itel is a well-known budget electronics brand in Nigeria that is popular for offering great value through its feature-packed products. Their latest smartwatch, the Smartwatch 2ES aims to continue this trend in the affordable wearables segment. Priced at ₦16,999, does it have what it takes to stand out? Let’s review the key specs and features of this budget smartwatch.
Design
The itel Smartwatch 2ES has a simple yet stylish design with a sleek rectangular 1.8-inch display encased in a plastic body. It is available in five trendy color options – Black, Blue, Green, Pink, and Grey to suit different tastes. Despite using plastic, the watch exudes a premium look thanks to the slim bezels minimizing the borders around the screen. At 45g, it is lightweight and comfortable for daily wear. The watch strap can be easily swapped out as well if needed.
Display
Powering the watch front and center is a bright 1.8-inch HD IPS color display with a resolution of 240×286 pixels. The screen offers good visibility even under direct sunlight with a maximum brightness rating of 500cd/m2. Itel has also utilized a large 90% screen-to-body ratio for an immersive viewing experience. 100+ customizable watch faces allow users to further personalize their look.
Performance & Features
Under the hood, the Smartwatch 2ES is equipped with a quad-core processor, 512MB RAM, and 4GB storage. This ensures smooth performance when navigating through menus or using apps. Some key features include Bluetooth 5.3 for connectivity, 50 sports modes for tracking various exercises, heart rate & SpO2 monitoring, sleep tracking, call notification & rejections, music/camera control, and an all-day battery life of up to 12 days on a single charge from its 250mAh cell.
Calling Capability
One of the major highlights is its Bluetooth calling function which allows users to take calls straight from their wrist independently without having to carry their phone around. The integrated mic and speaker make it very convenient to chat while keeping both hands free during activities like cooking, working out etc. Call quality is decent for a wrist device though not at the level of phone call audio fidelity.
Notifications & App Store
The Smartwatch 2ES seamlessly syncs with Android 5.0+ or iOS 9.0+ phones via the itel SmartConnect app to display notifications, control music, take photos remotely and more. Users can also explore and download a range of additional apps/watch faces from the app store like weather, calculator etc to extend functionality.
Value for Money
At ₦16,999, the Smartwatch 2ES provides tremendous value for its price point. You get a compact design, a large bright display, full-fledged health/fitness tracking, long battery life and most importantly, the unique ability to make/receive calls independently all packaged in. Comparable offerings from popular brands often cost 2-3x more without some of these features.
Future Proofing
With the latest Bluetooth version, generous 4GB storage, and frequent firmware updates from itel, the watch is adequately future-proofed to support future phones and new features rolled out over time. The 1-year warranty also offers peace of mind against any manufacturing defects during this period.
Potential Downsides
As an affordable offering, certain compromises had to be made. The screen resolution could have been sharper and build quality further improved with a metal body. Advanced workout metrics and swim-proofing are also missing. However, considering its emphasis on value, these are minor trade-offs.
Conclusion
In summary, for its attractive price of ₦16,999, the itel Smartwatch 2ES offers great all-around features and performance that punches above its weight class. The vibrant display, comprehensive health tracking, extended battery life and especially, the unique calling capabilities make it a strong value proposition. If you are looking for an affordable entry-level smartwatch for daily usage as well as basic fitness monitoring on a tight budget, the 2ES is a very good choice to consider.