Asus smart watch. Review iPhone owners, pay attention. Asus ZenWatch. Design and materials

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 watch On the market. However, since then the situation has changed significantly: Apple Watch, 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
• RAM(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 Samsung watch Gear S2 and Apple Watch are 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.

Opening 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, it is influenced by comparison with others smart watch- 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 by the standards today really big. 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 not only performs the function of the Home button, 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 everyone.

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.

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. 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 displaying a white field in full screen maximum value(5 on the scale) 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 brightness dependence graphs ( 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 company takes care of 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 is 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 on Android based 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 watches, 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 Google Play Store, where there is no entry 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 description of Android Wear as a whole (we have already talked in detail about this operating system and its capabilities more than once, 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 the ability to flexibly customize the appearance of watch faces. For example you can change the color individual elements or a set of widgets (however, the set of options is always very limited). In addition, ZenWatch Manager provides a number of additional settings that are not possible through the Android Wear application.

Even more interesting opportunities for working with watch faces, the new ZenWatch FaceDesigner application offers. 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.

Autonomous operation

Duration battery life We were very pleased with 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 last update watchOS (2.0.1) works for us on average for the same two days (and sometimes even more).

conclusions

The watch turned out to be imperfect: compared to its competitors, it no longer looks 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 The 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 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, we will also take the price in the USA)? But 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.

The 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
• Android Wear operating system
• 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 Android Wear watch, is inferior to the Samsung Gear S watch, but it also has more low price(in the USA - $200 versus $300-400 for the Gear S; in both cases, prices are without contract and state tax). 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 the Snapdragon APQ8026 has 4 cores, but the operating system only uses one core. This is confirmed by tests conducted by enthusiasts using Geekbench 3.1 (special version for command line 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, battery life and various pleasant little things that each manufacturer tries to stand out with come to the fore. 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”.

Opening 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.

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. 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. The outer surface of the screen has a special oleophobic (grease-repellent) coating (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 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 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 the Samsung Gear Live watch we tested last year has the same declared 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 operating system, and about pre-installed applications, and about 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 big update OS, which 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 we click on “More”, we will see all the other watch faces (this appeared precisely in new version Android Wear, which, however, is available 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.

These are interesting software features Asus ZenWatch is not limited. 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 app allows you to customize the display of various information on watch faces that cannot be configured using Android Wear, and also offers some nice additions to basic capabilities watch on Android Wear. 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 you can also use it to set the parameters of the SOS message sent from the watch in case 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 these are just third-party applications that Asus has no direct relationship with. 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.

Autonomous operation

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 having entered 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 custom 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.

Despite some disadvantages, ASUS's watches turned out to be quite good. Yes, they do not have Wi-Fi and the operating time of the device leaves much to be desired, but the first experience of the Taiwanese in this niche can be called successful. The emphasis in the watch is not on technology, but on design and comfort, which is not entirely usual. However, for a gadget that you wear on your hand every day, ease of use is perhaps more important, and not how many sensors it has. The watch copes with the main tasks, even measures the pulse, but you can do without the rest. Surprisingly, the price of this watch is lower than that of its competitors, although the ASUS ZenWatch is presented as a luxury gadget. You can buy them in the US for $199, which is $50 cheaper than the same Moto 360 or Sony SmartWatch 3, although they have a little more features. What can we say about the Apple Watch, the starting price of which is $349. In Russia, the new product will cost 17 thousand rubles, unfortunately, the price is no longer very attractive. The same SmartWatch 3 with a steel strap is already sold for 15 thousand, and Moto 360 is easy to find for 12-13 thousand rubles. When choosing, price can be the main factor, because the gadgets do not differ much in function. Sales of ZenWatch will begin in a week, on June 1, with a noticeable delay, because almost six months have passed since the international start of sales. In addition, this year many companies, including ASUS, plan to announce new models of Android Wear devices. This means that ZenWatch will simply become obsolete pretty soon, but prices will be adjusted downward, which can attract buyers.

On the market modern technologies ASUS ZenWatch smart watch has appeared. Attractive design and economical price attracted the attention of all lovers of modern innovations. Taiwanese engineers were able to combine all the latest developments in the new product and became worthy competition for the Apple Watch.

Despite the fact that today many users are skeptical about all new products in the world of smart technology, the new gadget was able to gain a positive reputation.

Smart watch ASUS ZenWatch - Reviews

Asus ZenWatch is the best that smartwatch manufacturers have been able to present to date. High tech functional device with an original design and a range of available features, it surpassed all previous devices in this segment. This is a comfortable and stylish watch that will be appropriate in absolutely any life situation.

Watches from Asus support Android system Wear, but despite this they have limited opportunities Unlike operating system tablets or smartphones. They have a user-friendly interface, fairly easy voice control, including Russian language support. This definitely gives the device a noticeable advantage over its competitors.

The clock works at offline mode, i.e. on their own, without pairing with a tablet or smartphone. However, more functional gadgets will help you unlock their full potential. In this case, when Google help Now you can receive missed notifications or notifications about the latest events.

With the help of the watch, you can even take photos and videos; you can also use it as an alarm clock or a kind of remote control for controlling the player. The device can show your heart rate or calculate calorie consumption, and unlike other models with Android Wear, ZenWatch has a software package from Asus, which allows you to significantly expand the capabilities of the accessory.

ASUS ZenWatch design

The design and material of the watch have a more solid and attractive appearance than previous gadgets. The ZenWatch case consists of a so-called “ rose gold", edged with stainless steel on both sides and painted bronze. The body is curved with smooth outlines.

It's worth noting that the ZenWatch device feels much more durable than the metal Samsung. This design goes well with a brown leather strap. ZenWatch has a fairly high level of durability and protection from moisture and dust. The watch is quite versatile, which makes it possible to safely wear it even on the beach and not take it off before entering the water.

The standard leather strap that comes with the ZenWatch is 22mm wide. The color of the material is flesh-colored, matching the skin tone of the hands. However, the bracelet is quite hard, which somewhat spoils the pleasure of wearing a smart accessory.

The length of the strap is adjustable, so when it comes to size, there will be no problems. Unfortunately, the clasp requires improvement and improvement. The watch case has no sharp corners and no protruding parts. It looks quite nice thanks to its smooth outlines.

Screen overview

The screen is located in the center of a small panel, where there are no decorations. The underside of the ZenWatch continues the minimalist trend. On the side there is a Micro-USB connector, four mounting screws, a tiny cutout for the microphone, and there is also a power button. Unlike other Android devices, the heart rate monitor is integrated into the front panel. It is worth mentioning charging. There are contacts at the bottom of the inner surface and when connected to the charger, a small LED lights up. Charger ZenWatch, unfortunately, is not wireless. However, in most cases the wire does not interfere.

The 1.63-inch AMOLED screen with a resolution of 320 x 320 performs its functions with an “excellent” rating. On top it is protected by curved scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass 3. There is an anti-reflective coating, which allows you to see the image perfectly in any weather conditions. The RAM is 512 MB, and the built-in card is expandable up to 4 GB.

The watch battery lasts quite a long time without recharging. Even after an active day of work and within half an hour of installing and uninstalling applications, the reading indicator will display about 50% charge. This is much best result than the Moto 360, which, even after a series of battery upgrades in a fairly active mode of using the device, completely drains the battery in a day.

If you turn off the screen backlight and notifications about new messages in in social networks and on email, then charging can last up to two days.

The watch works quite quickly, but some functions can only be performed using a smartphone or tablet paired with it. Maps from Google are also synchronized. This allows voice command set a reminder, send a message, find out about the weather, flights or the location of the nearest cafes or shopping centers.

Asus has developed a small catalog of applications for ZenWatch. ZenWatch manager recommends at least three exclusive applications: ZenWatch Wellness, ZenWatch Camera and ZenWatch Music. ZenWatch Wellness can perform simple tasks such as color adjustment, battery indicator, and also alerts you when the connected phone is out of range.

The device has a built-in heart rate sensor that will measure your heart rate and can also record a graph of your steps, calories burned, and exercise intensity over time.

Less successful are two other applications - ZenWatch Camera and ZenWatch Music. Perhaps future updates will correct the situation. The heart rate sensor and pedometer require major improvements.

Bottom line

The main advantage of the ASUS ZenWatch is its stylish design. However, it was not enough to outweigh the shortcomings in the technology. Modern voice control, high-quality build and good software have huge potential, but there are still quite serious complaints about the pedometer and heart rate sensor.

pros

• Affordable price;
• Beautiful design;
• Reliable charging;
• Reliable battery.

You open the box and you immediately understand that ASUS employees do not eat their bread in vain. Not a single render, not a single photograph can convey how beautiful the watch is. Polished steel and leather, not a hint of sports or fitness - ZenWatch WI500Q looks expensive. Premium materials, engraving and embossing make you want to look at the device from all sides for a long time. The name of the device is stamped on the strap on one side, and Genuine leather (“genuine leather”) on the other. Of course, this is not written on the straps of expensive watches, but this is an inexpensive watch!

The version familiar from all advertising materials is with a light brown strap, but there are two more options on sale - with red-brown and black. A classic set for expensive ones and not quite typical for smartwatches - no polymers or plastic. ZenWatch looks appropriate with a suit, with a shirt, or at worst with a sweatshirt - a T-shirt or sleeveless vest asks for something sportier. The case also comes in two colors: silver-gold and rose-gold. All this makes you double-check the price of the device and sit back in bewilderment: ASUS watches are almost the cheapest Android Wear offer available today. They are not yet sold in Russia, and in the US they are asking for only $200 (excluding taxes), while the Moto 360 is priced at $249, and the recently reviewed LG G Watch R is sold for $299. Only the original LG G Watch is cheaper - they want $169.

The front panel of the ASUS ZenWatch, framed in stainless steel, is covered with slightly curved Gorilla Glass 3. Hidden underneath is a square AMOLED matrix with a diagonal of 1.63 inches and a resolution of 320 × 320 pixels (278 PPI). AMOLED for watches is exactly what you need. The concept of viewing angles is not applicable to organic LEDs at all due to the almost infinite contrast, black practically does not glow - no voltage is applied to the switched off pixels, which saves energy. ASUS has skillfully taken advantage of this: in sleep mode, the display displays a simplified black and white scheme of the clock and notifications. The battery power is consumed less, but, unfortunately, this does not help. The device is equipped with a 1.4 Wh battery (369 mAh, 3.8 V) and therefore lasts a couple of days without recharging, no more. Well, if you actively use your watch, then be prepared to charge it every day.

The rest of the hardware is pretty standard for Android Wear devices from late 2014 to early 2015: Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor with a frequency of 1.2 GHz, 512 MB of RAM and 4 GB of built-in flash memory. There is Bluetooth 4.0, compass, 9-axis gyroscope, heart rate sensor and microphone. There is no speaker, GPS or Wi-Fi. From the above special attention deserves a sensor skillfully integrated into the device by designers and engineers.

Without knowing what a heart rate monitor looks like, you won’t be able to find it in ASUS ZenWatch. The sensor is the steel frame of the front panel: by placing your fingers on it, you can find out your heart rate. Of course, the optical sensor is more convenient, but ZenWatch is not positioned as a fitness tracker, and, frankly, there is no desire to play sports in this watch - you are afraid of scratching it. So the heart rate monitor is here rather as a nice addition; besides, it’s a shame for a gadget worn on the wrist to appear on sale without it. What is really useful is moisture and dust protection. True, here it is not complete: the watch is protected according to the IP55 standard, that is, it is not afraid of dust and jets of water. But you shouldn’t dive or take a bath in them - the manufacturer did not promise that ZenWatch will certainly survive this.

It was reported that the device was developed in close cooperation with Google. In fact, this collaboration resulted in the use of a slightly expanded version of Android Wear, because the interface Google systems It doesn't allow me to change it yet. About the standard features of this OS, we will look at exclusive features available only to ZenWatch owners. At the time of review, the device is using the latest available firmware version - 1.0.5.1636785, version Google services Play - 6.5.90.

The Taiwanese place their main emphasis on interaction with their proprietary ZenUI shell, which can be found on ASUS smartphones. However, without exception, all the “chips” of ZenWatch can be used on any smartphone, as long as Android version was above 4.3. The names of these “chips” mostly speak for themselves. Watch Unlock allows you to unlock your phone without a password if the watch is nearby. With Cover to Mute, you can mute a ringing smartphone by covering the watch screen with your hand. Using the same method, you can put the device into sleep mode. Find My Phone helps you find your phone if it's within Bluetooth range, and Remote Camera turns your watch into a camera remote control. The real-time image is transmitted to ZenWatch, which makes the gadget indispensable for selfie lovers. To use Remote Camera, you need to install the program of the same name on your smartphone; all other functions become available after installing the ZenWatch Manager application. With its help, you can launch the compass built into the watch, turn its screen into a weak flashlight, or send an SOS signal. By the way, the same thing can be done without the help of a smartphone by telling the watch a phrase that begins with the traditional “Okay, Google” - this is fun, but not always convenient.