Asus' new smartwatch has an embedded ECG, GPS, and 2-week battery life

ASUS has announced a brand new smartwatch at IFA 2019 called the ASUS vivoWatch SP, complete with built-in ECG and PPG sensors.

ECG sensors are slowly making their way into consumer wearables — the Apple Watch Series 4 and Withings Move ECG both have them — but to be considered a medical-grade product, these devices need to pass certain certifications. Products need FDA approval in the U.S. and CE clearance in Europe. ASUS told Android Authority it has submitted the application to the FDA to get the vivoWatch SP recognized as a medical-grade device, which is expected to go through in November or January at the latest.

The benefits of having an ECG strapped to your wrist at all times are significant — for those with heart issues, being able to record an on-demand ECG can be very useful.

Elsewhere, the ASUS vivoWatch SP comes with a PPG sensor for blood pressure monitoring (in certain countries), a heart rate sensor, autonomic nervous system tracking, and a pulse oximeter. The watch can also track your sleep, stress, and daily activity thanks to its built-in GPS and altimeter.

Activity recorded with the vivoWatch SP is recorded in the ASUS HealthConnct app, which utilizes ASUS’ HealthAI algorithm to offer personalized health advice and health management tips.

The design is simple, but maybe too simple for some people. The watch case is made of plastic and has a single physical button on the bottom-right of the case. In our pre-brief at IFA 2019, the color touchscreen display looked a little dim. It also has a particularly low resolution, though this should be able to help the device last longer. ASUS says the watch can last up to 14 days on a single charge. That’s not as long as last year’s VivoWatch BP, but you do get significantly more features with the vivoWatch SP.

ASUS also equipped the vivoWatch SP with quick-release straps and a 5ATM water-resistance rating.

The watch will be available in Q4 2019, though we don’t have pricing details at this time. We’ll be sure to update this article as more information is revealed. In the meantime, check out our other IFA 2019 coverage below: