Acer’s new Leap Ware smartwatch focuses on fitness and will nudge (motivate) users to work towards a healthier lifestyle. Acer announced the new wearable today at their press conference where they also announced other devices like the new Holo 360 camera. The Leap Ware smartwatch looks similar to other smartwatches though while still looking like less of a traditional watch and more like a sports watch. Acer has incorporated a round watch face and has packed it with an array of different sensors that will all work together for a more complete fitness experience, but users will still get other functions that you can find on smartwatches running on different platforms, such as notifications and alerts.
While some features may be commonly found in other wearable devices, like the heart rate sensor, the Leap Ware also boasts being able to feed users data on things like stress and fatigue, stamina, and how much ultra violet light they’ve been exposed to at any given time. While these features may not be something that a majority of users are looking for, they’re bound to find their way into the hearts and minds of some consumers that are more generally focused on their own peak health conditions as a niche set of functions, and if anything they’re features which you really won’t find elsewhere, which means Acer has a leg up in this regard.
When it comes to specs, the Leap Ware watch is powered by MediaTek’s MT2523 processor to handle the computing, while a MediaTek MT2511 bio-sensing chip handles things like the stress and fatigue tracking. The face is 1.6-inches in size, and Acer has used Corning’s Gorilla Glass SR+ to protect the display which they boast should help provide superior scratch resistance, something which should be an important factor as it’s easy to bump a watch against all kinds of stuff. The Leap Ware also features an IPX7 water resistance rating so if you’re out exercising and you caught in the rain, you won’t have to worry about the watch getting damaged. The watch will come with options for light brown or navy blue bands, and Acer says the watch will be available in North America for $139 in July, albeit without mentioning a specific launch date. Beyond North America, the Leap Ware smartwatch will also be launching in Taiwan in August for NT$4,990, and inn Europe in the third quarter of 2017 for €139.
