Asus ZenWatch 2 review

In a twist of events earlier this year, it was announced that certain Android Wear smartwatches would work with certain iPhones. It just so happens that the Asus ZenWatch 2 is compatible with both Android phones and iOS devices alike. But, of course, with caveats.

Like the LG Watch Urbane, Huawei Watch and new Moto 360, the ZenWatch 2 can send you notifications from your iPhone, if it has been updated to iOS 9 and is at least an iPhone 5 or more recent.

Aside from letting you sync up and see notifications, you don't get access to the full glory of Android Wear 6.0. You're instead stuck with the older version wherein you can't send messages and can't take phone calls (though this is dependent upon the type of smartwatch you have).

The arrival of Android 4.3 let developers use an API that added an extra level of customization to app notifications, like retweeting, favoriting and so forth. If using an iPhone with the ZenWatch 2, you'll be able to see the notifications but not use the actions.

Essentially, it's pretty limiting to pair the ZenWatch 2 with an iPhone. However, if you don't want to shell out $299 (£250, AU$449) for the cheapest Apple Watch, and would rather spend $150, then feel free. Just know what you're getting into, and what you're not getting into.

Eventually, Apple might open its API's further for Android smartwatches, but considering it released watchOS 2 after delaying devs that software, who knows how long it will take.

Battery life

Asus has made pretty outrageous claims about its battery life, and hyped it up well before the ZenWatch 2 was released. Let's just say it didn't live up to it.

Well, at least that's the case for the smaller watch. With a battery capacity of 300mAh versus the larger ZenWatch's 400mAh, it's no wonder it can't sustain more than two days of full usage.

In ambient mode, meaning your watch will enter a low power state that dims the screen when it's not being used, you can get 56 to 57 hours. To reiterate, your watch won't suck up battery life if you're not using it. Of course it won't, but that would make it completely useless.

The first ZenWatch is smack dab in between with its 369mAh battery, which is bigger than the 320mAh power pack found in the old Moto 360, but smaller than the LG G Watch R's 410mAh battery.

It matches up with the new Moto 360 battery specs, so it's not too terrible. But the fact that all four brand new smartwatches have retained the measly battery life from their predecessors is disappointing.

Regardless, the charge time has been improved on the ZenWatch 2: it only takes about 30 to 40 minutes, plus there's no more charging cradle. Rather it's a USB type A connector with a magnetic pogo pin that fits on the back of the smartwatch, much like the Pebble Time.

It can get knocked around and loosens from the watch, which is the downside without a cradle, but there is one less part you have to worry about losing.