There are new smartwatches debuting left and right nowadays, and the latest goes by the name Olio Model One.
Olio is a company comprised of former employees of Apple, Google, HP, Amazon, Movado, Pixar, and NASA. Steve Jacobs, founder and CEO of Olio, previously led product management at Apple, Google, Beats by Dre, and more. “Olio’s Model One is the antithesis of a mass market product, produced to be everything to everyone. Olio was founded to create thoughtfully crafted products for the discerning individual who wants the latest technology, but on their own terms,” said Jacobs.
The Model One is Olio’s first smartwatch, and the first batch of 500 pieces is now available for pre-order. There are two different versions available: a silver watch face that starts at $595, and a black watch face that starts at $745. Each model is available with three differently-colored leather bands as well as a matching steel link band. Orders are expected to begin arriving this summer.
In terms of specs, the Olio features a 47mm case made of 316L stainless steel hand-polished brush accents. The face and back also have Ion-Exchange glass, and the backside’s got a wireless charging coil. The whole body is water resistant as well. The device features both Bluetooth 4.0 and LTE support and a microphone for voice activation. It’s compatible with iOS 8 and higher as well as Android 4.3 and higher. When it comes to battery life, the Olio Model One is said to give around two days of functionality. There’s also an offline watch mode that can extend battery life by another “day or two.”
In terms of software, the Olio Model One’s round, LCD display will display your notifications in a time-based order. There’s an earlier stream that’ll show all of your notifications that you missed, while the later stream will show your upcoming alerts. You can view these alerts and respond to them individually using a swipe-based interface. Other features include Olio Assist, a cloud-based assistant that’ll learn your preferences and offer actionable suggestions; Control Hub, which can control third-party devices like thermostats, lights, locks, cars, speakers, payments, directions, and music; and Intelligent Actions, which can do things like hold your calls and messages and remind you to respond to them later.
The Olio Model One definitely looks like a well-made, good-looking smartwatch with a design that’s not too far off from a traditional analog watch. The compatibility with Android and iOS is a welcome addition, and the device’s two-day battery life seems reasonable for a smartwatch with a color LCD screen. One detail about the Olio Model One that’s sure to get some attention is its bezel, which isn’t exactly what I’d call small, but it’s also not the only smartwatch with a bigger bezel. If you’re on the hunt for a smartwatch with a more traditional look and support for both iOS and Android, the Model One might be worth a look.
