The smartwatch is more popular than ever, yet no one I know actually wears one. That's likely because even the best smartwatches we've tested are far from indispensable, especially when most people are walking around with a smartphone in their pocket. Designer Hermen van den Burg wants to change that by doing away with the smartphone entirely—or, more accurately, by absorbing it. The $199 Burg 12 is not just a smartwatch: It also comes with a SIM card so you can make calls and send text messages right from your wrist. It's certainly an interesting concept, but unfortunately, the Burg 12 is neither a capable smartphone replacement, nor a good smartwatch.

Design

Considering the design background involved here, the Burg 12 looks a little boring. It has a familiar round shape, which I prefer to boxy designs like the Samsung Gear 2 pictured below, but I'm not crazy about the decision to go ovular. It gives the silver ring around the face of the watch the appearance of an egg. And although the silver has a nice, premium feel, it's also well over half an inch thick, which makes the watch extremely bulky; I couldn't even bend my wrist while wearing it. The black rubber strap is fine, and I like the traditional buckle closure, but you can't swap it out for another band.