5 wearable gifts you can buy now

Sony Smartwatch 2

Sony Smartwatch 2

Published Nov 22, 2014

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Cookoo Smartwatch

Price: R1 900 from Incredible Connection

The Cookoo combines an analogue timepiece with a connected digital display to sync to your iOS devices.

Using an LCD display behind the dials, it can notify you of calendar reminders, alarms, text messages, Facebook messages and missed or incoming calls with icons that illuminate. It alerts you when you’re out of range, handy if you’ve misplaced your phone.

It tells you when the battery is running low. It shouldn’t happen too often as the standard button-cell battery can last for up to a year. Even if the Bluetooth LCD display runs out of power, the analogue watch can keep going for up to three years.

The Cookoo smartwatch is ideal for the user who wants a classic-looking watch but who can also benefit from receiving notifications on the go.

 

Cogito Classic

Price: R2 500 from Incredible Connection

Cogito is compatible with Android and iOS, and pairs over Bluetooth 4.0 Smart, so it shouldn’t drain the battery significantly. It features simple icons for missed calls, SMS or social network messages, e-mails, calendar reminders, alarms and low battery. The Classic covers all the bases one would expect from a smartwatch, without blinding you with a bright screen or flicking into life every time you move your wrist. The buttons can also be used to trigger the camera shutter on your phone, locate your handset should you misplace it and change music tracks. With water resistance down to 100m, you won’t have to worry about getting caught in the rain or taking it off at the beach.

The Cogito Classic is for the user looking for a cost-efficient option and minimalist style. This would appeal to a younger more active audience who don’t need the bulk and snazzy screen of other smartwatches, but still want the features.

 

Mykronoz ZeWatch

Price: R999 from Orange online store

ZeWatch is a smartwatch that is compatible with all Bluetooth 2.0 and above-enabled smartphones, tablets and PCs. On its OLED screen, ZeWatch displays the name and/or number of incoming calls which you can take easily with the answer-from-your-wrist capability. Thanks to its vibrating function, you will never miss a call or a notification. It also features a music player to play music from any Bluetooth device. The Li-ion 150mAh battery should keep it going for about three days with a short 1.5 hour charging time.

The ZeWatch is a solid option for the first-time smartwatch buyer. The price won’t break the bank and the watch will provide the enhancements for those looking to dabble with what smartwatches have to offer.

 

Fitbit One

Price: R1 400 from Cape Union Mart

The One is a wireless activity and sleep tracker, so during the day it will count all your steps, the calories you burn and the stairs you climb. At night, it will record the way you sleep, so you can learn how to sleep better. It even helps to wake you up in the morning, acting as a personal trainer of sorts. The rechargeable battery will last for over a week.

The Fitbit is the best option for the sporty type looking for that step forward in the wristwatch department, but who won’t miss having all the bells and whistles. This is a fitness-oriented device that is robust enough to handle being put through the paces of its owner.

 

Sony SmartWatch 2

Price: R1 718 from Kalahari.com

The Sony SmartWatch 2 acts as a phone remote, so you can keep track of everything without taking your phone out of your pocket or bag.

You can get notifications, control your music, see who’s calling and activate apps. When a call, message or other notification comes in, the Sony SmartWatch acts as an Android smartphone remote and vibrates on your wrist to let you know of an incoming call.

The watch features a gorgeous transflective LCD touch screen, Bluetooth 3.0, NFC, and a rechargeable battery that lasts seven days on low usage, and three on normal usage.

This is a solid option for those looking for an all-round device, without sacrificing too much. Android users will immediately be familiar with the Sony SmartWatch interface.

 

Game changers coming soon

Samsung Galaxy Gear S

Price: R6 599. Availability: This month

Where there’s a new electronic trend on the horizon, the powerhouse South Korean company is at the forefront. Samsung’s Gear S is a smartwatch you can use to make phone calls or surf the web without first having to pair the watch with a smartphone.

With its integrated cellular connectivity, the Gear S is a much more independent smartwatch compared with what’s currently on the market. Not having that clingy co-dependency with your smartphone is a great feature.

The 3G-enabled Gear S also features a 2-inch curved Super AMOLED screen, with a 360x480 resolution and runs on a 1GHz dual core processor with the Tizen OS, so it has the clarity and power you’ll need to handle all your tasks simultaneously.

The higher price compared to other options is an obvious concern, but the Gear S is arguably the most feature-heavy one out there.

 

Apple Watch

Price: Local pricing TBA (estimated at R4 000). Availability: Early next year

While Apple is typically at the front of the queue with regards to delivering the latest tech, the US company is a late addition to the smartwatch market But as everyone knows, they’re never a competitor you can count out.

Unlike other previously released smartwatches, the Apple Watch (not the iWatch, as it was rumoured it would be called) has a specialised dial on the side featuring touch-capabilities.

Called the Digital Crown, the dial contains sensors that turn movement into data, so will be the main input method for the Apple Watch rather than the touch-screen display.

Another unique feature is Digital Touch, which lets users communicate with someone just by tapping. You can draw on the Apple Watch, change colours or send your heartbeat.

The Apple Watch will need to operate in conjunction with other iOS devices, so this is something to be considered.

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