As the smartwatch market is still relatively new, it’s not surprising that we’ve been seeing some newcomers and startups rise up and start creating their own watches to take on the big boys. One out of many of those was Italian firm, Exetech, who has been offering their XS-3 smartwatch since December of last year. The XS-3 is more smartphone than smartwatch and features pretty much anything you’d want to do on your Android phone, just on your wrist. As such, the XS-3 was a bulky affair, adding weight and a noticeable bump to wearers of the watch. Still, that added bulk (and perhaps inconvenience) is worth putting up with for some in order to get a near complete Android experience.
Exetech know they can do better, and as such have gone back to the drawing board to create the XS-4, and they’re asking for a little help from everyone to get the new watch wrapped around people’s wrists. For this, the company has turned to Indie GoGo, and is asking for €35,000 in funding in order to bring their new watch into the world. The XS-4 is destined to be an evolution of the XS-3 and as such will feature design similarities, but on the inside, Exetech is promising some pretty big things, indeed.
According to their aims on their Indie GoGo page, the company will be updating the XS-4 to 4G capabilities, bring Android 4.4 along for the ride and deliver an IP67-certified watch complete with AMOLED display. All of these claims and more are certainly intriguing, but they do seem a little extreme for a smartwatch, such as the decision to use MediaTek’s MT6592 octa-core CPU, include an 800 mAh battery and offer solar charging. For €35,000, these are lofty goals for any company to meet, and while we’re sure Exetech some cash of their own to fund their next watch, we’d be very surprised if the company could meet these goals. Hopefully, the company can do it and they have 36 days (as of writing) left in order to be funded. Those interested can pledge €169 to guarantee themselves a model when everything is funded and put together.