'Asus ZenWatch 2' Price, Release Date & Specs: Better Than Apple Watch? Speakers, Larger Battery, 2 Sizes [Product Review]

Asus has stepped up its wearables with the release of the Asus ZenWatch 2 announced earlier this month. The sequel to the firm's original Asus ZenWatch has a lot to offer with its list of specs and features all within a price of $149 in the Google Store.

Summarizing all that the Asus ZenWatch 2 has to offer, WTVOX, the second generation smartwatch comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 1.2GHz, a memory of 512 MB RAM, 4GB eMMC Flash and a battery that's better than most at 400mAh. It operates on the Android Wear 1.3 and is compatible to both the iOS and Android system.

Sporting a square design, the wearable device's display clocks in at 1.63", 320x320 (278ppi) Touch Display with dimensions of 49.6 x 40.7 x 9.4 ~ 10.9 mm (LxWxH) and a weight of 60g. Users can stay connected as the ZenWatch 2 has Bluetooth 4.1 and WiFi connectivity. It was also given an IP67 water resistance feature meaning it can survive a 30 minute 1m dunk.

Similar to the Apple Watch, the ZenWatch 2 comes in two sizes, one that measures 49 x 41mm (model number WI501Q), with a 22mm strap, and another, a 45 x 37mm model (WI502Q), that sits on an 18mm strap.

In addition to having a built-in microphone, it appears the ZenWatch 2 was found to contain internal speakers, which is telling because as of now Android Wear doesn't provide support of speakers. Like the Huawei Watch recently found to have yet to be used speakers, per PhanDroid, it's unknown what the unannounced feature could be used for.

"We could see it being useful for audible notifications and voice features during navigation, or perhaps just audible feedback from Google voice searches," wrote the publication.

ASUS' ZenWatch 2 launches in the Google Store https://t.co/nMVtVj4A3M pic.twitter.com/k4G94s47xh

— Engadget (@engadget) October 5, 2015

Apple Watch

In comparison, the Apple Watch comes in two case sizes: 38mm and 42mm with three available versions, the stainless-steel Watch, the anodized aluminum Watch Sport and 18-karat gold Watch Edition. A range of straps are available in various material and colors.

Apple's display features Force Touch, sapphire or Ion-X glass cover, with display size options: 38mm at 340×272 pixels; 42mm at 390×312 pixels. The Cupertino-based company's wearable has 8GB internal memory, Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity, GPS, and WiFi. It's watch runs on Apple's watchOS 1.0.1.

The Apple Watch pricing varies depending the model but starts at $349 for the Sport and goes as high as $17,000 for the 18-karat gold Edition.

For those going for a more affordable option, the Asus ZenWatch is really the way to go. It's features are pretty solid considering the price and Silicon Angle notes that "The ZenWatch two also has a host of other software feature, including ASUS Zen UI (for integration with ASUS smartphones), Business Helper, Fone Helper, Remote Camera, and ZenWatch Message (a watch-to-watch communication app that lets wearers exchange short messages, emojis, and drawings with other ZenWatch 2 wearers)."

In the end, it really depends on your preference for style, features and budget. Which watch do you prefer? Let us know below!