Late last week, we reported that the ASUS ZenWatch 2 had started to receive the update to Android Wear 2.0. This came as great news considering the fact that it’s taken far too long for this software to arrive on ASUS’ lineup of wearables, but there was, unfortunately, a bit of a catch.
If you own the 49mm ZenWatch 2, you might want to check for a software update. After missing its initial Q2 target, ASUS is finally rolling out Android Wear 2.0 to ZenWatch 2 and 3 users, bringing the smartwatches up to speed with Material Design, improved notifications, Google Assistant, and more.
Google has shared official details about Android Wear 1.5 a couple weeks ago, and since it has rolled out to the majority of Android Wear watches. Mainly, this is a maintenance and stability update that focuses on improving system health. Now, like Motorola and Samsung did earlier this month, Asus has released a changelog of specific fixes for the ZenWatch 2.
The recently announced Huawei Watch was discovered to have an unused and unannounced speaker inside, which we showcased in a video last month. Now, Google+ user David Sears has tinkered with the ASUS ZenWatch 2 and found that it too contains an untapped speaker inside.
The same day as its ZenWatch 2 became available via the Google Store, Asus has this evening launched a new app that allows users to design custom watchfaces. The app, cleverly called the ZenWatch FaceDesigner, is compatible with both the ZenWatch and ZenWatch 2.
ZenWatch FaceDesigner allows users to easily design their own watchfaces. Users can choose from a variety of pre-designed backgrounds and add layers of texts, clocks, and widgets to the background. Widgets include things like weather info, battery life, and app shortcuts. As far as backgrounds go, you can also add your own image to the app and design a watchface based on it.
ZenWatch FaceDesigner is an ASUS wearable application that’s fully-compatible with Android Wear. It lets you create exclusive watch faces for your ZenWatch in three easy steps:
1. Choose your watch face.
2. Choose your clock type.
3. Finish it up by choosing your information widget.Aside from its simplicity, the ZenWatch FaceDesigner also offers a variety of options for you to choose from such as background image and color, tick, icon, text color, date info, weather info, battery info, missed call info, time zone info, tep count, burned calories, plus more. You can even pick your own favorite image as your watch’s background or icon for a more personalized touch.
The new ZenWatch FaceDesigner app is available now on the Play Store for free and is compatible with the ZenWatch and ZenWatch 2.
Asus’ ZenWatch 2 is easily one of this year’s best value Android Wear smartwatches. With prices starting at just $149, it’s about half the price of the other Android wearables launched in 2015. Now, it’s available to order from the Google Store.
As is customary these days with new smartwatches, there are two sizes of ZenWatch 2. The 45mm and 49mm versions sport slightly different specs, with the smaller model featuring a 280 x 280 resolution screen, 300mAh battery and support for standard 18mm watch bands. The larger watch supports 22mm bands, has a 400mAh battery and a 320 x 320 display. Both have 4GB storage, 512MB RAM and the same Qualcomm processor, IP67 water resistance, Bluetooth 4.1 and Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g.
If you order the 49mm model from Google, the predicted shipment timeframe is 1-2 business days, while the 45mm model just says ‘coming soon’. If you want to save a little cash, NewEgg is offering pre-orders for the ZenWatch 2 for $129 and $149 for the rubber and leather-strapped models respectively.
If the ZenWatch 2 isn’t your style at all, and you’re on a tight budget, there are a bunch of last year’s Android Wear watches available at similar prices.
ASUS just wrapped up its IFA Berlin keynote address during which it showed off a range of new devices like the “world’s fastest Wi-Fi router,” plus some we’ve already seen like the Zenfone Selfie and Zoom. Afterwards we got a chance to take a hands-on look at the Android-powered ZenWatch 2.
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ASUS gave us an early sneak peak at its next generation ZenWatch a couple of months back, and today at IFA in Berlin, the company officially announced pricing and availability details. ASUS has stated that the ZenWatch 2 will be available in two sizes from October, with pricing in Europe starting at roughly €149 (approx $170) for the large 49mm model while the smaller, 42mm model will seemingly cost more at €169 (around $190). Screen sizes are 1.6-inches and 1.45-inches respectively and they’ll be available to buy from October.
Although different in size, both 49mm and 43mm watches will feature the same resolution 320×320 AMOLED display with a pixel density of 277ppi. What’s more, they both ship with Bluetooth 4.1, Wi-Fi support, a Snapdragon 400 processor, 512MB RAM and 4GB storage. It also ships with a redesigned magnetic charger in the packaging and could last up to two days on a single charge.
You get a choice of three metallic colors: rose gold, gunmetal gray or silver, and the cases are compatible with standard watch straps, meaning you’ll be able to attach standard 22mm watch straps to the large and 18mm watch straps to the small model. We don’t know US-specific pricing yet, but will update once it’s available to buy in the States.
Asus confirmed last month that its next-generation ZenWatch was on the way, and would be released in Q3 this year. It has now shown off the Asus ZenWatch 2 for the first time – though not told us very much about it beyond the looks.
It will be available in two sizes, 49mm or 45mm, and offer a total of 18 different looks via three color choices for the watch itself and a range of straps. You can choose between silver, gunmetal and rose gold casings, each with matching stainless steel link bracelets, with leather and rubber strap options too …
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