Citizen Issues with the CZ Smart Hybrid: A First Report on the Failure of a Second-Generation Wear OS Smartwatch
The hardware in the CZ Smart is powered by an older version of the Snapdragon 4100+ processor, which is slower and less efficient than the newer version of the same processor in the TicWatch Pro 5. However, there have been Wear OS smartwatches with the same chipset as the CZ Smart that don’t have any of the same flaws.
The Citizen email said that they were investigating the issue and would be temporarily suspending sales of certain models while they worked on a solution.
The affected models include the MX1003-71X, MX1000-28X, MX1000-01X, MX1000-52X, MX1005-83X, MX1002-57X, MX1018-06X, MX1017-50X, MX1010-59X, MX1011-05X, and the MX1016-28X. According to Wired, this doesn’t impact the CZ Smart Hybrid.
I can confirm my experience is similar to that of Fisher, Chokkattu and 9to5Android after testing the second-Gen Citizen CZ Smart. I thought I had a bunk unit so I was writing an email to fix it. I had failed to record several outdoor runs, because I couldn’t find aGPS signal, froze mid-workout, and couldn’t locate an exercise. A two-mile run I’d logged earlier this week was recorded as 0.1 mile with a pace of roughly 93 minutes per mile. (I’m not the fastest runner, but I’m not that slow, either.)
Screens failed to register swipes on a regular basis. After I took my watch off its battery was fully charged, it only had 6 percent left by 10:30PM. The watch has been unable to maintain a connection to my phone when I am near them, as well as having lots of trouble with data sync.
Why Customers aren’t Happy with YourQ? Get a FREE Energy Score Every Day to Improve Effort and Productivity at Citizen
I’ve reached out to Citizen to clarify what recourse existing customers will have, how long the suspension will last, and further details about the technical issues at hand but didn’t immediately receive a response.
I am not the only one. YouTube tech reviewer Michael Fisher (better known as MrMobile) has experienced many of the same bugs as I have and even introduced me to new ones, like the Pilot watch face that simply cannot tell the correct time. Scroll through Citizen’s CZ Smart product page and customers aren’t happy either. There are many complaints about poor battery life and laggy software, and some of these reviews were posted two or three months ago.
YouQ stems from a partnership with IBM Watson and NASA researchers. After a period of time, it is supposed to learn your physical and cognitive energy levels. You can get a Power Score every single day and it can suggest some fixes to your energy levels so you don’t feel tired. These fixes can be as simple as having a cup of coffee, or they can be a little more intense, like lifting weights for 30 minutes.
This concept isn’t new, as companies like Fitbit and Garmin have long had tools like Daily Readiness Scores and Body Battery that can be used to gauge how ready you are for physical activity. But Citizen’s approach is more focused on improving alertness and productivity throughout the day, not just for exercise.