Asus has announced the ZenWatch 2, a follow-up to last year’s design-focused Android Wear smartwatch.
The original Asus ZenWatch only launched in November of last year, but the Taiwanese manufacturer has been quick to push out a a successor.
At a press event prior to Taiwan’s Computex 2015, the Asus ZenWatch 2 has been unveiled. It looks similar to last year’s model, with a familiar rounded-rectangle look.
Unlike last year’s model, however, the ZenWatch 2 comes in two sizes – one 49mm-tall unit with a 22mm strap and one 45mm-tall watch with an 18mm strap. Wonder where they got that idea from, eh? Still, it’s a pretty unique option to have in the world of Android Wear.
Also similar to the Apple Watch, the ZenWatch 2 will come in a wide range of finishes, with three different stainless steel case options (silver, gunmetal, and rose gold) and 18 different strap and colour combinations in total.
Unlike the Apple Watch, however, the Asus ZenWatch 2 has been IP67 certified, which means that it’s both water and dust resistant.
Asus has also added a chunky power button to the side of the ZenWatch 2.
That’s the external design sorted, but Asus has also improved the ZenWatch 2’s internal capabilities. The Remote Camera features has been enhanced with great range and superior speed, allowing you to use the ZenWatch 2 as a remote viewfinder for your smartphone camera.
It can also now switch between the front and rear camera, though quite why you’d want to we’re not sure.
Read More: Apple Watch vs Android Wear
Asus is also adding a new magnetic charging connector that will apparently improve charge times, while a new Watch Face Land app will let you customise your own digital watch faces.
As The Verge reports, we’ll learn more specifics about the Asus ZenWatch 2 at IFA in Berlin this September.
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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.