It’s been two and a half years since Qualcomm last released a major new smartwatch chip, and in the time since, Android smartwatches have languished. But in the coming months, they could finally start seeing some meaningful improvements: Qualcomm is releasing a new processor for watches, called the Snapdragon Wear 3100, that’s meant to extend battery life, enhance always-on displays, and offer more versatility when it comes to sports devices and fitness sensors.
Good news, since the Android Wear world had really died down. This new chip should breath some much-needed new life in the market. It also highlights the distinct and profound advantage Apple has in that it designs its own chips.
A successful Android watch (or an iWatch, for that matter) would do something useful and run for a month; what we have does nothing useful and runs for a day or two. A smart watch seems to me like a tamagochi, attention in exchange for nothing, only vastly more expensive and even less fun. No wonder its bubble burst at a tiny diameter.
Samsung and Huawei could also do custom silicon if they wanted, and maybe they do, but that has not been enough to float their boat. Maybe it is pink gold that provides some buoyancy.
If for some reason you really want to quantify every step you take and every beat of your heart, all the power to you; there are a thousand health monitor solutions, starting at 10€, and they get better all the time. Still, I wouldn’t be surprised it that bubble burst too; I sense something evil in recording and analyzing every instant of our existence, and maybe the world will one day agree.
But a heartrate monitor could post to Twitter the instant you died!
Best smartwatch (the one I own, of course) : NO.1 D5
$80 and you have everything you need, it’s useless to put more money into that
It’s a bit too plasticky and plain though…
The LG W150 (Urbane 1) or W200 (Urban 2) are better, same classic look, yet quite more expensive. Each one its own choice.
Edited 2018-09-12 10:33 UTC
I disagree on the less fun bit. It’s always fun having a tiny computer on your wrist with a minimal UI that can send short messages, play microgames and read RSS, though as is common with such vanity gizmos your mileage may vary…
I do get some utility out of it, as I can instantly view my notifications without having to pull the phone out. If you get lots of colleague email of varying importance each, it’s convenient.
Edited 2018-09-11 13:16 UTC
They just added a low power coprocessor, everything else in the main chip is the same. It should just extend battery life and nothing more.
Android wear is good, the watches are useful. But the build quality is kinda suspect. I’ve had a couple die. I’m not willing to shell out more for a replacement at this time. The oscillator in particular has to improve.
My Moto 360 watches (1st and 2nd gen), bought both from eBay work just fine…
Watches.
So retro.