There are a lot of smartwatches that track health metrics, and while the NOWATCH (pronounced as Now Watch) sure is a health-tracking device, it is definitely not a smartwatch. There are lots of wrist-worn wearable devices that do not have a display. The earliest fitness trackers such as the Misfit Shine and the first-generation Xiaomi Mi Band are examples. More recent examples include the Amazon Halo Band and the Whoop fitness tracker.
The NOWATCH is designed in Amsterdam but produced in Finland. The Finnish company behind the wearable, which is also called NOWATCH, describes it as the world's first “Awareable”. The NOWATCH stands out from other wearables with its design. It is missing a display and, instead, the dial is a replaceable stainless steel or natural gemstone disc that attaches to the stainless steel case via magnets. The 37mm wearable is highly customizable. The case comes in Gold, Silver, and Rosé finishes and buyers can choose from ten different gemstone and metal discs, and more than a dozen leather straps or woven straps made from recycled ocean plastic.
It Is Highly Customizable
Despite not having a display, there is a single physical button. It is also pretty thick, probably due to the sensors it packs. NOWATCH says that its wearable was developed in partnership with Philips. It features a new predictive wearable technology called Biosensing by EDA (ElectroDermal Activity) a.k.a. skin conductance. It is able to continuously measure stress level and even predict a user's cognitive state up to 60 minutes in advance. It then provides insights that can help the user restore balance to their mental state.
In addition to the EDA sensor, it also has infrared PPG sensors for tracking heart rate and blood oxygen level. The NOWATCH can also track sleep patterns and a handful of physical activities such as walking, running, and biking. The spec sheet says it has a 5 ATM water-resistant rating, so it should be fine for swimming, however, users may want to switch to a water-resistant strap. The NOWATCH also has a temperature sensor and a barometer, and its advertised battery life is 10 days. Recorded stats can be viewed on the companion app which is available for both Android and iOS devices.
The app shows a user's sensory data in real-time and provides suggestions and personalized insights to help them make the right changes to improve their health. However, users will need to pay for a subscription to get these insights. NOWATCH offers a monthly subscription that costs €12 per month, €108 per year, or €216 for a 3-year subscription. The wearable itself starts at €363. The price goes up depending on if a user chooses a leather strap which costs €59 (a woven strap costs €39), a stainless steel disc which costs €49 or a gemstone disc which starts at €25 and goes up to €219. NOWATCH says those who purchase the wearable now get a free lifetime membership.
Source: NOWATCH