14 DAY TRIAL // The idea of a standalone smartwatch capable of placing phone calls has been thrown around for some months now. Samsung is actually rumored to be working on such a product, and talk of LG’s upcoming Android Wear smartwatch also made the rounds.
But it appears a Taiwanese smartwatch maker will beat every major tech manufacturer in the race to put such a device on the market.
WiMe (pronounced “why-me”) is already launching its third Android wristband which will start rolling out in retail this July for $259 / €191 a pop.
As you probably are well aware, most main stream smartwatches today like the Samsung Galaxy, Gear 2, Sony Smartwatch or Pebble Steel are mostly smartphone accessories, as they are pretty useless if not paired with a handset.
But the new Wi-Watch A3 works by itself by virtue of its embedded microSIM card and added 3G support. TomsGuide reports being able to spend some time with the smartwatch and they praise its responsiveness and sleek form factor.
The standalone device is powered by dual-core MediaTek CPU and boasts a 1.5-inch 420 x 320 capacitive display that seemed to be quite bright.
The device runs a tweaked version of Android 4.2, which is upgradable to Android 4.3. On top of placing phone calls thanks to the dial pad and receiving notifications, users will also be able to sideload apps or download them from the Play store directly into the watch.
The device also has a pedometer in its midst, so it can even trace the number of steps you've taken. Unlike the Samsung Gear Fit that arrived on the market without this function and had to be updated later on, the Wi-Watch can switch between portrait and landscape mode.
The watch has a physical button on top of its left edge, allowing you to turn the device on or off, while another button placed below acts as a Back key.
On the back lives a microUSB port to be used when the 500mAh battery needs charging. In total, the smartwatch should last up to 3 to 5 days in standby mode.
Moreover, the Wi-Watch comes with either 16GB or 32GB of internal storage, GPS, Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi. The wearable is also water-resistant.
The Wi-Watch A3 will probably appeal to customers aesthetically too, as it will be offered in gold, silver or black and with a choice of straps.
