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Health & Fitness

The Asus ZenWatch 2 Is Smart, Stylish, and Affordable

How low can the price of a smartwatch go?

The Asus ZenWatch 2 was on display at IFA 2015 in Berlin Credit: Reviewed.com / Ben Keough

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Asus may be one of the smaller players in the battle for your wrist, but it made waves when it announced the ZenWatch a year ago at an impressive $200/€200 price point. This week at IFA 2015, the company had a coming out party for its newest smartwatch, the ZenWatch 2.

The best news? The new model is even cheaper, debuting at just €149 in Europe. That works out to about $170, though the U.S. typically gets a price break thanks to its friendlier import duties.

Credit: Reviewed.com / Ben Keough

Rose Gold is one of three finishes available. The others are Silver and Gunmetal.

{{amazon name="GOOQ® Genuine Replacement Leather Band/Watch Strap for Samsung Galaxy Gear 2 R380 Neo R381 Live R382 Smart Watch Strap Compatible with LG G Watch W100/W110 Smart Watch (Pink Leather)", asin="B00QA76664", align="right"}} The new model comes in two sizes—a 49mm band with a 1.6-inch screen and a 45mm band with a 1.45-inch screen. There are also three case colors and 18 strap options, in keeping with the company’s focus on customizability across its entire mobile portfolio. The straps include rubber, leather, and metal options; the larger model will take a 22mm strap, while the smaller accepts 18mm bands.

Despite an upgrade to a Snapdragon 400 processor and 512MB of RAM, the company says the battery should be good for two days’ use. The watch recharges via a magnetic pogo clip, and Asus mobile marketing director Erik Hermanson noted that the battery will also recharge from empty to 50% in just 36 minutes.

The Asus ZenWatch 2 runs Android Wear, with a few ZenUI tweaks.
Credit: Reviewed.com / Ben Keough

The Asus ZenWatch 2 runs Android Wear, with a few ZenUI tweaks.

In addition to standard Android Wear software, the ZenWatch 2 will feature several ZenUI apps designed to improve usability, manage notifications, and more. There's also a nifty feature that lets you use the watch as a remote viewfinder for your smartphone's camera, which could help you capture some unique perspectives.

There’s no word just yet on official U.S. pricing, but the watch is expected to go on sale worldwide in October.

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