Page 74 - MASALA Vol 8 Issue 6 June-July 2017

Best hybrid smartwatch: Withings Steel HR

A relative unknown, the Withings (owned Pros
by Nokia) Steel HR delivers a slick hybrid
smartwatch that utilises a small screen • Blurred the line between a
smartwatch and a classic watch
under a conventional analogue smartwatch,
without sacri cing much functionality. This • Beautiful design
• 25-day battery life
makes the Steel HR particularly appealing to
those who prefer the classic look of a watch • Value for money
paired with the functionality of a smartwatch
(unlike Fossil’s line of hybrids that de nitely Cons
compromise on the features). • Despite health features, this is
not a tness device
Along with accurate step tracking and sleep • No GPS, even with a phone
monitoring, the Steel HR has a built-in heart • Charger is poorly designed
rate monitor, that measures bpm 24/7,
reporting useful data such as your resting
heart rate into the impressive Withings
Health app.
Withings has successfully blended the best
of both worlds here with the Steel HR and a
price that is hard to match.

Best money-no-object smartwatch: Tag Heuer Connected Modular 45

Tag Heuer? Yes, the luxury Swiss watchmaker has introduced the next
Pros generation of their smartwatch, the Connected Modular 45. Along with
• Sylish design the LG Watch Sport and Style, these are the only three smartwatches
• Waterproof running Google’s new Android Wear 2.0 right out of the box. However,
• Modular design brings a that’s where the similarities with other smartwatches end, as Tag Heuer
new level of customisation
clearly aims for a niche market of its own.

Cons Available with titanium, ceramic and 18K rose gold nishes, the
• Very expensive Connected Modular 45 also features what Tag is describing as a ‘modular
• Battery life design’. You’ll be able to change the smart part with a traditional
• Not the best screen mechanical Tag module, such as the Calibre 5 or the chronograph
• Aimed at men only Tourbillon Heuer 02-T. You’ll also be free to swap out the lugs, the straps
and even the buckle. In all, Tag said at launch that there are 56 di erent
versions available.
With additional new features such as GPS and waterproo ng, the
Connected Modular 45 proves that this is one Swiss watchmaker
learning very quickly how to make a good smartwatch. But with the
price ranging from US$1,650 all the way up to US$17,000, I can only
recommend this to a small group of luxury smartwatch enthusiasts.
What’s on the horizon?

The smartwatch market is already crowded, with new players in di erent
industries joining the conventional tech juggernauts. Along with the expected
upgrades to Apple’s, LG’s and Samsung’s smartwatches, there are also rumours
of a new Fitbit smartwatch, and the plethora of fashion companies headed in this
direction is exciting.

There’s the new Movado group range - that’s the Movado Connect, the Hugo Boss
Touch and Tommy Hil ger TH24/7You; Fossil’s updated line-up, which includes
the Fossil Q Venture and Q Explorer, the Diesel On, the Michael Kors Access So e
& Grayson, the re-imagined Mis t Vapor and the Emporio Armani Connected; and
new devices from Guess, Gc, Casio, Swarovski and Montblanc. Quite a bit to cipher
through, but this blend of tech and fashion only leaves me wanting more. From left to right, clockwise: Fossil Q Venture; Movado
Connect; Mis t Vapor; Emporio Armani Connected

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