Nixon unveils first Android Wear smartwatch, could probably out-survive Bear Grylls in an avalanche

Nixon is the latest traditional fashion watch maker to announce an Android Wear product, joining the likes of Fossil and Casio in hopping onboard the smartwatch train. And if the promotional pre-launch media is anything go by, this will be a beastly device built for those of us who like living on the edge.

Nixon’s ‘The Mission’ watch boasts an incredibly durable chassis. It has a chunky 48mm case made from shock-resistant polycarbonate, with a raised 316L steel ‘roll cage’ bezel around a display, which Nixon coated in a heavy duty crystal Corning Gorilla Glass sheet.

Adding to that ruggedness is its jaw-dropping waterproofing. The Mission can survive depths up to 100 meters, or pressure up to 10 atmospheres. What’s more, once available, you’ll be able to choose your own case, custom engraving, between 20 band options as well as 15 bezel colors/materials.

It’s not just the exterior that’s built for outdoorsy types either, the software has been designed with active people in mind too. Nixon has its own Trace app which lets users track sessions using built-in GPS as well as a Mission app which shows surf and snow conditions. With it running Android Wear, you’ll also get the usual Google Fit app for tracking your daily activities. Powering it all is the newly announced Snapdragon 2100 processor, built exclusively for smartwatches and wearables. Being GPS-equipped also means you’ll be able to take it out and leave your phone at home. Not that you’d want to take your phone out surfing (or snowboarding).

No other specs are mentioned in the information page, so we’re not sure what exact resolution or size display it has. What we can see from the images and promo video is that, although round, there’s no annoying ‘flat tire’ at the bottom of the display. Pricing isn’t mentioned either, but you can sign up to be notified.

At 48mm, this is not a small watch, as much is clear in the video below. This thing looks huge, and it’s clear from the outset that it will be in direct competition with the Casio smartwatch announced earlier this year. Like ‘The Mission’ from Nixon, Casio’s WSD-F10 is built to survive rough outdoor conditions, and provide accurate tracking for all the extreme sports lovers out there.

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