TouchElex is a new player in the smartwatch department. Its current offering, the TouchElex Venus, is a wrist computer that possesses most form and functions of a good smartwatch. Design-wise, it has a rounded case that's reminiscent of classic watches. Plus, it comes with SpO2 monitor, as well as a 24/7 heart rate sensor capability.
TouchElex Venus Smartwatch Review
From the looks of it, the TouchElex Venus is a very capable watch. In its price range, it's lucky that there's little competition. However, let's find out if this smartwatch is for you.
Design and Display
The TouchElex Venus adopts the classic circular timepiece design which gives bigger real estate in terms of the display. It frames a 1.19-inch AMOLED display with 390 x 390 pixel resolution. The smartwatch has an aluminum frame; while the bottom portion of the case is made up of high-grade plastic. This is also the section where most of the sensors are.
Despite it having the classic look, the Venus still rocks a slim profile with its 8-mm thickness. TouchElex also claims that the material used in the watch's frame is an aviation-grade aluminum. This explains how light and comfortable the smartwatch is. The case has two circular side buttons - upper button used as a general back function and the lower one which serves as a shortcut key for activity modes.
The display is protected by a 2.5D curved glass which is seamlessly integrated into the frame. Under the glass, the display looks punchy with good contrast and color saturation. I'm also quite surprised on how bright the panel is, even under direct sunlight.
The TouchElex Venus also features comfortable straps that are sweat-resistant and do not cause irritation on the skin even on prolonged use.
Software and Function
The Venus smartwatch is easy to use. From homescreen, you can swipe downwards to access your quick toggles - raise to wake, settings, brightness, Do Not Disturb, and Flashlight. Swiping up will give you access to notifications; while swiping left or right will prompt you to quick access menus like Stats, Heart Rate, Music, sleep tracking, and weather. Pressing the upper button from homescreen will direct you to additional menus like Workout Modes, Workout Records, Heart Rate, Sp02, Activity Record, Sleep, Breathing Training, and more.
Initially, you need to setup the watch using the TouchElex app. After successful pairing, you can take advantage of managing your device and health records in the app. The companion app is very easy to use in overseeing your health information.
One fun feature are the watch faces. Within the app, you'll have access to over 100 selections.
The watch also has some pre-customized replies which is very useful in replying messages on the go; however, this feature is only available to Android users. Furthermore, the device supports Always On function; this allows you to display the time on your watch even when it's not active.
Fitness Tracking
The TouchElex Venus has some premium tracking features under its belt. It has a 24-hour heart rate sensor which is a very nifty feature especially if you're tracking your heart rate while doing a workout. I should say that this feature is quite conservative compared to other continuous HR tracking of premium watches, but I'd say it's good enough for its price.
As mentioned, there's also a blood oxygen monitoring feature. You can access this in the main menu. I tried this feature several times. Comparing its results to other watches with SpO2 measurement, I could say that the watch's measurement is quite accurate.
Likewise, the smartwatch is also capable of scientifically recording your sleep structure. It also gives you notifications on when to sleep and when is the time to wake up. Moreover, the watch has 14 workout modes - Outdoor Run, Indoor Run, Outdoor Walk, Indoor Walk, Outdoor Cycle, Spinning, Trekking, Basketball, Yoga, Rowing, Elliptical, Cricket, Strength Training, and Free Training.
Battery Life
The TouchElex Venus can get through your regular routine for about 7 days before you need to recharge it. It also has fast charging capabilities with smart charging system, wherein a 90-minute charge will give you about a week of battery life.
Should You Buy The TouchElex Venus Smartwatch?
The TouchElex Venus is quite a contender in its segment. For a USD 89.99 price, it offers great value in terms of design, function, tracking, and battery life. It's a smartwatch that's very easy to recommend. If you're in the market for an affordable watch that ticks a lot of boxes in terms of form and function, the TouchElex Venus is the right one for you.
You can get the TouchElex Venus starting April 10 for Php 5,990 in Shopee.
Key Specifications:
- 1.19-inch AMOLED Display
- 390 x 390 pixel resolution
- Always On Display
- Apollo 3.5 Processor
- 8mm of thickness
- 3 ATM waterproofing
- SpO2, 24-hour Heart Rate, Sleep monitor
- 7 day battery life
- 100+ watch faces from TouchElex APP
- Quick reply function
