Not content with announcing the 6.4-inch Xperia Z Ultra, Sony also decided to introduce another device this morning. The company is going to be taking another stab at the wearables market with the SmartWatch 2, the follow-up to last year’s less than successful SmartWatch. At least Sony is on the right lines, positioning the device as a companion to your phone, describing it as a “second screen”.
The SmartWatch 2’s 1.6-inch display is pretty small, but it is a watch at the end of the day. The resolution of this iteration has been bumped up, though, to 220×176, and Sony has included some other tweaks as well. The SmartWatch 2 IP57 certified, so it’s fully waterproofed for use in the pool or the shower. It’s relatively easy to set up with a phone too, as the watch includes NFC connectivity for quick pairing.
Usability is key, however, and Sony has made sure that the interface is relatively familiar to anyone who’s used an Android smartphone. The watch is multi functional too: you could use it as a remote control, or simply as an indicator for certain activities like running or cycling. Of course, it still works as a digital watch, and you can swap the wristband for any standard 24mm alternative to suit your needs.
Sony didn’t give a clear indication of what kind of battery life to expect from the SmartWatch 2, saying only that it has the “longest battery life for a smartwatch”. The company also didn’t reveal pricing, but it did say that the SmartWatch 2 will go on sale in September.
Update (4/9/13): We spent some hands-on time with the Sony SmartWatch 2 at IFA 2013 in Berlin.
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