Asus announces VivoWatch SP, with ECG, blood pressure and exercise tracking

Asus has used its IFA 2019 press conference in Berlin to announce a new smartwatch it’s working on, the VivoWatch SP.
The wearable brings some high-grade tracking to the table, including the ability to check your blood pressure and stress levels, in an attractive design. We’re looking forward to getting hold of it for an in-depth review, but in the meantime, all the key details Asus revealed are below.
Read more: The best smart blood pressure monitorsAsus said in its conference that the trackers on the VivoWatch SP are “medical grade”, and that the process to take your blood pressure and stress readings will be a 20-second test rather than a constant background function. However, the tech for this check has moved from the front of the watch, where it was found on the VivoWatch BP, to its rear and sides.
With a Pulse OX sensor for blood oxygen levels, GPS tracking and an altimeter, the VivoWatch SP has all the chops required to give you a full picture of your fitness habits. Asus says that its Asus HealthAI will use this data to give you personalised recommendations on how to make healthier life choices. The watch has certainly got an upgrade in the looks department versus the VivoWatch BP, which had a fairly basic and medical look to it. The VivoWatch SP is far sleeker, with a choice of 22mm bands available and a subdued black design for its body. It also has a ceramic bezel which should be useful for repelling the bane of fingerprints and smudges.
It’s waterproofed to 5ATM, or 50 meters, so you’ll be able to take it swimming, depending on a sensible choice of band. It will also pack an impressive 14-day battery life, meaning you won’t find yourself charging it as regularly as other ECG watches such as the Apple Watch Series 4.
The VivoWatch SP will run Asus’s own operating system, with limited smartwatch features, including message and call notifications. It should release in Q4 2019, according to Asus, which means it isn’t too far away already. Its price hasn’t yet been confirmed, but we’ll update this story as and when any more details emerge.