Smartwatches are still a niche market, though they've been mainstream in recent times since Samsung launched the Galaxy Gear in 2013. With that said, some individuals find smartwatches to be the better of the wrist wearables -- since they provide more information on the wrist than any other wearable. And yet, some consumers would love a smartwatch to be as thin and light as fitness trackers. If you've been waiting for something akin to a smartwatch that just may meet that for you with as few compromises as possible, then Huawei just may win your wallet with its latest device.
Called the TalkBand B3, the device is a smartwatch/fitness tracker hybrid device that uses a PMOLED display. Now, you've likely heard of AMOLED displays (Samsung's Gear S2, anyone?), but you have no clue what PMOLED is. AMOLED refers to "active matrix organic light emitting diode," and PMOLED refers to "passive" matrix organic light emitting diode displays. The difference between active matrix and passive matrix displays is that passive matrix displays require greater voltage to increase the brightness of these displays. Passive matrix displays do not have the best resolutions, and thus, require more voltage or battery. Also, they tend to have a lower lifetime than AMOLED displays. Samsung's Gear Fit is a fitness band that utilizes a Super AMOLED display, but Huawei has gone the route of using a PMOLED display (that has made production costs cheaper).
The TalkBand B3's resolution is 128 x 80, with the device also being IP57 water and dust-certified, so you can workout and not worry about sweat. A built-in microphone allows you to take calls on your wrist without pulling out your phone, and the 91mAh battery can last up to 4 days on a single charge. We presume that the lower resolution is an excellent factor in the long battery life. Finally, the TalkBand B3 will come in three styles: Active, Classic, and Elite, with the Active model costing 249 euro, the Elite 199 euro, and the Titanium Grey 249 euro. Whether Huawei will bring the TalkBand B3 to the US is anyone's guess, but stay tuned to smartwatch.me as we bring you the latest on Huawei's new smartwatch/fitness tracker hybrid.
For now, have a look at the TalkBand B3 gallery below.