Review iPhone owners, pay attention. Asus ZenWatch. Smart watches Asus ZenWatch Software and proprietary applications Asus

First detailed review in Russia

There is another addition in the camp of smartwatches on Android Wear: the Asus ZenWatch model has finally appeared on sale, which was presented in early September at the IFA 2014 exhibition, but for some reason was delayed on its way to the mass market. And now it’s too early to talk about a full-fledged commercial launch: for now the gadget is available only in the USA and Taiwan. But this did not stop us from getting it and preparing the most detailed review possible.

Asus ZenWatch is positioned as a fashion accessory. However, Moto 360 is already playing in this territory, and other smartwatches on Android Wear (LG G Watch R, Samsung Gear Live and Sony SmartWatch 3) are trying to compete for the title of the most stylish. Will Asus ZenWatch have any trump cards with which this device can beat strong competitors?

Video review

To get started, we suggest watching our video review of the Asus ZenWatch smartwatch:

Now let's take a look at the specifications of the new product.

Specifications Asus ZenWatch Wi500Q

• SoC Qualcomm Snapdragon 400, 4 cores* @1.2 GHz
• Touch display 1.63″ AMOLED, 320×320 (278 ppi) with curved Gorilla Glass 3
• Random access memory (RAM) 512 MB, internal memory 4 GB
• Bluetooth 4.0LE
• Microphone
• Gyroscope, accelerometer, heart rate sensor
• Lithium polymer battery 1.4 Wh
• operating room Android system Wear
• Compatible with devices running Android 4.3 and later
• Compliant with IP55 protection standard
• Removable genuine leather strap (width 22 mm at loops)
• Dimensions 51mm x 39.9mm x 7.9mm
• Weight (with strap) 71 g

* See below for core count details

Let's compare the key characteristics of the new product with Android Wear devices already on the market, as well as with the Samsung Gear S watch, which runs on a different OS and offers a different look at the concept of smart watches in principle.

*according to manufacturer information

In terms of functionality, the Asus ZenWatch, like any other watch on Android Wear, is inferior to the Samsung Gear S watch, but it also has a lower price (in the USA - $200 versus $300-400 for the Gear S; in both cases, prices are without contract and tax state). The table does not include Samsung Gear Live, but it is this model that is closest to ZenWatch in terms of screen type and characteristics. Compared to the competitors presented in the table, these characteristics do not look particularly impressive (the screen is square, not curved), but we cannot say that they are disappointing.

Separately, it is worth mentioning the number of CPU cores. The Asus ZenWatch uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon APQ8026 SoC (these details are not reported on the official website, but at the company’s stand at the IFA 2014 exhibition, where the Asus ZenWatch was first shown, this particular SoC model was indicated). Apparently, the same SoC is used in a number of other Android Wear watches (except for the Moto 360, which has TI OMAP 3). The CPU in Snapdragon APQ8026 has 4 cores, however operating system uses only one core. This is confirmed by tests carried out by enthusiasts using Geekbench 3.1 (a special command line version was written by John Poole, developer of the popular benchmark and founder of Primate Labs, which owns Geekbench). The results for and are available via the links.

It seems that the option with the younger quad-core modification of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 turned out to be simply the most convenient for software optimization or the most accessible at the time of the development of smartwatches on Android Wear (which was started, most likely, almost simultaneously by LG, Samsung, Motorola, Sony and Asus, it’s just that some managed to do it earlier, and some were delayed with the release of finished models). However, it is obvious that four CPU cores are simply not needed in smartwatches on Android Wear (at least with the current functionality of this OS). Therefore, formally there is a quad-core CPU, but in fact it is single-core. This is the reason that watch manufacturers do not advertise the number of cores and the exact SoC model (pay attention to the characteristics of all Android Wear models listed on the official websites and even on the Qualcomm website!). This information is simply worth keeping in mind when comparing watch specs.

In general, if we compare the capabilities and Hardware ZenWatch with Moto 360 and LG G Watch R, then we will see that they are almost identical. Therefore, differences in design, duration battery life and various pleasant little things that every manufacturer tries to stand out with. Let's see what Asus will offer us, having delayed its entry into this promising market for so long.

Equipment

The watch is delivered in a rectangular black box that looks strict, but not without claims of “luxury”.

Having opened the box, we see the watch itself, which is placed in a cardboard slot, where it is quite well fixed. This gives you confidence that they will not be damaged during transportation, even if the box falls.

Under the cardboard holder of the watch you can find a Micro-USB cable, several mini-booklets (since we had a copy from Taiwan, the contents of the booklets were entirely in Chinese), a charger and a docking attachment (cradle) for connecting the Micro-USB cable to the watch.

The cradle is made of rubberized plastic (soft touch) and is put on the watch with light effort. Unlike LG models, there are no magnets here; the watch is held during charging by the side protruding frames of the cradle.

The Micro-USB connector of the cradle is located on the left, and the contacts are on the inner surface at the bottom. When connected to the charger, a small LED lights up next to the connector.

In general, the packaging and equipment are not anything special, but there is nothing to criticize them for.

Design

The design of the watch is its main asset. Asus engineers and designers did a really good job, and the materials used are of very high quality. The ZenWatch case is entirely made of stainless steel, in two colors: the back surface and the rim around the screen are steel-colored, and between them there is a bronze-colored “layer.”

It turns out that the face of the watch case looks “three-layered”, with the “bronze” layer recessed a little deeper, and the metal edges protruding slightly.

The surface of the steel-colored rims is polished and mirror-like. In turn, the “bronze” layer and the rear surface of the case are non-mirror, although they are also quite smooth to the touch.

On the rear surface we see contacts for connecting to the charging cradle, and a small metal button that does not protrude above the level of the main surface. To be honest, its necessity seems doubtful to us: when you press it, the screen turns on, but the same can be done by simply touching the screen. A long press on the button causes Android settings Wear, but why this is needed in everyday life is not entirely clear. Plus, the button is placed in such a way that when the watch is on your hand, getting to it is extremely inconvenient.

The strap consists of two halves, which are attached to steel loops protruding from the bottom and top of the case. The loops have a standard strap width: 22 mm. Then it narrows a little. The strap material is light brown genuine leather, with a pronounced leather smell and medium softness. The leather is stitched along the edges of the strap with a thin matching thread, which looks expensive and beautiful.

The clasp on the watch is made in a curious way. There are two buttons on it, by pressing which we can easily unfasten the strap. With such a clasp, there is no need to bend the strap when putting on or taking off the watch, so the leather will retain its newness longer.

This is not the only finding in the design. Another detail worth noting is the special pattern on the frames around the screen (under the glass). These are thin lines radiating from the screen and creating the illusion of perspective.

It's probably worth remembering the Zen design style that Asus came up with for its mobile devices, only there the thin lines formed into circles.

At the same time, it is worth emphasizing that the glass itself is unusual - slightly curved (while the screen itself is not curved, but ordinary). All this together makes the Asus ZenWatch one of the most beautiful smartwatches that can be worn not only as a gadget, but also as a stylish accessory. It is clear that everyone’s hands are different, as well as their tastes, but in our opinion, ZenWatch is suitable for both men and women equally.

Screen

The watch is equipped with a square color touch screen made using AMOLED technology. A resolution of 320x320 is standard on Android Wear smartwatch screens, as is a pixel density of 278 ppi.

Editor of the “Projectors and TV” section Alexey Kudryavtsev held detailed testing screen. His expertise is below.

The front surface of the screen is made in the form of a glass plate with a mirror-smooth surface that is scratch-resistant. Judging by the reflection of objects, the anti-glare properties of the screen are good, approximately like the screen of the Google Nexus 7 (2013) (hereinafter simply Nexus 7). For clarity, here is a photograph in which a white surface is reflected when the screens are turned off:

The screen on the Asus ZenWatch is only slightly brighter (brightness according to photographs is 113 versus 107 for the Nexus 7). However, from bright objects there is a bluish halo that is more extended across the arm (along the bracelet). The doubling of reflected objects in the watch screen is very weak, this indicates that there is no air gap between the layers of the screen (more specifically, between the outer glass and the surface of the LCD matrix) (OGS - One Glass Solution type screen). Due to the smaller number of boundaries (glass-air type) with very different refractive indices, such screens look better in conditions of strong external illumination, but their repair in the case of cracked external glass is much more expensive, since the entire screen has to be replaced. There is a special oleophobic (grease-repellent) coating on the outer surface of the screen (effective, noticeably better than Google Nexus 7 2013), so fingerprints are removed much easier and appear at a lower speed than with regular glass.

With manual brightness control (and not automatic), the maximum brightness value was about 290 cd/m², the minimum was 46 cd/m². The maximum brightness is low, but given the good anti-glare properties, on a sunny day outdoors, you will most likely be able to see something on the screen. For complete darkness, the minimum brightness is acceptable, and even at night during a break in sleep you can see the time without squinting, since only thin hands and the dial will glow on the screen. In the graphs of brightness versus time, you can see that at maximum and minimum brightness there is only a slight modulation with a frequency of approximately 60 Hz, so there is no screen flickering.

This screen uses an AMOLED matrix - active matrix organic light-emitting diodes. A full-color image is created using subpixels of three colors - red (R), green (G) and blue (B) in equal numbers, as confirmed by a fragment of a microphotograph:

For comparison, you can see the gallery of microphotographs of screens used in mobile technology.

Apparently, the manufacturer believes that this fragment contains four pixels. His right. However, with this spatial arrangement, subpixels of colors from adjacent pixels are intermingled with each other, which ultimately results in increased image grain compared to screens of similar size and resolution, but with a more traditional subpixel arrangement.

The spectra are typical for OLED - the primary color areas are well separated and appear as relatively narrow peaks of approximately the same shape:

The color temperature of the white field is 6900 K, and the deviation from the black body spectrum (ΔE) is 5 units. Overall, these are acceptable performance for a consumer device. Black color is just black at any angle (and if nothing is reflected in the screen). So black that the contrast parameter in this case is simply not applicable. When viewed perpendicularly, the uniformity of the white field is excellent. The screen has excellent viewing angles, with much less brightness loss when viewing the screen at an angle than with LCD screens. This, in fact, is the main advantage of the screen. Positive properties also include a very effective oleophobic coating and no flicker. Significant disadvantages include not very high brightness and increased graininess of the image.

To the above, we add that those we tested last year Samsung watch Gear Live has the same stated parameters and screen type (AMOLED), but there is no problem with the strange placement of subpixels, which is why there is no problem with image graininess.

However, the question remains how much grain is noticeable during actual use of the watch: it is unlikely that anyone in everyday life will peer at the screen, trying to see the pixels.

Software and functionality of the main applications

Like other Android Wear devices, the Asus ZenWatch is compatible with smartphones and tablets running Android 4.3 or later. We used a budget smartphone for tests. We didn't have any problems connecting the watch to it.

In previous articles about Android Wear devices, we talked in detail about the capabilities of the operating system, pre-installed applications, and problems that arise. Therefore, in this article we will not repeat all this, but will focus on the software features of Asus. In addition, we will touch on the innovations that appeared in Android Wear after the major OS update that occurred at the end of 2014.

So, first of all, it’s worth noting that now right below the top picture on the main screen mobile application three watch faces are displayed. And if you click on “More”, we will see all the other watch faces (this appeared in the new Android versions Wear, available, however, on all watches running this OS, and not just on Asus ZenWatch).

As we can see, the watch comes pre-installed with 21 dial options. Of these, 11 are Asus branded watch faces. Below are screenshots of several of them (let’s immediately note that some of the screenshots show a strange glitch with the drawing of the upper part; of course, this is not the case when displayed on the watch itself).

We'll get back to the features of the watch faces later, but to finish the conversation about Android Wear innovations, let's pay attention to one more detail: now all the applications that we recently launched also appear at the top of the list, so if you use an application often, it will be at hand and you don’t have to constantly go to the Start menu (which is located at the very bottom of the main menu). This is especially useful in the case of the “Settings” menu, to which previously you also had to scroll all the way to the end of the main menu.

The interesting software features of Asus ZenWatch are not limited to this. The fact is that in addition to the main program (Android Wear), Asus offers to install several more applications created by its developers specifically for ZenWatch. First of all, this is ZenWatch Manager.

This application allows you to customize display settings various information on watch faces that cannot be customized from using Android Wear, and also offers some nice additions to the basic capabilities of Android Wear watches. Let's start with the dials. Click on the “Clock Display” button and see detailed description each of the 11 preset watch faces designed by Asus.

Having selected the dial we are interested in, we can change the set of icons on it, reflecting this or that information, as well as some nuances of the information displayed.

In the end it will look like this (see left screenshot below). And in standby mode, the same dial will look as minimalistic as possible (see the right screenshot), which will allow you to display time and save battery power (remember that since the ZenWatch uses an AMOLED matrix, displaying black color here does not require energy consumption).

Other Asus watch faces are configured in the same way.

What else can ZenWatch Manager do? It allows you to find the watch (by pressing the corresponding button in the application, the watch will vibrate), and with its help you can set the parameters of the SOS message sent from the watch in case of emergency, or set the smartphone to automatically unlock when the watch is close to the smartphone.

You can also set up a notification about a forgotten smartphone (useful for those who periodically forget their phone when leaving home). Among the useful little things that appear on the watch thanks to ZenWatch Manager, it is worth mentioning the Compass and Flashlight applications. However, hand on heart, the usefulness of the second of them is a big question for us. After all, a flashlight in this case is simply a display of a single-color image on the screen with maximum brightness (the color can be adjusted). That is, it is physically impossible to illuminate any large space (unlike an LED flash in a smartphone) in this way.

And the last setting in ZenWatch Manager is to activate silent mode on your smartphone using the watch. By checking this box, you can simply cover your watch with your palm when making a call, and your smartphone will ring silently. More precisely, this is how it should be, but for some reason we were unable to complete this setting: we managed to check the box, we clicked the word “Apply”, but for some reason the setting was not saved after closing the application. We hope the developers will solve this problem.

Additional Applications

This is where the capabilities of ZenWatch Manager end, but in addition to this application, Asus offers us three more proprietary utilities for Android Wear, which we can see by clicking on the “Recommended” button.

So these are ZenWatch Wellness, Remote Camera and Remote Link. Don’t let the rest of the points in the screenshots above mislead you: MyWater and MicroFilm have nothing to do with Android Wear, and what they’re doing here is a big mystery. But UP by Jawbone and Omlet are installed on the watch, but it’s simple third party applications, to which Asus is no longer directly related. Therefore, we will talk about the first three applications on the list. So, ZenWatch Wellness is a simple, albeit cute, fitness app. We enter our data (weight, height, age) on the smartphone, set goals (number of steps and calories burned) and launch the application on the watch.

The most interesting thing here is heart rate measurement and some mysterious relaxation. To measure the pulse, you need to use the index and middle fingers of your right hand to press the frames to the right and left of the watch screen, and the watch should be put on your left hand (or vice versa: the watch is on the right, and we put the fingers on the left). However, it measures quite well. We act in the same way when triggering relaxation, after which the watch tells us how relaxed we are. But how they determine this (just by pulse?) remains a question for us.

The next application - ZenWatch Remote Camera - no longer raises any questions. This is control from the watch camera of the smartphone. It is as simple as possible: we launch Remote Camera on the watch, and the camera application automatically launches on the smartphone. Next, we can touch the watch screen and the smartphone will take a photo. Or we can swipe from below and we will see buttons for switching the camera to video, digital zoom and turning on/off the flash.

Perhaps this will be useful when taking selfies and group photos.

And lastly: Remote Link. This is where things get a little more interesting. The fact is that Asus has a smartphone application of the same name for controlling a connected PC via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. First of all, this is necessary for displaying presentations. The Android Wear application in this case serves as an add-on and is installed in conjunction with a smartphone application.

So, first you need to install the program on your PC under Windows control(other OS are not supported: the link offered by Asus immediately downloads the EXE file, without any options). Having installed the program, we connect the PC to the smartphone (we did this via Bluetooth), then install and launch Remote Link on the smartphone. Next, install the application on the watch, and if everything is connected correctly (that is, the smartphone is connected to both the PC and the watch) and slide playback is started on the computer, then a simple screen will appear on the watch, which will show the number of the current slide, the total number of slides and time , elapsed since the start of the slide display.

Healthy? Perhaps yes. But the downside is that, firstly, it takes quite a long time to set up all this, and secondly, the watch does not always respond to the slide switch gesture, and you have to do it again. And thirdly, it is much more convenient to control slides using a special push-button remote control rather than using a touch screen.

Offline work

We used the watch with the watch face settings set to always-on screen (in this case, even when you don't touch the watch, the hands on the watch face show the time). Despite the fact that this mode is less economical than the mode with the screen turning off, the watch demonstrated quite acceptable battery life results. Over the course of a day, with medium-intensive use, they were discharged by approximately 90%. Therefore, you will still have to charge them overnight, but you don’t have to carry the charger with you.

According to our feelings (remember that there is no objective and repeatable method for testing the battery life of smartwatches yet), the Asus ZenWatch runs on a single charge a little less than the Moto 360 and noticeably less than the LG G Watch R, but a little more , than Samsung Gear Live and Samsung Gear S (the latter, however, offer significantly wider functionality).

conclusions

Asus has been quite late in entering the smartwatch market. But when they reached it, the Taiwanese manufacturer presented a thoughtful, beautiful and in all respects worthy model, which can seriously compete with existing players (LG, Samsung, Sony, Motorola). Perhaps, among the models on Android Wear, this is one of the most beautiful options - and it is equally suitable for both men and women. Until recently, the only women's smartwatch model on Android Wear could be considered Moto 360. By the way, we considered it the most stylish model on Android Wear in general.

As a small experiment, we showed the Asus ZenWatch and Moto 360 to three representatives of the fair sex (of different ages and different aesthetic preferences). All three preferred the Asus ZenWatch. And although we would be careful to draw unambiguous conclusions from this, we nevertheless have to admit that Asus really managed to make a stylish and pleasant product.

But the advantages of Asus ZenWatch are not limited to design. The manufacturer also took care of the software part, expanding the functionality of the watch faces (turning them, in fact, into customizable widgets) and adding several additional applications and utilities. But it is functionality that still remains the sore spot of the Android Wear OS, so such additions are perceived not as garbage imposed on us (by the way, they don’t have to be installed), but as a truly useful gift.

To summarize: the product turned out to be not revolutionary, but successful in every sense. We look forward to its appearance in Russian retail and hope that the ruble price will be competitive and allow us to confidently recommend it as a gift for advanced girls on February 14 and March 8. In the meantime, we present Asus with the well-deserved Original Design award.

Smartwatch manufacturers quickly encountered a strange paradox. Potential buyers were, of course, very concerned about the mind. But they were even more excited about the aspects characteristic of traditional watches: the prestige of the brand, the quality of materials, combination with clothing, etc. That is, the watch, having acquired the filling of a smartphone, has not ceased to be an accessory. And then Apple played a very nice trick on everyone with its Watch. The company has the very prestige of the brand and the careful selection of materials on its side, and the abundance of straps and bracelets simply dazzles the eye. I'm afraid if Apple Watch worked with Android smartphones, other manufacturers would have had almost no room for maneuver...

But, fortunately for many, Apple is currently only developing its own platform. I don’t know how long she will engage in self-restraint. But let me remind you that once upon a time iPod players worked only with Mac computers. No, I'm not idealizing Apple, and Watch are no different from the best models on Tizen and Android Wear (and in some ways they are inferior to them). But Apple's smartwatch = accessory approach is definitely closer to the average person's heart. And there are much more ordinary people than technomaniacs.

Why am I all this? Moreover, ASUS also employs very intelligent people. And the new generation of ZenWatch 3 watches was made so cool that you can’t immediately distinguish it from expensive mechanics.

In the first two generations, ASUS experimented with rectangular shapes. I wrote about them and. In short, the experiments were successful, and the second generation was the cheapest member of the Android Wear watch family (from $165). But it was still impossible to confuse ZenWatch and ZenWatch 2 with “just a watch”. But ZenWatch 3 is easy.

The new model is produced in three cases – “metal”, “silver” and “rose gold”. I was given “metal” for the experiments, and in English this version is called much cooler - Gunmetal. The body is made of 316L stainless steel. It is commonly used in the jewelry and medical industries - for the manufacture of jewelry and surgical instruments, respectively. That is, strength, resistance to corrosion and oxidation - that’s all. When polished, such steel is indistinguishable to the eye from white gold. The Gunmetal version has black anodizing, which also looks very solid. Personally, I associate the gold rim around the dial with Movado watches, although, of course, they were not the first to come up with this, and they were not the last to use it. The round case is framed at the top and bottom with composite strap mounts. The latter is made of leather “processed using traditional Italian technology.” The good news is that the strap is really very good, looks great and fits comfortably on the hand. The bad news is that it has a proprietary design, and if it fails, you will have to buy a new one from ASUS or the good Chinese on eBay (if they come up with a hint, there are no offers yet).

The back of the case, if it were not for the charging connector, would also closely resemble a regular watch. Yes, the watch does not have an optical sensor that measures the pulse, and the watch does not detect the heart rate. Considering the very questionable accuracy of sensors of this kind, this is not really a pity.

Otherwise, the electronic filling is very decent. The watch runs on SoC Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100, it has 512 MB random access memory and 4 GB onboard. An AMOLED matrix with a resolution of 400x400 pixels is used, which is slightly above the average level (for comparison, the Moto 360 v2 has 360x325). There are no strange black areas on the screen, the image occupies the entire surface, and the picture quality, as you might guess, is excellent. Considering that most watch faces now show a color image even in standby mode, from the outside you won’t immediately understand whether it’s a smart watch or a regular one. The glass has a Corning Gorilla coating, which should protect against accidental scratches. And it is quite difficult to smash the screen on the watch due to its light weight.

You may ask - why three buttons? Well, first of all, it's beautiful. And secondly too. It seems to me that the buttons were added precisely to resemble a real chronometer, because in practice one is quite enough. And so the top button is designed to launch your favorite application (optional), the middle one is common for all watches on Android Wear, and the bottom one turns on the energy-saving mode. In general, yes. They are for beauty.

Battery capacity 340 mAh. IN normal mode By evening, approximately 65% ​​of the charge remains, and, in principle, there is a chance that the watch will last until the evening of the second day. But I have a habit of charging gadgets every evening, so I won’t lie, I didn’t check it. Unfortunately, ASUS again did not make charging wireless, and we are greeted by a circle with a contact pad, which is quite convenient compared to its peers, but still requires a certain dexterity. Unlike Moto and Samsung chargers, the circle is proprietary. If it breaks/gets lost, contact ASUS for a new one. The proprietary interface allowed for faster charging (from 0 to 60% in 15 minutes), but the ability to simply put the watch on the charging stand without having to monitor the position of the contacts is much more convenient.

The watch has a speaker and microphone, so it can be used as a wireless headset. But we don’t have our own GPS receiver; we didn’t install it. Provides moisture protection according to IP67 standard. It's not worth swimming in the sea, but the shower and freshwater pool will last you hours. Although, to be honest, I wouldn’t vouch for the strap. The skin does not like to bathe.

ASUS ZenWatch 3 comes pre-installed with more than 50 watch faces, half of which can also be customized. Some of them I liked, some not so much. In general, the number of preset watch faces cannot be considered either an advantage or a disadvantage, because Google Play There are just an incredible amount of them, and you are sure to choose an option to suit your taste. It’s just a pity that Google monitors copyrights so closely, and there are no clones of “Komandirskie” or other Soviet watches on Android Wear, like on .

Well, about the operating system itself. Google is delaying the Wear 2.0 update for most manufacturers, but it's coming. In the meantime, you can use Wear 1.6, it is a very convenient operating system.

Total

ASUS watches are getting better and better. In the third series, the materials are excellently selected, the workmanship is excellent, and the design has gone towards strict classics, which can only be welcomed. In the end, there are a lot of smart watches for youth, but for serious wealthy guys - you can count them on your fingers.

With that said, the price of the new watch is quite reasonable. In the States it’s 229 dollars plus taxes, our official price tag is 21,990 rubles, but you can find it for a couple of thousand cheaper. For comparison, the already discontinued second-generation Moto 360, which looks noticeably simpler (although there is a heart rate sensor), costs the same amount. The Huawei Watch also looks good (and has a heart rate monitor), but the platform is older and the battery is weaker. That is, it’s not cheap, cheap, as it was with ZenWatch 2, but, as they say, “on the market.” After all, even mechanical watches of this quality rarely cost less. And here they are smart!

I recently bought a special “attachment” for regular watches called Chronos, which turns them into almost smart ones. I really missed the classic design. I won’t try, I just can’t get around to it. But if you don’t have a collection of mechanics, and generally don’t feel like experimenting, ASUS already has a ready-made option with an absolutely classic design. Try it on if necessary.

The first detailed review in Russia

In January 2015, we told you about the Asus ZenWatch smartwatch. We really liked this model - at that time it looked like perhaps the best option among smart watches on the market. However, since then the situation has changed significantly: the Apple Watch appeared, which set new design standards in this area. Asus' competitors, Samsung and LG, have also strengthened their positions by releasing round watches. The Taiwanese company had to quickly respond to the expansion of competitors from the USA and South Korea, and now, less than a year has passed, the second version of Asus watches, ZenWatch 2, entered the market.

Apple's example clearly turned out to be contagious: now every manufacturer considers it their duty to present two size options and the widest possible selection of straps. So Asus watches were released with screens of 1.45 and 1.63 inches, and the strap could be leather, metal or silicone.

Let us remember that the first model was available only in a version with a 1.63-inch screen, and the strap was leather. It still remains in the Asus range, the model number is WI500Q, while the new models received the numbers WI501Q and WI502Q (1.63 inches and 1.45 inches, respectively).

Let's take a look at the specifications of the model we tested.

Specifications Asus ZenWatch WI501Q

• SoC Qualcomm Snapdragon 400, 4 cores @1.2 GHz
• Touch display 1.63″ AMOLED, 320×320 (278 ppi) with curved Gorilla Glass 3
• Random access memory (RAM) 512 MB, internal memory 4 GB
• Bluetooth 4.1 LE, Wi-Fi
• Microphone
• Gyroscope, accelerometer
• Lithium polymer battery 1.4 Wh
• Android Wear operating system
• Compatible with devices running Android 4.3 and later
• Compliant with IP67 protection standard
• Removable genuine leather strap (width 22 mm at loops)
• Dimensions 50×41×11 mm
• Weight (with strap) 62 g

Now let's compare the key characteristics of ZenWatch 2 with the specifications of its predecessor, as well as with the Samsung Gear S2 and Apple Watch - perhaps the most serious competitors.

*according to manufacturer information

So, compared to the first generation ZenWatch, the new product has the ability to communicate via Wi-Fi, as well as a higher degree of protection against moisture (IP67), that is, with the new ZenWatch you can safely take a shower. The dimensions have changed slightly (if we compare the WI500Q and WI501Q models), but still the body is now different. Find out more in our review!

Equipment

The watch comes in a rectangular blue and black box that looks quite nice.

Having opened the box, we see the watch itself, which is placed in a cardboard slot, where it is quite well fixed. This gives you confidence that they will not be damaged during transportation, even if the box falls.

Under the cardboard holder of the watch you can find several mini-booklets (since we ordered the watch from the USA, they are all in English), a 5V 1.2A charger and a Micro-USB cable with a magnetic connector for connecting to the watch.

Let us remind you that the previous version of ZenWatch used a cradle, which had to be put on the watch case and a cable connected to it. The new solution, on the one hand, is more convenient and simpler (and certainly more compact), but on the other hand, the connector is not magnetized very tightly, and in order for it not to come unfastened from the watch, you need to find the optimal position.

Note that all of the above-mentioned competitors use inductive charging (wireless), which is more convenient and interesting from a technological point of view. However, it is obvious that such charging is more expensive and takes up more space.

Design

The first impression when you see the watch is that it is very large. Perhaps it’s a matter of slightly increased thickness, perhaps it’s some other nuances that affect perception. But, rather, this is influenced by comparison with other smartwatches - for example, with the 42 mm version of the Apple Watch (which, with a larger screen area, has a much more compact body). But, one way or another, Asus ZenWatch 2 WI501Q is really large by today's standards. They look very strange on a woman's hand.

The manufacturer has retained some important features of the previous version - slightly curved glass, steel hinges of standard width, body shape (something between an oval and a rectangle with rounded corners). However, some characteristic elements have disappeared (a recess on the edges, painted in a different color, a metal back), but others have appeared: first of all, the button on the right side.

As we remember, the Apple Watch has a similar element called the Digital Crown and performs not only the function Home buttons, but also allows you to scale or scroll the picture (since the button can be rotated around its axis). The Asus ZenWatch 2 has a more modest button functionality: a short press on it takes us to the main screen (watch face), and a long press takes us to the main menu. You can't twist it in any way. However, this is a better option than the first ZenWatch - there the Home button was on the inner surface of the case and getting to it when the watch was on was completely inconvenient.

The button has a rounded cap and a golden color, it is pressed quite elastically, the “frame” of the button is made of steel and is motionless. The frame of the case is also steel. On the left side we see the microphone hole. There is no speaker on the watch.

The strap consists of two halves, which are attached to steel loops protruding from the bottom and top of the case. The loop width of the strap is standard: 22 mm (for the version with a 1.45-inch screen it is smaller - 20 mm). As we already said, there are many options for straps on sale, we had the cheapest one - silicone. It has a corrugated, rough surface that is not very pleasant to the touch. The color of the strap we had was black and brown. Also a very strange decision. This strap will fit perfectly with a classic black or blue suit.

The strap halves are attached to the watch case very simply and there should be no problems with replacing them - just remove the metal lever.

The last thing worth noting when talking about the design is the fairly wide frames around the screen. The manufacturer is trying to brighten this up, firstly, with an original solution with curved glass, and secondly, with a specific pattern - thin lines diverging from the screen to the edges of the case. This element is also borrowed from the first generation Asus ZenWatch. But the problem is that now they are practically invisible - only if you look very closely, bringing the device very close to your eyes.

Overall, the design of the watch left us with a mixed impression. It seems that there are good solutions (for example, the “Home” button is located better), and continuity with the previous generation has been preserved, but to say that the watch makes you want to own it or admire it - no, this is not the case. The model is not for everybody.

Screen

The watch is equipped with a square color touch screen made using AMOLED technology. A resolution of 320x320 with a diagonal of 1.63" already seems insufficient (the pixel density is 278 ppi, while competitors have more than 300 ppi), but if you don’t look closely, the pixels are unlikely to be noticeable.

The editor of the “Projectors and TV” section, Alexey Kudryavtsev, conducted a detailed test of the screen. His expertise is below.

The front surface of the screen is made in the form of a glass plate with a mirror-smooth surface that is scratch-resistant. On the outer surface of the screen there is a special oleophobic (grease-repellent) coating (effective, noticeably better than that of Google Nexus 7 (2013)), so fingerprints are removed much easier and appear at a lower speed than in the case of regular glass. Judging by the reflection of objects, the anti-glare properties of the screen are slightly worse than those of the Google Nexus 7 2013 screen. For clarity, here is a photo in which a white surface is reflected when the screens are turned off:

The screen of the Asus ZenWatch 2 is slightly lighter (brightness according to photographs is 117 versus 109 for the Nexus 7). Note that there is a not very pronounced bluish halo from bright objects reflected in the screen, and some convexity of the outer surface of the screen leads to the fact that something is almost always reflected in it. There is no double reflection, which indicates that there is no air gap between the layers of the screen. When the white field was displayed in full screen, the maximum value (5 on the scale) of brightness was about 305 cd/m², the minimum (1 on the scale) was 51 cd/m². Given the good anti-glare properties, on a sunny day outdoors, screen readability should remain at a more or less acceptable level. There is no automatic brightness adjustment, which, given the high minimum brightness, is not very good, especially for a watch. On the graphs of brightness (vertical axis) versus time ( horizontal axis) only slight modulation can be seen, so there is no visible screen flicker:

This screen uses an AMOLED matrix - active matrix organic light-emitting diodes. A full-color image is created using subpixels of three colors - red (R), green (G) and blue (B) in equal numbers, as confirmed by a fragment of a microphotograph:

For comparison, you can see the gallery of microphotographs of screens used in mobile technology.

In each pair, the subpixels are controlled independently, which is confirmed by another fragment in which some of the red subpixels are turned off:

The spectra are typical for OLED - the primary color areas are well separated and appear as relatively narrow peaks:

Accordingly, the coverage is noticeably wider than sRGB, and there are no attempts to reduce it:

Note that on screens with a wide color gamut, without appropriate correction, the colors of regular images optimized for devices with sRGB screens look unnaturally saturated:

Somehow I don’t want to eat such tomatoes, and the girl’s complexion inspires fears about her health. Apparently, only Apple cares about the correct color gamut with OLED matrices. The color temperature of the white and gray fields is approximately 6600 K, and the deviation from the blackbody spectrum (ΔE) is 5 and 2 units, respectively. Color balance acceptable. Black is just black from any angle. It is so black that the contrast setting is simply not applicable in this case. When viewed perpendicularly, the uniformity of the white field is excellent. The screen has excellent viewing angles with a much smaller drop in brightness when looking at the screen at an angle compared to LCD screens. In general, the quality of the screen can be considered quite high.

Asus software and proprietary applications

Like other Android Wear devices, the Asus ZenWatch is compatible with smartphones and tablets running Android 4.3 or later. In addition, it has recently appeared Android app Wear for iOS. On the one hand, this is very cool: now, of all operating systems for watches, Android Wear provides the widest compatibility. But on the other hand, when working with an iPhone, you will not be able to install third-party applications for the watch, that is, you will be deprived of one of the main advantages of Android Wear. However, a set of additional watch faces will still be available to you (they are located in the application itself, and not in the Google Play Store, where there is no access from the iPhone). Below are screenshots of the iPhone version of Android Wear.

In the case of Asus ZenWatch 2, these advantages are especially significant, because the manufacturer has prepared a number of proprietary applications for the watch. Of course, there are also watch faces made specifically for the ZenWatch. We will talk about this in detail in this section, leaving out the Android description Wear in general (we have already talked in detail about this operating system and its capabilities many times, so we refer you to previous articles). We emphasize that on all existing watches running Android Wear, the operating system looks and works the same - both in terms of performance, and in terms of functionality, and in terms of appearance, because Google prohibits customizing the OS interface in any way.

So, at the moment, Asus offers five proprietary applications for ZenWatch (they are compatible with both generations of smartwatches). These are ZenWatch Manager, ZenWatch Remote Camera, ZenWatch FaceDesigner, ZenWatch Music and ZenWatch Wellness.

ZenWatch Manager is interesting primarily due to its ability to flexibly configure appearance dials. For example, you can change the color of individual elements or the set of widgets (however, the range of options is always very limited). In addition, ZenWatch Manager provides a number of additional settings, not possible through the Android Wear app.

The new ZenWatch FaceDesigner app offers even more interesting options for working with watch faces. Here you can create a new watch face almost from scratch, select the background, the type of hands/numbers, and also set the number, color and arrangement of elements. You can even make a custom inscription.

The third interesting application is ZenWatch Music. It allows you to transfer music files from your smartphone to the watch’s memory, from where you can play them without using a smartphone, simply by connecting a Bluetooth headset to the watch.

We told you about other applications in our review of the first generation ZenWatch. They haven't changed much since then. Wellness is a fitness app, Remote Camera is an app for controlling your smartphone camera from your watch.

Dials

As with the first version of the watch, Asus has made sure that many dial options are available to the user. Moreover, all of them can be displayed both in color (and even with animation, if it is intended for a specific dial), and in a static black and white version - to save energy. The screenshots below show the same dial in normal (left) and economy (right) modes.

This option is enabled when the watch is set to always on. Here are the most interesting and beautiful dials that come pre-installed on watches.

Overall, a decent set. And although it cannot be said that these options cause delight, there is still plenty to choose from.

Offline work

We were very pleased with the battery life of the Asus ZenWatch 2 WI501Q. In the mode with the screen always on (during the period when you do not touch it or do not look at the time, a static picture is displayed there, reminiscent in nature of the image on E-Ink screens), the watch worked for a day and a half (at the same time, notifications were received on the watch and we used in real life).

If you set the screen to turn off, then the watch will work from one charge to two days with everyday use. Of course, if you use it very often Google Now, navigation or some third-party applications, then this period may be reduced. But in general, this is still a noticeable step forward compared to the more common day for smartwatches. However, we note that in the same mode of use, the 42 mm Apple Watch after the last watchOS updates(2.0.1) we work on average for the same two days (and sometimes even more).

conclusions

The watch turned out to be imperfect: compared to its competitors, it doesn’t look as great as the first ZenWatch compared to other models introduced on the market at the beginning of 2015. The design leaves mixed impressions, the charger too, there are complaints about the screen; in terms of functionality, the differences from the previous model are minimal (provided it is updated to latest version Android Wear, of course). However, all arguments against the Asus ZenWatch 2 fall away when we look at the price. The model we tested costs $129 in the official Asus online store. For comparison, the cheapest version of the 42mm Apple Watch Sport is priced at $399. And prices for the Apple Watch modification with a steel case start at $599.

Not only the Apple Watch, but also models from other smartwatch manufacturers are more expensive than the Asus ZenWatch: for example, prices for the second generation Moto 360 start at $299 (this is for the 42 mm version, and for the 46 mm they ask for all $349!), Samsung Gear The S2 with silicone strap will cost $299. Overall, Asus' offering is unique and incredibly attractive. At the same time, you can equip your watch with a metal or leather strap. Of course, it will cost more, but it is still incomparably less than even the cheapest versions of competitors. For example, Asus ZenWatch 2 with a 1.45" screen and a silver metal bracelet (Milanese weave) can be purchased for $199 (not yet on sale). And how much does an Apple Watch cost with a steel case, a 38 mm screen and a Milanese bracelet (for convenience, will we also take the price in the USA)? Nothing at all - $649 :)

In general, you already understand that Asus has taken a course towards total dumping in the new line of watches. And coupled with a decent selection of straps and case options (albeit much more modest than those offered by Apple and Motorola), as well as decent battery life and a good set of proprietary software, this turns out to be a very attractive option for anyone who just wants a smartwatch moderately pleasant in appearance, and not an innovative piece of jewelry (many times more expensive!). From this point of view, the model turned out to be not just successful, but generally without alternative at the moment.

Another thing is that in the case of watches, people usually do not proceed from technical characteristics, but for reasons of appearance and compliance with their style, and for a successful hit, they are willing to pay not only several times, but tens of times more. Asus followed the same path as with smartphones. Let's see how her strategy works for smartwatches!

Finally, we offer you a video review of the Asus ZenWatch 2, in which you will see a visual comparison of this model with the steel Apple Watch 42 mm.

Not long ago, a new product with an improved set of options and characteristics entered the market; these are special watches from the manufacturer Asus. The article provides an overview. The product is a progressive digital device, manufactured according to long-standing traditions. Only high-quality parts are used in the production process.

Demonstration of the exact time is not the only option that the Asus ZenWatch 3 smartwatch is equipped with. The list of its functions includes much larger number opportunities. First of all, they are associated with the personalization of the interface, through which the user gains the ability to customize it in accordance with his own preferences. And the long battery life, along with the presence of instant charging technology, makes this product indispensable in terms of mobility.

Specifications

The Asus ZenWatch 3 wi503q smart watch is equipped with a number of the following technical parameters, options and characteristics:

• Qualcomm SoC class working mechanism with 4 1.2 GHz cores;
• touch-type display class 1.39 AMOLED units size 400 * 400, which contains Gorilla Glass 3;
• built-in 2 microphones;
• there is Bluetooth 4.2 LE, as well as Wi-Fi transmission;
• RAM is 512 MB, internal memory is 4 GB;
• In addition, the device includes a light sensor, a gyroscope, an accelerometer;
• the operating system present in the device is based on Android Wear;
• The watch has a polymer lithium battery with an indicator of 340 mA * h;
• the product has 100% compliance with the IP67 protection standard;
• the strap can be removed if the user wishes and needs it; it is made of natural leather material;
• the weight together with it is 59 g.

The Asus ZenWatch 3 wi503q Leather watch will delight users with high power, extensive functionality and an affordable price. Numerous applications make the device's operation comfortable and convenient.

Equipment

A hint of luxury and dignified style is present, starting from the packaging. The product is delivered in a special dark blue box with a cubic shape. The following units are located inside:

• device power supply;
• a flat cable for charging USD watches, equipped with a magnetic cradle, which must be attached to the back of the case so that the contacts match;
• brief user manual (instructions).

Many experts and just amateurs believe that for a product to be “fashionable,” it lacks accessories or sophistication in the design of the interior space. It follows that the company, a global giant in the production of equipment, decided to save on these aspects.

Design

The new product is very bulky and impressive in size, since it is not yet possible to fit a large mechanism into a thin case. However, it’s nice that the engineers have been honestly engaged in development all this time in order to win back even hundredths of a millimeter from their competitors. Thus, the thickness of the Asus Zenwatch 3 wi503q smart watch is 9.95 mm, which is not bad for such a smart accessory.

Talented designers also came to the rescue of the developers, who proposed streamlined shapes, slightly beveled outlines that are visible to the naked eye. And the display seems to be buried inside the case, which favorably emphasizes the insignificant in size, but significant in beauty, thickness of the case. Due to its discreet and elegant appearance, the watch looks good on both men's and women's hands.

The case is made of stainless steel and is offered in three color options - metal, silver and gold with a pinkish tint. Italian techniques were used to produce the strap, which gave it a non-standard and at the same time original appearance. There are only two branded products - one is made of light beige leather, the other is made of dark brown. In practice, it is also common to use a silicone accessory, but it is not mentioned on the official website.

Screen

Another significant advantage that the Asus ZenWatch 3 Smart Watch is endowed with is the screen. It is a significant advantage, because it is an AMOLED with a decent appearance and optimal characteristics. The display consumes almost no energy, has a resolution of 400*400 pixels and a round shape. Due to high-quality technologies used in the manufacturing process, the screen provides a good viewing angle, as well as decent brightness and contrast parameters.

Natural transmission deprives the device of excessive acidity; black and white colors are free of all kinds of impurities and image inaccuracies. There is also a light sensor that helps regulate brightness parameters in manual and automatic mode.

operating system

The functioning of the device is based on the use of Wear OS, which is designed specifically for smart watches. This allows you to integrate features and get more options. This platform is compatible with square and round watches.

Performance and battery life

The manufacturer promised consumers an impressive increase in battery life over time. Despite these assurances, miracles did not happen, and the clock still lasts a little more than a day. Many tricks have emerged among users that can be used to extend this period by double or even triple. But there is little point in this, since the functionality is reduced in economy mode.

This situation is saved by the presence of instant charging. As the manufacturer himself reports, in 15 minutes it is possible to recharge the battery by 60%, but in reality the results are more modest (slightly above 50%). A full charge requires about 55 minutes of valuable time from the user.

Reviews

Daria:
I received this wonderful product as a gift from my boyfriend. I didn’t order such surprises, so when I received them I was slightly taken aback. In the end, the result exceeded all expectations!

Ivan:
One minus is that the watch does not have the ability to wireless charging, for the rest, I personally see solid advantages for myself: low cost, a large number of functions, original design, and battery life lasts for a day.

Dmitriy:
A good invention that is worth the money. I don’t have such a personal watch yet, but I plan to buy one in the near future. I think that the price of just over $200 for such a toy is simply ridiculous.

Tatiana:
My husband really wanted such a watch, and I decided to give him this surprise for his 30th birthday. He was very happy, although I still don’t understand all their tricks and goodies.

Conclusion

A review of the Asus ZenWatch 3 wi503q indicates that this new product will be particularly popular on the market due to the opportunities it provides to the average user.

Video review of ASUS ZenWatch 3:

After the famous Pebble company disappeared from the smartwatch market this year and the launch of Android Wear 2.0 was postponed, lovers of these devices have a grim prospect that they will fade into oblivion. This fact is also confirmed by the fact that some companies, such as Huawei and Motorola, have not updated their smartwatch models for a long time and it seems that they do not even have such plans. Although, Samsung is actively developing its wrist devices, adding more than enough new features, but this causes little enthusiasm among users.

Smartwatch manufacturers are trying various ways to attract the attention of consumers: expensive design, a lot of functions, a round dial, sensors, etc... But, alas, most of these devices are only suitable for receiving notifications on the wrist and they still do not have any “killer function” , which would revolutionize the market, and the long-awaited “Year of Smartwatches” would finally come.

However, these problems do not stop ASUS company from developing new smartwatch models with innovative features. Latest development The company has become ASUS ZenWatch 3 - this is the most ambitious watch on Android Wear (until devices on Wear 2.0 appeared).

Before we begin this review, we should note that the ZenWatch 3 was originally planned to launch with Android Wear 2.0. However, the watch runs on Android Wear 1.5, which was caused by the delay in the release of Wear 2.0. Most likely, the ZenWatch 3 smartwatch will receive Wear 2.0 in the future, but don't expect a radical redesign of the original Android for wrist devices.

Housing, build and design

Modern smartwatches offer a fairly wide selection of designs - from natural electronic gadgets to classic chronometers. The ZenWatch 3 looks like a traditional watch, but it's not one your mom would like. In general, the design of ZenWatch 3 can be described in one word - steampunk (science fiction direction). For what reasons - we will write below, but even without them this is a fairly apt description. Let's look at all the elements of ZenWatch 3 and evaluate their impact on the appearance of the smartwatch.

Looking at the device from the front, we see the typical solar eclipse design - a gold stripe around the screen and a body made of sleek black 316L stainless steel.

The display is protected by Gorilla Glass 2.5 (not sapphire, as previously reported). The frame around it is quite thick, but the gold ring and smooth transitions make the watch look more sophisticated. The bottom and top of the case bends into too large strap holders. They are also smooth and black, but are not as highly polished compared to the bezel. However, unlike smartwatches from other companies, ASUS managed to position the holders at the ideal angle - they do not squeeze the wrist or hang over it.

On the side of the ZenWatch 3 you will find three buttons, typical of traditional timepieces. The functions of the buttons can be customized, but we will discuss this in the section on software hours.

On the back there is a speaker and a port for fast charging(more details below), but there is no heart rate sensor.

We should also note that the ZenWatch 3 is quite thin at just 9.95mm, so it looks much more compact than many of its competitors.

The 18mm wide strap is made of dark brown leather, which appears black in most cases. It is very comfortable, but unfortunately it has a non-standard type of fastening, so replacing the strap can cause problems.

Technical specifications

Let's move on to the internal parameters. The watch is protected from dust and water according to the IP67 standard. The round screen has a large diameter of 1.39 inches, an AMOLED matrix, a very high resolution of 400 * 400 pixels (density 287 ppi) and an ambient light sensor. The image is quite juicy and bright, although the light sensor does not work as quickly and accurately as we would like, so the brightness sometimes has to be adjusted manually.

And finally, ZenWatch 3 is one of the first devices equipped with the latest Snapdragon Wear 2100 chip, which promises 25% more energy efficiency. At the same time, this watch has 512 MB of RAM and 4 GB of memory for user files. Unfortunately, ZenWatch 3 lacks GPS, NFC and GSM modules, but it does have WiFi and Bluetooth LE 4.2. Let us remind you that ASUS ZenWatch 3 does not have a heart rate sensor, despite the fact that the company is developing its own fitness application ZenFit.

Specifications

Iron

• Manufacturer: ASUS
• Model: ZenWatch 3
• Processor: Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100
• Memory: 512 MB RAM, 4 GB ROM, no memory card support.
• Communications: there is only WiFi, Bluetooth, but no radio, USB, GPS.
• Camera: none.

Functions

• Accelerometer.
• SMS.
• Email.
• Hypercharge (60% in 15 minutes).
• Player.
• Voice control.

Other parameters

• Cellular connection: not supported, no GSM module.
• Battery: 341 mAh, lithium-ion, non-replaceable, autonomy up to 48 hours (mixed load).
• Platform: Android Wear OS 1.5 (can be upgraded to 2.0).
• Price, $: 229.

Physical parameters

• Housing, mm: 45 x 45 x 9.95-10.75
• Strap, mm: 18
• Weight, g: 192
• Material: stainless steel steel.
• Protection: IP67.

Screen

• Type: multi-touch.
• Gorilla Glass 2.5.
• Martitsa AMOLED.
• Number of flowers, million: 16.
• Screen diagonal, inches: 1.39.
• Resolution, pixels: 400x400.

Programs, interface, user experience

ZenWatch 3, more than any other smartwatch, is packed with different functions. This is indicated by a hidden light sensor and 3 customizable buttons.

The core functions of the ZenWatch 3 work absolutely fine. Performance is very fast. The device screen has 2 advantages. Firstly, it is a completely round AMOLED matrix with a light sensor. And secondly, these are the built-in ASUS watch faces, which demonstrate all the beauty of the display.

On the street, the image on the screen is quite clearly visible, but not on sunny days.

A full battery charge is enough to keep the smartwatch powered for a couple of weeks (in standby mode), but even if the screen is constantly on, this does not significantly reduce battery life. Unfortunately, the design of the dial itself has not been updated, i.e. it still lacks a second hand, ticking dots, or any other moving elements. But there are more than 50 watch face styles available, mostly classic (brown, black, gray, gold) that match the physical aesthetics of the ZenWatch 3. Of course, you can also download your favorite watch face from Google Play if none of the built-in options suit you.

Now let's discuss the buttons on the ZenWatch 3. They can be configured to launch specific applications (after installing ZenWatch Manager). By default, the top button launches ZenFit (ASUS's fitness app), while the bottom button enables ECO mode (details below). For example, you can reconfigure a button to launch a social network application to quickly check messages, or attach it to a navigator, calendar, etc. Other users can use buttons to set up quick access to more important applications for them - a stopwatch, calculator or translator. The smartwatch has a decent amount of RAM (512 MB), so switching between running applications happens quickly and smoothly.

To unlock the full potential of the ZenWatch 3 smartwatch, you need to download the ZenWatch Manager application from Google Play. Among key functions It is worth noting watch search (using vibration and sound), protection against losing your phone, calls through the watch, SOS signal, camera control, etc.

We didn't try out all the features of the ZenWatch manager app, but we really liked the watch face settings and control of information widgets.

The ZenWatch 3's speaker was surprisingly loud during various alarms and music playback, although we didn't test it during phone calls.

Autonomy, battery

As for autonomy, in 24 hours active use We didn't experience any major problems with the ZenWatch 3. Moreover, the selected dials did not have pure black colors to save battery power thanks to the AMOLED display. If you turn off the smartwatch screen at night, it will almost certainly withstand even 2 days of operation. But this is not necessary, because... ZenWatch 3 has a really very fast charging function that allows you to reach 60% charge in 15 minutes. Our tests confirmed this. It will take about 40 minutes to charge to 100%. But we think that a 15-minute charge in the morning will be enough to stretch the clock until the evening.

We did not notice any limitations in the battery life of the ZenWatch 3 smartwatch, however, ASUS offers an additional external battery that extends the device's performance by 40%. In addition, there is also an “ECO” energy saving mode, which can extend the battery life of smartwatches by 2 times due to some limitations in functionality. Useful in a pinch though high speed Charging is still more pleasing.

Video

Serious competitor

At the moment, the ASUS ZenWatch 3 smartwatch is the most advanced Android Wear-based device. ASUS offers stylish watches with a huge number of functions. ZenWatch 3 is a light, thin and comfortable smartwatch. They are superior to the previous generation thanks to the Snapdragon Wear 2100 chip. The charging mechanism is also convenient and insanely fast. True, I would like the cable to be made longer.

Disadvantages of ZenWatch

This has already been mentioned above, but let us remind you once again that the disadvantages of the device are the absence of some key sensors, for example GPS, NFC, heart rate sensor, GSM radio module.

Price

The price tag for the ZenWatch 3 smartwatch is very reasonable - only $229. This is much lower than similar devices.