LunaR smartwatch promises endless sun-powered battery life [Sticky or Not]

Despite being moon-themed, the LunaR smartwatch is a solar-powered wearable.

Aiming to solve one of the most frustrating elements of wearables — the need to take it off and charge it on a frequent, even daily, basis — the team behind LunaR developed a hybrid mechanical smartwatch.

Owing to a partnership with a solar tech company, the company bills its device as the first to include an “invisible solar cell watch face.” LunaR says that with a daily exposure of one hour, or more than 10k LUX, the device’s solar panel can harvest enough power to deliver infinite battery life.

In case you reside mostly indoors in front of the glow of your laptop screen (same), LunaR says the smartwatch can still pick up charge from artificial or indoor light. You may want to move closer to a window, though. The company also includes a USB charger in its retail package — “just for emergencies!”

The watch, which connects via Bluetooth to an app on your smartphone, can track sleep and activities using its 3-axis accelerometer. It also features all the normal activity tracker functions, including phone notifications and alarms.

It works with iOS 10 and higher and Android 4.3 and higher, and is compatible with Apple Healthkit and Google Health.

The device also features waterproofing up to 5ATM (50 meters).

The gadget is currently up for pre-order through Kickstarter, starting at $158 CAD and promising a December 2017 delivery date.

Verdict: Sticky!

Infinite battery life? Sign me up.

I test quite a lot of wearables, and nothing would make me happier than not having to find a place to connect another fidgety little charger that’s apt to fall down or disconnect from the tracker at the slightest nudge.

If this tracker can truly provide the seamless continuous charge it promises, it’ll be the rare exception for wearables — offering sensible utility over entertaining gimmicks.