With the wearable market really taking off this year, it’s no surprise to see yet another smartwatch hit the scene, but the Exetech XS-3 is less smartwatch and more smartphone strapped to your wrist. Of course, depending on what you’re looking for, that might be just what you wanted. However, putting all of that technology in a wrist watch has its downsides, as well as its ups. Much like the Neptune Pine, the Exetech XS-3 is a chunky device, and there’s no kind way of putting that. Still though, a smartwatch that runs Android 4.0.4 and runs Android apps from the Play Store sounds great, right?
On the inside of the Exetech XS-3 sits a dual-core MediaTek MT6577, 2GB of internal storage (which is expandable to 32GB via the microSD card slot), a 3G radio and room for a SIM card, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS and a 1.54-inch 240 x 240 touch screen. Engadget have managed to spend some time with the device, and boy does it look big, with a lovely thick rubber band to keep it secured to your wrist. The Android 4.0.4 build included here is of course a little outdated, which is unfortunate, but it does come with access to Google’s Play Store and you can of course, install what you like. Whether or not it’ll run is a different matter but there is a recommend list of apps from their website albeit a small one.
Priced at $485, you would expect a little more than simply the above laundry list, and you’d be right to. There is a 2-megapixel camera included which we’re sure will make Instagram that much more interesting. While Sony’s SmartWatch 2 doesn’t have a camera, it’s only $155 from Amazon and we really quite like it. However, for this price there are a couple of concerns. As Engadget noted, the 420 mAh battery is removable, which raises the question as to how well this will hold up when wet or even a little damp from sweat on your wrist. Exetech are rating it with an IP65 rating, but we wouldn’t go that far if we’re honest. You can take a look at Engadget’s hands-on below.