Razer is following up its CES 2014 hit, the $100 Nabu smartband, with an even cheaper model at CES 2015 dubbed the Nabu X. The company calls the Nabu X the “younger sibling” of the Nabu. The new smartband will go on sale for $50 starting in early February.
The new device doesn’t have an OLED screen like the more advanced Nabu, but it does pair with your smartphone to deliver notifications. Instead of a fancy display, the X has three differently colored LED lights that brighten based on the type of incoming notification such as a call, alarm, or app alert.
The new smartband also does fitness tracking like the original Nabu, as well as band-to-band communication when in close contact.
Why this matters: Razer’s Nabu line is something of a surprise. Not only because a gaming hardware company is getting into wearables, but because the smartband is seeing at least some success in a world where more robust Android Wear smartwatches are available and the Apple Watch is incoming. Razer’s Nabu finally went on sale in December 2 and is currently sold out. Developers are also showing interest in the Nabu, with more than 10,000 developers signing up to make Nabu apps during the first 24 hours the developer program was active.
Not your average smartband
When the Nabu X goes on sale in February it will come in black, green, or white. Razer also says the device has a 5-7 day battery life and is water resistant up to 3.28 feet (1 meter) for 30 minutes—not exactly Activité Pop water resistance but it will do when you’re taking a shower.
Before the Nabu X goes on public sale, Razer Insiders (a free online forum and news alert program) will get first dibs on the Nabu X later in January at the reduced price of $20. Razer will allow North American Insiders to register for pre-sales on January 13th with the actual sales starting January 15th at 6 PM Pacfic.