The Layers Anarc smartwatch became known when first launched as the ultimate buzz in the budget smartwatch category, primarily the buzz around it was because it was a promise to offer phenomenal features at an unbelievable budgeted price which is more or less, ₹7000. Unfortunately, however, some of the early users – such as the reviewer of this video here – met with varied success, with a number often reporting huge design issues that seem at odds with a device that has such an impressive list of features. Fast forward five months, and it appears Layers has listened to the feedback, with substantial hardware and software improvements in tow. With that said, Get ready for an in-depth review of the Layers Anarc, the rocky yet much improved journey.
Unboxing Experience: What’s New?
One of the first upgrades is clear as soon as you open the box. In the past, the package seemed incomplete to me, virtually without essential accessories (eg charger). Now, Layers come with a real charger, a decent quality strap and a screen protector of their own, providing a complete experience right out of the box. The watch itself has also received better build quality and presentation, indicating that the brand has in fact worked to create a polished product.
Software Improvements: Smoother UI & Enhanced Features
Layers has made some major enhancements to the software, making the whole experience way less frustrating and way more smooth and full-featured. Here’s a recap of what’s been improved and added:
In its introduction days, one of its biggest complaints about the Layers Anarc was that it had a laggy and buggy UI. UI is now noticeably more fluid and snappy. Menu navigation, app opening and gesture responsiveness all run much smoother than before. This suggests that Layers has gone optimising the firmware on the watch to offer a more comfortable daily experience.
New features have also been added via software updates:
- Always-On Display (AOD): One feature which was eagerly anticipated, AOD is here and its introduction brings both digital and analog formats with it. The screen is OK but not a battery slaughter house when set to full brightness, meeting pragmatists half way.
- Quick Reply Function: The addition of quick replies when getting WhatsApp and SMS notifications is a vital feature for most people who have smartwatches, and it’s now possible. This wasn’t possible before, and it’s a welcome feature.
- New Watch Faces: There are also some new watch faces, which do a great job of giving the watch a look that’s actually a bit of you, which is the entire point of these gadgets.
- Privacy PIN Lock: Another important new feature is the privacy PIN, to keep your data safe even should you lose your watch.
- Health Tracking Enhancements: Heart rate and SpO2 detection accuracy is further improved. Though it’s not yet medically accurate, it is now valid enough to make for useful readings when it comes to general fitness tracking.
- Sleep Tracking & Bedtime Notifications: While the new features have been added, sleep tracking is still pretty off, the reviewer says. The bedtime alerts are a great way to remind yourself times that you should be turning in for the night though.
Hardware & Build Quality: Noticeable Upgrades
The h/w of the Layers Anarc has changed a bit too (subtly but meaningfully.) The strap is way better quality now, and it’s not uncomfortable to wear long term. There’s also a proper magnetic charger which is much easier to use and much less finicky.
The watch body is also nice and sleek, and the display itself is decent in terms of brightness and in seeing it under the sun. The touch response is far better than before and compliments the well optimized software experience.
Battery Life: Consistency Achieved
It’s been less of a roller coaster on battery life. Before, a lot of users reported spastic battery life – now the watch pretty consistently gives me about two days with moderate use with Always-On Display enabled. Although it won’t rival the more high-end smartwatches with week-long battery life, for its position in the price range, this is fine.
The Brand’s Effort: A Case Study in Listening to Feedback
The most interesting thing about this review is Layers’ reaction to the early criticism. Rather than killing off the product, the company stepped up some of the software decisions and improved the hardware wrapping, and transformed the already decent product into something that’s far more refined. Such response is uncommon in the budget smartwatch category, and is praiseworthy.
Areas Still Needing Improvement
For all its successes, however, the watch is far from perfect. Sleep tracking is still inaccurate This is particularly important for people who use their smartwatch to interpret their sleep tracking. And while the accuracy of health tracking has gotten significantly better, it’s still not up to medical-grade devices — fair, but worth mentioning.
Then, there is also the brand’s marketing to take into account. At first, there was some misleading marketing, so there were some inflated expectations. The product itsel now lives a little closer to expectations, and yet, just a bit of transparency from the start might have saved the developers from some humidity.
Final Verdict: Is It Worth Buying Now?
The Layers Anarc smartwatch 5 months on is here and it has come a long way in such a short period of time. That ability to actively listen to the customer base is what makes the watch special, given the line’s very rocky launch conditions, where missing features were the norm, and the software was about as laggy as I could remember.
For around ₹7000, it now offers:
- Smooth and responsive UI
- Always-On Display
- Quick reply support
- Improved health tracking
- Privacy PIN lock
- Better strap and charging experience
This makes the Anarc a solid competitor for a budget smartwatch if you’re willing to forgive a few shortcomings when it comes to health tracking. But if you’re specifically looking for pinpoint sleep tracking, medicial-grade health information, then you may need to be looking elsewhere or waiting for future iterations.
Finally, the Anarc smartwatch by Layers isn’t the amateur-hour product we had started to think it might be. Instead, it is a good option that demonstrates how a brand, if committed and responsive, can change its fortunes. The journey of this smartwatch is a testament to the value of updates after the initial release, and reinforces that even budget hardware can be salvaged with the proper attention.
Disclaimer: Information provided is based on publicly available sources and user experiences.
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