It is said that one must always evolve with the times. So, in order to push the connectivity with my smartphone even further, I decided to buy myself a… smartwatch! To start, I chose a cheap model, the Padgene DZ09.
Although all the major high-tech brands such as Samsung or Apple have already developed their smartwatches, the consumer craze is still quite strong. The smartwatch needs to be connected via Bluetooth to a smartphone in order to become smart, otherwise it would just be a simple “watch”.
I hope it gives the time!
I’ll be honest: it’s been a while since I wore a watch, so my first instinct was to find out if this famous connected watch tells the time. Ordered on Amazon, the DZ09 smartwatch is a model from China (obviously I want to say) that stands out for its quality/price ratio, 19,00 € (about Rs 700).
The object quickly unpacked, my first impression is that this watch is very imposing, but at the same time very simple and solid. I think the design is pretty cool, not nearly as stylish as a Tony Stark-like high-tech watch. The DZ09 connected watch has a 1.56-inch TFT LCD HD OGS touchscreen. The latter offers a resolution of 240 x 240 pixels. Then, the strap of the watch is made of rubber and its metal buckle is quite wide. This makes the entire device both comfortable and adaptable to any style.
Above the screen is the microphone and a 0.3 megapixel camera. The resolution of this one is 320 x 240 pixels. Still on the visual level, at the bottom of the screen this time, is the only physical button of this smartwatch.
A memory card and a SIM for a wrist phone!
The watch contains a micro USB port for charging and an opening for the speaker, for calls and music with questionable sound quality.
Moreover, by removing the cover, you can access the space reserved for the changeable battery of Lithium-ion type with a capacity of 380 mAh. The watch also has a microSIM card slot that allows the Z09 to perform GSM functions as well as insert the external microSD memory card.
If not, what exactly can it do?
Once on the wrist, the DZ09 is a bit too heavy for my taste, but after a few minutes, you get used to it quickly. Slightly similar to the interface of a classic smartphone, the connected watch has different functions and settings, classified in its seven menus.
The DZ09 comes with some nice apps: pedometer, sleep monitor, anti-sedentary, push notifications, camera and remote music.
It’s also possible to access Facebook, WhatsApp or Twitter on this watch, but honestly, I haven’t tried it, since you have to insert a SIM card to access it, which is annoying. Otherwise, you can count the basic functions : sound recorder, mobile search, call and message log, calendar, calculator and compass among others.
Smartphone and Smartwatch, a good pair?
The strong point of this model’s smartwatch is, in my opinion, also its weak point! Let me explain. Once Bluetooth is active on both devices and the connection is made, when you receive a call on your smartphone, the smatwatch will automatically start ringing/vibrating. The problem is that you will have to answer on the smartwacth which contains, I remind you, a microphone and a speaker. So, if you travel quite often in the bus like me, goodbye to the privacy of your personal calls.
Verdict
Touch screen, rubber strap, camera, super stable connectivity, cool apps, the Padgene DZ09 is a great connected watch for those looking to get this kind of device with great features at an affordable price. In addition, it is compatible with several smartphones such as Samsung S5 / S6 / S6 Edge / LG G3 / Note 2 / 3 / 4, Nexus 6, Htc, Sony and any other smartphone under Android. To conclude, I strongly recommend the DZ09, it is not extraordinary, but for lack of a better word, it does its job!
Oh! Yes… it tells the time!
