ASUS has nailed its first attempt at smartwatch design. Despite not boasting the much-anticipated round watch-face of other upcoming wearables, the ZenWatch still looks like something you could wear without feeling like you had an ungainly piece of tech strapped to your wrist.
In all of the hubbub of square vs circle, the humble
rounded-off rectangle has been summarily overlooked.
ASUS’s design fills a stylistic gap that we hadn’t even noticed was there until now. Yet, anyone who had recently visited a high-end watchmaker’s website could have told us immediately. Upcoming time-piece manufacturer Badollet's Ivresse wristwatch, for instance, is a fitting example of rectangular class and style.
Importantly, the watch itself looks to have been crafted from quality materials. The brushed metal frame and leather straps lend an elegance that is not yet commonplace in the wearable realm.
It’s a good thing, too. Right now the smartwatch market is driven entirely by look. Going for a classic design that no one else has thought to emulate is a good way to secure customers.
On the usability side of things there’s little worry that the ZenWatch will turn out ok. It’s running on Android Wear, which has proven to be a good experience, although admittedly ASUS has skinned it with its own User Interface.
Still, apps should work and it can’t be beyond ASUS’s abilities to make a device that runs adequately. So long as it’s visible in daylight and the battery holds out we can’t see any reason why the ZenWatch wouldn’t sell as well as its contemporaries.
Alex Angove-Plumb
Digital Content Editor
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