A Missed Opportunity: The Latest Smartwatch Could Have Been So Much More
The cutting-edge smartwatch we've all been waiting for could have been so much better if only the manufacturer had dared to venture outside their comfort zone. But it seems they chose to play it safe, saving room for future improvements.
The company's high-end smartwatch line is seen as the epitome of what a luxury smartwatch can be. Their newest release, released alongside their latest smartphone series, embodies this spirit. It's durable, big, overflowing with features, and even more integrated into the company's ecosystem. It's undoubtedly their best wearable yet, but it begs the question: how is the company really pushing boundaries?
Introducing the New Top-tier Smartwatch
The latest smartwatch model is virtually identical to its predecessors. It features a 49mm titanium case, a prominent crown, a distinctive orange Action Button, and a vibe that screams adventure. The bezels have been marginally slimmed down, allowing room for a slightly larger OLED display with LTPO3 tech for enhanced efficiency.
Thanks to the new display and a more efficient processor, battery life has improved from 36 hours in the previous model to 42 hours in the new model, and even up to 72 hours in low-power mode. Charging is a bit quicker, reaching 80% in 45 minutes. But while these enhancements are certainly welcome, they're hardly revolutionary when compared to the rest of the market.
There are a few other key features tucked away. Notable additions include support for 5G RedCap and satellite SOS. RedCap is a new kind of 5G connection designed for smaller, low-power devices like wearables. It prioritizes efficiency, coverage, and low latency over raw speed. Together with satellite SOS, which enables you to contact emergency services when you're off the grid, these upgrades help the smartwatch cater to its target audience. However, it still feels like the company's ultimate smartwatch, not THE ultimate smartwatch.
What's Missing From The Latest Smartwatch?
Here's where the smartwatch falls short of the "ultra" label. The manufacturer still limits diving to 40 meters, leaving professional divers out in the cold. Battery life barely lasts two days, while competitors are pushing past four days. The health tracking is reliable, but the most significant new feature - blood oxygen - is just making a comeback after a legal hiccup. To top it all off, the smartwatch is locked to the company's smartphone users, effectively cutting off half the market.
The Ideal Smartwatch of 2025
Consider another brand's rugged smartwatch designed for professionals and hardcore enthusiasts:
- The display brightness reaches a record-setting 3,500 nits, making it easily the most visible smartwatch outdoors.
- The case uses zirconium alloy, sapphire glass, and nanocrystal ceramic for unmatched durability and corrosion resistance (especially important for saltwater use).
- The watch is rated for depths of 150 meters and includes pro-grade dive tracking, technical diving modes, and even sonar-based underwater communication between divers.
- The health tracking is ambitious, using a cleverly designed side-mounted X-TAP sensor in combination with the usual bottom sensor array to deliver ECG, blood oxygen, arterial stiffness readings, stress levels, temperature, and more in a single 60-second scan.
- The battery life lasts up to 4.5 days (with the always-on display off) or approximately 60 hours with everything running. That's nearly double what the other company offers in real-world conditions.
- The voice calls, haptics, and fitness tracking are all top-notch, with the haptics being stronger, the loudspeaker clearer, and the fitness modes more extensive, including activities like golf swing analysis and free diving.
But there's a catch. Due to ongoing restrictions, this brand's watches aren't officially available in the U.S., which makes them difficult to purchase and support for many potential users. For those in Europe or Asia, it's a viable option, but for U.S. citizens, it's more of a peek into what could be possible if the other company fully embraced their latest smartwatch model.
What Could Be In Store for Future Smartwatches?
While the latest smartwatch is the best from the company so far, it's not the best money can buy in 2025. The company is holding back, while other brands are striving to offer something truly unique by leveraging the latest consumer tech innovations. If the other company can do these things, the question is more about when they will decide the time is right. The company tends to wait until it can smoothly integrate new features into its ecosystem, and then market them as must-haves. So, it's possible that they've just been handed the roadmap for their next smartwatch model.