Apple’s foray into the smartwatch market has shown how difficult it truly is to create something that has broad appeal. Of course, style and functionality are critical for this, but so is a more approachable price.
The Ticwatch 2 attacks all this head on, much to the excitement of the true smartwatch believers out there. First off, it boasts a wide range of apps, with more available on its own Ticwear app store. And these apps work in tandem with the many ways the Ticwatch 2 makes available to interact with it. For instance, a double flick of the wrist gesture picks up a phone call, while doing it again ends it. Quality voice control is also prevalent, allow users to query Yelp for a good restaurant nearby or call an Uber. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg: the Ticwatch 2 also tracks fitness, controls music, and even finds a phone if necessary.
A big challenge when it comes to smartwatches is effectively displaying all the information needed on their tiny screens. Mobvoi, the company behind the Ticwatch 2, cleverly devised what they call the Tickle. It’s a touch side touch strip that allows users to control screens, slide app menus, zoom in and out, and control volume, all for a better grasp over the Ticwatch 2’s bevy of features.
All this, combined with a magnetic dock for charging, frequent OTA updates to ensure constantly evolving functionality, and an open API for intrepid coders, make the Ticwatch 2 one of the more novel offerings on the smartwatch market. Each Ticwatch 2 in either Charcoal, Snow, Oak, or Onyx ranges in price from $159 to $209, but all are expected to ship by September 2016.
While the Ticwatch 2 has stiff competition against other incumbents like Pebble, it does enough to set itself apart. It has a lot of options that normally can feel overwhelming to those not accustomed to technology, but offers smart design to help those same people use the watch to its fullest extent — all while being stylish the entire time.