When comparing Asus Zen Watch vs Microsoft Band 2, the Slant community recommends Asus Zen Watch for most people. In the question“What are the best smartwatches?” Asus Zen Watch is ranked 13th while Microsoft Band 2 is ranked 14th. The most important reason people chose Asus Zen Watch is:
This smartwatch has powerful hardware (for a watch) and costs only $99. It's the best value smartwatch out there that doesn't compromise much on design - arguably the most important factor when choosing a smartwatch.
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Amazing value
This smartwatch has powerful hardware (for a watch) and costs only $99. It's the best value smartwatch out there that doesn't compromise much on design - arguably the most important factor when choosing a smartwatch.
Pro Screen fits more content
The Amoled display provides rich colors are true blacks which is even more important on a watch (likely it will be displaying black very frequently). From a functionality standpoint, a square display fits more content on it, especially when the entire UI is based on rectangular cards.
Pro Android Wear
Pro Bio sensor
The bio sensor measures your pulse, and keeps track of your relaxation level throughout the day (a lower pulse means you are more relaxed). It's neat to see what part of the day you are stressed out during, and if you notice patterns during high stress times you can change that.
Pro Fits well on virtually any wrist
The Microsoft Band 2 comes in 3 sizes to ensure it fits: Small (145-165mm or 5.7-6.5"), Medium (160-190mm or 6.3-7.5"), or Large (185-215mm or 7.3-8.5").
Pro Natural feeling display
The display is slightly curved, making it more natural to wear and use. You also won't be hitting it off walls and doors as often as other watches because it doesn't stick out as far from your wrist as other fitness trackers.
The OLED display doesn't light up black pixels, meaning the background blends in perfectly with the bezels making for a more pleasing look as well as saving battery life when displaying mostly black colors.
Pro Custom guided workouts
The fitness tracker allows you to ditch the notebook before heading to the gym.
Pro Smartphone connected
The Microsoft Band 2 connects to your Android, Windows Phone, or iPhone to provide notifications on your wrist. Swiping left from the main screen shows notifications that have been synced from the watch. It doesn't show context for these notifications however - just the number of missed notifications and their respective icons.
Cons
Con Clingy clasp
The clasp is as thick as the watch itself, and can easily get caught on clothing
Con Poor battery life
During a heavy day (with ambient mode enabled for the convience), the Zen Watch's battery could clunk out after just 14 hours. You could put it into flight mode to stretch the battery time to about 20 hours, to keep the always-on mode enabled but then it isn't performing the functions of a smartwatch anymore.
Con Band 2 is discontinued - no Band 3 on the horizon
Most likely due to the very high incidence of returns (due to charging issues and the straps cracking in half), the Band fitness tracker brand seems to be entirely discontinued.
Con Poor HR sensor + Poor data visualization
The fitness tracker's HR sensor is very inaccurate during HIIT/weight lifting movements, it takes forever to even lock-on, and once locked-on it doesn't stay locked-on. All of this contributes to very poor HR accuracy. To top it off, the app/web site does not display high-frequency data, it will plot a single HR point for every 1 minute of activity which makes it very, very useless.
Con Bulky clasp
Under the clasp is a sensor that determines whether it's being worn or not (so it can save power when not in use), which adds bulk.
Con Poor battery life
Without using the GPS, battery life can be stretched to a day and a half, but if you do use the GPS that time will be reduced to just a day. Either way, you will want to charge it every night.