Smartphone with 'live' TV - Dh250; Smartwatch @ Dh150: Chinese change Gitex price game

Smartwatches for just Dh150, health trackers for Dh100, smartphones that can relay 'live' TV for as low as Dh250 and, smart home accessories for as low as Dh300.

These are among the latest gadgets on display at the five-day Gitex Technology Week that started on Sunday at the World Trade Centre in Dubai.

China, which has one of the largest pavilions this year, is showcasing a range of products from the latest security cameras to smartphones that are mostly imitations of products available through other major players, but at a fraction of the cost.

One such product is the $46 smartwatch, which has GPRS and is 3G-enabled and works independently as a smartphone.

“It does not connect to your existing smartphone, but is a phone in itself. You can perform every possible task from making and receiving calls, sending and receiving messages and connecting to compatible apps available in the Android market,” said Lucy, the Chinese salesperson, at KD Technologies.

According to Lucy, the device connects through Bluetooth so that you can transfer files between your smartphone and smartwatch. But that’s where the pairing probably ends. “You can also connect a Bluetooth headset to make and receive calls,” she adds.

Another product on display at a nearby Chinese stand is a smart wrist-band that is similar to a fitbit tracker, complete with sleep analysis, step count, calorie analysis, alarms and call notifications.

It has a compatible app for both iOS and Android. Although set in Chinese language, however, it can be customised to other languages.

Michael, the Chinese stand owner, says these devices are mass produced in China and are available only for bulk orders.

“Our minimum order is about 3,000 units. We can even custom brand them for you,” he adds.

A Thai company called One Mobile is showcasing a waterproof smartphone with octa core processor and 18 MP camera for less than $120. Another smartphone on display has the capacity to 'live stream' select and compatible TV channels and is priced at $150. It will retail in the UAE market by November this year.