BOSTON and ZHUHAI, China, April 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Actions Technology, a global leader in high-performance, low-power System-on-Chip (SoC) solutions tailored for AIoT devices, has announced a groundbreaking collaboration with MicroEJ, a pioneer in software solutions aimed at embedded and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. This partnership aims to redefine the smartwatch landscape by enabling manufacturers to deliver premium featuressuch as vibrant user interfaces, extensive app ecosystems, and improved battery longevityat a price point accessible to mainstream consumers.

Raising the Bar for Budget Smartwatches

The smartwatch market is currently under significant pressure as different brands strive to find the right balance between offering rich user experiences and maintaining cost-effectiveness and power efficiency. Many entry-level smartwatches are trapped in a race to cut prices, while premium models often fall short in terms of battery life, leaving consumers dissatisfied.

By merging Actions Technologys cutting-edge ATS3085S/E SoC with MicroEJs advanced VEE Wear platformnow integrated with the popular Facer watch face ecosystemthis collaboration promises to deliver:

• High-performance, low-power operation: Actions Technologys SoCs are engineered for efficiency, featuring a fast processor, integrated Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology, advanced audio capabilities, and a vector graphics engine (GPU) to ensure a premium user experience.
• A scalable app ecosystem: MicroEJs VEE Wear platform allows for the seamless deployment of third-party applications over BLE, thereby unlocking a range of premium smartwatch functionalities.
• Vibrant, fast user interfaces: Combining the optimized vector graphics performance of MicroEJs MicroUI and MicroVG with Actions Technologys GPU support ensures high-frame-rate visuals, delivering a sleek and modern user interface that consumers expect from high-end products.
• Extended battery life: MicroEJs lightweight and highly efficient VEE Wear solution maximizes power savings, enabling smartwatches to provide multi-day battery performance, which is crucial for user satisfaction.
• Access to leading smartwatch apps: Users will benefit from popular applications that include music streaming, health monitoring, fitness tracking, and Facer, which provides access to over 500,000 personalized, loadable watch faces, thus enhancing the overall smartwatch experience.

Dr. Fred Rivard, CEO of MicroEJ, stated, "The smartwatch industry is at a turning point. Consumers are now expecting high-end capabilities to be affordable, and our partnership with Actions Technology makes this a reality. With VEE Wear, brands can develop premium, long-lasting smartwatches that are not only affordable but also customizable and app-driven, thus driving value for both manufacturers and consumers."

Designed for a Thriving Smartwatch Market

Leading smartwatch manufacturers are already hard at work developing products that leverage this powerful collaboration, with the first wave of VEE Wear-powered smartwatches from Actions Technology expected to hit the market in early 2026. Tim Zhang, General Manager of the Smart Wearable and Sensing Business Unit at Actions Technology, remarked, "At Actions Technology, we design SoCs that expand the possibilities for affordable wearables. By combining our high-performance, energy-efficient processors with MicroEJs VEE Wear technology, we provide brands with a seamless, cost-effective approach to deliver premium smartwatch experiences. This partnership is all about empowering manufacturers to distinguish their products and bring more value to consumers."

Brook Eaton, Chief Product Officer at Facer, expressed, "Throughout my career, I have always focused on delivering innovative, high-quality experiences in consumer technology, and that mission continues with my new role at Facer. As the smartwatch market evolves, the challenge remains to balance performance, affordability, and battery efficiency. Our cooperation with MicroEJ and Actions Technology represents a significant milestone in achieving this balance. By integrating cutting-edge SoCs and optimizing for extended battery life, we deliver premium user experiences without compromising on power efficiency. With seamless deployment of third-party apps and vibrant, fluid interfaces, VEE Wearincluding the Facer ecosystemis set to lead the charge in providing a truly premium experience to affordable smartwatches."

About MicroEJ

MicroEJ stands as a global leader in software solutions for intelligent devices, earning the trust of industry frontrunners in sectors like consumer electronics, energy, healthcare, and industrial automation. With over 300 million units of MICROEJ VEE sold globally, the company empowers manufacturers to transform standard products into smart, cloud-connected, and AI-enabled devices, fostering rapid and complexity-free innovation. By bridging the gap between IT and embedded systems, MicroEJ catalyzes scalable transformations that help industries innovate swiftly, adapt to market needs, and build a future driven by software for IoT and connected devices.

For more information, visit: Press Kit Press Room - www.microej.com LinkedIn

About Actions Technology Co., Ltd.

Actions Technology is a premier Chinese designer of low-power AIoT chips, specializing in delivering high-quality wireless audio experiences with minimal latency. The company excels in the entire high-fidelity audio signal chain, from high-performance audio ADC/DAC to audio codec and post-processing, as well as low-latency Bluetooth connectivity technologies.

In the age of artificial intelligence, Actions Technology has pioneered Mixed-mode SRAM-based Computing-in-Memory (CIM) technology, advancing robust edge AI capabilities. Its triple-core heterogeneous AI audio platform, comprising CPU, DSP, and NPU, offers low power consumption, high computational power, high integration, and strong security for AIoT applications. The company is committed to fostering the growth of the edge AI ecosystem through innovative chip solutions.

For more information, visit: www.actionstech.com LinkedIn

For press inquiries:

MicroEJ
Elsa Hervio, press@microej.com

Actions Technology Co. Ltd.
Martin Ma, madahang@actionstech.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at

George Bennett