2014 will be remembered as the year of the wearable, with the quickly ubiquitous smartwatch at the fore. These new devices combine the function of a smartphone with the form of a watch, and with almost all leading mobile companies making one, there’s plenty to look forward to. Here are our five most heavily anticipated smartwatches of 2014!
5. Kreyos Meteor
The first smartwatch on our list is also the one most likely to be released first: the Kreyos Meteor. The watch’s claim to fame is that it includes voice, gesture and button controls in lieu of a touch-screen. That allows the Meteor to hit an impressive seven days of battery life. The Meteor design also includes fitness functionality, notification support, waterproofing and compatibility with iOS, Android and Windows 8. Two further accessories for the Meteor, a lanyard and a belt-clip, are also available.
4. Samsung Gear 2 Solo
Samsung are already one of the major players in the smartwatch space, with the recent release of three big watches: the Gear 2, Gear 2 Neo and Gear Fit. Samsung are reportedly working on another smartwatch too, which will have a built-in SIM card and GPS unit, allowing it to operate independently of a phone. Judging by recent patent filings, the watch may also utilise a circular Android Wear dial and gesture controls. A camera, microphone, speaker and touch-screen seem obvious candidates for inclusion too.
3. LG G Watch
The LG G Watch is one of two watches announced as part of Google’s Android Wear program. It features a square always-on display with a slim and waterproof chassis. The G Watch will ship in black and gold options, and may appear as early as next month for around €200.
2. iWatch
Apple have announced many times that they’re looking to launch new product categories this year, and the category on everyone’s minds is a smartwatch. The watch, expected to be called the iWatch based on patent filings, has the potential to be on the of the most audacious designs. Little concrete evidence has surfaced about the iWatch, but rumours suggest a curved glass or sapphire display, a curved battery, and some fitness functionality. The upcoming iOS 8 announcement at WWDC this June could hint towards iWatch functionality, although the watch isn’t expected to be announced at the event.
1. Moto 360
Our most anticipated smartwatch this time around is the Moto 360. While it’s unlikely to be as big a hit as the iWatch, it has the benefit of actually being announced – and what we’ve heard so far is impressive. The phone has a gorgeous large circular dial, and may come with a steel frame and leather band. That points to a premium price point, but at least one model may be much cheaper. Motorola recently pegged the price of the smartwatch at $249 for the purposes of a contest; Motorola later said that the move was for tax reasons, but it gives a ballpark figure for the watch. If Motorola are able to deliver good battery life and a natural UI in that beautiful chassis, then they might just have a winner on their hands.
Conclusion
I hope you’ve found this roundup helpful. For smartwatches that you can order today, why not check out our dedicated smartwatches section?