Asus ZenWatch 2 announced: Features and functions to expect at release date

Asus website

Tech manufacturer Asus is back in the smart wearables arena with its latest offering, the ZenWatch 2. 

At this year's Computex event in Taipei, Asus not only let people catch a glimpse of what they have to offer in terms of computing tech like new tablets and PCs, but also of what the ZenWatch successor looks like. And although the exterior looks like the first ZenWatch when it was launched about a year ago, Asus promises that this new smartwatch will offer much more in terms of features and design. 

Although specs are still sketchy and Asus did not present any concrete details at the event, the new ZenWatch 2 is touted to build upon the foundations of the first Asus wearable. What this means is that the upcoming watch will still run on Android Wear, and since Google's wearable platform is already on its 5.1.1 update rollout, observers expect that the ZenWatch 2 will run on the latest operating system right out of the box. Additionally, having the 5.1.1 version installed means that users will be able to sync and link their smartphones to the ZenWatch 2 and view notifications, messages, and important reminders through the wearable. 

The ZenWatch 2 will also feature Asus' proprietary remote camera function. With this feature on, wearers can use the watch as a remote display when taking images on difficult angles with their smartphones. The watch can also be used as a remote shutter so that the one taking the photo will also be included in the shot. And with this feature more revamped and enhanced with the new version of ZenWatch, the remote camera control feature will have more range, faster performance, and added zoom and camera control functions. 

Asus hasn't announced yet what the pricing and release date will be, but the ZenWatch 2 is speculated to be out before the year ends.