Wear OS 3, an operating system built for smartwatches was launched over a year ago by Google, however, it has only been available on a single smartwatch in that time since. Until now.
9to5google reports that the Wear OS 3 is finally making its way to another smartwatch, the Qualcomm-powered Montblanc Summit 3.
At launch, Wear OS 3 was only on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4. Samsung as usual had it tailored with their One UI coating to make it look more in line with their brand. Despite this, the Wear OS 3 showed a clear improvement in the platform especially compared to the Tizen OS that was used in the older Galaxy Watch 3.
On the other hand, what was lacking was another platform where Watch OS 3 could fully be appreciated without the influence of an OEM’s custom OS additions. This is what the Montblanc Summit 3 might offer its buyers.
The Montblanc Summit 3 at its core is a luxurious brand, therefore its pricing might drive away quite a few customers if they were looking for an affordable smartwatch.
From the pictures, the luxury brand seems to have restricted themselves from making radical changes to the Watch OS 3, preferring the streamlined stock version of the OS without additional frills and bloat.
In a press release, the Montblanc Summit 3’s manufacturers discuss a few of its features, including software support for turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps, which 9to5google think could be the new version, only supported on Wear OS 3. The smartwatch will also have support for Google Play.
“Powered with Wear OS by Google, the Montblanc Summit 3 can be enhanced with the addition of all the apps necessary to meet the needs of its owner. Whether at work, at play, on the road or at home, the new watch is about delivering a tailored, life-enhancing experience to get the most out of the day. You can navigate the world with turn-by-turn navigation on your wrist with Google Maps, or use Google Pay as a fast, simple way to pay in stores while on the go. Access a world of content, anytime, anywhere — all from your smartwatch with Google Play,” reads part of Montblanc’s statement.
The luxurious watch will include a fitness app with sleep tracking, as well as support for a few watch faces. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear 4100+ chip will power the device. Furthermore, The Montblanc Summit 3 will also be able to read your blood oxygen levels.
The build quality, as is the case for most luxurious products, is impressive to say the least. A titanium case in black, grey and “bicolour” options, with rubber and leather band options. There is also a rotating crown and two additional buttons.
If you are interested in acquiring one, the Montblanc Summit 3 starts at $1,290 (around Ksh 150,000) and will first go on sale on July 15 this year.
Once bought, you will get additional perks from the company as they state the watch comes with “a broad range of support tools to maximize the full lifecycle experience, as well as battery replacement by Montblanc Service.”
