Reviewing the Martian G2G Smartwatch

REVIEW OF MARTIAN G2G SMARTWATCH I just got the Martian G2G smartwatch last week. I had tried the Sony Smartwatch SW2 and didn't like it. I felt that the idea was good but the apps to support it were lagging behind. Also, it had no speaker to answer and make calls from the watch. So, after a few months of looking and thinking, I tried the Martian G2G. The company has other three styles of watches with different colors. The G2G has a rubber band and an aluminum body. There are four tiny screws to open the plastic back. The more expensive models from the company are steel cases and have leather bands. So the G2g was about $40-50 less than the other models. It also comes in several bright pastel colors. I got the bright green and, since the band size is a standard 22mm, I ordered a white leather band to put on it. I don't know a lot about the company. I know it started on Kickstarter but that is all. I like the styling and the fact that the watch itself is not a digital display. I don't have to push a button to see the time. So it is the best of old and new. There is a great feature that lets the watch read your text messages to you. I don't have my watch alert me to email. I get too many and my watch would be vibrating all the time, driving me nuts. Yes, the watch does have a speaker and the volume is pretty good. My dad is hard of hearing and I often have to talk loudly to make him here me with my phone. Interestingly, it is slightly better when I speak into the watch microphone. I have to put the speaker next to my ear to hear really well but I would not want it too loud anyway. The great thing for me, as a teacher, is that my phone will not go off when it is connected through Bluetooth to the Martian G2G. My watch will vibrate and I can push a button to accept the call or push another to dismiss the call. So, you will not have your phone interrupt classes and you won't have to worry about turning your phone to mute or vibrate. (I have a Samsung Android phone, if you are wondering.)If you don't have a hands-free phone in your car, the one push button is also handy and you can keep driving and not worry about looking for the phone. The watch is comfortable and, even though it is kind of big, it is not too big for a woman's wrist. It is also fashionable enough not to look like a woman is wearing a man's watch. The band that comes with the watch has plenty of holes to adjust to a person's wrist from larger to really small wrists. Another nice thing is the "leash" feature. Your phone will vibrate when you get about 10 to 15 feet away from your phone. (This depends on the material separating you and your phone, like concrete walls.) The LED screen will scroll a message letting you know it has lost connection with your phone. It will then vibrate to let you know that the connection has been re-established. Ever lose your phone? I will sometimes forget where I put it when I need to make a call. This watch lets you push a button to "find phone." The phone will make a series of musical tones until you locate it. Of course, you need to be in range to do this. I reverse, you can use the Martian app (download from the Google store)and you can use your phone to find your watch. The battery has to be charged every couple of days, depending on your use. It uses a standard mini-USB connection to plug into the side of the phone. So this is not a big deal for me. I have the same connector for my phone so I have plenty of them on hand. The Martian does come with a USB cable and an AC adapter. The Martian G2G is in the middle range of smartwatch prices. The Sony SW2 is around $150. The Martian G2G is $250 and the more expensive Martian models are $299. So it is a little more money but I think it is worth the styling, the added features and the ease of use. Overall, I like the watch and am happy with it. I do sometimes have to play with reconnecting the watch when I turn it on in the morning since I don't want it to go off in the night. Most of the time it connects easily. So I give this Martian G2G a 4 out of 5 for it's flexibility, style, ease of use and practicality.