The Spectra smartwatch features a 1.8 inch, 368 x 448 pixel OLED display, an ESP32-S3 microcontroller, and a custom JavaScript-based operating system called SpectraOS that’s built on the open source Moddable SDK.
What makes this watch stand out is that it’s designed to be a hackable and repairable device – you can open the watch by removing seven screws that hold it together and there are developer tools including APIs and optional accessories like a debugging board. The Spectra smartwatch is being developed by Pocuter, the company behind the coin-sized Pocuter One. The company has launched a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign for the smartwatch and hopes to begin shipping Spectra devices in July, 2025 to backers who pledge €199 (about $218) or more.
At this point, the Spectra watch is still a bit of a work-in-progress. Pocuter says the hardware is mostly ready, but the software is still under development.
With a 240 Mhz dual-core microcontroller, 8MB of RAM, and 32MB of executable flash memory, the Spectra may not have the processing power of an Apple Watch or a smartwatch running Google’s Wear OS. But it’s still a pretty versatile little device with a microSD card that supports up to 512GB of expandable storage, an nRF52832 co-processor with support Bluetooth 5.4 low energy, and an NFC module.
Keep in mind that this doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be able to use mobile payments or some of the other features users have come to expect from NFC-enabled watches though, as Pocuter notes that “it would be technically possible… the certification process is extremely complicated.”
Other features include a mic, speaker, vibration motor and sensors including a gyroscope, accelerometer, and heart rate sensor. The watch has a crown with a magnetic encoder for precise scrolling, zooming, or other actions.
You can find more details about the Spectra at the Pocuter website and Kickstarter campaign.
