| Smartwatches have a pretty bad reputation for being ugly, mini computers that prioritize function far above form. Much of that criticism is deserved just look at the first two Android Wear watches released this summer. There have been a few bright spots in the otherwise dreary world of smartwatch design (Pebble’s Steel and Motorola’s Moto 360 come to mind), but if you care about how your watch looks, you’re probably not wearing a smartwatch. |
| That’s why I’m excited about Asus’ ZenWatch. The $199.99 Android Wear-powered watch has a slim stainless steel design complemented by a nice brown leather strap, complete with a fancy metal clasp. Asus talks more about the ZenWatch’s heart tracking, and the mood-measurement features that inspired its name, but I don’t really care about any of that. This looks like a watch I actually want to wear, regardless of its features. | | Of course, the reason you buy a smartwatch instead of a traditional watch is for what it does, so good looks alone won’t cut it in this world. A smartwatch needs to do a number of things to earn its title: provide quick access to notifications, tell the time, and last through the entire day without needing to be recharged (at the bare minimum), among other things. You can choose from any number of smartwatches to do those things, but if you want something that looks good on your wrist at the same time, you’re going to want to check out the ZenWatch. |
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