LG G Watch R, time to get fashionable | HT Tech

LG G Watch R, time to get fashionable

The South Korean company's second attempt at a smartwatch is all about dialing up the style rather than trying to replace a smartphone or trying to second guess what other companies are going to be integrating into their intelligent timepieces.

By:AFP
| Updated on: Aug 29 2014, 12:55 IST
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The South Korean company's second attempt at a smartwatch is all about dialing up the style rather than trying to replace a smartphone or trying to second guess what other companies are going to be integrating into their intelligent timepieces.

Announced on Thursday at the same time as Samsung revealed its latest smartwatch, the Gear S, the LG G Watch R is focused on accentuating a smartphone's use, rather than trying to replace it.

Therefore its biggest selling feature is design. It has a 1.3-inch round display that shows a classic analogue watch face and a calfskin strap, meaning that it looks like an elegant, traditional timepiece that wouldn't look out of place when worn with a suit.

In terms of features it runs Google's Android Wear so it will push notifications to the screen based on context, such as the weather forecast or traffic news, and, because it also has an integrated sensor, it can be used to monitor heart rate and so work as an activity tracker. To this end it's also water resistant.

Samsung's new smartwatch on the other hand, can connect to the internet, run apps and make phone calls without ever having to connect to a handset. In fact, it is so feature-packed that when it goes on sale in October it will do so alongside a specially designed set of headphones with integrated microphone in order to make the watch easier to use.

Explaining why LG has gone for form rather than function with its latest wearable, and why it has launched two watches in such close succession, Dr. Jong-seok Park, president and CEO of the LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company, said: 'What we've noticed in the year of the wearable is that this is a category that can't be compared to smartphones and tablets. Wearables are also accessories and consumers will want more than one to choose from. So we wanted to complement the modern design of the original G Watch with the classic look of the G Watch R. Customers can't go wrong with either device.'

There is currently no word regarding how much the watch is expected to cost but LG has confirmed that it will be going on sale 'in key markets' before the end of the year.

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First Published Date: 29 Aug, 11:32 IST
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