HTC’s first smartwatch to have 3-day battery life but no Android Wear

Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android.

Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android.

HTC’s first smartwatch, developed in conjunction with Under Armour, will ship with a shoe sensor and offer up to three days of battery life in between charges, according to one leak. The Taiwanese company is also expected to use its own software as opposed to adopting Android Wear.

HTC’s excellent design team, which is response for some of the prettiest Android-powered smartphones money can buy, has gotten us hugely excited for the company’s first smartwatch. However, the more we find out about it, the more I’m convinced it won’t be what we’re expecting.

Initially, we were anticipating a Moto 360 competitor; a high-end device made of premium materials, that would look more like a traditional stainless steel watch that a computer strapped to your wrist. But in reality, it probably isn’t going to be quite as exciting.

It’s clear now that the device will be heavily focused on fitness tracking, which means it’s going to be a lightweight and durable device you won’t mind wearing to the gym or when you go running in the rain.

According to the reliable @Upleaks, it will have a 1.8-inch flexible display that’ll allow it to wrap around your wrist. It’ll be dust- and water-resistant with IP57 certification, and it will have built-in Bluetooth, GPS, and an ST Micro STM32L151 processor.

Battery life is expected to be around three days, and the device will ship with a “footpad” for your shoes that’ll help track steps more accurately. The device is also expected to be available in a number of colors, and three size options — small, medium, and large.

@Upleaks also notes the device will have “RTOS” software developed by HTC, not Android Wear. That means it won’t be compatible with all of the companion apps already developed for Android Wear devices, but many common functions will be built-in.

Some of those will include an alarm, timer, stopwatch, music controls, camera shutter controls, sleep tracking, weather information, and the notifications from your smartphone.

The upside to no Android Wear? HTC’s device will also be compatible with iOS.

None of this is confirmed for now, of course, but @Upleaks has been incredibly reliable in the past. If his latest information is correct, HTC’s new device will go on sale during the first quarter of this year, and it will initially be available in the U.S. before rolling out globally.