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ASUS ZenWatch 2 review: A standout smartwatch at a fantastic price

By James Lu - 25 Nov 2015

ASUS ZenWatch 2 review: A standout smartwatch at a fantastic price


Overview

The first ASUS ZenWatch was released about a year ago and was one of our favorite Android Wear smartwatches thanks to its stylish design and affordable price. This year, ASUS has tried to improve on the design, and has also introduced two case sizes, all while keeping mostly the same internal components. They've also lowered the price, and this year's ZenWatch is more affordable than ever at just S$229, making it one of the best value Android Wear smartwatches you can buy.

  ASUS ZenWatch 2 ASUS ZenWatch
  ASUS ZenWatch 2 ASUS ZenWatch
Operating system
  • Android Wear
  • Android Wear
Processor
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 400
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 400
Memory
  • 512MB RAM
  • 512MB RAM
Storage
  • 4GB
  • 4GB
Display
  • 49mm: 1.63-inch AMOLED / 320 x 320 pixels (278 ppi)
  • 45mm: 1.45-inch AMOLED / 280 x 280 pixels (273ppi)
  • 1.63-inch AMOLED / 320 x 320 pixels (278 ppi)
Connectivity
  • Bluetooth 4.0
  • Bluetooth 4.0
Sensors
  • 6-Axis (Gyroscope, Accelerometer) with sensor-hub
  • 9-Axis (Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Compass), Biometric heart rate monitor
Other Features
  • IP67 dust and water resistant
  • IP55 dust and water resistant
Battery
  • 49mm: 400mAh
  • 45mm: 300mAh
  • 370mAh
Dimensions
  • 49mm: 49 x 41mm
  • 45mm: 45 x 37mm
  • 51 x 39.9 x 7.9 ~ 9.4 mm
Weight
  • 49mm: 60g
  • 45mm: 50g
  • 75g
 

Design

The ZenWatch 2 keeps the same elegant design language that made the original ZenWatch a success, and has a square case made from stainless steel. Like last year's ZenWatch, it's a stylish unisex design that looks classy and understated, and the square case has rounded corners, which softens the watch’s overall appearance. A new addition this time around is a crown on the right-side of the watch. Although, unlike Apple's digital crown, this one doesn't turn, it just turns the screen on and off (or press-and-hold to launch the apps screen).

The ZenWatch 2 has a crown on its side, but it doesn't rotate, it's just a button for turning the screen on and off.

You also get a choice of colors this time, with gunmetal grey and rose gold joining the standard silver color. I've been wearing the gunmetal color for the past few days, and for what it's worth, more than a few people have mistaken it for an Apple Watch (the crown probably has a lot to do with that) even though the 49mm version I'm wearing is actually quite a bit larger than Apple's 42mm watch.

The larger of the two ZenWatches looks pretty huge next to the 42mm Apple Watch.

Like Apple, ASUS has introduced two case sizes for the ZenWatch 2:-

  • A 49mm version with a 1.63-inch display
  • A smaller 45 mm model with a 1.45-inch screen.

This review features the 49mm version. Whichever version you opt for, swapping out the watch bands is extremely straightforward, and can be done by using the quick-release sliding mechanism found on the back of the strap. ASUS has a few official straps available in a variety of different  colors and materials, with the default being a textured navy blue leather strap with a slight texture to it. There's also rubber bands and a high-quality stainless-steel link bracelet available. Alternatively, you can use your own standard watch strap. The 49mm case takes 22mm straps and the 45mm case takes 18mm straps.

The straps on the ZenWatch 2 are easily replaceable thanks to the quick-release lever. You can also see the 4-pin magnetic charging point in this picture.

This year's ZenWatch also boasts improved water and dust resistance, and comes with an IP67 certification, which means that along with complete protection from dust, the device can also be submerged in up to 1 meter of water for as long as 30 minutes. So feel free to go swimming with it on.

 

Display

The 45mm ZenWatch 2 has a 1.45-inch AMOLED display, with a 280 x 280 pixels resolution (273ppi), while the larger ZenWatch has a 1.63-inch AMOLED display with a 320 x 320 pixels resolution (277ppi). I don't have the smaller 45mm model available so I can't comment on any difference in clarity but the display on the 49mm ZenWatch 2 is much improved from last year. One of my biggest complaints about last year's ZenWatch was a very apparent haziness to its display. Fortunately, that problem has completely disappeared from this year's model, which looks sharp, vibrant and crisp. A sheet of gently curved Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protects the display and adds to the watch's classy appeal.

If I have one complaint to make about the ZenWatch 2, it's that the bezels around the screen are a bit big. I mentioned this last year too, and it doesn't seem to have gotten much better this year. Thanks to the AMOLED display's great contrast, dark watch faces look the best as the sides of the display blend in perfectly with the bezel, but the huge bezels are very noticeable if you prefer white watch faces.

The thick bezels are especially apparent with white watch faces. Stick to dark or, better yet, black designs.

 

Features

Under the hood, the ZenWatch is basically exactly the same as last year's model (as well as most of the other Android Wear watches on the market) with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor and 512 MB RAM. Like last year, performance on the watch is smooth and snappy, with no noticeable stuttering or lag when navigating through the menus or watchfaces. As with all Android Wear watches, the ZenWatch 2 is also compatible with iOS.

Along with the standard Android Wear app, ASUS recommends you download a whole host of ASUS apps to use with the ZenWatch 2: ASUS ZenWatch Manager, FaceDesigner, ZenWatch Wellness, ZenWatch Music, ZenWatch Remote Camera, and Remote Link.

ZenWatch Manager basically overtakes Android Wear as your default watch app, and adds loads of extra functionality beyond Android Wear, including remote call control, which lets you answer and control phone calls from the watch, and an unlock my phone feature, which lets you unlock your phone by touching the watch face (this works with any Android phone, not just ASUS ones). If you've lost your watch, you can use Find My Watch from the Manager to locate it by sending it a signal that will make it vibrate and flash. Alternatively, if you've misplaced your phone, the Find My Phone feature lets you do the same thing from your watch, making your smartphone vibrate, flash and ring (it even works if your phone is set to silent as it will automatically raise the volume so you can find it).

Unfortunately, there's no iOS version, so iPhone users, you're stuck with Android Wear's limited iOS functionality.

On top of the standard Android Wear watchfaces, the ZenWatch Manager app adds 50 more exclusive watch faces grouped into five categories: Sport, Simplicity, Urban, Digital and Youth. Each watch face can be individually configured to show more or less information, like additional time zones, weather information, step counts and more (similar to the Apple Watch's complications). If you're creative, you can also create your own watch face using ASUS' FaceDesigner app.

One feature that's only available if you have a compatible ASUS phone is the Remote Camera app. When paired with an ASUS phone running on ZenUI, you can use the ZenWatch 2 as a remote camera control. Doing so will show the smartphone's viewfinder from your ZenWatch 2 display.

While it may seem like a pain to have to download all of these extra apps when you set up your ZenWatch, we have to applaud ASUS for adding more functionality on top of the basic Android Wear features. If you can't be bothered to get them, the ZenWatch 2 is perfectly usable on its own, but the extra features are definitely worth it.

 

Battery Life

The only place where the two ZenWatch 2 models differ internally is battery capacity. The larger ZenWatch 2 has a 400mAh battery, while the smaller version has a 300mAh unit. Battery life was decent but not outstanding, lasting about 15-18 hours on a single charge. If you make a lot of phone calls through the ZenWatch Manager app, expect that battery life to go down. Unfortunately I don't have the 45mm ZenWatch 2 to test, but expect slightly worse battery life on that model.

The way you charge thewatch has also changed, and you no longer have to use a fiddly dock this time round. Instead, you get a magnetic 4-pin connector (similar to Pebble smartwatches) that sticks to the bottom-rear of the watch. It doesn't look as nice as the Moto 360 dock, and obviously it won't double up as a nightstand clock, but it's hassle-free and easy to pack with you when traveling. The ZenWatch 2 also charges quite quickly, going from 0 to 50 percent in about 30 minutes.

 

Conclusion

The ZenWatch 2 is a great evolution of last year's ZenWatch and cements ASUS' place in the wearables market. The inclusion of ASUS' own apps sets the ZenWatch 2 apart, and rather than just another run-of-the-mill Android Wear watch, you get something a bit more exclusive and special. The addition of a second, smaller case-size is a smart decision and should widen the ZenWatch 2's appeal, especially for ladies, or really anyone with a smaller wrist.

Finally, knocking S$70 off the original price is pretty much unheard of, and its new price of S$229 is fantastic value, especially when smartwatches seem to be getting more and more expensive. Just for reference, the Motorola Moto 360 still costs S$380 (though you can get it with good discounts online), Samsung's new Gear S2 starts at S$448, and the cheapest Apple Watch (the 38mm Sport edition) starts at S$518. That's right, you can buy two stainless steel ZenWatch 2's for the cost of one 38mm aluminum Apple Watch, and still have S$60 leftover. If you've been looking for a safe entry into the world of smartwatches without having to spend too much, you can't go wrong with the ZenWatch 2.

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8.5
  • Design 8
  • Features 8.5
  • User-Friendliness 8
  • Performance 8
  • Value 8.5
The Good
Elegant stainless steel case
Great value
IP67 water and dust resistant
Extra features through ZenWatch Manager app
The Bad
Large bezels around the display
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