This Una smartwatch can be disassembled like LEGO and fixed at home.
Consumer technology devices, such as smartwatches, unfortunately, have very short lifespans. Many are discarded when the screen cracks, the battery fails, or the software becomes outdated, contributing to the significant amount of e-waste in the world.
Scottish startup Una seeks to change this take-make-waste paradigm. Their sports smartwatch is designed for easy repair. Users can simply swap, replace, and upgrade components like the screen, battery, and health sensors to prolong the device's life.
“Customers are frustrated with replacing expensive technology every few years,” remarked Lewis Allison, the founder of Una. “We aim to demonstrate to the industry that there is a better solution.”
The Una Watch is designed to be taken apart and put back together like LEGO.
Una experienced a strong launch on Kickstarter last week, indicating high demand for its repairable and upgradable smartwatch. The startup secured over £200,000 within just 48 hours of launching on the crowdfunding platform, exceeding its initial goal of £10,000 by over 20 times.
More than 3,000 individuals have pre-ordered Una’s smartwatch, with initial deliveries expected to start in August 2025 for customers in the EU, UK, Canada, and the US. Early supporters can purchase one of the watches for £210 ($275), which is £60 ($75) less than the retail price of £270 ($350).
High-tech and open-source
While sustainability is central to its design, Una’s watch does not skimp on advanced features. It utilizes dual-frequency GPS for improved accuracy, reliability, and robustness in location tracking.
The device is equipped with various sensors, including a barometric altimeter for measuring elevation changes, an accelerometer for tracking movement, and a magnetometer for orientation. It also monitors heart rate and blood oxygen levels.
Powered by an energy-efficient Cortex-M33 chip, the smartwatch boasts a battery life of up to 10 days and charges via a standard USB-C cable.
Una targets outdoor and sports enthusiasts engaged in activities like running, hiking, and cycling.
The smartwatch operates on FreeRTOS, an open-source operating system for microelectronics. Additionally, the company offers hardware and software “kits” that enable users to develop custom apps, create new hardware modules, and even write their own firmware.
Una stands apart from the proprietary, closed-source devices like the Apple Watch and Garmin, which dominate the global smartwatch market valued at $33 billion last year.
The Edinburgh-based startup is among a growing number of tech firms producing products that customers can repair and upgrade themselves. Other examples include Fairphone, which manufactures smartphones that can be repaired at home with a screwdriver and a video manual, and Framework, which creates modular laptops.
Una’s Kickstarter success follows a £300,000 investment from SFC Capital in March and a £100,000 win in the Scottish EDGE startup competition last year.
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This Una smartwatch can be disassembled like LEGO and fixed at home.
UNA, a Scottish startup, is part of an increasing group of tech firms creating products that allow customers to repair and enhance on their own.