Tech Review: Proton X Watch – A Worthy Addition To Your X70, X50 And X90?

We tried out the Proton X Watch by ACO Tech recently with a Proton X50 Flagship variant.

It looks just like any other smartwatch, no?

As its name aptly suggests, the Proton X Watch is a fitness-oriented smartwatch that’s also developed to work with the Proton X-series crossover SUVs, namely the newer X50 and X90 models. Whilst the device does work with the older X70 model too, it does have some limitations here – more on which in a bit.

The Proton X and its box packaging, the latter appearing equally as minimalist as the wearable tech itself.

According to developers ACO Tech, the X Watch wasn’t just designed to be a stand-alone device for said Proton SUV models. The firm notes that the X Watch also works like any other fitness smartwatch that’s currently available in the market made by the likes of Apple, Samsung, Garmin, Suunto, and more.

Having ‘test-driven’ it for a considerable amount of time recently in conjunction with our revisit of the Proton X50, this device certainly holds plenty of merit to perhaps justify its seemingly princely asking price. Allow us to digress further…

Aesthetics, comfort and build quality any good?

With any wearable smart device, comfort is definitely a priority for any purveyors. To that, the modestly-sized 1.3 inch (33 MM) AMOLED HD Retina display does see the X Watch fit with most wrist sizes. Good news here too is how lightweight it feels, making it very comfy to wear over long periods too.

Boosting comfort too are the rubberised sports strap which, though common amongst smartwatches as such, is somewhat an expected bit. What’s impressive here though is how the combination of said straps, stainless steel case, ceramic bezel, and the respectably crisp display are packaged together and presented.

The 1.3-inch AMOLED HD Retina touchscreen display has got decent size to it. What's impressive is the build quality and how the stainless steel case and ceramic bezel are all presented too.

The rubberised straps (left) adds to this smartwatch's overall comforts. The charging dock (right) also appears very minimalist, meaning it has a lesser chance of creating table-top clutter.

You only get two buttons to the right of the case, but that’s certainly sufficient given said AMOLED display doubles up as a touchscreen that’s also respectably smooth and brisk. The other bit we liked too is the compact charging dock it comes with, meaning its low profile wont clutter up table tops too badly.

Overall, as far as aesthetic form and functions are concerned, the X Watch looks and feels respectably good. The same can be said about much of the features it’s brimmed with, and there’s indeed more to it beyond pairing up perfectly with compatible Proton models mentioned.

The X Watch runs an Android operating system that's pretty smooth and very easy to get to grips with. Note this rotary menu display that features a steering wheel motif.

Tell me more about the non-car-related features…

Being a fitness tracker, the X Watch is primed with a number of key features that make it the perfect companion for just about any and all outdoor activity. Aside from IP68 dust- and water-proofing, the X Watch also boasts scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass DX+ for added durability and overall robustness.

Both heart rate and blood-oxygen sensors are present, along with the usual fitness-tracking essentials covering data like steps, distance, and time. Accessing and triggering them are both easy and straightforward, much of which the result of the user-friendly Android operating system it runs on.

There's both a heart rate and blood-oxygen sensor primed in the X Watch, thus enabling it with a host of fitness-related features too.

Whether you're out for a run, putting in your daily steps, or simply wish to track your heart rate, the X Watch has dedicated functions for all and they're also easily accessible.

Powering all this too is a respectable Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2500 + processor. This, plus the Android OS mentioned, sees almost no lag when it comes to operating said fitness-tracking functions. Moreover, you even get other functions like location-based weather data, and Joox music streaming playback controls.

The presence of wi-fi, Bluetooth, as well as 4G mobile network connectivity is yet another plus. Again, this is perhaps traits warranted for any wearable smart device today, more so given its price. Nevertheless, these also help enable the next set of key functions that sets the X Watch apart from its peers.

Entering the vehicle-related functions takes just the press of a button, and it will first display basic vehicle telematics data pictured.

How do the car-related features perform?

What arguably puts the X Watch in a league of its own are the built-in car-relted features it possesses, all designed to work specifically with the Premium and Flagship variants of the X50 plus all variants of the X90 that run the latest ACO Tech ATLAS operating system in their infotainment units.

The X Watch works with the X70 too, but it misses out on certain functions due to the X70’s older infotainment hardware. Nevertheless, we’ve tried every function the watch offered for these cars and, unsurprisingly, these weren’t just nifty novelties, they also enrichen the overall ownership experience for them too.

Swipe over to the second page and you'll gain access to the remote vehicle features that include remote door locking and unlocking, window opening and ventilation, as well as remote trunk release.

The remote cabin cabin pre-cooling works in conjunction with the remote ignition and you're able to remotely set idling time as well as both the A/C fan speed and temperature.

The remote engine start-up and cabin pre-cooling functions stood out as our favourites. In our climate, both these functions help make jumping back into the car just that more comfortable, and the fact that you can set the idling times plus both the temperature and fan speeds from the watch proved nifty indeed.

Unfortunately, the X70 misses out on both the remote ignition and cabin pre-cooling abilities via the X Watch. However, everything else works here like the remote door locking and unlocking, window opening and ventilation, trunk release, as well as horn and lights trigger to easily locate the car in a crowded parking lot.

Despite having 4G connectivity, there is some noticeable lag with activating some of the remote car-related features. Take note, the watch can only pair up with X50, X70, and X90 models running the latest ATLAS OS.

Any drawbacks?

Of course, no package is perfect, and the X Watch does have a few downsides despite everything it boasts. Some are minor annoyances, like the noticeable lag or latency when activating and executing the remote car functions, as is the questionable relevance of Joox over rivalling apps, and perhaps how cumbersome it felt to use the virtual QWERTY keypad on a round dial display over a squared one.

For some, perhaps the 420 mAH lithium battery’s rather average useable time in between charges might not sit too well. Though ACO Tech claims up to 26 hours is possible, this greatly depends on certain things like the connection channels used, and usage of the fitness tracking apps. Realistically, even with fast-charging support present, the most we got out of one full charge is about a day and a half.

One minor annoyance here is how cumbersome some might find in using the virtual QWERTY keyboard through a rounded display as opposed to a squared one.

What we reckon will not sit with tech-savvy users who are also car-centric is the fact that neither the app or watch replaces the traditional physical keyfob. The presence of said hardware is still required in order to drive the car it’s paired with. In its defence, ACO Tech says the X Watch wasn’t meant to replace the keyfob, and perhaps some would argue that traditional keyfob is still a relatively solid security measure.

However, if you don’t mind looking past these relatively minor misgivings and drawbacks, the X Watch’s merit as a stand-alone fitness and lifestyle accessory is respectable to say the least. The fact that it works with the X-series Proton SUVs however might just be what owners of said vehicles will most likely be tempted with given how it enrichens the ownership experience further.

At RM1,149, the Proton X watch isn't exactly a bargain, but neither is it unobtainable.

Okay, what’s the cost then?

At RM1,499, the Proton X Watch by ACO Tech isn’t exactly a bargain, but neither is it absurdly expensive as how some top-shelf smartwatches are. Surely, if you already own any compatible variants of the X50, the X70, or you’re perhaps sizing up the new X90, then the X Watch is one option that’s worth considering.

As for purchasing the watch itself, you can acquire it directly from ACO Tech via its newly-opened DX experience centre in Quill City Mall, KL, or by ordering it through any authorised Proton showroom nationwide.