CES 2015 brought the promise of a new and improved slate of wearables and smart tech. Many also hoped the conference would lend clarity to the conversation around the future of smart watches. Instead, the rather paltry offering of new wearables was characterized by some critics as “a complete lack of high profile launches.”
After all, 2014 brought huge advances in the field of wearable technology, moving us from E-Ink displays and proprietary software to more powerful, touchscreen watches running on stable platforms like Android Wear. Products like the LG G Watch, Motorola’s Moto 360, and Asus ZenWatch have raised the bar considerably in terms of functionality and styling. In short, they’ve helped bring smartwatches into the mainstream at a manageable price point.
And while there were a few exciting new “smart” wearables featured at this year’s CES, one such device was conspicuously absent. The Apple Watch, announced in September and expected to launch at the start of spring 2015, may still be the gold standard of wearable technology. Though its price point is noticeably higher than its Android competitors, the Apple Watch is sure to get a serious look from any iPhone user looking to adopt a wearable device in the immediate future. Did this year’s CES introduce anything that may prevent Apple’s faithful from holding out for the new $349 smart watch? These four devices may just have a shot:
Fitbit Surge ($249, Available Now)
Fitbit’s new “fitness super watch” began shipping last week, just as the eyes of the tech world were fixed on CES. Its impressive collection of features includes GPS distance tracking, a heart rate monitor, an altimeter, automatic sleep monitoring, a monochrome LED screen, and other standard fitness band features like wireless syncing and a silent vibrating alarm. While Jawbone’s CEO thinks users will still buy a fitness band even after purchasing an Apple Watch, I have serious doubts that wearable enthusiasts will want to own – let alone wear – both devices. For the price tag, the Surge puts itself in direct competition with top-of-the-line smartwatches that are more powerfully equipped and interact more fully with our phones, tablets, and computers.
Withings Activité Pop ($149, Feb. 2015)
The darling of CES 2015, the Withings Activité Pop has smartly accomplished something that no other “wearable” has been able to accomplish: It looks like an actual analog wristwatch. And on the outside, it is. But inside, the watch is a fitness tracker comparably equipped to the Fitbit Flex. It comes with a built-in pedometer and companion health app, but provides features lacking from the Flex like a waterproof case (up to 50m) and a replaceable CR2025 battery that’s good for up to eight months of uninterrupted use. It even has a discreet analog arm that indicates progress toward one’s selected goal (i.e. steps, distance, calories.) Frankly, I must admit I’m enamored with the Activité Pop’s simple style and unique approach. There are still concerns regarding its tracking accuracy and the UX of its companion app, but this watch could serve as a simple, elegant alternative to clunkier smart bands or more connected smart watches.
Garmin VivoActive ($249, Apr. 2015)
GPS giant Garmin entered the smart watch fray in earnest last week with its newest offering, the VivoActive. Unsurprisingly, the watch’s primary feature is GPS-powered activity tracking, serving a range of proprietary apps built to quantify and record specific activities like running, biking, golf, and swimming. It boasts a color touchscreen, a waterproof rating of 50m, and a battery life of up to three weeks (with GPS disabled, or 10 hours of GPS activity.) Rather than relying on cloud computing to analyze and store activity data, the VivoActive is impressively equipped with built-in apps that allow you to view real-time data without a phone nearby. It integrates seamlessly with and displays notifications from your iPhone, though it appears to lack the ability to respond to calls or texts in the way the Apple Watch does. This could be a deal-breaker for many who would like their smartwatch to ease their phone-carrying burden.
Lenovo Vibe Band VB10 ($89, Apr. 2015)
This slick smart band is unmistakably digital and surprisingly well equipped for the $89 price point. Its features include an accelerometer and a 1.43″ E Ink display that provides the time, step count, calorie tracking, and notifications for phone calls and texts as well as social networks like Facebook and Twitter. It’s battery life ranges up to seven days – even with an always-on display – and its micro USB charging port means that it does not require a dedicated charger. You could rightfully compare the Vibe Band VB10 to the Pebble Watch, though its design is a little less conspicuous than the Pebble’s. Most importantly, its uber-low price point could case many to “dip their toes” into the wearable experience before taking the plunge with a more expensive device later.
What do these devices mean for the Apple Watch? Beyond a lower price point (which may not be a problem at all, according to a survey,) these new wearables offer easy entry to the smartwear category along with solid design style.
Will that be enough to sway iPhone users from adopting the Apple Watch this spring? If the success of the category-defining devices like the iPod, iPhone, and iPad are any indication, I wouldn’t bet on it. With the sting of security issues in the rearview and a well-established monopoly on its target market, the Apple Watch looks poised for big success in 2015.
Tayven James is a Utah-based husband, father, and tech fan who loves to discover and opine about what’s new in the world.