The latest raft of smartwatch models are currently on show at the huge Consumer Electronic Show (CES) 2015 in Las Vegas.
GPS specialist Garmin had revealed three new smartwatches aimed at fans of outdoor pursuits. The Fenix 3 targets a multitude of outdoor activities with GPS positioning, heart rate monitor and recovery time calculator. The Epix is a standalone GPS navigation device for your wrist with 1.4in high-resolution colour touchscreen preloaded with a worldwide relief basemap and free one year subscription to BirdsEye Satellite Imagery while the Vivoactive is a more traditional activity tracker.
Mobile phone manufacturer Alcatel revealed its first smartwatch, the Onetouch WATCH, a cut-price offering compatible with both Android and Apple smartphones as well as Bluetooth and fitness tracking functionality.
Price appears to be a key driver in securing retail space for smartwatches at CES. Withings unveiled the Activite Pop, an entry-level version of its hugely popular Activite constructed using more affordable materials.
Luxury traditional watchmaker Montblanc was also quick to release its addition to the smartwatch sector, the e-strap, a smart, connectible display that mounts on the strap of the brand’s new TimeWalker Urban Speed, providing a smartwatch companion piece.
Sony’s fifth generation smartwatch, the SmartWatch3, is the company’s first model to use the Android Wear operating system and is available with a smart stainless steel case and bracelet combination.
The advent of smartwatches puts both CES and Mobile World Congress, held in Barcelona at the beginning of March, on the horizon of anyone interested in the new high tech wrist devices.
