Hybrid smartwatches were once considered the saviors of the watch industry. Technology has helped established watch brands add simple, smart features and connectivity to non-touchscreen models to retain their all-important individual style, and therefore the all-important appeal that comes with it.
Except that over the years, hybrid smartwatches have fallen out of favor and few have really tapped into the potential. The arrival of the Citizen CZ Smart Hybrid, a hybrid smartwatch from a major watch brand, almost changed that and I’ve enjoyed wearing it for the past few weeks, but frustratingly Citizen has decided to turn heads with the price.
I use a Citizen CZ Smart Hybrid
The well-known watchmaker Citizen already tried to make a smartwatch once, but one of my main problems was the rather anonymous design. Despite being sold by an established watch brand with a rich heritage, Citizen has said absolutely nothing about it, and that doesn’t make it any different from buying a smartwatch from another brand.
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With the CZ Smart Hybrid, there’s no mistaking that you’re wearing a Citizen watch because it says so right at the top of the bezel. The brand name is not the only clue, as the bezel design also resembles the highly recognizable Promaster Navihawk watch. It’s made of stainless steel and here it comes with a black ion plating (IP), and the unusual stepped shape gives the watch a real presence on your wrist.
This is exactly what I wanted because using a CZ Smart Hybrid is more special than using a CZ Smart with a touch screen. If I’m specifically avoiding a touchscreen model it’s because I don’t think I need all the technology to begin with, but also because I appreciate a more watch-like design. Choosing one from a particular brand means I want its heritage or design language to shine through as well, and the CZ Smart Hybrid does a much better job than the CZ Smart.
I also love the leash on it. It’s a thick, flexible silicone that looks amazing and feels just as good on your wrist. There are plenty of adjustments, two guards ensure the strap stays put, and it’s designed to be sweat resistant. The only drawback to the Hybrid Citizen is its size and weight, as this limits who will want to use it and when.
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I couldn’t bear to wear it overnight as at 90 grams it’s a bit too heavy, and the shape with its sharp lines and edges just meant it caught oddly on the sheets. The 44mm case size doesn’t sound outrageously large for smartwatches, but the integrated flat lugs make it bulkier than the figure suggests, and it’s undeniably large on my 6.5-inch wrist. However, it was not uncomfortable at all during the day and I wore it without any problem. Just be aware of the size and its limitations before you buy.
Known hybrid technology
I felt like I was wearing a non-smart watch with the Citizen CZ Smart Hybrid on my wrist, but what about the tech side? The Citizen CZ Smart Hybrid appears to use Fossil’s latest hybrid platform, which features an e-ink screen and heart rate sensor, to make it easier to use and more useful. Once you’ve worn it, there’s no denying that it’s a far more technical experience than the screenless hybrids of yore, and it definitely adds to the value of the watch day by day. There’s nothing here I haven’t seen before, though, and nothing in the software that sets the CZ Smart Hybrid apart from other Fossil-made hybrids.
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You control the software using the buttons on the side of the box. The menus take a bit of time to learn and you have to compensate for the slowness of the e-ink screen so you don’t rush yourself, but once you get the hang of it, it’s pretty easy. The buttons can be customized to perform different actions, making life easier, for example when starting a workout. Notifications have come up with decent reliability since I’ve been using the watch, but the screen is too small to read long messages. I only use it as a convenient way to determine if a message needs my attention or not. The Citizen app you need to pair and set up your watch is attractive and simple.
Tracking some exercises revealed that the CZ Smart Hybrid may require Citizen to investigate its accuracy, as it consistently underestimated calorie burn and higher heart rate compared to the Apple Watch Series 7. While neither can be truly accurate, I would expect it to be pretty similar. . Also, when tracking walking or running, the watch stopped automatically until I turned off the app’s automatic exercise detection feature.
It’s no match for the best full-touchscreen smartwatches, or even hybrids like the Garmin Vivomove Sport, when it comes to activity tracking. However, it does enough for the casual sportsman, and aside from its accuracy, it’s still completely reliable. Battery life is also excellent, easily hitting Citizen’s estimate of two weeks before needing a recharge.
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I enjoyed using the Citizen smartwatch. It looks good, it doesn’t bother my wrist, and the tech side is competent enough to make it worth it. However, the CZ Smart fails when you consider buying it. The problem is that the software is the same as the system used in the Skagen Jorn Hybrid HR, so it’s safe to assume that Fossil also produced the CZ Smart Hybrid for the Citizen. It’s not bad at all because Fossil knows what it’s doing, but Citizen unfortunately got it wrong when it came to price.
Too much money
The Citizen CZ Smart Hybrid retails for $350, or $325 if you go for the stainless steel model without the black IP coating. The Skagen Jorn Hybrid HR is $195 and Fossil’s own Bronson Hybrid starts at $199, and outside of design, there’s no difference between the two. Yes, I prefer the design of the Citizen CZ Smart Hybrid and appreciate that the black IP coating adds to the price, but it’s hard to justify so much extra when the technology is identical. Unfortunately, this makes you think you’re paying more just for the brand, and that’s not a good feeling at all.
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
Hybrid smartwatches like those from Frederique Constant or Alpine often have higher-quality materials like sapphire crystal or a specific mechanism inside, giving you at least some reason to spend more to get the brand name. What’s inside the CZ Smart is almost certainly the same as what’s inside a Skagen or Fossil watch, and while the CZ Smart looks great, it’s not $150, and the CZ Smart Hybrid shouldn’t cost the same as the smaller series of Apple Watch. 7.
Frustratingly, the Citizen CZ Smart Hybrid is still one I’d buy if price wasn’t a concern, and the fact that it was nice to live with on the technical side gives me hope for the future of the watchmaker’s hybrids. There’s still absolutely a place for hybrid smartwatches, and Citizen’s watch almost has the formula right, but the price threatens to put off the most interested folks early on.
editor’s recommendations
Categories: GAMING
Source: newstars.edu.vn