Qualcomm Toq Smartwatch Sells Out on First Day, Highlights Mirasol Technology Success

In September, we reported on how Qualcomm aims to give wings to the previously rather unlucky Mirasol technology: The Toq Smartwatch employs this ePaper technology that’s been in development for years, bringing it to a wider audience. Previously, Mirasol screens were only available in the Kyobo eBook Reader in South Korea and its equivalent versions in other parts of Asia.

However, acceptance of the mixed reception concept at the time was relatively low, which caused the first Mirasol eReader (see image on the left) to disappear from the market fairly quickly. The problem: Despite the promising screen technology, the eBook Reader was hard to read even with the backlight on, and the poor viewing angle stability was also problematic. The continuous, reflective glass surface was another significant downside.

With the now-launched Toq Smartwatch, Qualcomm seems to be having more luck, as the smart wristwatch sold out on the first day. At least the first batch. Pre-orders continue to be accepted. At the price of 350 US dollars, this is rather surprising since, for a tech gadget with a relatively limited scope, it’s not exactly cheap.

Mirasol’s first steps …

However, what lies ahead for the smartwatch in the long term remains uncertain. Before its release, Qualcomm confirmed that they do not intend to enter the consumer electronics market with it and primarily offer the smartwatch to demonstrate to potential clients that there is demand for the Mirasol technology and that it works smoothly in everyday use.

Qualcomm is now further developing Mirasol technology: At SID 2013, high-resolution displays with over 500 ppi were introduced, which are expected to reach market readiness in the coming years. It remains questionable, however, whether Qualcomm aims to serve the eBook reader market with this screen technology since producing the displays seems far from cheap, and the market trend for digital reading devices is clearly downward. Also, at the tech fair, only 5.1 inch and 1.5 inch screens were showcased, which are more suited for smartphones and smartwatches. In those areas, acceptance of higher prices is also greater.

Toq Smartwatch in action: