Asus ZenWatch 2 review

All in all, the ZenWatch 2 is a lovely little device that's able to sit comfortably on small wrists. It has certainly surpassed the first ZenWatch in many ways, but – as usual – improvements can always be considered for the ZenWatch 3.

We liked

This smartwatch is much better designed and, by giving us two size options, Asus has smartly secured a spot in the wearables race.

The inclusion of Asus's own apps also sets the ZenWatch 2 apart. Rather than having another run-of-the-mill Android Wear watch, you get something a bit more exclusive and special – I lamented the first ZenWatch's lack of identity.

Mix all that up with an extremely ridiculous and amazing low price of US$129 (about £110, AU$179) and US$149 (£149.99, about AU$210) in addition to the promise of iPhone compatibility, and you practically have an almost-Apple Watch killer.

We disliked

However, full Android Wear is not available on iPhones. It's by no means the fault of Asus at all – blame Google, or Apple. You're better off sticking with Android phones here to get full usage from the ZenWatch 2 – that includes all of the ZenWatch apps. Sad but true.

Also, that bezel. Yes, it doesn't seem to look as hideous on the smaller ZenWatch 2, but it's still very present and a bit distracting.

Though it fits better and makes more sense on the smaller ZenWatch 2, the screen is still a tad too small.

There's also a lack of fitness features; it's not a huge loss due to the general inaccuracy of fitness apps, but it may still be a disappointment to some.

Verdict

Simply put, the ZenWatch 2 is good, but not great. It's far better than the original ZenWatch which puts it much closer to the other Android Wear wearables.

Honestly, if you just want to try out a smartwatch without diving in too deep, the ZenWatch 2 is about as high-end as you can get without tipping the money scale.

You get plenty of customization options with watch faces, bands and even a few different watch bodies. There's also the fantastic choice of two different watch sizes to choose from, a huge improvement from last year.

Again, the new ZenWatch is best used with an Android phone. If you want to try your luck with an iPhone, it can't really hurt. But be warned: it's simply not the same rich experience.

There might be an Android Wear update one day the breaks the walls between it and iOS down. Then you'll find yourself with a decent Apple Watch alternative that you bought for half the price.