Home Hi-Tech Android World ,,,,,Skagen Falster is the first smartwatch of the Nordic house, with Android Wear inside: we tested it with an iPhone 8 and Wear OS, the Google App for iOS designed for all Android smartwatches.
Review
Skagen Falster Black Leather, the smart one you wear
Skagen is a little known name in the smart and technological environment, but quite well known in the world of classic watchmaking and jewelry.
The brand, inspired by the coast near the city of the same name in northern Denmark, is characterized by an at times extreme minimalism, a bit like what Jonathan Ive, Apple's Chief Design Officer (we talked about here) really likes (we talked about it here). to say that perhaps, if there had been no Apple Watch, the lines of this Falster Black Leather could have been taken into consideration for John's wrist.
Aesthetically it is a circular display model, in our case in black with a black leather strap, but also available with a Milanese metal mesh or brown leather strap.
The heartbeat sensor and GPS are not included, which typically belong to a higher price range and use: the only button, present at three o'clock, allows you to control the functions, together with the circular touch display.
The strap is anchored with two handles: the use is very good and the model appears comfortable on the wrist, even if in our opinion a few more millimeters were needed for the display because, despite being formally 42 millimeters in diameter, the frame occupies it. about four.
The charger, induction
The main feature of the model is undoubtedly the appearance, fashion in a smart perspective. Elegant, discreet, minimalist, it appears designed for the business man or for the youngest who follow a refined and discreet look.
The battery is in line with expectations: the duration is one day, from morning to evening: difficult for it to yield earlier, impossible to arrive the next morning, even trying various types of use.
Wear OS, common but not too much
Once opened, it takes a few minutes for the configuration, which in the case of our iPhone is done with Wear OS, the App that replaced Android Wear (also from Google, we talked about it here).
The association is made in a few minutes, compatibility is given with practically all iPhones on sale today and some iPhones a little older (such as iPhone 6 and 5s).
In our case, the model immediately paired with an iPhone 8, even if it showed some pretentiousness too much regarding Wi-Fi connectivity, which we understand is necessary for App and operating system updates.
Skagen Falster during use is able to show on the display the messages that appear on the iPhone, as well as the call sign, even if it is not possible to answer. From the WearOS App (but also from the smartwatch display) we can decide which notifications to block and which to activate.
During use, Google Fit works silently and records steps and different activities (also available from the web): Skagen Falster is clearly not a model for sportsmen, partly because basic sensors (heart rate and GPS) are missing. but also for the shape, which is more of an evening out than a run in the park, however having an idea of your daily movement is not bad, especially since different dials allow you to see it in real time with the time.
As for the dials, apart from the very nice exclusive ones the main one, in full Skagen style, the standard WearOS ones are available, with a change that lasts no more than 5 seconds.
The customization of each dial is good, with the possibility of showing or hiding some information as desired.
Conclusions
Considering the market to which the brand aims, which to the writer appears to be just a step higher than the Fossil models, to which the brand belongs, it seems a good product, even if some attention is needed too much for the network and the smart affinities not they are so advanced.
The typical analog Skagen customer who is curious about the smart world will greatly appreciate this model and with him several users (we think a lot about the female audience) who want a beautiful, minimalist but above all simple smartwatch that does what it has to do in a silent and discreet.
The cost actually appears a bit high, but perhaps part of it is also given by the choice of materials and the care in the design.
Pro
• Elegant design • in harmony with those who are loyal to the brand
Cons
• The price is important • The heart rate sensor is missing, even if it is not entirely necessary here
Price
299.00 Euro (model SKT5001, subject of this test), 329.00 Euro (model SKT5000 and SKT5002)
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