Smartwatches aren't as popular as I might hope, but there are still some solid options on the market. Obviously, Wear OS isn't quite the powerhouse that Google would like it to be, but it has its strengths. One of the better options in that category, Mobvoi's TicWatch Pro, is currently on sale for $199.99, a respectable $50 off retail pricing.
Read MoreThe best wearable devices you can buy right now (Winter 2018)
Smartwatches haven't been the smashing success that many manufacturers hoped they would be, but that doesn't mean all of them are bad or useless. Not everyone needs or wants a screen on their wrist, but for those of us who like tracking workouts and responding to notifications without reaching for a phone, they can be great tools.
Read MoreTicWatch users can now set Google Fit as their default left swipe app
The TicWatch Pro is a pretty good smartwatch, as much as any SD Wear 2100 watch running Wear OS can be, anyway. One complaint about it was that you were forced to use Mobvoi's own health app as the default swipe left screen in Wear 2.0 (to the right of your watchface), but that's thankfully no longer the case.
Read MoreTicWatch Pro review: A good Wear watch at a bad time [Update: 28-day battery life]
Chinese firm Mobvoi — founded by ex-Googlers — has a history of making connected watches that stretches back to its original TicWatch and TicWatch 2 running the proprietary TicWear OS. Around this time last year, the TicWatch S and E were launched with Wear OS (then Android Wear) on board, and they were praised for their quality and excellent value proposition.
Now, Mobvoi is back with a premium Wear OS smartwatch, the TicWatch Pro. It offers better build quality and adds NFC, but the real star of the show is a transparent second display for more efficient always-on functionality with the promise of excellent battery life.
Read MoreTicWatch Pro now available - offers 5-30 days battery life, Wear OS, 'Layered Display' technology
It's been a while since there's been any excitement surrounding Wear OS, the artist formally known as Android Wear, with no notable recent hardware releases outside of expensive fashion products. The OS itself is feeling dated and has arguably never really been fit for purpose; the platform really needs some attention from Google if it's to escape a slow, boring death.
Peering through all the doom and gloom, however, Google-backed Mobvoi is launching a follow up to its well-received, affordable S and E smartwatches. Both the Sport and Express were sub-$200 models made from plastic and rubber, but the TicWatch Pro we first heard about in May is a different proposition.
Read MoreThe TicWatch Pro will have a transparent secondary display to save power
Most of the companies making Wear OS devices right now are fashion brands and lifestyle companies. They're not exactly the most innovative when it comes to consumer electronics. Mobvoi is trying something new, though. After launching its first-gen TicWatch hardware last year, the company just announced the TicWatch Pro with an interesting transparent LCD to save power in ambient mode.
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