I’m a little bored with Android Wear. It feels like every new version is about style rather than functionality. Part of that is Google’s doing, as it’s still figuring out what works, and part of that can be attributed to the manufacturers who want to be a part of this apparent wearables uprising but aren’t doing much innovating.
It’s why I was interested in Huawei’s Honor Band Z1. It’s a ridiculously barebones smartwatch that’s small, comfortable, and easy to use. It also performs the most basic tasks that every other Android Wear watch does for a fraction of the price. I know that apps on your wrist are all the rage these days, but that’s just too much commitment for me. So I was curious to see if the Honor Band Z1 could fulfill my desire to wear a smartwatch without dealing with the annoyances of being an Android Wear user.I admit that I’ve been particularly choosy about smartwatches this past year, but the Honor Band Z1 is one of the few I’ve actually enjoyed wearing. Its 1.06-inch PMOLED panel is surrounded by brushed stainless steel, and its hypoallergenic polyurethane wristband is comfortable to wear all day. It’s light, too, and unlike the Z1’s larger cousin, the Huawei Watch, its smaller size means it doesn’t overpower your wrist.This basic smartwatch can tell the time, push through notifications, and count your steps, but that’s the extent of it.
Pros
Comfortable, attractive design that makes us wish all Android Wear watches looked like thisAccurate fitness tracking and sleep counting
Cons
Companion app is limited in functionalityDisplay is finicky and doesn’t always respond to your taps and swipes