The intriguing Blocks modular smartwatch is now available to pre-order.
We’ve been covering the Blocks project for around a year now. London-based startup Blocks Wearables promised a Project Ara-like modular approach to the smartwatch form factor.
The project sailed through its $250,000 Kickstarter funding phase in hours back in October, reaching a massive total of $1,613,874. Plenty of funding, then, but that’s never a guarantee that a final product will emerge from it.
Fortunately, it seems the Blocks concept has become a fully fledged reality, with the news that you can now pre-order your Blocks modular smartwatch. Shipments are expected this October.
The company has launched a swish website for the product, and has also released a slick new teaser video:
The Blocks smartwatch will set you back $330 (£228) plus shipping. This price includes four modules of your choosing, but you can specify all six current modules for an extra $70 ($35 a piece).
These modules include an extra battery, heart rate monitor, GPS, Adventure module (a combination of humidity, pressure and temperature sensors), a flashlight, and a programmable button.
Related: What is Project Ara?
All modules are shaped and link together to form the Blocks watch’s strap, so there are no unsightly bulges. Indeed, with a choice of three colours – Onyx Black, Sunrise Red, and Marble White – and a stainless steel core, it’s quite a stylish little timepiece.
The rest of the Blocks watch specs include a 1.39-inch 400 x 400 AMOLED display, a Snapdragon 2100 Wear CPU with 512MB of RAM, and a 300 mAh battery.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
