Tuesday 26 / November / 2024
I was excited when asked to check out the Huawei Talkband – it’s not every day that a newcomer is able to successfully challenge the dominant players in the market, and look good doing it.
And that is the first step Huawei B3 Talkband takes to put itself ahead of the competition. The appearance of Samsung’s and Apple’s offerings may have appealed to the hipsters and those seeking a whiff of nostalgia, but surely, on the basis of looks alone, was worn by people because they had nothing else to turn to.
The Talkband comes in a variety of colours, all of which blow the competition right out of the water. I was particularly impressed by the version with the brown strap and dull gold finish, which would not look out of place either in a boardroom meeting, a night out with friends, or a quiet, intimate setting at a nice restaurant.
The other colours available are black, white, beige, and a very intriguing titanium number. All of them are designed to look good and fit in seamlessly with your apparel.
Looks, though, are not all the Talkband offers. The device — called the Gemini — also doubles as an earpiece, once popped out of its metallic casing for those who prefer hands-free communication, and this is another area which sees it score major brownie points over its competitors.
Synchronised through your phone via the Huawei Wear app, the Talkband is also an excellent pedometer, and works on three levels, based on how you configure it, can monitor your heart rate, calories burned and distance travelled while walking, jogging, cycling, climbing or sprinting, while another mode — sleep mode — lets you keep track of your sleep cycles for you to schedule your workouts, using the Chinese company’s patented Capsensor technology.
Another nifty feature of the Talkband is its ability to track your phone if lost. Its contact import system though is a bit clunky: Only recent contacts that have been dialled from your phone are stored onto the device, which makes it a bit awkward when you need to call someone urgently. There’s either that, or creating contacts one at a time.
While the headset is surprisingly comfortable and fits in place easily, a major kink with the Gemini is seen when calls need to be placed or received. To answer a call when it is on your wrist, you need to first take it out of the strap by pressing the buttons at either end of the metallic holder, and then place it in your ear before you can hear the person at the other end of the line, which may not be the best in a hurried situation.
Where the Huawei Talkband scores majorly is its sleek and attractive appearance and its versatility, both on and off the wrist. A major flaw though, is its cumbersome nature when calls are being made. All in all, though, it’s a great buy for anyone looking to invest in a smart watch. —[email protected]
Specifications
Huawei Talkband B3
Processor: 128 KB RAM
Storage: 16 MB Flash (external) and 512 KB (Built in)
Battery Capacity: 91 mAh
Talk time: Six hours
Duration: 3-4 days
Bluetooth Radius: 10 metres
External Port: Micro-USB for charging
System Requirements: Android 4.3 or later, iOS 7 or later
Where to buy: The smartwatch is will be available at tech outlets such as Emax, Jumbo Electronics, Carrefour, and Lulu.
