Vector introduced a line of smartwatches earlier this year that are designed to tackle two issues plaguing many other entries in this space: clunky design and short battery life.
The company’s products promise “less gadget, more style” and a 30-day battery life. Now you can order from the company’s website. Prices start at £219 in the UK, but I’m told that it will sell for $249 and up when it launches in the US later this fall.
The watches don’t have touchscreens or some of the other features you’d expect from a smartwatch. But they offer longer battery life than a typical smartwatch, while offering some smart features.
Connect a Vector watch to your smartphone via low-energy Bluetooth with an app compatible on iOS and Android. Once connected, the watch will act as a notification hub.
You can see text messages, event reminders, and even news alerts streamed to the always-on watch face. Next year, Vector plans to open up third-party development for the companion app for even more customizable options.
The Vector Watch collection includes 12 different models with varying styles, including traditional round and rectangular face models. Each watchcase is made from stainless steel or gold-plating and the face features a monochrome always-on LCD display with a low-power operating system.
The Vector connects to your smartphone via low-energy Bluetooth with an app compatible on iOS and Android. Once connected, the watch will act as a notification hub. You can see text messages, event reminders, and even news alerts streamed to the always-on watch face. Next year, Vector plans to open up third-party development for the companion app for even more customizable options.
Vector also features gesture-based control of what you see on the screen. If you receive a text message, you’ll get a vibration on your wrist, but the information will not appear on screen until you lift your wrist. You can also dismiss the text quickly by flicking your wrist.
If you are interested in the concept of the smartwatch but don’t need all the extra apps, bio-trackers, and other tech noise, this might be the right fit for you. It looks stylish, has a watch face you can see without having to lift your wrist, and provides simple connected information, like text messages and notifications. Oh, and a potential 30-day battery life isn’t such a bad thing, either.
Update: Want to know what the watch looks like in person? The FCC’s got you covered:
I’m looking forward to seeing the reviews. My bet? The battery will go just over 1 week. It looks very comparable functionality wise to the pebble- but is thicker and larger(round wise). So maybe it just has a bigger battery. It also depends on what usage they quote the battery at-because my original pebble would go for OVER 30 days with BT turned off, no back light, no activity tracking and a non animated watch face.
finally a smartwatch that
i might actually want to wear.
I’m on my 7th YEAR with a single battery in my $30 supurbly-built Casio quartz electro-mechanical wristwatch. It keeps the time, day, and date surprisingly well thank-you.
I’m not even sure how your comment is relevant… Hell, with your logic, Sundials have been running for 3,500 years with NO batteries and keep the time with atomic accuracy… Seriously, how can you compare a CASIO wristwatch to a smart watch? My 18 speed bicycle is more fuel efficient than my truck also.