The Una Watch, touted as the world’s first modular GPS sports watch, is moving closer to reality after securing substantial investment ahead of its Kickstarter crowdfunding launch. Designed for adventurous use and showcasing repairability as a core feature, the Una Watch aims to compete with established players like the Apple Watch Ultra, Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra, and offerings from Garmin and Polar.
A promotional image showing the Una WatchUna Watch is designed for repairability and modularity.
Modular Design for Durability and Easy Repairs
The Una Watch’s modularity addresses a key vulnerability of smartwatches in demanding sports environments: damage. Unlike most smartwatches, the Una Watch is designed for easy component replacement. The company promises a single tool will suffice to disassemble the watch, echoing the repairability focus of HMD’s smartphones. Replaceable components seemingly include the battery, screen, front panel, and potentially even internal hardware.
Funding Secured, Kickstarter Launch Imminent
Una Watch has received £300,000 (approximately $387,360) in funding from SFC Capital, bolstering earlier investments, including an award from the prestigious Scottish Edge innovation program. This funding paves the way for the Una Watch’s Kickstarter campaign, where it’s expected to retail for around £270 (approximately $350) before any early bird discounts. This competitive pricing undercuts the Apple Watch Ultra and its rivals.
Specifications and Features
The projected specifications reveal a focus on functionality over premium display technology. The Una Watch is anticipated to feature a 1.2-inch Memory-in-Pixel (MIP) LCD screen with a 240 x 240 pixel resolution, powered by an ARM Cortex M33 processor, often used as a co-processor in smartwatches like the Google Pixel Watch 3. However, the Una Watch emphasizes sports technology with a range of sensors, including heart rate and blood oxygen monitoring, and dual-frequency GPS. A notable convenience is its USB-C charging, a departure from the proprietary chargers common in the smartwatch market.
Modularity: A Challenging Approach
The modular design distinguishes the Una Watch. HMD Global has demonstrated the feasibility of repairable smartphones, simplifying the disassembly process. However, modularity for hardware upgrades has seen limited success. The Blocks modular smartwatch, for instance, failed in 2019 before fulfilling Kickstarter backer orders. This serves as a cautionary tale for crowdfunding investments.
High Interest and Upcoming Kickstarter Campaign
Despite the challenges of modularity, the Una Watch has garnered significant interest, with reportedly 7,000 expressions of interest through the website and around 1,000 pre-orders. The exact Kickstarter launch date remains unannounced, but those interested can register for updates on the official Kickstarter page.
Conclusion
The Una Watch presents a compelling proposition: a repairable, potentially upgradeable smartwatch at a competitive price point. Its modular design, while ambitious, addresses the practical concern of damage and longevity in the sports watch segment. While past modular smartwatch ventures have faced challenges, the Una Watch’s secured funding and significant pre-launch interest suggest potential. However, potential backers should remain mindful of the risks inherent in crowdfunding projects.
