TechWatch

TechWatch Review: What to Know Before You Buy

By J.R. Duren

HighYa Staff

Published on: Dec 27, 2019

TechWatch is an Apple Watch knock-off promising the same functionality as popular smartwatches at a fraction of the price.

If you’ve shopped for the Apple Watch recently, then you know one of the primary obstacles to owning one is the price. A new Apple Watch costs $399. The TechWatch eliminates this hurdle by selling its watch for less than $100 without sacrificing important features.

TechWatch’s reasonable price solves the cost issue related to name-brand smartwatches. However, you need to know if the watch’s performance is equal to its price.

In this review, we’ll help you understand if this watch’s combination of price, features, and performance are right for your needs.

Features

The TechWatch comes in two colors, black and white, and includes the following features:

• Heart rate monitor
• Step counter
• Sleep monitor
• Sedentary monitor (alerts you if you’re sitting too long)
• Bluetooth calling
• Phone locator
• HD touch screen
• Compass
• Customizable home screen (analog or digital)
• Music controls
• Accepts SIM cards

The key feature here that makes this watch different than the Apple Watch is that the TechWatch can have its own 4G or 3G SIM card. It functions as its own phone. So, if your phone battery dies and you need to make a call, you can remove your SIM card and place it into your watch.

The watch will work independently of the phone, allowing you to listen and speak during calls.

The watch can handle up to 400 contacts either through syncing with your phone or you entering contacts manually.

If you want to access the heart rate, step and fitness information the watch tracks, you need to log into the watch’s FunDo app.

The watch’s battery lasts three to five days on a 70-minute full charge.

To connect your watch to your phone, you’ll need to download an app called “Fundo.” Go into the app and select the “Add Device” option in the “More” menu. Tap “Watch_LE” to add your watch.

Then, tap on your watch’s Bluetooth icon, turn on Bluetooth and select your phone from the list of available devices.

TechWatch’s instruction manual warns that your Bluetooth connection’s strength and consistency will change depending on which phone you have. If you experience connection issues, you should restart your watch. Press and hold the power button for 10 seconds to restart.

Price, Return Policy and Warranty

• One watch: $79
• Two watches: $145
• Three watches $189

All three price tiers include free shipping. It can take up to 21 days for your watch to arrive. If it takes longer than that, you can go to the company’s tracking page, enter the TRD number on your invoice and find out the shipment’s status.

Return Policy

You have 30 days from the day you receive your watch to make a return. You can start the process by emailing customer service at support@maxdeals.ltd.

Tell them you are returning the watch. Then, put the watch and its original packaging in the shipping box and send it to MaxDeals Returns, 231 Greymon Dr., West Palm Beach, FL, 33405.

Finally, send another email to customer service telling them you’ve sent the return. Provide the return’s tracking number, too.

Warranty

You have the option of buying a three-year extended warranty for $37.99. The warranty covers broken parts and watches that stop working despite being in perfect physical condition.

The warranty doesn’t cover any damage due to “external manipulation,” which includes damage that results from you trying to take the watch apart or remove parts from it.

TechWatch customer service told us that you should “send pictures and video as proof” that the parts or watch broke on its own.

Analysis of Customer Reviews

We analyzed tech demos of the watch as well as customer reviews of the Fundo app to give you a sense of what you can expect from this watch:

Common Compliments

• Looks Like an Apple Watch: Reviewers say that the watch looks very similar to an Apple Watch. So, if your goal is to find a knockoff that looks as realistic as possible, this watch will meet your needs.

• Call Functions Work Well: Customers are happy with the watch’s call capabilities.

Common Complaints

• Connection Issues: One of the main themes was that the Bluetooth connection was unreliable. Also, Samsung Galaxy owners, in particular, complained about connection issues.

• Watch Apps Don’t Work: There are multiple reports of users who said some apps may not do anything, while other apps won’t load and will display an error message.

• Doesn’t Add iTunes or Google Play Apps: Despite what the watch’s website says, users aren’t able to download apps to the watch. This is a major drawback and a key differentiator between TechWatch and an actual Apple Watch.

• Notifications May Not Disappear: Several reviewers noted that notifications don’t always disappear and that the “12PM LUNCH WITH KEN • TARTINE” message on the home screen never disappeared.

Review Takeaways

In our opinion, the numerous red flags we found among customer reviews of the watch and its corresponding app are concerning.

These red flags impact the watch’s function to the point that only a fraction of its apps will work as they should. This will most likely cause you a lot of frustration.

There’s a good chance the money you save buying an imitation Apple Watch won’t be worth the limited function the watch gives you.

The Bottom Line: Is the TechWatch the Right Option for You?

Based on our research, there is too much evidence of user frustration, app glitches, and connectivity issues to recommend buying this smartwatch for its apps and fitness tracking.

What you save by not buying an Apple Watch will most likely not be worth the headaches you face when you use the TechWatch.

However, we see the value in this watch’s function as a phone. If you have a phone with a weak battery that dies at least once a day, you could benefit from using this watch as a backup to make and receive calls.