Modular Sports Watch Architect
Prototype, simulate power budgets, and test repairable hardware specs for open-source GPS sports wearables inspired by Pebble simplicity and Garmin athletic telemetry.
Open Hardware Teardown & Fastener Hierarchy
| Layer | Component | Fastener / Connection | Tool Needed | Repair Rating |
|---|
Cost Structure vs $199 Retail Target
| Subsystem | Component Spec | Estimated BOM (10k units) | Supplier Ecosystem |
|---|
Why Open-Source, Repairable Watches Matter
Mainstream sports wearables glue batteries into sealed cases, turning $500 fitness watches into toxic e-waste after three years. The Una Watch philosophy pairs pebble-like hackable memory-in-pixel screens with athletic sensors that don't lock your biometric telemetry behind proprietary cloud subscriptions.
Memory in Pixel (MIP) vs AMOLED
MIP displays consume microamps because sunlight reflects through the liquid crystal matrix without an active backlight. While AMOLED shines brilliantly indoors, its power footprint forces massive batteries or daily recharges. MIP keeps your pace and distance visible in blinding midday sun for weeks.
Dual-Frequency L1/L5 GNSS Precision
Under heavy forest canopy or urban canyons, standard single-band GPS signals reflect off obstacles (multipath error). Dual-frequency receivers compare L1 and L5 signals simultaneously to filter out reflected distortion, preserving exact kilometer pacing at the cost of modest additional milliamp draw.
Standard Screws & No Toxic Glue
By securing the front bezel with four standard Torx T5 fasteners and sealing water ingress using a replaceable silicone O-ring gasket (5 ATM rated), batteries and optical sensor modules can be swapped in under five minutes with standard iFixit tools.