Vector Luna Review

Introduction

According to Juniper research, Apple grabbed over 50% of smartwatch sales in 2015, and the Android Wear ecosystem accounted for under 10%. That leaves quite a bit of room to relatively unpopular makers that have—at differing points in time—jumped onto the smartwatch bandwagon. London-based Vector is one such manufacturer, and the Luna is its latest creation.

Sold for anywhere between $299 and $399 in the US depending on the model, the Vector Luna is rather pricey, but tackles this with two unique selling points: a 30-day battery life and compatibility with iOS, Android, and Windows Phone devices. Is that enough to set it apart from the crowd, and should you consider dumping some serious cash into it, however?

Let's dig in and find out.

Design

This one is for the appreciators of classic design

When smartwatches started popping up back in 2013, one of the fundamental challenges in front of makers was to make a nerdy product that didn't look like one. Alas, they failed. The first round of smartwatches were all square or rectangular in form, and looked like something that would best fit on the wrist of the likable hero in a sci-fi flick. As of 2015, however, we've seen a change of direction, so much so that vendors are increasingly (and successfully) targeting timeless, classical designs.

With a round, stainless steel case in black and a brown leather strap attached to the lugs, our unit of the Vector Luna ranks highly on the list of more conventional-looking smartwatches. At 44mm in diameter, the watch is on the larger side, but sits well on a bigger man's wrist. 22mm in width, the wrist band is also appropriately wide and is removable should you decide to go with something custom. What we hate is the creaking sound the band makes when you move it up or down due to friction between the lugs and the leather. When on the wrist, however, this problem disappears.

In terms of thickness, the Luna is no slimmer nor thicker than the smartwatches of the day, nor is it heavier or lighter. It does, however, come with the added benefit of 5ATM water resistance, meaning water shouldn't leak inside and damage the internals when showering. In theory, it should withstand pressure up to 50 meters deep, which is quite a bit compared with most smartwatches out there.

On the right side of the smartwatch is where you'll find the three physical buttons—rounded rectangles on top and bottom for moving up and down throughout the interface, and a circular crown in the middle to select and exit menus. Travel time for these is rather short and awkward, and they're a bit on the rigid side, so we weren't exactly pleased.



Overall, we can't say our world was rocked by the Vector Luna, though it's certainly among the more attractive wrist computers you can get right now. For those curious, the smartwatch is also available with a round case made out of rose or champagne gold, and with silicone and steel bands in various colors.