Asus already makes one of the nicest-looking Android Wear smartwatches, but now the company is moving ahead with a new device called the Asus VivoWatch. It runs an entirely different software from Android Wear and boasts 10-day battery life.
It has the same attractive look as the ZenWatch
Asus’ ZenWatch remains one of the most attractive Android Wear devices on the market, and the VivoWatch promises to turn just as many heads. The device follows a similar design language, with what appears to be a stainless steel casing and a sporty strap. The VivoWatch has an IP67 dust and water resistance rating, so you won’t have to worry about damage from sweat or rain during on your morning run.
The VivoWatch gets amazing 10-day battery life
Battery life is one of the most important things for wearables, but most smartwatches barely make it through a full day. Asus’ VivoWatch is the exception to the rule. It offers up to 10 days of battery life, even though the watch sports a 123mAh battery, which is less hefty than the battery inside most smartwatches. The VivoWatch pulls off 10-day battery life thanks to a number of key features.
Its 128 x 128 pixel black-and-white touchscreen and the lack of a powerful processor help keep power consumption low, as does the very simple OS called Kood, which was developed by Asus for the device. Android Wear and Apple’s Watch OS are very power hungry, but Asus’ Kood is not. Even so, Kood still manages to take on a variety of tasks, including fitness tracking, sleep monitoring, and notifications. Additionally, the VivoWatch uses a microcontroller instead of an actual processor to cut down on power use.
The only huge downside to all these power-saving measures is that the VivoWatch can’t run third-party apps. The VivoWatch must rely on Asus’ software and bundles apps alone. Otherwise, the device has everything else you’d expect from a smartwatch, including a heart rate sensor and a focus on fitness. The VivoWatch also works with both Android and iPhone, which is something only a few other smartwatches can say.
It’ll only cost $150, but may not reach the U.S.
To top it all off, Asus’ VivoWatch will be one of the cheapest smartwatches around at just $150 when it comes to Taiwan in May, ePrice says. It will also arrive in the U.K., France, and Germany soon, but no U.S. release date was mentioned in the FocusTaiwan report.
Next page: All the rumors ahead of the Asus VivoWatch launch
Updated on 04-13-2015 by Malarie Gokey: Added VivoWatch battery life, specs, and possible launch date news.
It will have a sleek, water-resistant design
Asus’ ZenWatch remains one of the most attractive Android Wear devices on the market, and based on the picture Engadget got from its sources, the VivoWatch promises to turn just as many heads. The device seems to follow a similar design language, with what appears to be a stainless steel casing and a sporty strap. The VivoWatch could have an IP67 dust and water resistance rating, so you won’t have to worry about damage from sweat or rain during on your morning run.
A focus on fitness and battery life
In February, the VivoWatch made an appearance in the Bluetooth SIG database. The brief description of the device states that it’s a health and fitness-focused smartwatch that can detect heart rate and sleep data. A later report also mentioned a heart rate monitor and sleep tracking. The VivoWatch will connect to users’ smartphones via Bluetooth LE, the posting states. Beyond those sparse details, nothing else about the VivoWatch is revealed.
Another leak spotted by Notebook Italia hints that the VivoWatch will have GPS, which makes sense if Asus is aiming to make it more of a fitness device. That particular posting hints that the VivoWatch may also have smartwatch-like functions, including notifications for texts, emails, calls, calendar alerts, and alarms.
However interesting all the other metrics may be, the most exciting news we’ve heard about the VivoWatch is its potentially incredibly long battery life. Engadget reports the smartwatch will last a whopping 10 days on a single charge. In order to preserve battery as long as possible, Asus appears to have opted for a black and white screen and a very minimalist interface.
A smartwatch that runs Windows?
Typically, Asus products that have the “Vivo” branding are less expensive Windows devices, so when the name VivoWatch first popped up online, rumors of a Windows-based smarwatch that works like the Microsoft Band started to spread. It’s unclear if this rumor holds any water, or is just pure speculation. The photo obtained by Engadget shows a mysterious interface in black and white, with no further hints of what operating system will power the device.
It may be unveiled at Milan Design Week
Initially, it was thought that Asus might reveal the VivoWatch at Mobile World Congress, but that turned out to be untrue. Now, Asus has announced that it will hold an event on April 14 at Milan Design Week. The teaser page and trailer for the announcement, seem to hint that Asus is going to reveal a smartwatch at the event. At one point on the scrolling page, you can see what appears to be the clasp of the watch. We’ll keep you posted with more information as soon as the device is launched.
