The top wearable tech that will land in time for Christmas
2014 has been a mega year for wearable tech and, in the last couple of months, we’ve seen some bumper launches as brands gear up (quite literally in Samsung’s case) for the Christmas wearables boom that’s predicted.
Devices such as the LG G Watch R, the Garmin Forerunner 920XT and the Misfit Flash have raised the bar in their respective categories and we’re not surprised that wearable tech sales are set to top 50 million by the end of the year.
But there’s still some great devices still to drop before the fat man slides down your chimney. Here’s our pick of the top wearable tech still to come in 2014…
Jawbone UP3
The Jawbone UP3 is the natural successor to the Jawbone UP24 band and boasts an advanced multi-sensor platform that includes a newly designed tri-axis accelerometer, bioimpedance sensors, as well as skin and ambient temperature sensors – its makers claim it is the “the most advanced activity tracker known to man”.
Unlike the Fitbit Charge HR, there’s no optical heart rate sensor, but it is capable of recording perspiration, body mass index and hydration – so Jawbone potentially has unrivalled personal body data on its, or rather your, hands.
£149.99 / $179.99, jawbone.com
Razer Nabu
We’ve been waiting for the Razer Nabu for about a year now and, fortunately, this dual-screened fitness tracker still seems innovative enough to be worth looking out for. As well as counting all your steps, calories, floors climbed, distance travelled and hours slept, the Nabu brings pretty much all the notifications you’d expect from a smartwatch too.
You’ll get buzzed about Facebook, Twitter, Skype and the rest on the inside of your wrist so that it doesn’t draw attention from the person that you’re pretending to listen to in real life.
$TBC, razerzone.com
Samsung Gear VR
Powered by Oculus technology, the Samsung Gear VR is a gaming headset that allows people with a Galaxy Note 4 to get more from their mobiles. It’s an HMD with a slot at the front where you pop your phone. That gives you a magnified version of the app experience right up to your eyeballs in a 96-degree field of view. It’ll also mean Full HD content to both right and left displays.
Samsung revealed that the Gear VR Innovator Edition headset will go on sale in December, priced at $199. It’s $50 extra if you want a Bluetooth game controller too.
$199, samsung.com
Withings Activité
While the world was talking up the Moto 360 or the G Watch R as the best looking tech watch for 2014, the real gadget waiting to grab that title is more likely the Withings Activité. It has all the features of a standard activity tracker – steps, calories, and so on – but packs them all into a classic looking timepiece with a tan leather strap and an analogue face. Unless you read the name of the company at the bottom, you might not know it was smart at all.
Within the display is a dial denoting how far towards your daily goal you are. It’s Swiss-made and comes in a choice of black too. We like.
£320 / $450, withings.com
OnBeep Onyx
Essentially a hands-free Bluetooth speaker that you attach to yourself, the OnBeep Onyx communicator taps into an accompanying app to offer group chat sessions on the go.
The premise of the app is simple: you create a group of up to 15 people, give it a name and away you go. You simply tap the button on the Onyx device and speak, with your voice coming out of the speakers of the available group member’s devices.
$99, onbeep.com
Intel MICA
For a truly stylish wearable piece of tech for 2014, it has to be MICA – My Intelligent Communication Accessory – and the name’s a bit of a clue as to what it’s all about. Think of it as a smartwatch without the geek and only the chic. It comes in two versions – neither of which are a matter of pocket change – and each has either a black or white finish with stones from exotic locations of the opposite colour.
The sneaky, curved display is on the inside of the wrists and it’s there that you’ll get all your mobile memoranda.
$495, intel.com
Basis Peak
Already out Stateside but due to land in Blighty in December, the Peak is part fitness device, part smartwatch. It combines mobile notifications and all your socials with one of the best heart-rate sensors on the market. The Peak can automatically sense the difference between when you’re running, swimming or cycling and can track and measure your progress accordingly. At the same time, it can monitor your sleep and your calories burned.
Interestingly, you’ll be able to read full emails on the watch but it’ll only hold onto the notifications from the last 5 minutes.
£199, mybasis.com
Asus ZenWatch
Another good-looker from the Android Wear stables is the Asus ZenWatch – and yet another wearable device that has seen a US launch already. The ZenWatch has a 2.5D effect, curved glass case, an Italian leather strap and a quick release clasp that makes it all pretty swanky despite the rectangular screen. There are over 100 watch faces to choose from plus a heart rate sensor on the front to measure ‘relaxation’ levels.
This is not a running watch but many will be proud to slip it on once the hard work’s over.
$199 / £TBC, asus.com