Wahoo has released its first-ever smartwatch. Elemnt Rival comes with all the usual fitness sensors, built-in GPS and a sporty build.
Founded in 2009, the Atlanta-Georgia based company has a slew of products under its belt. This includes bike case mounts, spare covers for bike cases, aerobar bike mounts, stride sensors, soft heart rate belts, extended batteries for iphone bike cases, heart rate monitors, and speed and cadence bike sensors.
The unveiling of Wahoo Elemnt Rival presents an important shift in its strategy. The smartwatch seems like a solid first offering, especially if you are into multi-sports, cycling and triathlons. It ticks all the right boxes.
Wahoo Elemnt Rival – specs
In terms of looks, Wahoo’s first sports watch comes across very much like a Garmin. Circular in shape, it has a 31.26mm diameter display. Just like most Garmin’s, it packs a Sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) display. The resolution is 240×240 pixels and it has support for 64 colours.
This type of display is great for reducing battery consumption. Hence, the watch can keep going a full two weeks on a single charge. Switch GPS on and this comes down to 24 hours.
The actual dimensions of the 5 ATM rated device are 46.5 x 46.5 x 12.5mm. The weight is only 53 grams thanks to a polycarbonate build and ceramic bezel. The build definitely seems robust.
Under the hood you’ll find the usuals. This includes a barometric altimeter, heart rate sensor, accelerometer and GPS.
The watch supports the ANT+ and Bluetooth protocol, along with something called ‘Touchless Transition’ technology. Wahoo says the feature allows Element Rival to interact seamlessly with the company’s bike computers to transfer data in real-time. Useful for keeping tabs on your vitals and activity data while cycling.
Both the bike computers and smartwatch are built on the same proprietary platform. This comes with the popular Elemnt smartphone app.
You can also connect the watch to auxiliary sensors such as power meters and heart rate chest straps. It can even be used to control Wahoo’s Kickr smart trainers.
The watch can be picked up for a reasobable $379.99 on Wahoo’s website. If you are a fan of the company’s other products, or are into cycling, it certainly sounds like an interesting offering. The watch is available in a white or black body.
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