Puma, Michael Kors, ASUS and Garmin unveil new smartwatches

It was an eventful week in the smartwatch world with a few companies announcing new devices. Here we’re breaking it down for you…

Puma smartwatch

Running Google’s Wear OS and built on Fossil Gen 5 platform, this fitness-focused device has a 44 mm aluminum case with textured accents and a silicone strap, which comes in three different color combinations. The screen measures in at 1.19-inches, there is one rotating crown/button on the side, GPS, NFC, and heart rate monitoring sensor, while the battery-friendly Snapdragon Wear 3100 processor is running the show. The Puma smartwatch is water-resistant up to 5 ATM and will be available in November for $275, directly from Puma and also at “select retailers.”

Michael Kors MKGO

Very similar to the Puma smartwatch, it has the same internals and is also powered by Google’s Wear OS. However, the MKGO has a standard three-button array on the side, and will be available in four bold color combinations. Pricing is set at $295 for when the MKGO goes on sale in October.

In addition, Michael Kors is also refreshing its existing Lexington and Bradshaw models to get up to speed with the latest platform updates. The Lexington 2 is a 44 mm case with 20 mm lugs, and comes in four different design combinations. The Bradshaw 2 is also a 44 mm case, but with 22 mm lugs, and comes in five design combinations. Other than that, we are talking about identical smartwatches that are built around a larger 1.28-inch display. The pricing for these two starts at $350.

ASUS VivoWatch SP

The new ASUS VivoWatch SP packs all the usual sensors and GPS, plus ECG and PPG sensors. To really take advantage of these, the Taiwanese company submitted an application to the FDA and expects its watch to be approved as a medical device in November or January at the latest. If everything goes as planned, the VivoWatch SP will let users monitor their heart rate, blood pressure, as well as the amount of oxygen in the blood.

Along with the watch, the company is offering the ASUS HealthConnect app that will track the wearer’s exercise, sleeping, stress levels, and health, while providing personalized health recommendations using its HealthAI algorithm. The battery life will supposedly last for up to 14 days, which is an impressive feat for any wrist-worn device.

Pricing was not announced, but we do know that the ASUS VivoWatch SP launch is set for the last quarter of the year.

Garmin Venu

A new smartwatch from Garmin and also the first from the new series of wearables. It packs an AMOLED display, built-in GPS, and a battery that can deliver enough juice to keep the watch running for up to 5 days on a single charge.

All kinds of health-tracking features are available on the Venu, including menstrual cycle tracking for female users and in-depth sleep monitoring thanks to the Venu’s Pulse Ox oxygen sensor. Garmin is also offering things like stress tracking, reminders to relax during the day, and the ability to log your water intake from your wrist.

When it comes to third-party app support, the Venu syncs with phone notifications and allows users to download songs from Spotify, Amazon Music, and Deezer. Also, contactless NFC-enabled payments are available through Garmin Pay. The Venu will be available at some point in September with a hefty retail price of $400.

In addition to Venu, Garmin’s also coming out with its new Vivoactive 4/4S watches and Vivomove hybrid series — including the 3/3S, Style, and Luxe.