Asus ZenWatch 2 Kicks Off Apple Watch Copying

Asus just unveiled the new Asus ZenWatch 2 smartwatch at the Computex 2015 in Taipei. The new ZenWatch takes more than one pointer from the Apple Watch. Video below.

As expected the industry is shifting their smartwatch offerings to try to match the Apple Watch. Asus has revealed today at the Computex 2015 the ZenWatch 2. The new Asus smartwatch is adding a digital crown, two sizes and various colors and straps. Sounds familiar? These are treats of the Apple Watch that have not been available in the smartwatch market before.

The huge bezel of the ZenWatch 2 is a big turn off in my opinion. Additionally The Verge confirmed that the digital crown is not very digital at all. It is just a button and not a scroll wheel.

ZenWatch 2 is available in two sizes and three stainless-steel case colors, with 18 different strap material and color combinations. The ZenWatch 2 includes a metal watch crown, enhancing the user experience by a providing new way to interact with the watch. It also comes with an all-new magnetic charger that features effortless attachment and dramatically improved battery recharge times.

The ZenWatch 2 Android Wear smartwatch features a Corning Gorilla Glass 3 for protection against scratches and damage.

ZenWatch 2 is available with a range of straps in a variety of materials and colors for further personalization. A tough yet supple rubber strap comes in Blue, Orange, Red, and Taupe colors, and is the perfect choice for athletes, people with active lifestyles, or those who like a more casual look. A soft, premium leather strap is available in Khaki, Brown, Gray, Blue, and Orange colors, providing an elegant look that fits any situation. A stainless-steel link bracelet comes in Silver, Gunmetal or Rose Gold colors to perfectly match ZenWatch 2’s case colors for a bold, luxury watch look and feel. ASUS has also partnered with Swarovski Professional to produce a leather strap with an embossed diamond pattern and tastefully accented with Swarovski crystals.

Complementing its physical design, ZenWatch 2 comes with instantly-changeable software watch faces. The variety of available designs lets users easily customize their watch to fit any style, mood, or occasion, such as using a traditional, elegant watch face for work or a night out, or changing to a more playful design for use during leisure time. Wearers can even create their own custom watch faces in the new Watch Face Land app for a truly personal and unique ZenWatch 2 experience.

ASUS ZenWatch 2 is powered by the latest version of Android Wear and serves as a smart companion for Android phones by extending functionality and providing wearers with a convenient window to view incoming calls, messages, notifications, and other important information, without having to remove their phone from their pocket or bag. ASUS ZenWatch introduced many exclusive features including deep ASUS ZenUI integration, FoneHelper, activity and fitness tracking, and Remote Camera. ASUS ZenWatch 2 improves upon every aspect of the original ZenWatch experience and offers completely new functionality that takes the wearable experience to the next level.

Enhanced Remote Camera — one of the most popular features of ZenWatch — lets wearers display their smartphone’s camera viewfinder remotely right on their wrist. This frees them to take photos from creative angles where the viewfinder would be difficult to see, such as when holding the phone overhead at a concert or other crowded event. Remote Camera is also useful for group photos, letting the photographer compose the photo, release the shutter, and check the final result while being included in the shot. Remote Camera has been improved for ZenWatch 2, offering faster performance, more range, the ability to switch between the phone’s front and rear cameras, and zoom capability.

In addition to software improvements, ZenWatch 2 has numerous hardware design improvements that enhance functionality and provide a more convenient user experience. With an IP67 water-resistance rating, ZenWatch 2 is designed to be worn all day, everyday, even in the shower or during exercise. An all-new magnetic charger effortlessly attaches to ZenWatch 2 and offers dramatically improved battery recharge times.

ZenWatch 2 Specifications:

Processor: Qualcomm® processor
Operating System: Android Wear
Display: AMOLED
Cover Lens: 2.5D curved Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3
Charging: Magnet charger cable
Water Resistance: IP67
Body Colors: Silver, Gunmetal, Rose-Gold
Strap: 22mm / 18mm (Rubber, Leather, Metal)
Mobile power bank : Chargeback
Dimensions: 49 x 41mm / 45 x 37mm