Microsoft + Wearables: Yes, it’s real. It’s just not a watch

In an era when seemingly every tech giant has donned the wearable’s market, Microsoft’s entry brought something different to the fore. Main players such as Samsung and Google’s Android made their foray into the market, followed by persistent rumors of Apple’s involvement. However, Microsoft’s wearable tech was unlike its counterparts, diverging from the common narrative about a smartwatch.

Contrary to the anticipation surrounding a Microsoft smartwatch, it was revealed that Microsoft had unveiled a fitness band, akin to the Samsung Gear Fit, in late 2014. The band served by providing the user with smartphone-generated notifications, akin to other smartwatches and wearables prevalent at the time. Consequently, the first point of clarification is that Microsoft’s contribution was a wristband, rather than a conventional watch.

A distinctive feature of Microsoft’s wearable device was its multi-platform compatibility. In opposition to Samsung wearables, which only pair with Samsung phones, Android Wear devices which are in sync with current Android devices, and the rumored Apple iWatch tailored for iPhones, Microsoft’s wearable could be connected with Android, iPhone, and Windows Phone. Microsoft’s approach was, therefore, far more inclusive.

Microsoft’s wearable prioritized fitness tracking. With various sensors, it logged daily activities such as step count, calories burned, and heart rate. The wearable also paired with mobile phone apps, including a catalogue of Microsoft-developed ones like Bing Health & Fitness and Healthvault. Microsoft intended its wearable to also be compatible with third-party apps.

The band’s pricing was competitive with Samsung Gear and was released for purchase in the fourth quarter of 2014. However, there was ambiguity about whether its branding would fall under Nokia/Lumia or Surface.

Though this article refers to the information and speculations available up until 2014, it complements the broader understanding of Microsoft’s venture into wearable tech during this period.

Light edits were made in 2025 to improve clarity and relevance.