Move over, Cupertino – Edinburgh’s UNA Watch just raised £300k to challenge the wearable giants with something revolutionary: the world’s first fully modular smartwatch. Born from former Shot Scope CTO Lewis Allison’s frustration with “disposable” tech, this Garmin lookalike hides an earth-shaking secret under its hood.
Here’s why the UNA Watch changes everything:
- Snap-in components – swap batteries, screens, or sensors in seconds
- 10-day battery life with USB-C (finally!)
- Dual-frequency GPS and advanced health tracking
- 7,000+ pre-launch signups proving demand for repairable tech
“But can it really compete?” On paper, absolutely. The 1.2″ always-on display and rugged design match premium Garmins, while its Fairphone-inspired modularity solves tech’s dirty secret: planned obsolescence. Want cellular connectivity next year? Just upgrade the module – no $400 new watch required.
The Kickstarter-bound device represents a quiet rebellion against throwaway culture. As Allison told TechRadar: “Why replace the whole watch when one part fails?” With 1,000 deposits already down, consumers are clearly tired of being trapped in upgrade cycles.
The big question: Will UNA’s modular magic work at scale? If so, Apple and Garmin might need to rethink their entire business models.
