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The Manual Wind: Swatch Touch Zero One Activity Watch

By Ian Schwam Published August 5, 2015

Swatch Touch Zero One; 2015 FallWinter; 1508 Touch Zero One — Image used with permission by copyright holder

The smart watch market has been around for some time now. Whether it be Samsung, the Pebble, or the latest and most anticipated Apple watch, this market has nearly been saturated. It is still up in the air if these are desired and can be a considered a success by their makers, but that is not stopping others from entering the arena. One company that was bound to make an entry has done so at the right time; Swatch. Known as the affordable yet fashionable timepiece, Swatch has brought their latest to the masses at a once again reasonable price point. With the look of the Apple watch but far cheaper, Swatch might cause another frenzy like they did with the Sistem 51.

The Swatch Touch Zero One is meant for the active lifestyle. Its large digital display gives offers up a range of information that surpasses just date and time. Debuted with beach volleyball in in mind, one of its sensors is capable of counting hits of the ball as well as intensity. This same sensor is capable of counting your claps as a fan on the sideline as well. The ever-popular step counter is also a function that can be programmed to indicate the status of your set step goals. Although quite different from the highly functioning smart watch, there is one factor that sets this piece apart from the other; battery life. Running on a regular swatch battery, there is no need for nightly charging. Granted this is a stretch from the capabilities of other smart watches, The Touch Zero One still offers the look and feel.

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Although they have called this a smart watch, smart Swatch has it all wrong. This is a smarter activity accessory. The Touch Zero One is more of a Fit-Bit with function. A downloadable application for both iphone and Android makes this piece far more desirable on the wrist than any other motion sensing band on the market. Now all the fitness tracking people out there can tell the time in multiple time-zones, date, have alarm sets and keep track of their goals with a waterproof fun digital timepiece. Look for this to be on sale soon at a price point under $200.

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Contributing writer and watch enthusiast Ian Schwam dons an expert knowledge of all things watches. Having spent a decade in…

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