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Johannesburg - Chinese electronics manufacturer Huawei's sleek new smartwatch, Watch 2, brings one of the most feature rich devices to South African shores. Fashionable and stylish, the watch is much more focused on fitness than Huawei's last offering. At the same time it'll give users a license to ditch their phones, yet still be connected.
The Watch 2 has a very masculine feel, but still manages to embody a unisex character. Its big, yet its size is justified to accommodate the large sized display needed for its bumper-packed features and functionality.
Akhram Mohamed, Product Marketing Director for Huawei South Africa told Fin24 that the new smartwatch boasts major upgrades from its predecessor.
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“The Watch 2 was designed with convenience in mind, the older model focused on being fashionable, whereas the Watch 2 now features more functions to make it more convenient for the wearer,” he said.
The Watch 2 runs the Android Wear 2 operating system and easily syncs apps from the smart to the device. The device comes in a 4G and Bluetooth model. But only the 4G model will be on sale in South Africa.
It's also a smartwatch that allow users to toss their phone on the bed and go to the gym without it. The 4G model houses a smartcard, enabling users to leave their smartphone at home while still being connected to the phone.
The wearer can still make and receive calls from the device, while also replying to text messages, WhatsApp and other smartwatch enabled app. The phone continually tracks all activities.
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“If the user’s smartphone happens to die during the day, then the Watch 2 will be able to keep them connected all day,” said Mohamed.
The battery life of the Watch 2 matches that of a smartphone when frequently used throughout the day, giving the users about a day of usage. It has a longer life - two days - if it is disconnected from the network.
The device is currently being sold at Vodacom outlets and can be purchased separately on contract. Huawei said that they are looking at bundling options with network providers, but the recommended retail price out of bundle is R5299.
