How many of us rely on our phones… a tad too much? How often are you out and about and find your phone on the brink of death because you have left the GPS on or posted a few too many pics to your facebook page? How many of you have space power cells with you? Well, Energy Bionics has mated a Japanese quartz movement to a power pack recharged through a solar cell and strapped it all on your wrist. Viola, the Carbon.
The watch part of the watch is a simple 2-hander, running off a separate watch battery that is trickle charged by the solar cell, so that should significantly lengthen the life of the battery. The fairly beefy case, 40mm wide x 58mm lug to lug x 14mm tall houses the watch movement, a high density 650 – 800 mAh Li-Ion battery (final specs to be determined) a charging port and the solar cell which can charge the battery in an hour. The battery should last through about 500 cycles or 3 years of moderate use. The iPhone 5 has a 1440 mAh battery, so the watch should be able to get you back to around a 50% charge with that phone.
The project gives you your choice of black or stainless cases, and three color options for the indices. Watch rewards start at $95 and go to $115 for the watch with 2 straps and $125 for the watch, 2 straps and a Pelican-style case. All watches come with an array of connectors for USB, micro-USB and Apple 30-pin and Lightening devices. The watch is listed as splash proof, so no swimming with this one. The project funding period runs through late May, and it has already hit its goal. energybionics.com
Watch Overview
- Brand & Model: EnrgyBioncs Carbon
- Price: $95 to $125, depending on options
- Who we think it might be for: Someone who can’t let go of the phone.
- Would I buy or recommend it just on the photos?: No, I just buy the phone with the biggest battery.
- If I could make one design suggestion, it would be: For what it is, I think they did it well.
- What spoke to me the most about this watch: It is probably more useful than an actual smartwatch.
