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UnaliWear Kanega Watch Review (2024)

DIY security systems for your smart home
By Juliette SeigfriedBy Juliette Seigfried -
Last Updated: May 23, 2024
82 reviews
by
logo-UNALIWEAR
Visit Site
Monthly Monitoring Fees
From $64.95/month
Connection
Cellular, WiFi, GPS
Activation Fees
$299

Our Verdict


Is UnaliWear Worth Signing Up For?

UnaliWear offers a single medical alert device called the Kanega Watch. This smartwatch-like device provides 24/7 monitoring, fall detection, medication reminders, and GPS tracking. It also connects via cellular and WiFi networks. The Kanega Watch is pricey compared to other medical alert devices, but is stylish and functional.

Monthly Monitoring Fees
From $64.95/month
Connection
Cellular, WiFi, GPS
Activation Fees
$299

UnaliWear at a Glance

9.1
Editorial Score

Products

1 solution; Medical alert smartwatch
8.0

Features

Fall detection; Waterproof; 2-way communication
10.0

Connectivity/Mobility

One on-the-go device; GPS, cellular and WiFi connectivity available
9.0

Alerts

US-based monitoring center responds to help button or falls. Calls and provides 24/7 emergency support
10.0

Online Experience

User-friendly website; No mobile app
8.5

UnaliWear Pros & Cons

PROS

Integrated fall detection
Rechargeable battery is easily swapped
Stylish and unobtrusive

CONS

Expensive monthly subscription
Doesn’t connect to your smartphone

Top UnaliWear Reviews

TM
Thea C McFerrin
Very helpful and patient!
Very helpful and patient!
Ba
Barbara
GREAT SERVICE
Service department was great when l had a problem, they resolved it promptly. I feel much more secure since l have been wearing my Kanega watch. L would recommend it for any senior person living alone.
Pa
Paula
Because there were difficulties making…
Because there were difficulties making the purchase with my credit cards, Rich and i were very patient in resolving the problem. It took a while, but it finally got done. He was very nice, kind and of course helpful.
See all UnaliWear reviews

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UnaliWear UnaliWear Visit Site

UnaliWear Features - Products & Equipment

UnaliWear currently offers only a single medical alert device, the Kanega Watch, a smartwatch-like device that’s worn on your wrist. It uses the Verizon cellular network, as well as auto connectivity to WiFi, to connect to the UnaliWear monitoring center, and includes GPS tracking, so medical responders can determine your location during an emergency.

You can activate an emergency response function using a button on the watch or by using a voice command. The watch also includes fall detection. During an emergency, you can communicate with the UnaliWear monitoring center through a two-way speaker on the Kanega Watch.

The Kanega Watch can be worn 24/7 and doesn’t need to be taken off for charging. Instead, it includes four rechargeable batteries that you can easily swap out. UnaliWear recommends you swap the batteries out for recharging once every day. The watch also has a built-in battery backup that provides 15 minutes of use in case the rechargeable battery dislodges during a fall.

The Kanega Watch doesn’t connect to a smartphone, so it can’t be used to read messages or place calls other than to the UnaliWear monitoring center. However, it does provide medication reminders.

UnaliWear Optional Features & Accessories

UnaliWear offers a replacement watch band and additional lithium-ion batteries for the Kanega Watch. The watch band is available in four sizes (small to extra large) and three colors (gold, black, and rose gold). You can also purchase a replacement battery charger, which offers charging for up to three Kanega Watch batteries simultaneously.

Add-ons
Cost
Features & Functionality
Watch band
$17.95
Available in four sizes and three colors
Replacement battery
$36.95
Can be easily swapped on and off Kanega Watch 
Battery charger
$104.95
Charges up to three batteries at once

UnaliWear Installation & Setup

The Kanega Watch is ready to use straight out of the box, with little-to-no setup required. You should charge the watch battery before using the watch, which takes a few hours. After that, simply insert the battery into the watch to turn it on.

The first time the watch turns on, it will invite you to activate a voice tutorial. Simply press the emergency button on the watch crown to activate the tutorial.

The watch responds to voice commands from the get-go, and you set your voiceprint by saying “Fred Astaire” three times when prompted. You can initiate an emergency call by addressing the watch and then saying “Get help”, or by holding the button on the crown for three seconds. UnaliWear recommends you make a test call when you first receive the watch, and once a month thereafter.

UnaliWear Monitoring Services

UnaliWear provides a single monitoring center in the United States and offers nationwide coverage. Note that the Kanega Watch is configured to work on US cellular networks only, with no coverage outside of the US.

After you initiate an emergency call, dispatchers use the GPS function on your Kanega Watch to determine your location. Your location is known only to those inside the monitoring center, and the GPS only activates when you place an emergency call.

UnaliWear provides the option to file a record of your emergency contacts. You cannot use the Kanega Watch to contact your emergency contacts directly, but dispatchers may reach out to them during an emergency.

Note that UnaliWear’s monitoring center is only available for emergencies. The response team is unable to assist with non-emergency requests, such as questions about an illness or medications.

UnaliWear Contracts - Warranty & Insurance

UnaliWear offers monthly and annual billing options. If you wish to cancel your service, you must return the watch, batteries, and charger. UnaliWear does not offer prorated refunds if you cancel your service before the end of your billing period.

The Kanega Watch comes with a one-year warranty against manufacturing defects. Under this warranty, UnaliWear will repair, replace, or refund your device at the company’s discretion. 

If your watch is lost or damaged, UnaliWear will ask you for a $650 replacement fee. The company doesn’t offer a protection plan. 

UnaliWear App

UnaliWear hasn’t created a mobile app for the Kanega Watch, but there is an online portal where you can manage your medication reminders and WiFi networks, and sync them to your watch. The portal enables you to add up to seven WiFi networks for your watch to connect to, and up to five daily medication reminder times.

UnaliWear Customer Support

UnaliWear provides customer support by phone, email, and live chat between 8am-8pm Monday to Friday (CT). We got in touch by live chat and were connected to a representative within five minutes.

The UnaliWear website includes a quickstart guide and user manual for the Kanega Watch, as well as six short videos that show you how to use your watch, replace the battery, and adjust the watch band for a perfect fit.

UnaliWear Plans - Packages & Pricing

Product
Monthly Price
Design For
Connection Type
Equipment Fees
Annual Plan
$64.95
At home and on the go
WiFi and cellular
$299
Monthly Plan
$79.95
At home and on the go
WiFi and cellular

$299


Those who choose the annual plan will save nearly 20% compared to those who choose the monthly plan yearly. With the annual plan, there is no contract - so you can cancel anytime.

UnaliWear Alternatives

How UnaliWear Compares to Other Medical Alert Companies

UnaliWear provides customer support by phone, email, and live chat between 8am-8pm Monday to Friday (CT). We got in touch by live chat and were connected to a representative within five minutes.

The UnaliWear website includes a quickstart guide and user manual for the Kanega Watch, as well as six short videos that show you how to use your watch, replace the battery, and adjust the watch band for a perfect fit.


UnaliWear

Apple Watch

Lifeline

One Call Alert

Cost of Upfront Equipment

None

From $399

None

None

Monthly Monitoring Fees

$64.95-$79.95

None

$29.95-$49.95

$22.95-$39.95

Activation Fees

$299

None

$50-$99.95

None

Optional Monthly Add-ons

No

No

No

Fall detection

Water-Resistant Devices

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Fall Detection

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes (add-on)

GPS Location Monitoring

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Mobile App

No

Yes

Yes

No

Connection

Cellular, WiFi

Cellular, WiFi

Cellular, WiFi, landline

Cellular, WiFi, landline

Optional Accessories

Watch band, multi-charger, extra batteries

Watch band

None

None

UnaliWear vs Apple Watch

The UnaliWear Kanega Watch bears some resemblance to the Apple Watch, and both provide fall detection. While the Apple Watch doesn’t include a 24/7 monitoring service, it will initiate a direct call to 911 when it detects a fall. The Apple Watch also doesn’t have an emergency button, and the watch must be completely removed for charging.

Overall, the Apple Watch can work as a medical alert device, but it’s designed to be many things rather than a dedicated medical device. This means it isn’t a direct replacement for a dedicated device like the Kanega Watch.

UnaliWear vs Lifeline

Philips Lifeline offers at-home and on-the-go medical alert devices. The monthly fee for the company’s at-home monitoring device is $29.95, making it significantly less expensive than the UnaliWear Kanega Watch.

However, the Lifeline on-the-go device is a button that’s meant to be worn around your neck. It’s less stylish and more easily seen than the Kanega Watch. It offers fall detection, but doesn’t have features like medication reminders.

UnaliWear vs One Call Alert

One Call Alert offers at-home and on-the-go devices at significantly lower monthly rates than the UnaliWear Kanega Watch. There are also no activation fees, though you’ll pay $10 per month extra for a fall detection device.

One Call Alert’s on-the-go devices aren’t as stylish or well hidden as the Kanega Watch, and they don’t offer medication reminders. However, they do offer two-way communication with the monitoring center, and GPS tracking during an emergency.

UnaliWear UnaliWear Visit Site

Bottom Line

The Kanega Watch from UnaliWear is one of only a few medical alert devices designed to blend in rather than stand out. It looks and functions like a smartwatch, while offering two-way communication with a 24/7 monitoring center. The swappable battery design is also unique, enabling you to keep the device on your wrist 24/7.

While there’s a lot to like about the Kanega Watch, it’s pricier than comparable medical alert devices. Whether it’s worth the cost comes down to whether you value having a medical alert device that doesn’t call attention to itself.

Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns UnaliWear?+-

UnaliWear was founded by Jean Anne Booth, who currently serves as the company’s CEO.

Is UnaliWear legit?+-

UnaliWear makes the Kanega Watch, a medical alert device that offers 24/7 monitoring. UnaliWear has an A+ rating and an average 4.8-star review score with the Better Business Bureau.

How long has UnaliWear been in business?+-

UnaliWear was founded in 2013.

Juliette Siegfried is a leading writer, workshop leader, and community expert in dating and non-traditional relationships. She is currently the most-viewed author in the Open Relationships column on Quora. In 2004 and 2007, Juliette founded Poliamor Barcelona and Madrid and has since contributed to multiple books on dating and relationships and presented at numerous conferences, including Euro BiCon and the Contemporary Intimacies Conference.

The author of this article has been paid by Natural Intelligence to write this article. Neither the author nor Natural Intelligence provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or your local emergency number immediately.

UnaliWear reviews

Excellent • Reviews 82
on
Excellent
71%
Great
10%
Average
6%
Poor
6%
Bad
7%
Sort by
TM
Thea C McFerrin
15 hours ago
Very helpful and patient!
Very helpful and patient!
Ba
Barbara
2 days ago
GREAT SERVICE
Service department was great when l had a problem, they resolved it promptly. I feel much more secure since l have been wearing my Kanega watch. L would recommend it for any senior person living alone.
Pa
Paula
3 days ago
Because there were difficulties making…
Because there were difficulties making the purchase with my credit cards, Rich and i were very patient in resolving the problem. It took a while, but it finally got done. He was very nice, kind and of course helpful.
Be
Betty
6 days ago
The customer service is outstanding
The customer service is outstanding. Prompt and knowledgeable response to issues.

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