There are still only a handful of Android Wear smartwatches available out on the market, but more on the way and close to a release so we’ll begin to start seeing more options available to consumers, giving them a better opportunity to find the absolute best fit for an Android Wear device for their needs and lifestyle. The next device to reach a launch seems to be the Sony Smartwatch 3, which has been stated by Sony to be carried by multiple retailers, including Verizon Wireless, which they announced at their event alongside the Sony Xperia Z3v. With Verizon set to carry these two new Sony devices and offer them to consumers, one might ask when they’re capable of purchasing the Sony Smartwatch 3.
It appears that time is now as Verizon has started listing the Sony Smartwatch 3 as a device available for pre-order. So while you can’t readily buy one from a brick and mortar location or place the order immediately and have it shipped out, the pre-order is a step closer to having the watch on your wrist. This is the first Android Wear device from Sony, as the last couple of smartwatches have been using Sony’s own proprietary UI and software. It comes along with two cool features that no other Android Wear device currently carries, which is the NFC chip for an easier experience pairing with your chosen device, and it features GPS for location based services.
The Sony Smartwatch 3 takes on a little less of a premium design compared to other Android Wear smartwatches, as it looks more like a watch with the design of Sony’s smartbands thanks to the silicone band and varied optional color choices. The Sony Smartwatch 3 features 512MB of RAM and a 4GB internal storage drive, and like most newer Sony products it has a waterproof rating of IP68 so you don’t have to worry about wearing it out in the rain. The total cost for the Sony Smartwatch 3 will be $249 which matches up with the cost on the Moto 360, and as stated pre-orders for the device are available from Verizon as of now, with a launch onto Google Play at some point in the near future.