ⓘ DarkZeros
The LightInk has a clearly visible solar panel
Months without charging: A new smartwatch can be charged via solar power and offers extremely long battery life. Despite that, it still has several interesting features, some of which are not available in this form even on modern watches.
Solar-powered smartwatches are still niche products in the overall market, though that does not mean such watches do not exist. The best-known models are probably Garmin Fenix smartwatches such as the Garmin Fenix 8 that we reviewed back when it launched. On these smartwatches, the solar panel is more or less invisibly integrated into the display.
The so-called LightInk takes a different approach. On this smartwatch, the solar panel is clearly visible and separated from the display. There is another major difference, as the LightInk is not a commercially available product but comes from the DIY scene and therefore cannot simply be bought. Instead, interested users have to assemble the watch themselves. A detailed guide is available. In most cases, users have to have a circuit board manufactured by a service provider, own or have paid access to a 3D printer, and be able to do some soldering.
The LightInk is designed to offer several months of battery life. More specifically, up to 10 months should be possible with the 100mAh battery. There is no accelerometer because it would simply consume too much power. However, LoRa is supported, it uses an E Ink display that remains readable in sunlight and also has a backlight for use in the dark, and there is a speaker as well. GPS is available, but there is no companion app yet, which means the LightInk sits somewhere on the boundary between a regular wristwatch and a smartwatch, at least in this respect.
I have been active as a journalist for over 10 years, most of it in the field of technology. I worked for Tom’s Hardware and ComputerBase, among others, and have been working for Notebookcheck since 2017. My current focus is particularly on mini PCs and single-board computers such as the Raspberry Pi – so in other words, compact systems with a lot of potential. In addition, I have a soft spot for all kinds of wearables, especially smartwatches. My main profession is as a laboratory engineer, which is why neither scientific contexts nor the interpretation of complex measurements are foreign to me.
Translator: Enrico Frahn – Senior Tech Writer – 7556 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2021
My fascination for technology goes back a long way to the Pentium II era. Modding, overclocking and treasuring computer hardware has since become an integral part of my life. As a student, I further developed a keen interest in mobile technologies that can make the stressful college life so much easier. After I fell in love with the creation of digital content while working in a marketing position, I now scour the web to bring you the most exciting topics in the world of tech. Outside the office, I’m particularly passionate about motorsports and mountain biking.