The Una watch launched with a promise of being hackable, and early users are already digging in. With its open design and USB-C port, there are surprisingly practical tricks you can start using right now. Here are five clever ways to get more out of your wearable.
Charge Your Watch From Your Phone
Because the Una watch has a regular USB-C port, you don’t need a specific cable or wall outlet to power it up. You can use a standard USB-C to USB-C cable—the kind you likely already carry for your phone. Plug one end into the watch and the other into your phone to juice it up. This is handy when you’re traveling light or away from a power source. (Note: Some other smartwatches require a special adapter, but the Una’s design makes this straightforward.)
Add a Recovery Score With HabitLab
The Una watch doesn’t track sleep built-in, but community apps can fill the gap. The HabitLab app, for example, offers a recovery score each morning. It looks at your resting heart rate, heart rate variability, and how you rate your sleep. Each evening, the watch prompts you to tag factors like alcohol or late meals. It also detects workouts automatically. While the insights may improve as you use it longer, it’s a solid way to get a daily health nudge without a subscription.
Turn Your Watch Into a Library Card
The Una’s barcode scanner isn’t just for parkrun events. You can store your library card, grocery discount cards, or even QR codes. The Barcode app supports both barcodes and QR codes (just keep QR codes 22 characters or less). Because the watch uses a MIP screen, scans tend to be reliable. You can save up to six codes, making it a handy pocket-sized scanner for everyday errands.
Check How Much Daylight You Have Left
Winter evenings feel longer when you can see the sun’s progress. The Sun & Moon Face watch face shows a graphic of the sun’s path across the sky. It updates based on your GPS location so you know exactly how much daylight remains. The screen even shifts colors to mark sunrise, sunset, and nighttime. It’s a simple visual cue that helps with planning evening activities.
Download the Developer Toolkit and Build Something
If you enjoy tinkering, the Una watch is one of the most open platforms around. The manufacturer provides development tools for Windows, Mac, and Linux. There are also tutorials and about a dozen example apps to get you started, from custom watch faces to activity trackers. It’s a friendly entry point for anyone wanting to learn wearable app development.
Our Analysis
These hacks show why the Una watch stands out in a market full of locked-down wearables. The ability to charge from any USB-C phone cable is a practical win for travelers. The HabitLab recovery score offers a free alternative to paid sleep apps, though the data may feel thin until you’ve used it for a few weeks. Using the watch as a barcode scanner for libraries or stores is a clever repurposing of the hardware. The sunrise/sunset face is a nice quality-of-life feature as days get shorter. Finally, the open developer kit means the watch could become a platform for custom apps as the community grows. What unites all these tricks is that they lean into the watch’s hackable nature, turning perceived limitations into features.
Who Should Care
| User Profile | Best Fit Hack | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Minimalist Traveler | Phone Charging | Carries one cable for phone and watch; no proprietary puck needed. |
| Quantified Selfer (No Subscription) | HabitLab Recovery | Delivers HRV-based readiness score free; manual logging builds awareness. |
| Urban Commuter | Barcode Wallet | Replaces plastic loyalty/library cards; MIP screen scans reliably at checkout. |
| Outdoor Planner | Sun & Moon Face | Visual daylight countdown aids route timing; GPS sync is once daily, not constant drain. |
| Hobbyist Developer | Dev Toolkit | Full Windows/Mac/Linux SDK with example apps; lowest barrier to wearable coding. |
Key takeaways
- The Una watch’s USB-C port lets you charge from any compatible phone cable, even from another phone.
- HabitLab adds a recovery score and habit tracking without built-in sleep sensors.
- The Barcode app can store library cards, discount cards, and QR codes up to 22 characters.
- The Sun & Moon Face shows daylight remaining and changes screen colors for time of day.
- The open developer kit invites users to build custom apps and watch faces.
Frequently asked questions
Can I charge the Una watch using any USB-C cable?
Yes, the Una watch has a standard USB-C port, so any USB-C to USB-C cable will work, including the one you use for your phone.
Does the HabitLab app track sleep stages?
No, the app does not track sleep stages. It focuses on a recovery score based on heart rate, heart rate variability, and your subjective sleep rating.
How many barcodes can I store on the Una watch?
You can store up to six barcodes or QR codes in the Barcode app.
Does the Sun & Moon Face app work without GPS enabled?
The app grabs your GPS location once a day to set sunrise and sunset times, so GPS must be enabled for it to function accurately.
Is it difficult to build apps for the Una watch?
The manufacturer provides development tools for Windows, Mac, or Linux, plus tutorials and example apps. It is designed to be a friendly entry point for beginners interested in wearable app development.