Sony SmartWatch 2 for Android Smartphones

Sony originally announced the SmartWatch 2 back in June and at the time it was said the watch would be arriving in the third-quarter of the year. Well, it looks like the time has come for a US release. Sony has announced the immediate US availability for the SmartWatch 2 and users will be able to pick it up direct with Sony or with “other” online retailers.

The watch is priced at $199.95 and Sony is touting features such as a long battery life, an IP57 (water-resistant) rating and extended compatibility. That last bit means the SmartWatch 2 should work with “most” smartphones provided they are running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich or later.

Other features of the SmartWatch 2 include a 1.6-inch (220 x 176) display, an aluminum body and silicon wristband, microUSB charging, setup with NFC and a bit about how the watch can function by itself. Sony mentions this as standalone watch functionality which includes an alarm and timer.

Touching back on the display, that is transflective, which is basically another way to say the watch should be easily readable even in bright sun. Otherwise, the battery is touted as being “long” which in the case of Sony, means an average of 3-4 days under normal use conditions. Aside from the watch itself, Sony will also have additional wristbands available in various colors and materials.

Lastly, one important aspect is the apps. The SmartWatch 2 uses the Sony Smart Connect app (found in Google Play and pre-installed on Xperia devices) for app discovery. At present Sony has said the watch has more than 80 fully optimized apps available.