First Direct SaveZap hands-on review: Design and build
So, what does the First Direct SaveZap look like? At a glance you might not notice it on someone’s wrist – it’s black in colour, with the only real standout features being the ‘fd’ branding throughout the wearable and the light-up LED display. The display is only used to let you know that the wearable is on, though, displaying three thunderbolts to let you know it’s powered up and ready to go!
The company decided to go for a pin closure design, making the SaveZap compatible with wrists of all shapes and sizes. The underside of the SaveZap is where things get interesting – you can see a plate that’ll provide you with the shock along with a wireless charging port similar to that found on the Asus ZenWatch 2, and the power button. We thought we’d have issues with the wristband automatically turning on and off due to the power button being between the wearable and our wrist, but we were wrong. On the wrist, the SaveZap is comfortable to wear and doesn’t draw attention to itself, a bonus in a world where wearables scream “LOOK AT ME”. It should look in place combined with a suit or a t-shirt, it doesn’t matter. Read next: Best activity trackers of 2016
First Direct SaveZap hands-on review: Features and spec
So, what’s the big deal with the First Direct SaveZap? How does it save you money? The idea behind it is simple – once you get your SaveZap in the post, simply pair it up with the First Direct app available for iOS and Android, then select the stores you’d like to avoid – Starbucks, Nando’s, McDonalds and the like. The idea is that once you’ve inputted places you want to avoid, your SaveZap will keep an eye on your location using its built-in GPS and if it detects that you’re near a shop you want to avoid, you’ll get an electric shock! Don’t worry though – the electric shock can be tweaked from within the First Direct app settings menu.
The SaveZap boasts a seven-day battery life that we’ll be putting to the test over the coming days, and can be charged via the supplied SaveZap wireless charger. It comes with a two-year guarantee too, so if anything goes wrong with the wearable First Direct should replace it for you completely free of charge. You shouldn’t have to worry about getting it water damaged though, as the SaveZap is made from durable, waterproof materials that’ll protect it from the rain and a sweaty workout. Although with that being said, your shock might be stronger than anticipated if you’re soaking wet! Lewis Painter is a Senior Staff Writer at Tech Advisor. Our resident Apple expert, Lewis covers everything from iPhone to AirPods, plus a range of smartphones, tablets, laptops and gaming hardware. You’ll also find him on the Tech Advisor YouTube channel.
