For most manufacturers it takes a couple of tries before making a product that flies off the shelves. Razer hopes their second time’s a charm, releasing their second wearable: the Nabu Watch. And ironically the gaming brand chose a fitness-focused smartwatch, a gamble we never expected.
Made to look like a digital Chronograph (errr G-Shock), the Nabu smartwatch has a 5 ATM water resistant rating, while it’s rugged enough to withstand drops up to 5 meters.
Razer adds a regular old illuminated backlit display we’d expect on a normal watch, hands it features accustomed to on watches: alarm, stopwatch, world time but all these numbers sync through Bluetooth to ensure they’re as accurate as you can get.
Nabu App
Fitbit App
Compatibility will be a-okay as far as Android and iOS devices are concerned while the Nabu app looks a lot like Fitbit’s – imitation is a form of flattery, it seems.
Nabu is a dual displayed smartwatch, so the secondary OLED screen will be the sole “smart feature” screen. Raising your wrist allows you activate it, enabling previews of phone notifications and activity/data tracking through its accelerometer sensors. Though it seems an optical heart-rate monitor didn’t warrant enough importance for them.
You’ll also be able to share social media details easily using a shake-to-shake feature, making contact exchanges seamless and more than just a simple “introductory” while meeting someone for the first time.
When considering power sources, the two displays rely on different battery sources:
The main backlit display draws life from the average coin cell battery that’ll have Razer quoting a 12-month battery life.
The secondary display needs a charge every seven days and will be plugged via a proprietary USB cable.
Thus, if you’re a simple person that loves G-Shocks that aren’t G-Shocks, you can opt to leave the secondary display “off” and simply stick to the main one. But that defeats the purpose of a smartwatch anyway, doesn’t it?
Razer’s Nabu might appeal to adventure folk who want something that looks stealthy and can take a beating. More so for fitness aficionados who go out seeking a sweat outdoors; wilderness optional.
Standard Edition
Forged Edition
Going with the duality of things, there will be two models available, a polycarbonate body that goes for US$ 149.99 (RM 646.96) and a little while later a Forged Edition model will be released. The latter model will arrive with stainless steel buttons and the same black finish; it’ll go for US$ 199.99 (RM 868.26).
In the same pricing ballpark as other smartwatches that we’ve seen, Razer has a lot of competition out there and being their second try, they’re gonna need a lot of luck.
