The wearable market is still in its infancy. Android Wear watches began hitting store shelves just last year, with the original Asus ZenWatch one of the affordable numbers that added a touch of elegance to the party.

Mostly stainless steel body; plenty of case and strap choices; fast charging; two size options; great value

Plastic back plate; no heart-rate monitoring or GPS; same display as predecessor; thick bezel; stiff leather strap

Back at IFA 2015 in Berlin, Asus announced its latest smartwatch, the ZenWatch 2. It offers more customisation and a spec boost from the first generation ZenWatch, but can it compete with the likes of the Apple Watch and Samsung Gear S2, or does it crash and burn?

Update : The Asus ZenWatch 2 has punched its way into our list of best Android Wear watches . It offers an attractive combination of looks, specs and value to make it an easy choice for those looking to get in on the low end.

In 2016, Android Wear is one of the most versatile smartwatch platforms around, with some going so far as to call it ‘the power of Google on your wrist'. With an ever-growing arsenal of apps, this is the operating system as far as smartwatches go.

The Asus ZenWatch 2 is a great smartwatch, and is definitely a worthy upgrade from its predecessor. Under the hood, the spec boost definitely makes the difference when interacting with the watch, providing a snappy experience and should compete with watches £100-200 more expensive. Visually, its a huge improvement over its predecessor, with more ‘flavours’ of the smartwatch available with a number of specifically designed accessories. The Asus-branded software brings something different to the smartwatch, especially the FaceDesigner app that lets you create your own custom watch face from scratch.

Speaking of sequel devices, the Asus ZenWatch 2 recently launched in India at competitive prices. Costing anywhere between Rs. 11,999 and Rs. 14,999 depending on the variant, the Asus ZenWatch 2 marks the Taiwanese company's presence in the wearables segment in India, considering that the original...

Good performance and battery life; Excellent screen; Plenty of customisation and control options; Straps can be replaced quickly; Good pricing

Wasted space around the screen; Issues with motion sensors

Now in their third generation, smartwatches have become much more refined, but have yet to become a must-wear for your wrist. The Asus Zenwatch 3 is unlikely to reverse that trend.

Good battery life; Attractive design; Customizable watch faces

No heart-rate monitor; Lacks GPS

Though it still hasn't grabbed consumers like some manufacturers had hoped, the smartwatch market is growing rather quickly, and a number of good options are currently available. For some users, price may be one of the key factors holding them back from buying a smartwatch.

The Asus ZenWatch 2 smartwatch is more refined than its predecessor, but Android Wear continues to lag behind the competition.

Relatively inexpensive; Lightweight; Decent battery life

Reflective display; Too much bezel; Bulky; Stiff leather band; Android Wear remains clumsy to navigate

The ZenWatch 2 is a decent purchase, but there are a lot of Android watches with slicker style and more power.

Outstanding battery life; Fast charging; Highly customizable

No heart rate sensor; Plastic back plate; Identical display and processor as last year's model; Uncomfortable strap