The smartwatch industry is right now in a phase where it is trying to find the correct balance of features that should be tagged along with a watch. Some companies are trying to provide everything that your smartphone does to your watch while others are trying to implement just the useful bits of technology to the watches. Withings at IFA 2016 launched its Steel HR smartwatch, an attempt to hit the right chord with customers.
The Withings Steel HR bears an analogue dial like its activity-tracker predecessor the Withings Activite. Instead of just the daily goal dial, it adds a new digital dial atop that shows various information like incoming calls, steps taken, and even heart rate - thanks to the inclusion of a heart rate sensor. The heart rate sensor will help automatically activate tracking whenever a user begins running, and also helps makes activity tracking more comprehensive by being able to separate running from walking for example.
Like other activity trackers, will will help keep a track of distance covered, the steps taken, and calories burnt, apart from monitoring your sleep patterns. The Steel HR connects to its companion mobile application via Bluetooth in order to transfer the monitored data. The smartwatch not only provides you notifications regarding text messages, calls and emails but also has a vibrating alarm to ensure that you are reminded of your important meetings.
Withings claims that Steel HR's battery can last up to 25 days on a single charge. Steel HR is water resistant up to 50-metres and therefore won't make you sweat while going near the pool. As per the company the smartwatch activates as soon as you run and as it takes the measure of your heart rate for the entire day, it is able to provide a more holistic view of your health situation.
Although the company has not revealed when exactly the watch will be made available, it is expected to be sold by its own site from early October.
The 36mm model of the watch will be priced at $179.95 (roughly Rs. 11,950) and the 40mm option will retail for $199.95 (roughly Rs. 13,300).
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