Watchy: A free alternative to the Apple Watch and Co. that is also Arduino and Python compatible

Smartwatches may continue to make great strides, but few will last more than a day or two on a single charge. The Huawei Fit is one such option, with its E-ink display allowing it to last up to a week before it needs recharging. There have been other E-ink smartwatches too like the GLIGO, a crowdfunded device, but it seems that not all backers received their units.

Now, SQFMI has created the Watchy, an E-ink smartwatch that is also open-source. The Watchy supports Arduino and Python too. SQFMI has included a 200 x 200-pixel display, along with a DS3231 RTC (real-time clock) chip for accurate timekeeping. There is also a BMA423 accelerometer onboard, with an ESP32 chip handling Bluetooth LE and Wi-Fi connectivity. 

Additionally, the Watchy has four buttons and a vibration motor, while SQFMI promises up to two weeks of battery life from a single charge. We should point out that you must program the Watchy yourself, but SQFMI has provided a template to do so.

The Watchy can now be ordered directly from SQFMI for US$55. You can also make your own Watchy by using the hardware pack found on the Watchy-Hardware GitHub page. This is also worth a read if you want to find out more about the hardware details of the Watchy too. Alternatively, Tom Fleet from Hackster.io has gone into depth about the Watchy in his review.