Una Watch brings $199 open-source, repairable alternative to pricey GPS sports watches

The Una Watch represents an uncommon bet in wearables: a GPS sports watch designed to be taken apart and modified by its owner. Priced at $199 following a post-Kickstarter reduction from an earlier $350 tier, it undercuts mainstream competitors while offering a fundamentally different philosophy around device ownership and repairability.

Design and Durability#

Una emphasizes accessibility in its construction. Every internal component can be reached and serviced using basic hand tools, enabling users to perform repairs and swaps without specialized equipment. The modular approach extends beyond fixes—owners can design and 3D-print custom parts or entirely new accessories, such as converting the watch into a dedicated cycling computer.

The device pairs a 1.2-inch MIP LCD screen with up to 10 days of battery life, matching the longevity of comparable fitness watches. Battery replacement uses standard USB-C charging, and the 280mAh cell is user-replaceable. One limitation: the watch is splash-resistant only (IPX5), not fully waterproof, which may restrict use during swimming.

Sensor Suite and Fitness Features#

Built-in sensors cover most serious training needs: dual-frequency GPS, continuous heart rate monitoring, barometric altitude measurement, a six-axis motion sensor (accelerometer and gyroscope), and a three-axis compass. This hardware set brings it closer to Garmin's feature tier than to simpler sports watches.

Open Ecosystem#

Like Pebble's revival effort, Una publishes its software development kit, hardware designs, and circuit schematics openly. The company actively invites third-party app development and mentions supporting "vibe coding"—a technique where developers feed Una's documentation to an AI assistant to help generate, debug, and refine applications. This approach lowers the barrier for creating watch software without traditional programming experience.