ZTE has joined the wearables market with its first smartwatch in the United States, the ZTE Quartz. Like most smartwatches, the Quartz fuses connectivity with the functional design of a wristwatch. It will run on Android Wear 2.0 OS.
The ZTE Quartz will be available exclusively on T-Mobile on April 14. Unlike the more expensive Apple Watch ($269) and Samsung Gear S3 ($327), the Quartz will carry an introductory price of $192.
ZTE Quartz: Blending Form And Function Under $200
Wireless carrier T-Mobile will sell the ZTE Quartz exclusively. So what's under the hood?
The watch runs on Google Android Wear 2.0 while a 1.1 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100 processor powers the whole stuff. Thanks to its 500 mAh battery, the watch can tick-tock up to 36 hours before running out of juice. It has 4 GB of storage, which is good enough to pack your favorite apps.
Connectivity-wise, it features cellular (GSM/EDGE 850/1900, HSPA 850/1900/AWS), Bluetooth 4.1, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, and GPS. So you can call, text, chat, share on social media, stream music, get directions (Quartz has built-in speakers), and of course, check the time. However, the Quartz doesn't have NFC technology, wireless charging, and heart rate monitor.
For the outside form: the Quartz features an IP67 water-resistant, all-metal, round case boasting a 1.4 inch 400 x 400 resolution AMOLED screen protected by Gorilla Glass 3. The watch is fairly light, weighing only 3.14 ounces.
The bands and faces are interchangeable according to ZTE, although the company hasn't released a complete list of colors and designs. With a sleek minimal design, you can wear the watch whether you're chilling with friends or attending a business meeting.
Quartz: ZTE's First Wearable Tech
The Quartz is ZTE's first smartwatch, the news of which was leaked back in February. ZTE is a Chinese multinational telecommunications company that manufactures smartphones, wireless devices, mobile hotspots, wireless routers, and telecommunications software. It gained popularity for the affordability of its consumer electronics. In the United States, it claims to be the fourth largest smartphone supplier.
"The launch of the ZTE Quartz smartwatch officially marks ZTE USA's entry into the exciting wearable space," said Lixin Cheng, chairman and CEO of ZTE USA. "We are known to push the boundaries of affordable premium smartphones. With this smartwatch, we are expanding our reach into the wearables segment and offering our consumers a rich, connected smartwatch experience while maintaining our affordability value proposition."
