X

Asus ZenWatch flaunts its stylish metal body and curved screen (pictures)

We take a close look at the Asus ZenWatch -- a slim, attractive smartwatch from Asus that runs Google's Android Wear software.

Andrew Lanxon headshot
Andrew Lanxon headshot
Andrew Lanxon
asus-zenwatch-ifa-2014.jpg
1 of 15 Andrew Hoyle/CNET

The Asus ZenWatch is the first smartwatch using Android Wear -- Google's operating system designed specifically for watches.

Made of metal, curved glass and real leather, it's an attractive device and is due to go on sale later this year for "around €199", although detailed pricing and availability in the UK, US and Australia is yet to be announced. That Euro price converts to around $260 or AU$280, and Asus expects it'll be roughly £200 in the UK.

asus-zenwatch-ifa-2014-2.jpg
2 of 15 Andrew Hoyle/CNET

Its slim, metal design and leather strap makes it one of the prettier smartwatches around.

asus-zenwatch-ifa-2014-3.jpg
3 of 15 Andrew Hoyle/CNET

It's certainly an improvement over the slew of square, black watches we've already seen.

asus-zenwatch-ifa-2014-13.jpg
4 of 15 Andrew Hoyle/CNET

It has an attractive curved Gorilla Glass 3 screen.

asus-zenwatch-ifa-2014-7.jpg
5 of 15 Andrew Hoyle/CNET

Its Android Wear software uses the same "cards" interface found on smartwatches from LG and Samsung.

asus-zenwatch-ifa-2014-4.jpg
6 of 15 Andrew Hoyle/CNET

The strap is made from real leather, which Asus says is hand-stitched.

asus-zenwatch-ifa-2014-5.jpg
7 of 15 Andrew Hoyle/CNET

It's water-resistant, not waterproof -- Asus says it'll be fine in the rain but don't take it swimming.

asus-zenwatch-ifa-2014-6.jpg
8 of 15 Andrew Hoyle/CNET

It has a quick-release clasp on the strap, but the watch uses standard strap connectors, so you can swap it easily for any compatible watch strap you like.

asus-zenwatch-ifa-2014-15.jpg
9 of 15 Andrew Hoyle/CNET

Asus has a couple of pieces of extra software for it, including Wellness, which tracks your physical activity and, somehow, your mood.

asus-zenwatch-ifa-2014-16.jpg
10 of 15 Andrew Hoyle/CNET

Asus was light on details at the time of writing about exactly how the watch is supposed to be able to determine how stressed you are, but I'm interested to see if it works.

asus-zenwatch-ifa-2014-8.jpg
11 of 15 Andrew Hoyle/CNET

The screen has a 320x320-pixel display.

asus-zenwatch-ifa-2014-9.jpg
12 of 15 Andrew Hoyle/CNET

Android Wear lets you see incoming calls, texts as well as things like email and calendar notifications.

asus-zenwatch-ifa-2014-10.jpg
13 of 15 Andrew Hoyle/CNET

You can control your music and video too.

asus-zenwatch-ifa-2014-12.jpg
14 of 15 Andrew Hoyle/CNET

I'm quite keen on the rose-gold colour.

asus-zenwatch-ifa-2014-14.jpg
15 of 15 Andrew Hoyle/CNET

It needs to sit in a cradle in order to charge.

More Galleries

Yamaha motorcycle and instrument designers trade jobs (pictures)
yamaha01.jpg

Yamaha motorcycle and instrument designers trade jobs (pictures)

16 Photos
CNET's 'Day of the Dead Devices' altar (pictures)
dia-de-los-muertos-3318-001.jpg

CNET's 'Day of the Dead Devices' altar (pictures)

9 Photos
2007 Los Angeles Auto Show: concept cars
conceptss01_440.jpg

2007 Los Angeles Auto Show: concept cars

14 Photos
Best sound bars under $300
polk-magnifi-mini-15.jpg

Best sound bars under $300

18 Photos
2018 Ford F-150 Power Stroke reports for diesel duty
2018 Ford F-150 diesel

2018 Ford F-150 Power Stroke reports for diesel duty

22 Photos
Music-friendly cell phone accessories

Music-friendly cell phone accessories

11 Photos
Cosplay at Comic-Con 2016: From Stormtroopers to Sansa Stark
dsc0515.jpg

Cosplay at Comic-Con 2016: From Stormtroopers to Sansa Stark

34 Photos