Intex iRist: Smart but unnecessary

Small display, bad placement of camera may irk consumers

Intex's latest offering, the iRist smartwatch, is sure to grab eyeballs but only of a select few.

The smartwatch runs Android 4.4 KitKat instead of Android Wear. The device has a microSIM slot which means that one doesn't necessarily need a smartphone to use the watch. The watch is capable of carrying out almost all functions that a basic Android-based smartphone offers.

It has a 1.56-inch display and therein lies the problem of using the smartwatch on its own.  I found the display to be too small to carry out normal activities like you would do on a smartphone. For example, messaging - I found it too frustrating to type out one sentence. However, since it supports a 3G SIM, one can definitely enjoy videos or music - with the help of Bluetooth earphones which come along. You can also connect it to a smartphone with its 'iConnect feature.'

One has to charge the 600 mAh battery with a charging dock that's included in the box. The battery lasts for about 5-6 hours on light usage.

The watch comes with pre-installed Google apps like Maps and the Play Store. It also has a pedometer which makes it a handy workout tool.

A feature I found completely unnecessary was its five-megapixel (MP) camera. It's positioned on the side of the watch, along with the power and back buttons. Sure, you might feel like 007 trying to take pictures subtly. But the camera placement would irk most. You can't take proper pictures unless you position your hand a certain way. By the time you figure out the right position, your smartphone would have taken 20 pictures.

On the whole, the smartwatch will have some takers who prefer style over functionality. But priced at Rs 11,999, the iRist smartwatch seems like a bad investment.