The battery of a conventional watch can last a long time, yet the story is very different when it comes to smartwatches. Given the basic hardware requirements, any idea of a smartwatch that does not need to be recharged sounds almost like science fiction. The difference is that Swatch has just announced exactly that, and as if that were not enough, it will hit the market in April, likely to go head-to-head with the Apple Watch.
The Smartwatch Landscape
Google has its own smartwatch. Samsung offers several in its lineup, and Apple is about to launch its own. Now, where are the traditional watchmakers? Believe it or not, there is a huge chasm between a conventional watch and a smart one. The manufacturer weighs details such as style, looks, durability, and the quality of the materials used. It is not just selling a watch; it is also selling a statement, a mirror that reflects the user. With a smartwatch, all of that becomes part of a much more complex equation. Connectivity, app support, battery life, performance... these are new parameters. Strange, if you will. But market interest is shifting toward smartwatches. The wristwatch has sacrificed its independence to become a companion to other mobile devices, and if manufacturers want a slice of the pie, they will have to adapt.
Swatch Picks Up the Gauntlet
Everything points to Swatch having picked up the gauntlet. Its CEO, Nick Hayek, confirmed in an interview the development of a smartwatch compatible with Windows Phone and Android, which also features NFC technology, electronic payments, and does not need to be recharged. This last point is by far the most interesting. Watches that don't need recharging are nothing new: the first example that comes to mind is Seiko with its Kinetic line. But the energy a smartwatch requires is on an entirely different level. In fact, its charging behavior is similar to that of a smartphone, and nobody wants to take off their watch every ten hours because it's begging for a charger. How will Swatch solve this? Its patents point to solid improvements in compact battery performance, with a more remote possibility being the use of electronic ink on the display.
The Promise and the Collision Course
According to the CEO, all questions will be answered within the next three months, when the final product reaches the market. To be honest, his word is the only thing backing the announcement. There are no sketches, 3D models, or anything of the sort. But the possible release in April places it on a collision course with the Apple Watch. Two premium brands duking it out in a market they don't fully understand would be quite something to behold...
