Razer Nabu Smartband Video Preview

By Marcus Yam, Photos and Video by Alex Davies
published

Another look at the Razer Nabu smartband.

While Razer's Project Christine took home our Outside the Box award, it wasn't the only brave, unconventional product out out of the PC gaming accessories maker. Razer's getting into the wearable tech game with the Nabu smartband, which aims to cut down on some of your smartphone time by sending you notifications and light info right to your wrist.

The Nabu features two screens, with a smaller one in top that's suitable for showing an icon, and another one on the bottom that's big enough to display text. It's debatable whether or not staring at one's wrist is better than a smartphone, but these are still early days of wearable tech and we're glad to see a familiar name in the arena. We may not be alone there, as readers of our sister-site Tom's Guide have seen fit to name Razer's Nabu as Best of CES 2014.

Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam served as Tom's Hardware News Director during 2008-2014. He entered tech media in the late 90s and fondly remembers the days when an overclocked Celeron 300A and Voodoo2 SLI comprised a gaming rig with the ultimate street cred.
5 Comments Comment from the forums
  • Wick422
    Yet everyone notices when you check your watch to accuse you of not being engaged and assume you have somewhere better to be. And most people can check the time faster than you check a text. It will still be perceived as rude. I rate this gadget as "dumb" and predict it will never take off.
    Reply
  • Kuruptshun
    Yet everyone notices when you check your watch to accuse you of not being engaged and assume you have somewhere better to be. And most people can check the time faster than you check a text. It will still be perceived as rude. I rate this gadget as "dumb" and predict it will never take off.
    Sadly, just because it is not for you, doesn't mean that this product is "dumb". An inanimate object cannot be subjected to a judgement of this sort. I disagree with you, I believe that this device will do very well for the target that it is aimed towards. Being in said target myself, I can attest that I will surely be purchasing this smart band and look forward to using it myself, even if no one else wears one. I will simply enjoy it. Thanks Razer.
    Reply
  • Wick422
    12492358 said:
    An inanimate object cannot be subjected to a judgement of this sort.

    I wasn't attempting to anthropomorphize the wristband. I figured it went without saying that it was the idea that i found "dumb". I'm sure you'll wear it until the next dumb fad comes along.
    Reply
  • Kuruptshun
    12493771 said:
    12492358 said:
    An inanimate object cannot be subjected to a judgement of this sort.

    I wasn't attempting to anthropomorphize the wristband. I figured it went without saying that it was the idea that i found "dumb". I'm sure you'll wear it until the next dumb fad comes along.


    So, as a whole, you feel that ALL wearable tech is "dumb"? I never quite understood why there is so much hate towards certain things. If you don't like it, keep scrolling lol...why the negativity? I personally dislike AMD, does that mean I will troll the AMD articles on TH just to post about how I dislike them? Anyways, I guess to each their own. To answer your question, yes...I will...and I will be quite happy with it too. :lol:
    Reply
  • rydr33
    I ride a bike. This would be great for a bike rider as you would be instantly aware of who was calling without reaching for a ringing phone or being distracted trying to. You could safely pull over and answer important calls while ignoring those that could wait. I give it 5 stars out of 5 for that alone.
    Reply