Edinburgh startup launches modular GPS sports watch priced under £200

UNA Watch, a tech venture from Edinburgh, has introduced what it calls the world’s first modular and repairable GPS sports watch, priced at £179 in the United Kingdom and $199 in the United States. Backed by Techstart Ventures and SFC Capital, the firm transitioned from a crowdfunding campaign to a commercial rollout, delivering units to users in 32 nations. The watch’s design uses interchangeable components, allowing owners to swap the battery or display and obtain spare parts directly from the company.

By releasing the hardware under a Creative Commons licence and providing a software development kit, UNA has fostered a developer community that is already producing apps for activities such as mapping, yoga, sleep tracking and even a version of Snake. Founder Lewis Allison, an electronics engineer with a background in wearable golf tech, argues that an open, repairable model offers a viable alternative to the sealed, proprietary devices of Apple and Garmin.

He believes that giving users the tools to modify and extend the watch will build loyalty and longer product lifespans, even if it reduces repeat sales. The device runs on a USB-C connector, offers seven to ten days of battery life (or about 20 hours of continuous GPS), and is available across the UK, US, Canada, the EU, Norway and Switzerland.