We are flooded with a number of new announcements this week from well known as well as small manufacturers at CES 2015. At the event, Omate, the relatively new company expanded its smartwatch range with two new watches. Today, we’ll compare the cheapest watch of the two, the Omate Racer which will reportedly be available to pre-order for $100 till January 15 (after which the price will increase to $130). So we decided to compare this new offering with another cheap smartwatch from China, the No.1 G2 that has managed to attract a few customers.

Remember that this is just a basic comparison to see what are the main differences between the two models. Only after the Omate Racer is available in the market, we can decide for sure which one comes out as the best among the two. So, at present we will compare both the models in two important categories with the limited information available — Design and Features.

No.1 G2 vs Omate Racer : DESIGN

From the first look, both the device seem to have a very solid design with a sturdy build quality. While Omate Racer goes for a rugged sporty look, the No.1 G2 relies on a more traditional refined look with a smooth finish. The company did not mention whether the Racer had a metal built, but from the pictures it looks more of a plastic body. On the other hand, the G2 comes with a metal body which gives it a very premium look. The No.1 smartwatch takes its design inspiration from Samsung’s Gear smartwatch and from our hands on, we were impressed with the built quality it brought to the sub $100 smartwatch category.

As for the Racer, we like that it is round and sports a more traditional watch look. It would easily blend in with your attire, especially if you go outdoors for adventure sports. On the other hand, the G2 will stand out on your wrist and people will definitely notice its brushed metal finish. So, even though we love round smartwatches, we would still go with the No.1 G2 in this category for its premium looks.

No.1 G2 vs Omate Racer : FEATURES

Now, we take a look at the features that both these smartwatches bring to the table. Unsurprisingly, they are almost the same. Both the models run on Mediatek’s MT2502 Aster chipset which has now become a standard among affordable wearables. The chipset is powerful enough to run basic applications and perform tasks with ease.

The G2 and the Racer are specifically designed with smartphone notifications in mind. You can link a number of apps on board which will deliver notifications right on your smartwatch without actually having to download and install those apps separately on the device. You can also control media playback, manage your fitness regime as well as set up alarms on the device.

However, the No.1 G2 has a slight edge over the Racer. It comes with a camera too which as seen in our review clicks decent pictures. Moreover, the watch also features a heart rate sensor, which is not available on the Omate Racer. Another major difference is the display protection on the devices. The G2 comes with one of the best glass protections available in the market — Sapphire Glass while we still don’t know what kind of protection the Racer uses. But it is safe to assume that its not Sapphire glass.

Both the models have skipped Android Wear for their own software. No.1 features a very basic interface with apps for every task. The same goes with the Omate Racer. These smartwatch connects to both Android and iOS smartphones via Bluetooth 4.0 connection.

There are a lot of other features that we still have to compare like the battery life, display size, water resistance and other features, but for that we would have to wait till the full tech specs of the Omate Racer is revealed. But for now, the No.1 G2 seems to be the better smartwatch in this comparison. The well built metal design + Sapphire Glass protection + traditional smartwatch features make it a great buy at $77 (after coupon). In fact, check out our review for full details about the features and the tech specs of the No.1 G2.

So which smartwatch did you like and which one would you buy?

The post No.1 G2 vs Omate Racer: Initial comparison appeared first on Gizmochina.

We recently reviewed the UWatch U8 Pro smartwatch which is one of the cheapest smartwatches currently available in the market. However, if you are looking for something more fancy, you might want to take a look at the all new No.1 G2.

No.1 has a lot of smartphones under its belt, most of which are clones of famous flagships. But given the recent surge in the demand for smartwatches, this Chinese manufacturer decided to try out its luck in the smartwatch category. Like its recent smartphone releases, this one too is a clone of a famous flagship smartwatch, the Samsung Gear watch. So, you get the same looks and design as the Gear smartwatch, which on the other hand makes it look a lot more posh and premium than other offerings in this range.

We have a lot to say about this new smartwatch, so, without wasting any more of your time, lets take a look at the No.1 G2 smartwatch review.

No.1 G2 UNBOXING

Even though you can purchase the No.1 G2 for less than $100, the overall package looked quite premium and well built. The smartwatch came in a white box with all the features listed on top of the box with colorful icons. As you can see in the pictures below, the box looked quite sturdy. So unlike many other Chinese companies, its good to see that the company has taken special care of the package.

The watch itself was placed in a white pillow like cushion to prevent any scratches while transportation. Given that its a smartwatch, you don’t get many things inside the box. Inside it, we got the 350 mAh battery which came separate from the watch. It had some charge when we installed and tried to power on the device but you’ll have to charge it for a few hours before you go ahead and test it.  There’s also a microUSB cable inside for charging and transferring data to and from the device.

DESIGN

Given that No.1 has taken inspiration from the Galaxy Gear smartwatch for this particular device, you know exactly how it looks and feels. Because, despite its low price tag the company has made sure that the watch is made from quality materials. The construction is sturdy and solid, thereby matching its premium looks.

As you can see in the pictures, the face is made out of metal, while the rubber bands are made of good quality rubber. And if you ever feel that you need to change these bands, you can do that too with ease. The highlight of the G2’s built is the onboard sapphire glass. Yes, the same tough Sapphire glass display that is reportedly better than the current Gorilla Glass generations.

And for those longing for a different look, the G2 is available in three different colors namely silver, gold and grey. All of them looks good but we have a feeling many would go for the gold finish.

HARDWARE

Here are some key specifications about the device.

The No.1 G2 smartwatch is powered by a MT2502A processor with 128M + 32M memory configuration. It has a 1.54-inch TFT screen with a resolution of 240 x 240. While this isn’t the biggest smartwatch displays that we have seen recently, it is still big enough to allow easy touch inputs and on screen notifications. Like mentioned above, the front is protected by Sapphire Glass, so you don’t have to worry about scratches on the display.

The overall dimensions of the device comes out to 36.9 x 58.4 x 10 mm which is quite decent for a smartwatch. There is a 350 mAh battery inside, which is once again standard when you compare with other competitors like LG G Watch or Moto 360. You can charge it via the provided MicroUSB port on the watch.

There is an inbuilt speaker, microphone, antenna and a vibration motor to support the various functions on the device. No.1 has also incorporated a number of sensors like Heart Rate monitor and pedometer which sets it apart from other cheap offerings in the market. However, they don’t usually work that great, but more on that later. The watch is IP67 compliant which means its water proof. So, dipping it in water for a few minutes or even wearing it in rain won’t any harm to the watch.

PERFORMANCE

Usually, setting up a Bluetooth enabled device is pretty tiresome. Either the phone doesn’t recognize the new device or the phone just doesn’t connect at all. But with the No.1 G2 smartwatch, things were pretty smooth. The company has provided a QR code which when you scan it on your phone, will take you to the Mediatek Smart Device app. After downloading and installing the app, you can access various features directly from this app. For example, you can install apps on your smartwatch from this companion app. To load them, you’ll see an install button inside, which will instantly download and install them on to your smartwatch. Pretty neat right? Further, you can install new watch faces, check and install software and much more from this companion app.

Once, you are connected, you get access to a number of nifty features on the watch. The highlight is probably its ability to take phone calls. The integrated microphone and the speaker does well in maintaining the call quality. So, even if the phone is somewhere else, you can take calls and talk to the person on the other end. However, remember that the watch does not feature a SIM card slot and a Bluetooth connection to a cellular active smartphone is necessary to make and receive calls.

Another important feature of the device is its inbuilt 2MP camera. The sensor managed to surprise us all in terms of clarity and color reproduction, but still it can never replace your traditional camera or even a smartphone camera. So, its just good enough for a few shots in day light every once in a while. But more on that later.

The overall UI is good and responsive, however its not completely based on Android. The inbuilt heart rate monitor gives mixed results. Sometimes, the sensor works pretty well and the results are accurate, but sometimes, it may not function properly so you cannot rely totally on the phone’s heart rate monitor. The pedometer worked fine, so no problems there. It calculated the calories burnt as well as displayed the workout information pretty accurately. Moreover, it can count the number of steps taken as well as your speed.

The No.1 G2 can display text messages from your phone to its screen and you can then choose from a number of templates for reply. Even whatsapp messages are supported but you may face some problems with the app’s graphics. But overall, you can use the smartwatch for your basic networking needs too.

As for music, you can’t download anything on the watch. But it has a dedicated music player which can stream music directly from your smartphone to your smartwatch. You can then listen to music on the built-in speakers but if you are a headphones fan, you’ll be better off playing music on your smartphone itself, as the watch doesn’t feature a headphone jack.

There are a lot of other special functions as well, for example, there’s a remote camera app which makes your smartwatch act as a remote viewfinder for your phone’s camera. So, you can click pictures remotely from this watch. Moreover, if you go beyond a certain distance, around 10 meters, the watch will automatically start beeping alerting you that your connected smartphone is more than 10 meters away. A great feature especially if you are the kind of person who tends to forget smartphones at different places.There’s a voice recorder app too which records voice through its inbuilt microphone.

Like most other smartwatches out there, you can even track your sleeping patterns which will help you analyze ways in which you can increase the quality of your sleep time. There’s an infrared port as well which can control a number of appliances at your home.

On average, you get about a day’s usage on the device with a Bluetooth connection. This includes regular notifications and other usage throughout the day. And when you are not connected to a phone via Bluetooth, this increases up to two to three days. So, the battery life is at par with other smartwatches that we have seen lately.

The No.1 G2 features a special power saving function as well which turns the display into grey scale when there is limited charge on the device. Moreover, with the provided MicroUSB charging port, you can charge the device using the same charger as your smartphone.

CAMERA

Readers are always interested in the camera quality of any device and even though this is a smartwatch, we feel there are people who will be curious about its low res 2MP camera. Like we mentioned above, this 2MP camera sensor managed to impress us, especially in day light photos.

It may not be as good or clear as regular smartphone cameras, but still its good enough for clicking casual shots or even spy shots of your friends and family. The color reproduction is pretty good as well exposure. You get some noise in the images, but given the low res sensor, you can’t expect much.

Anyways, we have added a few samples down below from this 2MP camera for your reference.

VERDICT

As you can see, the No.1 G2 turns out to be a great smartwatch. In fact at this price, we can’t really find any other smartwatch which looks as premium and well built as the No.1 G2 and comes with such useful features as well. The sleep tracker, heart rate sensor, infrared port, camera as well as the calling function makes this particular device a true smartwatch worthy of appreciation.

At present, Everbuying.net is selling No.1 G2 for $77 which is a great price for a device with such features. But with a coupon from discountion.com, you can get it for just $70.98. Hence, it is a must have for those looking for their first good smartwatch!

Check out the coupon below.

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When it comes to smart watches, there is no clear opinion about it. Some people still say that it is not necessary and believe that a classic watch will remain at the top for a long time. However, more and more manufacturers make them and try the consumer want it. Even the companies like Apple, which again “reinvented” the watch wants consumers change their habits and buy the smart watch as a must have gadget. Well, indeed these smart devices are capable of much more than you would expect.

The company No.1 has recently launched their new product – the G2 smart watch. It is quite obvious that it has some inspiration from the Samsung Galaxy Gear. Well, ok, it is a clone of this device. However, the design may be the same, but the No.1 adds some own functionality. Anyway, as usual, let’s start with the device’s exterior looks.

Design

As you can see in the pictures the design is the same as the Samsung’s. Actually, the build quality is very good, the choice of materials and construction is solid and well made. What is more, the bands can be easily changed, so the user has a freedom to mix and match it at their choice.

As far as build materials go, the face is made out of metal, the band is made of high quality rubber and the clip is stainless steel. Further, the glass is made out of sapphire glass, which is used in luxury watches and other expensive devices. Remember, even Apple wanted to have the sapphire screen on the iPhone, but failed due to some manufacturing issues.

What is more, the device comes in the choice of silver, gold and grey colours.

Main Specs and Features

The G2 smart watch has 1.54-inch TFT screen, which is touch capable. Also, the dimensions include 36.9 x 58.4 x 10.0mm. We can say that it is not the biggest, but also not the smallest smart watch we have ever seen. Furthermore, it has 2 mpx rear camera, standalone microphone, 350mAH battery capacity, MT2502A processor, which has 128M + 32M configuration. In addition, it supports Bluetooth 4.0, it has USB port and Micro SD slot, IP67 water resistance rating. Finally, it packs a bunch of sensors expected in a smart watch.

One of the interesting features is the ability to make calls directly from the device as it has an integrated microphone and a speaker. The sound quality is quite decent and we could easily make a conversation.

Another great feature is that it has a dedicated camera, which has 2megapixels. Of course, it will not be your main camera, which could replace your smartphone or even a real camera, but it may be helpful if you want to make some quick snaps for social media or even some secret pictures of your friend.

What is more, the No.1 G2 has a built-in infrared port, which lets you control your home devices like the TV. You may amaze your friends by changing channels right from your wrist!

Another great features include the ability to see text messages and choose from a list of preloaded templates to reply. Also, we liked that it can display weather information, which is always useful. Moreover, it has independent music player, which lets you listen to the music directly from the smart watch. Well, it is interesting feature, but we prefer listening to music using the earphones from the smartphone.

In addition, the device has heart a rate sensor, pedometer, which are usual functions in the smart watch. The device helps you track the amount of calories burnt and track your workout information. It counts your steps you take during the day and even gives you some workout programmes. Example could be with walking, where the smart watch define the pace you have. Then you can select the functions like keeping up the pace, slowing down or speeding up.

Another cool feature is that the device works as a remote control for your smartphone’s camera. Also, it works as a reminder if you forget your phone somewhere as it reminds you to get it by beeping. It starts beeping if you are away more than 10 meters from your phone.

We really enjoyed that the device is water and dust resistance. It is not waterproof, meaning you cannot swim with it underwater, but you can easily wash it after a long workout in the beach.

What is more, you can select the watch faces, which are downloadable.

We did like the sound recorder function as it lets you record the voice. It is a neat function if you are in the meeting, lecture or other occasion, where you want to secretly record the sound.

The sedentary meter is one of the motivational functions of the device, which should be useful to form your habits if you work long hours in the office.

The device features the super power saving mode. When the battery is low, it changes the colour scheme to grey scale to save some power.

Another feature includes sleep pattern monitor, where you can watch the length and quality of your sleep. Of course, you need to wear the device during the night to be able to do that.

Lastly, we really liked the feature that the G2 smart watch includes Micro USB charging port, which makes the device more versatile than others. This time you do not need to cary a proprietary charger around to charge it.

Pairing and Setting Up the Device

As we said, the device uses Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity. In order to make it work you have to download a particular app, which is called Mediatek Smart Device. The company made it easy to install it on your device. Simply just scan the QR code, which is embedded in the smart watch and you will download the app. Then simply install it and you are done.

Inside the application you can do many things. One of them is the ability to easily install apps into a smart watch. You can do it by simply clicking the install button on the smartphone and it takes a second to get it flashed on your wrist.

What is more, the app is used to install the watch faces, check the device status and software, and many other things. Finally, it can be easily downloaded from the Google Play Store and easily installed on any device.

Picture Quality

All right, we left this to the end. We know that we would not use the smart watch as our main camera, but anyway, it may come up handy at certain situations. Let’s take a look at some camera samples and see what we have.

We can say that it has a pretty good camera for a smart watch. Also, it has only 2mpx, so we should also keep that in mind. The pictures above have a decent colour reproduction, quite good white balance and exposure. The pictures taken inside have quite amount of noise, but that is natural if we consider it is not camera centric device.

Conclusion

Well, firstly we liked the design of the device, which includes a great build quality and a great choice of materials. We really loved the fact that it is water and dust resistant. We washed the smart watch a few times to test it and it proved to be working fine. What is more, the sapphire glass is really special. We tried to scratch it with the key, nail and coin and we did not succeed.

It offers a great functionality for a much lower price than the original Samsung Gear smart watch. Our favourite functions included the ability to use the device as a phone and a remote shutter button for camera. Other functions, which are used for active people worked fine as well.

All in all, we think this is a great device and can recommend it.

For more information you can check the NO.1 website.

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