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This nerdy NASA-inspired smartwatch has retro sci-fi charm and a $129 price

CircuitMess’ new NASA watch is part smartwatch, part toy

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If you’ve been following NASA’s latest moon mission, you’ve probably seen headlines about everything from the floating iPhone in Artemis II to its advanced toilet system. And it seems like wearable makers are also capitalizing on this hype, with CircuitMess just announcing a quirky gadget.

Meet NASA Artemis Watch 2.0, a new smartwatch that brings a retro-futuristic look.

What’s so cool about this one?

NASA Artemis Watch 2.0 features a transparent rectangular body, and the design is easily the main attraction here. It has that chunky, sci-fi gadget body that looks more like a prop from an old-school space adventure than a polished mainstream wearable.

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The Artemis Watch 2.0 has fairly modest hardware that uses an ESP32 microcontroller with Bluetooth support, allowing it to connect to Android phones and iPhones for incoming notifications. It also includes a gyroscope, accelerometer, temperature sensor, and compass.

It is not trying to compete with premium wearables out there, lacking popular health features like a heart rate sensor or SpO2 tracking. So it won’t be replacing your Apple Watch.

Why software is the real star here

What makes the Artemis Watch 2.0 stand out is its open-source firmware. The wearable can customize the software, build new watch faces and apps, access sensor data, and much more. It houses a USB-C port for both charging and data transfer, which makes it feel less like a true smartwatcha nd more like a tiny wearable project device.

Price and availability

CircuitMess just released the NASA Artemis Watch 2.0 on its official online store for $129. The company is even offering free shipping globally. It is not the most advanced smartwatch out there, despite what its look might suggest, but for those who want something more playful and programmable, this is a solid nerdy product.

Vikhyaat Vivek
Vikhyaat Vivek is a tech journalist and reviewer with seven years of experience covering consumer hardware, with a focus on…
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