Hands on review of the $31 Trendy Style L12S smart bracelet

Google’s Android Wear might be the latest must have in the wearable world, but wearable smart devices can be had now and for much less.

While everyone is now talking about Google’s Android Wear, wearable smart devices have been on the market for quite some time already, with prices dropping to very attractive levels.

The Trendy Style L12S smart bracelet is one such piece of wearable tech that can be picked up for just over $30, and while it doesn’t offer the same features a LG G Watch, it does offer you a neat, and stylish way to sync to your smartphone.

Trendy Style L12S Smart Bracelet – Specifications

The Trendy Style L12S smart bracelet features everything you need to quickly get connected and get on with your day, without breaking the bank.

Bluetooth 3.0 allows you to pair your phone to your bracelet, there is 32MB of internal memory, OLED display, touch sensors, single physical button, speaker, microphone and a built-in 250mAh battery that is charged via USB.

The display is a simple black and white offering and according to the official specifications has a stand-by time of 168 hours. In the box you also get a USB data cable and a simply stand to keep your bracelet in which charging.

Colour options include blue, red, orange, yellow, white, and purple, plus there are even options for built-in NFC, wireless charger and infrared heart monitor (but at an additional cost).

Trendy Style L12S Smart Bracelet – Design

We have tested quite a few smart device from China, but none of them have managed to impress us in the looks department. The Trendy Style has just that, “trendy” and “stylish”!

The design is as simple as it needs to be, there are no clasps or fasteners, the band simply slips over your wrist and is held in place via friction and the grip of the rubberized material.

Two metal bands add a touch of flare and also mark the point where the rubber arms end and the curved display begins. The display itself is not a touch panel but has touch sensor above and below. The only physical control is a large button which is used to power the bracelet on and select functions.

You can’t get more simple really, but at the same time it does look very neat, and sleet if a little on the large size for smaller wrists.

Trendy Style L12S Smart Bracelet – Functions

The Trendy Style L12S Smart Bracelet doesn’t run Android OS so there is no way to add apps or other features meaning you are limited to what is pre-installed. What the bracelet offers is syncing of contacts from the paired device, call and message notifications (email, SMS, etc), and music control.

As you have access to your contacts you can also make and receive calls through the bracelet (as long as you are attached to a phone), and reply to messages with simply pre-written text.

If you like to get out and be active there is a built-in pedometer, and you can even play music through the built-in speaker, however we were unable to play music from the Android phone we tested it with.

As we are talking about operating systems, the Trendy Style L12S Smart Bracelet can connect to Android, iOS, Symbian, Blackberry and Windows Phone devices (we only tested Android and iOS and both worked well).

Lastly there is a built-in motor which can be used to notify you of incoming calls and messages, or can be set to constantly vibrate using the (useless) massage mode.

Trendy Style L12S Smart Bracelet – Hands on video

Trendy Style L12S Smart Bracelet – Impressions

The Trendy Style L12S Smart Bracelet offers limited features, but at just over $30 internationally that is to be expected. If you are the type of user who likes to get out and be active while connected the L12S offers an affordable solution. It also makes for a good alternative to a hands free in-car call system.

Considering the price the Trendy Style L12S Smart Bracelet could be picked up by anyone interested in giving wearable tech a try without spending $100’s on Android Wear devices, and at this price even if you don’t use the smart features it still makes for a cool looking watch.

The Trendy Style L12S Smart Bracelet is on sale internationally now, we ordered ours through Gearbest.com for $31,43.