If you want to enjoy the look of a classic watch but want smartwatch features, then you need to find a hybrid smartwatch that meets your needs.
The Martian Notifier smartwatch is one of these watches and comes with a small price tag and a range of great features and notification capabilities.
Our Martian Notifier smartwatch review is here to help you understand every aspect of this great watch so that you can decide if it is something that you want to spend your money on.
We give the lowdown on the design, features, battery life, and value for money so that you are up to speed on precisely what this timepiece offers.
Table of Contents
Design
This device is larger than most other smartwatches of this ilk and has a 1.7-inch screen that shows you the time and has a notification bar. Because it is bigger in size than most smartwatches, it is also heavier, and this potentially makes it more arduous to wear.
In fact, the majority of Martian smartwatch reviews explain that not only is it heavy but that it is pretty bulky too, making it hard to wear under cuffs even with its super comfy strap. You can also personalize the watch by swapping the straps, which is a great addition if you want to get a smarter version or different colors to match different outfits.
Despite the large size, the watch face is pretty sparse and only offers the time numerals to look at with no calendar or second hand. This is ideal if you like a no-nonsense watch, but can get frustrating as there are some missing numbers where the electronic screen has been placed. However, if you need a watch that will work well with a suit and tie, this model is a decent choice.
Recommended: Check out our review of the VTech KidiZoom smartwatch.
The digital display strip is bright and amazingly easy to read in any weather condition and also offers a digital time display in case you need to know what time it is after dark. It is not waterproof, so it will not work well if you want to go for a swim, but it is splash-proof, making it fine to wear even when the rain comes down heavily.
There are three navigational buttons: two on one side and one on the other. These buttons allow you to navigate through all the features with ease and help to continue disguising the fact that you are the owner of a hybrid smartwatch.
Features and Performance
As part of our Martian watch review, we checked out the features that are offered with this model and how well they each perform. While it is not a full-blown smartwatch, the name Notifier gives you a serious hint about what it does offer.
Notifications are shared in abundance, and you can link this watch to tell you when there is a call, text, or email coming in as well as any Facebook updates you get and DMs on Twitter.
The notifications spring into action on the electronic strip so that you can check out what is happening without having to lift your phone. This is great if you are screening calls or are in the middle of an important discussion and do not want to be disturbed by anything trivial.
Recommended: We review the iTouch Air 2 smartwatch.
The watch comes with a dedicated app that you use to enable and disable any features that you want. This makes personalization extremely easy and even allows you to customize the vibration pattern for each different notification so that you can know what has hit your phone without even lifting your wrist.
The device will share the entire contents of a text message or notification on the scrolling watch strip so that you can be kept in the loop without anyone even realizing it. It is a nifty piece of kit that most people will not even notice, meaning that it will fit well with a smart and corporate environment.
In terms of other features, this watch can share the current weather forecast on the watch screen as well as remotely powering your phone camera. You can use the panic setting to help you find your tethered phone and also set up silent alarms so that you know when you need to move to your next activity.
One of the best features is the ability to leash your phone to the watch and get a buzzing notification when you have moved too far from your mobile device.
Recommended: The Skagen Hagen Connected is undoubtedly beautiful but does it perform?
Battery and Charging
The maximum battery life is around five days, but you should really expect to charge it twice weekly to be able to use it without interruption. The battery does drain quicker depending on the number of notifications you receive, so if you want to prolong the battery life, it is well worth streamlining the number of notifications you receive.
When it comes to charging the device, you will need to plug it in via a micro-USB. Charging is speedy, and the micro-USB charges the smart capabilities. The good news is that if you forget to charge your watch, the analog section is powered by a 5-year battery that will continue to tell you the time until you can next plug in.
Value for Money
One of the best things about this watch is that it is great value for money and comes in at the lower price range of the market. This means that not only can you afford to buy one but that you do not need to stress too much about it getting damaged when you use it.
Spending a smaller amount gives you the freedom to upgrade when a new model hits the shelves and allows you to purchase a work watch and then a different model for going out. It also allows you to get hold of a device that can notify you without you having to compromise on other expenditure responsibilities that you may have.
Final Verdict
While this watch is not perfect, it does offer good value for money and is a discreet hybrid smartwatch that will keep you in the loop when you need it the most. It is really easy to set up and pairs well with all types of smartphones.
You are able to easily organize the notifications you want and turn off the settings that are not important to you, making it simple but personalized to your individual needs.
There are areas that we were not so impressed with, and these included the small electronic screen and too few smart features. We were also unimpressed that there were numerals missed from the screen to house the electronic part and that it is not waterproof.
However, all in all, if you are looking for a great value watch that focuses on notifying you when you need to be notified, then this is not a bad choice. People are unlikely to realize it is a smartwatch, and this allows you to use it discreetly. We would definitely buy it as a work watch, especially if we worked in an office environment.
