Lava’s ProWatch X Aims to Fix Budget Smartwatch Woes, Says Sunil Raina

Lava is set to launch the ProWatch X, a ₹5,000 smartwatch designed to address quality issues in India’s budget wearable market. Executive Director Sunil Raina highlights the high return rates of existing smartwatches and sees an opportunity to bridge the gap between consumer expectations and actual performance. The ProWatch X is designed in-house, manufactured in India, and runs custom software instead of Google’s smartwatch OS.

Lava’s ProWatch X Aims to Fix Budget Smartwatch Woes, Says Sunil Raina

This company is gearing up to launch the ProWatch X, aiming to bridge the gap between consumer expectations and actual smartwatch performance. According to Sunil Raina, Executive Director of Lava International Ltd., the Indian wearable market has seen a decline, with many consumers disappointed by the quality of budget smartwatches.

The  ProWatch X, expected to be priced around ₹5,000, marks Lava’s most premium smartwatch yet. While the company has previously released models like the ProWatch ZN, VN, and V1, this new launch represents a strategic push to compete not only with Indian brands like Noise and Boat but also with global players such as Xiaomi.

Raina reflects on Lava’s resilience in the smartphone industry, surviving the disruption caused by Chinese brands in 2014 when many Indian manufacturers struggled. He emphasizes that Lava’s focus on strong product, technology, and manufacturing foundations has allowed it to re-establish itself, particularly in the last two years.

Regarding smartwatches, Raina points out that the category is still evolving, with many consumers initially purchasing them for style but later realizing their potential for health tracking and productivity. However, widespread quality issues have led to high return rates, sometimes as high as 25%. It sees this as an opportunity to deliver a more reliable product.

The ProWatch X is designed in-house and manufactured in India, though some components are sourced internationally due to industry limitations. It will run custom software developed by Lava rather than Google’s smartwatch OS. While localization in smartwatch manufacturing is still developing, its aims to establish the ProWatch X as a truly indigenous product.