Lenovo Ego Smartwatch scores well on most fitness-tracking parameters

The Lenovo Ego scores above most budget fitness tracking wearables in the looks department. It resembles those expensive G-shock watches that are meant for rugged use. So I had to put it to the test. 

Design (2.5/5)

After a few closer looks at the watch, I become doubtful of its ruggedness. Its rubber strap doesn’t seem to be able to withstand excessive field use. The build quality of the watch is not impressive. The four buttons around the display are hard to press. Lenovo could have used a touch-button system instead.

Performance (3.5/5)

For Rs 1,999, the lightweight, water-resistant smartwatch has a basic 1.6-inch anti-reflective monochrome display. I feel the company could have made it better to complement its design. However, you can check the date, time and heart rate at a glance without pressing any of the four buttons, which was a relief.

The Lenovo Ego's tracking ability is impressive. You can see the step-count reading as you walk. The process to sync the watch data with the Lenovo Life app is also quite smooth. In terms of notifications, the display, unlike in most smart bands, doesn't show the name or number of the caller, which is a miss.

Apart from using the stopwatch and the alarm clock, you can also trigger your phone camera from the watch to take pictures, but the Lenovo Life app needs to be open for that. The notifications for calls, messages and other activities does not overstrain the battery but if the vibration feature is kept on, the battery doesn’t last long. 

Verdict (3/5)

It was going well. But after five days of continuous use, the watch display went blank. I tried charging it but that did not work. The watch’s magnetic charger might have been the reason for the abrupt end to my review.

All in all, the Lenovo Ego smartwatch scores well on a number of fitness tracking parameters, and for the price, I was convinced to buy one for myself. If only the watch hadn’t stopped working. It’s not top quality, but with a one-year warranty, it is worth a try.