come in three colours and 18 different strap options, which Erik Hermanson, mobile marketing director, claimed to represent Asus' desire to help consumers “customise to the style and look that you want."
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The Asus ZenWatch 2 packs Android Wear, which has recently just undergone an update to work with iOS devices, but also packs a bunch of new software features. Asus has built in a bunch of apps on top of the Android Wear experience, including the Wellness app, which Hermanson claimed will boast “industry leading accuracy."
Messaging has also been targeted by Asus, which clearly feels that Android Wear needs a bit of spit and polish. ZenWatch Message brings direct messaging with emojis from the watch – and a new Smart Assistant app enables you to view more content from emails and calendar alerts.
The customisation theme continues with access to 50 different bespoke watch faces and a FaceDesigner app, that lets users import images to create custom designs.
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While early rumours hinted at 7 days of battery life, Asus only claims 2 hours. However, the ZenWatch 2 offers fast charging, that will juice up 50% of its battery in just 36 mins.
The ZenWatch 2 will be on sale in October for a highly competitive €149 – which roughly translates to $169. There's also set to be a Swarovski limited edition.
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James is the co-founder of Wareable, and he has been a technology journalist for 15 years.
He started his career at Future Publishing, James became the features editor of T3 Magazine and T3.com and was a regular contributor to TechRadar – before leaving Future Publishing to found Wareable in 2014.
James has been at the helm of Wareable since 2014 and has become one of the leading experts in wearable technologies globally. He has reviewed, tested, and covered pretty much every wearable on the market, and is passionate about the evolving industry, and wearables helping people achieve healthier and happier lives.