Smart watch from Google-backed China startup gets high praise

A smart watch designed by a China startup, which was founded by two former Google employees, has been receiving a lot of praise from the technology press recently. Mobvoi introduced the Ticwatch 2 through a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter, but it has been available in China for a while now. The watch started at $99 for a select few, but it is now selling for $159. An Engadget reviewer tried out the sport version and found that it works surprisingly well given the rate. The retail price, however, is expected to be $200. In China, the watch sells for 999 yuan, or about $150. If anyone can prove that affordable China smart watches can provide a great experience, it should be two former Googlers.

Perhaps as a vote of confidence, Google has already invested in Mobvoi. The company is known for its Chumenwenwen voice-controlled search and assistant. It is installed on Android Wear watches in China to get around the fact that Google's own services, including Google Now, are blocked in the country. Google's investment in the company gives it a financial stake in Android smart watch development in China.

The Ticwatch itself runs Ticwear 4.0. Reviewers said the design is similar to Android Wear, but the kinks have not all been worked out yet. Some of the features that work well in China do not yet function properly with the Android Wear watch used on Android handsets outside the country. But many of the standard smart watch features are reliable, including having the screen turned on when the watch is raised in front of a user's face. The watch also uses a slick dial on the side, allowing users to navigate through the settings by sliding their finger along the edge of the watch. The battery life is also quite good for a smart watch. Reviewers said that the 300mAh battery lasts more than a day and in some cases could be stretched out to nearly two days.

Mobvoi is not the first China smart watch maker to try making a name for itself overseas. Huawei's Android Wear watch received a lot of praise when it was first launched. However, Huawei's watch was also much more expensive. Mobvoi could do for China smart watches what Xiaomi originally did for smartphones. It will prove China is producing quality hardware for a price that everyone should find appealing.