Health-tracking device maker Withings today announced a new wristwatch activity tracker called Activité Pop, which will be available in February for $149.95.
Unique in its style, the Activité is an old-school analog watch on the outside, with more typical and contemporary sensors for tracking activity and sleep underneath.
Withings is aiming for fashion first with this product, a sharp but welcome turn from its previous activity trackers—the Withings Pulse O2 and Withings Pulse—which were boxy and unattractive little devices that strapped onto a band or clip holster.
The Activité Pop, on the other hand, has a more classic wrist accessory appearance, with a PVD-coated watchcase and smooth silicone strap. It will be available in three colors: azure, shark grey, and sand, with additional wristbands options down the road.
Two dials on the watch face show the time and a progress percent toward your specified goal, such as 10,000 steps per day. When you hit your goal, the watch vibrates. It also automatically recognizes and tracks swimming (it's water-resistant to 30 meters) and running, according to Withings. Worn at night, it monitors sleep quality and has a silent vibration alarm clock.
As with all Withings devices, Activité Pop syncs automatically with the free Withings Health Mate app. At launch, the watch will only be compatible with iOS, however, with Android support to be added later.
One unique feature is that the Activité Pop adjusts its time automatically when you (and presumably the connected mobile device) cross time zones, or whenever Daylight Savings time begins or ends. The battery is a standard watch coin cell that lasts up to 8 months.
Given the price and the state of other activity trackers, especially those being shown at CES 2015, where tech enthusiasts can get an up-close look at the device, it's surprising that the Activité Pop does not include any smartwatch features, although incorporating them into an analog watch might be impossible.
Activité Pop will launch exclusively at Best Buy; limited quantities will be available at BestBuy.com on Jan. 5 and at Best Buy stores nationwide in March.
For more about fitness trackers, see my list of the best activity trackers and advice on how to choose a fitness tracker that's right for you.