The Sony Smart Watch is a small Android device that clips onto an included silicon wristband and connects to an Android phone via Bluetooth 3.0.

While the Smart Watch is designed to work with Sony Xperia phones, Sony said the gadget will work with other Android devices as well. To use it with other Android phones, however, users have to manually install Sony's LiveWare Manager and Sony SmartWatch software from the Google Play store. On the other hand, many users have reported that they were not able to pair the device with other Android phones.

When connected to an Android phone, the Sony Smart Watch acts as a display for SMS, media, and social media alerts, allowing users to stay connected and see all notifications at a glance.

Essentially, the Android gadget is a "dumb terminal" for a connected phone. Applications do not reside on the watch itself. Instead, Smart Watch apps are downloaded to the phone via the Google Play store. Available apps include Facebook, Twitter, Email, Sports Tracker, Music Player, Weather, and more.

The Sony Smart Watch sports a 1.3-inch OLED screen and a simple overall design: a square body and a rubber strap.

Once the watch is connected to an Android phone, users have to individually set up each account they want to keep tabs on. After the accounts are set up the Smart Watch will display an alert each time an email, tweet, or notification is received. The alert consists of a subtle buzz, and the user has to tap the face of the watch and swipe until the relevant application appears. Users can drag left and right, as well as up and down to navigate through installed applications. Double-tapping the screen will return the user to the previous screen.

None of the functions of the Sony Smart Watch fulfill the role of a stopwatch, timer, or world clock. The clock is only visible for a brief period after the pressing the power button. The watch offers three clock faces, two digital and one analogue, but no color or style customization is possible. The time is automatically set from the paired Android phone. If the connected phone is turned off, the Sony Smart Watch functions as a regular watch.

The Smart Watch has a claimed battery life of up to one week of "low usage," three to four days of "typical usage," and one day of "heavy usage," after which users can recharge it via the included USB cable. The Sony Smart Watch comes with a $169 price tag.