The Apple Watch, as we recently covered in a How-To-What-Is episode, can be used as a viewfinder for the camera on your iPhone, which is a nifty bit of functionality. However, a new product has surfaced, one that actually adds on a pair of physical cameras to the Apple Watch via a watch strap. This is the aptly-named Wristcam, which has reportedly been in development for four years, and is now available to reserve—for a hefty price of USD 299 (~RM1,213).
So, would you pay over RM1,000 for a watch strap for your Apple Watch? First, you’ll need to accept that the Wristcam is a really bulky strap. Two cameras are set within the strap, with an 8MP “world-facing” camera and a 2MP “self-facing” camera. Video calls are supported via the Wristcam app—although FaceTime isn’t available—and the cameras support Full HD video recording and 4K resolution images.
You’ll also be able to use the watch to livestream your day, with the Wristcam also including a video-based walkie talkie function—or you can just use it to take some quick selfies on the go. Meanwhile, battery life should be good for an entire day, and with the Apple Watch Series 6 only rated for 18 hours of battery life on a single charge, that should be sufficient on the newest Apple wearables.
The strap actually uses a separate battery, and when you charge it with the magnetic charger, it automatically syncs images and videos captured to a paired iPhone from 8GB of onboard storage. Meanwhile, LEDs will light up whenever photos or videos are being captured, which is possibly an attempt to get ahead of any potential privacy concerns with the Wristcam. To take photos/videos, there’s a physical button on the strap for easy access.
According to founder Ari Roisman, the Wristcam is the perfect accessory for moments when you can’t get your hands on a camera, as reported by Macrumors:
“Living with Wristcam feels a bit like having superpowers. Customers love our lightweight, casual camera for quick capture while staying in the moment. The phone isn’t always within reach, and it’s nice to have a camera handy when going out with friends, or going on a run, ride, or hike with just an Apple Watch.”
All in all, the Wristcam is one of the more interesting watch straps I’ve ever seen made for the Apple Watch. I mean, the Solo Loop was cool (I guess), but this is a watch strap that actually comes with cameras—how rad is that? You’ll have to live with a really chunky strap, however, and this is more expensive than many of Apple’s native watchstraps.
In any case, shipping will only begin for reservations from March 2021, so if you’re keen, you can make a reservation for USD 299 (~RM1,213) here.
So, what do you think? Would you compromise on size for added functionality on your Apple Watch? Let us know in the comments section below. To find out more, head over to the official Wristcam website here.
