Sharp is making its first foray into wearables, and its new Karada Mate Watch comes with a trick no mainstream competitor has pulled off. It uses a bioelectrical impedance sensor to monitor changes in body water and sugar levels and estimate calorie intake from food and drink in real time.
How the calorie tracking works
Sharp developed the feature in partnership with HEALBE Corporation, a California-based biometric data firm, using its patented FLOW Technology to power the calorie estimation. By reading fluid shifts and sugar changes in the body, the smartwatch approximates how many calories you have consumed and plots that against calories burned to give you a running calorie balance. The watch also monitors hydration levels and sends audio and vibration alerts when your water intake falls too low.
The display adapts to the time of day through a feature Sharp calls Circuit View. In the morning, it shows sleep duration, weather, and your schedule. During the day, it surfaces step count, heart rate, and calories burned. Before bed, it switches to the next day’s forecast and upcoming plans.
The rest of the spec sheet is solid as well, with the watch featuring a 1.32-inch OLED panel with a 466 x 466 resolution and always-on support, Corning Gorilla Glass 5, a skin temperature sensor, SpO2 monitoring, and Bluetooth 5.4. Water resistance is rated at 5 ATM with IP6X dust protection. The Karada Mate Watch is compatible with devices running Android 14 or later and iOS 17 or later.
Pricing and availability
The Karada Mate Watch launches in Japan on July 9, priced at 59,400 yen (~$370), and will be available in gold and silver. There’s no word on international availability yet. Alongside the watch, Sharp will offer a 600 yen (~$4) per month subscription through the companion Karada Mate app, which will give users access to dietitian-supervised guidance covering diet, sleep, exercise, and overall physical condition.
Passive calorie intake tracking has been a gap in the wearables market for years. Sharp’s approach gives the Karada Mate Watch a credible foundation, though real-world accuracy will be the deciding factor for most buyers.