Asus Zenwatch 3 is here, it's round and charges remarkably fast

September 05, 2016

Asus has announced the next generation of ZenWatch. It’s called the ZenWatch 3 and is the first wearable in the series to feature a round case and display.

The ZenWatch 3’s round case is built from jewellery-grade 316L stainless steel, similar to many other watches. In lay terms, that means it’s stronger than traditional steel and can easily withstand daily bumps and scrapes from the clumsiest wearers. It includes curved Gorilla Glass face, a full 360-degree screen that’s about 400 x 400 pixels on a 1.39-inch AMOLED. Asus managed to keep the ZenWatch 3 relatively slim, at 9.95mm thick.

It’s powered by the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 2100 processor, which was announced earlier this year and basically seems custom-designed for devices precisely like the ZenWatch 3. Asus claims that it also allows it to charge up 60 percent in 15 minutes, through its Hypercharge Technology, and lasts as many as two days on a single charge.

Like most smartwatches, the ZenWatch 3 has a load of fitness-focussed features like the ability to count steps, track various activities and alert you when you’ve been stationary too long. Its IP67 rating also means it can cope with being worn outside in the rain.

The ZenWatch 3 will be available in three finishes - Silver, Gunmetal and Rose Gold - and will ship with either a stitched Italian leather strap or rubber strap, both kinds available in various shades of brown.