Martian Notifier Review: This Smartwatch is Cooler Than You Think | Pocketnow
When we first laid eyes on the Martian line of smartwatches, I was unimpressed. Too low-tech.
When we first laid hands on the Martian Notifier, I remained unmoved. Too low-key.
When AT&T and Martian dropped a Notifier on our doorstep, I almost recycled it for our summer of giveaways. Too busy.
Then I used it for a week … and I had to schedule a review. Too awesome.
In a world with smartwatches like Android Wear, Samsung’s Gear line, and the Pebble, you might think the time for a simpler wearable has long passed. But a company called Martian Watches is betting the other way, offering a line of stripped-down watches with a big analog face and a tiny screen for notifications.
The latest in that line is the aptly-named Notifier: a decidedly un-dainty resin/steel/silicone timepiece sporting a dense list of features and best-in-class battery life. Best of all, wearing one doesn’t consign you to the ranks of nerdy smartwatch wearers: even when it’s scrolling an alert across its tiny 96×16 OLED panel, the Martian Notifier looks just like a normal watch. And a good-looking one, at that.
How can a glorified quartz wristwatch offer up similar functionality to its competition, you ask? How can a three-button old-timer expect to hold its ground against the touchscreen wrist computers being fielded by the goliaths of the smartphone world? How many rhetorical questions can this description sustain before collapsing in on itself in a cloud of redundant nonsense? Two-thirds of those questions will be answered –and answered with vigor– in Pocketnow’s Martian Notifier review video above!
JOIN US Friday, July 25th at 2pm ET for a hands-on session with the Martian Notifier (and HTC One E8) on the Pocketnow Weekly podcast, where we’ll answer your questions live on air!
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Pocketnow has been a key source of mobile technology news and reviews since its establishment in 2000. With offices on three continents, Pocketnow offers round-the-clock coverage of the mobile technology landscape, from smartphones to tablets to wearables. We aim to be your number-one source for mobile tech news, reviews, comparisons, and commentary. If you love mobile as much as we do, be sure to subscribe!
Martian Notifier Review: This Smartwatch is Cooler Than You Think | Pocketnow
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i was looking for a watch synced with mars time, but this is cool too
One of the first "Hybrid" smartwatches.
Have had one for about 2 yrs now and don’t wear it much as it is a bit quirky. I have an iPhone 8+ now instead of an android and it works FAR better on it. I use it for the camera mode more then anything as we can take group pic without a timer. The app is not the Martian notifier app though ,it is the MVoice app. Would not pair with the other. Has the most of the same features. Last about 3-5 days depending on use. I paid $50 so a lot cheaper then an iwatch.
Sorry am not connected
I bought one but unfortunately when I was connecting the Bluetooth to my phone they sent me a code and I didn't enter it on time, and due to that am not getting the Bluetooth code again to pair on my phone due to that am connected so please i need help to do it
THIS is the kind of smartwatch I've been looking for, something simple that just gives notifications.
Does it have Google play store
How far away can this watch reach? I am a contractor and leave my phone connected to a speaker while I work around a jobsite. Typically I will be within 10'-30' of the phone but might have a wall or two in-between me and the phone. How far will this thing's bluetooth reach? Thanks to anyone who responds.
Nice watch, I sold mine on Ebay, the notifications are just not readable outdoors in sunlight. Waste of money.
Mr Mobile is that you
Is Mr. Mobile the narrator?
just bought one it's pretty good device
I have this watch now for over a year. Only had one problem. the Watch would not hold the charge. But the company, because I got the protection plan, changed the battery and sent it back to me. I love the watch.. Even gave it as a xmas present to a co-worker. I'm waiting for the next version.
Ugly cheap looking $20 watch. Get it if you are a kid at high school who wants to look reach but have zero income
That looks really thick
I love mine
How do you set the date on the Martian Notifier smartwatch? I set it to MM/DD but it doesn't give it. The time set came up right away.
no awnser me this is it in martain time because i know their is a martain timed watch
does it not sync with phone if u r too far away, or is it just a warning
As a teacher with kids (who occasionally barf at their schools), it's good to have a reliable smartwatch so I can just glance at my watch. Reliability and connectivity are key, and the META smartwatch I had, while cool in design, just got worse and worse.
If the bluetooth connection is severed, do I have to restart my phone? Is it reliable? All these matter quite a bit for now.
I love my red martian notifier smartwatch and I got it for 20 dollars on amazon plus shipping. this is a classy looking watch and I highly recommend it!
I bought one of these after my Samsung Gear got stolen. For the first week it was ok, then you start to notice the real annoyances.1) Connection drops very easily. 2) If you go out of range of your phone (and have tether enabled) it vibrates to alert you – the initial vibration is discreet enough, but then it starts continually vibrating until you are back in range. 3) If you set an alarm on the watch – there is no way to dismiss it – all yo can do is snooze it for 5 minutes – this is infuriating.4) The most infuriating aspect of the watch is that once connected -it takes over media and phone audio – I'm forever taking a call on my phone and hearing nothing; only to remember that my watch hijacks audio! If you set the Bluetooth profile NOT to handle call & media audio the watch will not connect!! this makes the watch useless.5) The software is useless – its so frugal that you cant really do anything with the watch.All in all the watch look good but it is far removed from a real smart watch.
The main advantage for me is NOT continuously taking my phone out of my pocket 50-60 times a day, to see who's calling before I tap on my Bluetooth headset and answer it. Having said that, on a sunny day, the display is just unreadable. Typical…
My roommate has the apple watch and the same thing happened around the latch. Luckily, I include finger workouts into my daily routine, and it slide back on. I'd buy the watch if it could skip songs playing but since it doesn't, I guess I'll get a Huwaii brand or something.
bahahaha the clasp fell apart and you went to a jeweler? Bend it back and put the pin back in. It's not rocket telemetry.
Help can you control music playback on this watch
This was helpful. Thank you.
so basically it sucks.
I just bought one on sale for $39 on sale from Groupon. I can live with the 'low tech' as what I need is to be alerted to text messages and calls as I have to keep my phone inconspicuous while at work.
Nice video presentation and good amount of information.
those annotations are fucking bullshit
Now available on Groupon for under $40. Is it a must buy?
Nice features. If only this didn't look like a cheap plastic watch….
Shit watch.. Done
This watch sucks. Sucks more than the Apple watch