Epson Smart Canvas watches: is it time you got one?

When you need to know the time, maybe you do what we do and check your phone screen. Then, as soon as you drop the phone back in your bag… you forget what time it is. Always happens to us, anyway.

A smart (clever) electronic wristwatch makes a great compromise. And you’ve got more choices than that one that rhymes with… Whapple. Like Epson’s line of smartwatches, called Smart Canvas.

Sure, that clip’s from Epson Taiwan (so are all the others in this post), but you get the idea.

Paper-like displays you can easily scan

Hold up, Epson? Like ‘printers and scanners’ Epson? Yep. Their watches work with ‘electronic paper’ screens. Well, technically it’s an ‘active matrix EPD’, but that sounds complicated. Let’s break it down.

EPD is short for ‘electrophoretic deposition’, and is way better known in English as ‘electronic ink’ or ‘e-ink’. ‘Electrophoretic’ means that particles inside a liquid are moved around by an electric field.

So, we’ve got electronic paper and electronic ink working together. The white particles have a positive charge, and the black particles are negatively charged. Changes in the electrical flow make particles to rise to the surface (display) in different places. It’s the same as the displays on early Kindles and other e-readers. Looks like print on paper, easy to read, easier on the eyes.

No hour, minute, or second hands, just your own

Press the side button to see the current date and time, and cute illustrations. Some displays also give you the current temperature. The time can be shown in XX:XX 24-hour format, which works great if you’re not keen on ‘normal’ clocks.

Set your birthday on a Smart Canvas watch, and when that day rolls around you’ll get a nice surprise. It does the same for Valentine’s Day, Christmas, New Year, and a bunch of other holidays.

At 300dpi, the watch screens are high-definition (given their wrist-friendly size). All Smart Canvas models are waterproof  – to a degree, maybe don’t go swimming with it. The lithium battery inside should last you about 3 years, based on normal daily use.

Looks like a bracelet, works like a charm

Let’s start with the standard Smart Canvas ‘design’ models. The main ranges are soft florals, origami-inspired geometric patterns, and classy smooth leather.

All designs have a screen display style that matches the watch’s theme and straps. Different straps can be ordered separately, if you feel like swapping them out or mixing and matching. And it looks like Epson’s put enough holes in to fit tiny wrists.

Watch cute cartoons any time you like

Flowers and origami are sure nice to look at – but we know, deep down, you’re not here for that. Not when there are loads of character-themed Smart Canvas digital watches out there.

All the obvious collabs are already out: Hello Kitty, Gudetama, Little Twin Stars, Evangelion, Moomins, and Rilakkuma. Most of them have multiple strap designs, for you to either take your pick or collect the set.

Then there’s the other stuff Japan loves to stick on every product ever. Think like Lisa Larson, Miffy, Disney, and Japanese football teams. That’s almost everyone catered for by now, right?

Every single one has exclusive displays and fonts. With an Eva watch, you’ll get NERV computer readouts and angels on screen. On Hello Kitty watches, check the time very late at night to see Kitty-chan tucked up in bed. The customisation’s impressive. Enough to make you feel like staring at your wrist for 24 hours solid.

Get smart like a kawaii anime character watch

Epson Smart Canvas wristwatches can only be bought online. Plus, they’re only sold and delivered within Japan – according to the Epson online shop, that is. As maybe you know by now, using a Japan proxy shopping service can get around that.

Order a Smart Canvas watch on DEJAPAN for global shipping, with no commission or service fee.