LG G Watch R Review: The best Android Wear smartwatch to date
While the Moto 360 is enjoying a considerable amount of hype due to its good looks and roundness, the G Watch R is looking to steal some thunder with its fully round display. It doesn’t have a flat tire, but there’s more to the story than just bring round. The G Watch R has a better processor, bigger battery, and a P-OLED display. On the downside, the display is a little smaller, the bezel is larger, and many would argue that it isn’t as good looking as the Moto 360.
Unless you’re in love with the square look, The G Watch R and the Moto 360 have to be at the top of your list. So how does the G Watch R measure up? Well hit the break and let’s get started.
Design
The G Watch R is the second Android Wear smartwatch from LG, with the G Watch being the first. Putting the round aspect aside, the G Watch R is miles ahead of the G Watch in terms of quality. The G Watch was cool about 5 months ago because it was one of the only Android Wear offerings, but after the Moto 360 and the G Watch R releases, it looks more like a toy.
While the G Watch is made of plastic, the G Watch R is made of stainless steel, with a plastic bottom. It just feels a lot more substantial on your wrist. Interestingly enough, it’s not any heavier, it’s actually lighter (62 grams vs 63 grams).
Probably the biggest bone of contention has to be the bezel with the G Watch R. The watch itself is nearly identical in size (the round part of the body) as the Moto 360, but the display sizes are different. The G Watch R comes in at 46.4 x 53.6 mm while the Moto 360 comes in at 46 x 46 mm. However the display on the G Watch R is only 1.3-inches vs 1.56-inches on the Moto 360. Why the difference? In Motorola’s case, they decided that a larger screen that isn’t completely round made more sense than the added bezel. LG felt that offering a fully round display made more sense. Motorola used the bottom part of the display for the components giving it a flat tire look. LG was able to utilize the extra bezel for their display components. Instead of leaving this extra bezel blank, they added a “tachymeter look” to it that many feel isn’t classy. I put that in quotes since it’s not a true tachymeter in that you can’t rotate it. Some people will argue that the flat tire look of the 360 is ugly, and others will say the fake tachymeter bezel of the G Watch R is equally ugly. I never had an issue with the flat tire look of the 360, and I don’t necessarily feel the fully round display is the bomb either. As I said in my opening, there’s a lot more to these watches than just being round or roundish.
You might have noticed that the G Watch R’s dimensions aren’t fully round like the Moto 360. That’s because it has a more traditional look in that it extends at the top and bottom for the watch bands connectors. The Moto 360 has the watch band connectors inside the base of the watch itself.
Speaking of watch bands, the included band is made of leather, but it doesn’t feel as soft as the Moto 360. It’s actually so rigid out of the box, you will wonder if it’s really leather. After a week or so, it does soften up though.
If the included band doesn’t suit your fancy, you will be able to swap it out with any other 22 mm watch band. That’s the same size for all Android Wear smartwatches, including the Moto 360. However, you might have more choices with the G Watch R since it’s more of a traditional fit. With the connectors inside the base of the Moto 360, many watch bands won’t fit correctly.
The included charging pad is similar to what comes with the G Watch, except it’s round. It’s magnetic so it “sticks” to the bottom of the watch, and it has a micro USB port for power. It certainly isn’t as elegant as the Moto 360′s wireless dock that becomes a nightstand clock, but you still have to bring either one with you when you travel. The one issue with the G Watch R’s dock is that it’s not really suited for when you are sporting a watch band without a buckle. There is no way for it to lay flat on your desk or nightstand. However, since it’s magnetic, it can certainly sit on its side.
Unlike the G Watch, the G Watch R sports a heart rate sensor at the bottom, but it does sport the same pogo pins that connect to the charging plate. It also has a button on the right side that looks like a traditional winder. It serves as a way to wake or turn off the display as well as provide quicker access to the settings (push and hold). The Moto 360′s button functions the same way, but it’s a bigger button on the G Watch R. Because of that, I find the watch going into the Settings on it’s own when my wrist is bent up towards it. An example would be doing push ups, which causes the top of my wrist to hit the button just enough. Not a big deal, but something worth noting.
The G Watch R comes in at 11.1 mm so it’s slightly thinner than the Moto 360, which is 11.5 mm.
The design and looks of the G Watch R will to come down to personal preference. I will say that I prefer the look of the Moto 360, but the G Watch R is no slouch. I think one of the reasons I like the Moto 360 better is the choice of silver as an option. The G Watch is only available in black, and I would ike to see it in silver. In fact, I would love to see it in some sort of two tone like the bezel in silver and the base in black.
Styling is only one piece of the puzzle, so let’s move on.
Hardware
The G Watch R features a 1.3-inch P-OLED 320 x 320 display at 348 ppi, a 1.2 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400, 500 MB of RAM, 4 GB of internal storage, accelerometer, digital compass, gyroscope, heart rate sensor, IP67 rating for water and dust, and 410 mAh battery.
Performance
The G Watch R sports the Snapdragon 400, which is a quad-core that is probably tuned down to one-core. It’s very snappy with very little to non-existent lag, as well as great responsiveness to touch. That’s all you can really ask for. It’s not like you’re going to be playing Dead Trigger on this thing. The Moto 360, on the other hand, sports an OMAP processor, which is as ancient as it gets. After a few updates, the Moto 360 is running nearly as smooth, but one has to question the longevity of such an out-of-date processor.
The display is P-OLED, which is probably the best display we’ve seen on an Android Wear smartwatch. It sports 6 levels of brightness, but it doesn’t have an ambient sensor like the Moto 360. However, you can pretty much set it at 3 or 4, and never have to change it. The G Watch R’s display is slightly better than the Moto 360 in that the colors pop a lot more with deeper blacks. The display also performs very well in sunlight. If you’re at the beach on a very bright day, you might have to turn the brightness up to a level of 6 though.
The area where the G Watch R totally outshines the Moto 360 is the Always-On display. With most Android Wear watches, you can set it to show your watch face at all times in a dimmed state. The Moto 360 offers something similar, but they call it an Ambient Screen. The difference is that the display doesn’t stay on all the time. Not only does the G Watch R display stay on all the time, but it’s also a lot brighter. The Moto 360′s Ambient Screen is very dim in order to conserve battery. As you will see in the battery section, the G Watch R doesn’t need to play games because battery isn’t an issue. Now one could argue that the G Watch R’s Always-On display is actually too bright, but I would rather have it than not. If you were to set the main display at a brightness level of 1, you will have a hard time telling the difference between the Always-On and Active display. You will most likely need to turn it off when in darker environments so that you don’t annoy others. What we need is the ability to control the brightness of the Always-on display, and I am sure that will come soon.
I have had a few discussions about the Always-On display with others on Google+. Many Moto 360 owners feel that it’s unnecessary, but what I have found is that the majority of people that feel that way, never owned a smartwatch before. I have been using a smartwatch for the past few years starting with the WiMM One. One of the coolest aspects of smartwatches is customization as in watch faces. You want to see your watch face all time. I can’t stand looking at a “black screen of death” as I call it on the Moto 360. The bottom line is that once you have it, you won’t want to go back to the black screen.
Battery
The G Watch performed very well with battery life so we expected nothing less from the G Watch R. With the Always-On display enabled and using third party watch faces like Facer, it easily lasted 24 hours. Not into the Always-On display? Then you can expect to get about 2 days when it’s disabled. The bottom line is that I have never felt like I was running out of juice. I run the Always-On display and always have at least 35% to 45% battery life left when I put it on the charger at bedtime. The Moto 360 does perform better after updates, but you still can’t use the Ambient Screen and get through an entire day. However, since the Ambient Screen is useless, getting through a day isn’t an issue when it’s disabled. Still, the G Watch R performs better since it can run 24 hours with the display on all the time.
Software
There isn’t a whole lot to say about the software since it’s Android Wear and LG doesn’t offer anything additional. I did get the 4.4W.2 update within minutes of turning the watch on, so I can’t say if it made an impact on performance. What I will say is that the best feature of the update is the ability to hide notification cards from the watch face in both Always-On and waked modes.
Also with the update is the ability to transfer music to your watch giving you the ability to leave your phone at home if you’re going for a jog. You can now connect your Android Wear watch to a Bluetooth headset and listen to the music that is on the watch. There is also a new actionable menu for all music apps (streaming from the phone as well), which gives you ability to skip tracks forward or backwards and adjust the volume.
It should be noted that all of these features are available with all Android Wear watches updated to 4.4W.2.
Closing
The G Watch R trumps the Moto 360 in just about every category. It has a better processor, better display, and a bigger battery. It also sports a proper “Always-On” display, although a little too bright at times. The Moto 360 looks better, but it has an ancient processor and its battery life is questionable. Probably the biggest factor for me is the “Always-On” display. I have no interest in spending close to $300 on a smartwatch and looking at a black screen all day. The better processor, display, and battery life is just icing on the cake. The only reason to buy the Moto 360 over the G Watch R is if you think it looks that much better. It does look better, but as I said before, it’s not like the G Watch R is a slouch. Whatever shortcomings it has in the looks department, it more than makes up for it in every other category.
Pricing for the U.S. hasn’t been announced at the time of this review, but the G Watch R could cost as much as $50 more than the Moto 360. Some people might balk at that, but if you think about it, it should cost more since it has better components.
Both are great watches, but at this point in the game, the G Watch R is the best Android Watch available.
Come comment on this article: LG G Watch R Review: The best Android Wear smartwatch to date
Living with the G3: Can LG’s newest flagship be as good as its predecessor?
You typically expect the latest smartphones to represent clear steps forward over their predecessors. However, I’ve been hearing a lot of people characterize the LG G3 as a baby step ahead of the G2, or even a step backward. That had me more than a little worried. Was I going to hate the follow-up to one of my favorite phones from 2013? There was only one way to find out, so I spent a few weeks with the G3 to see if those fears were overblown.
To start: a lot of the sacrifices made to get that extra-sharp Quad HD screen don’t matter that much in real life. The G3’s LCD isn’t as eye-searingly bright as the G2’s, but it’s still good enough that I could easily see it outdoors. I also didn’t run into the heat-related brightness throttling that some complain about, although I don’t doubt that it happens. Battery life wasn’t as strong as it was on the G2, but that older handset seemingly lasted forever — my G3 could still handle a day full of email, Instagram and Twitter, even with a Pebble smartwatch adding to the energy drain. If you were enticed by that larger, sharper screen in a (relatively) small body, you can relax. For the most part, the screen is as good as you’d hope, and it’s definitely your best bet if you feel the Galaxy Note 4 and iPhone 6 Plus are too unwieldy for the display area you get.
With that said, LG went a bit overboard with sharpening in an attempt to emphasize that super-high resolution. There were several times when I could see a halo around text that was clearly the result of excessive image processing, and you have to resort to unofficial software to turn it off. While the effect doesn’t really sour the experience for what’s otherwise a pleasing screen, it’s prominent enough that I’d point you to the Note 4 if you want a large Quad HD display without significant quirks.
The G3’s camera is a tougher call. The laser focus does lock on to subjects a bit faster than on the G2 (and many other 2013 phones), but it didn’t produce a night-and-day difference in my ability to capture a scene. As with the last-gen model, the G3’s 13-megapixel shooter is frequently good, but rarely great. While I could usually count on it to produce a quality shot, the muted colors and slightly reduced low-light performance left me underwhelmed. The apparent step backward certainly wouldn’t dissuade me from getting a G3 all by itself. However, I’d prefer Sony’s Xperia Z3 series (for the higher resolution) or Apple’s iPhone 6 lineup (for more lifelike colors) if I were looking for a tangible upgrade over the G2’s cam.
It may be worth trading up for the software, which feels like a breath of fresh air. The G2’s take on Android was overly flashy, with too many unhelpful features and on-by-default animations; the G3’s interface isn’t exactly stripped down, but it rarely seemed to get in my way. About my biggest gripe was Smart Notice, which tries too hard to mimic Google Now with less-than-useful alerts (“the temperature will change” isn’t a revelation, LG). I’d say HTC’s fast, minimalist Sense and Motorola’s lightly customized stock interface are my picks for the best Android launchers, but the G3’s software front end trumps both what I’ve seen on the G2 and recent Samsung phones.
Would I get a G3 if I were suddenly in the market for a phone? I have to admit, that combination of a large screen with a small profile is tempting. This is the only 5.5-inch phone I’ve used that doesn’t put strain on my hands or my pocket. And as a whole, I enjoyed using it. While it rarely did anything spectacularly well, it was a reliable workhorse that seldom let me down. In a sense, though, that’s the problem. The G2 was exciting partly because it pushed the boundaries of what you expected from smartphones with a seemingly physics-defying screen and epic-length battery life. The G3 pushes the boundaries a bit further and is indeed an improvement over the G2, but it’s ultimately more of the same. Although I’d get one over its ancestor or the equally familiar-feeling Galaxy S5, I’d prefer the new Moto X, One M8 or Xperia Z3 if I wanted a 5-inch or larger Android phone. They’re not always better than the G3, but they clearly stand out where LG’s device only occasionally gets ahead of the pack.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, LG
LG sells a record-breaking 16.8 million smartphones, doubles profit in the process
As Samsung struggles and Apple starts to encroach on the Android mainstay of giant screens, LG’s smartphones are doing alright. In fact they’re doing pretty darn well. Announcing a record number of smartphones sold and the best quarter in five years, LG’s sales totaled 16.8 million devices and the company announced an operating profit of $450 million, roughly double from the same period last year. Shipments of the mobile arm leapt 39 percent, although the good news was tempered (if only a little), by lower operating profits in the same quarter from its Home Appliance and a $2.44 million operating loss from its Air Conditioning arm, although LG reckons weather conditions were the cause for lower sales in its native Korea. TV and Home Entertainment profits increased five percent, with demand for LCD TVs increasing across the world. LG expects its high-end 4K displays will be responsible for some more impressive financial results later this year — and probably hopes you’re already saving up for the holiday season.
Filed under: Cellphones, LG
Source: LG
AT&T will carry LG’s G Watch R in stores
LG may still be coy about when you can strap a US version of the G Watch R on your wrist, but you’ll at least know where you can get it. AT&T has confirmed that will be “among the first” carriers to sell LG’s nicer Android Wear timepiece in stores. It’s not discussing the details, although it’s safe to presume that you’ll be paying more than the $229 you’d shell out for a regular G Watch. You probably won’t have to wait long, either — LG already said the G Watch R would ship in the fourth quarter of the year, so don’t be surprised if you’re picking up this smartwatch in a matter of weeks.
Filed under: Wearables, AT&T, LG
Via: SlashGear
LG nails the coffin down on plasma TVs
It won’t be long before you won’t need to auction a lung off in order to buy a 4K OLED TV, which means there’s even less reason to buy a plasma than ever before. That’s why LG has finally joined Samsung and Panasonic in taking the outdated business out back, shotgun in hand. According to Reuters, the company has quietly told local regulators that the plasma TV lines will cease production towards the end of November, leaving China’s Changhong Electric Co. as the last manufacturer in town. Still, we’d certainly expect the price of plasmas to slip downward as the technology heads towards the exit door, so perhaps this holiday season is the ideal time to pick up a bargain.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, LG
Source: Reuters
AT&T will carry the LG G Watch R
As the SmartWatch 3 is heading to Verizon, the G Watch R will be sold through AT&T. The carrier announced on Monday that it would carry the LG smartwatch running Android Wear. What else do we know about this news? Nothing. AT&T says that pricing and a release date will be announced at a later time.
AT&T Confirms LG G Watch R to Join Its Growing Wearable Portfolio
DALLAS, Oct. 27, 2014 – AT&T1 today confirmed that it will be among the first wireless carriers to offer the brand new LG G Watch R with the world’s first full circle P-OLED display. Pricing and availability will be announced at a later date.
The LG G Watch R is a cutting-edge Android Wear™ smartwatch. A classically-inspired design gives this high-tech wrist accessory an authentic, timeless look. The LG G Watch R can also be customized with changeable faces and wristbands to fit any style.
The LG G Watch R is IP67 water resistant2 with a premium PVD metal finish watch face. It comes with a 410 mAh battery and a low-power consuming P-OLED display that lets you stay connected to the information you need all day.
When paired with smartphones running Android OS 4.3 or higher, call and message notifications, reminders and important updates such as airplane boarding passes are easily accessible right from your wrist.
For more information about the LG G Watch R, visit att.com/GWatchR.
AT&T is focused on giving our customers a top-notch experience through fast and friendly service. Being recognized as the highest ranked wireless provider for overall purchasing experience by J.D. Power, for the third time in a row, shows this commitment to the customer experience is making a difference.3 AT&T outperformed competitors in the J.D. Power 2014 Volume 2 study and received the “Highest Satisfaction with the Purchase Experience among Full-Service Wireless Providers, Three Times in a Row.”
1AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.
2Water-resistant and dustproof based upon IP67 rating. Submersible up to 1 meter (3 ft.) of water for up to 30 minutes. Rinse to remove any residue. Not shockproof.
3AT&T received the highest numerical score among full service wireless providers in the proprietary J.D. Power 2013 (Vol. 2) and 2014 (Vol. 1 & 2) Full Service Wireless Purchase Experience StudySM. 2014 Vol. 2 based on responses from 10,079 consumers measuring 4 full service wireless providers and measures opinions of consumers who purchased a wireless product or service within last 6 months. Proprietary study results are based on experiences and perceptions of consumers surveyed January-June 2014. Your experiences may vary. Visitjdpower.com
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and internationally. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation’s most reliable 4G LTE network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile Internet, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide based on offering roaming in more countries than any other U.S. based carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV service with the AT&T U-verse® brand. The company’s suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world.
Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at www.att.com/aboutus or follow our news on Twitter at @ATT, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/att and YouTube at www.youtube.com/att.
© 2014 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.
Come comment on this article: AT&T will carry the LG G Watch R
LG G Pad 10.1 shows up at FCC with LTE connection for Verizon
In time for the holiday season, Verizon is bolstering its tablet lineup. The G Pad 10.1 recently appeared at the FCC seeking approval. It just is not a WiFi-only variant of the LG tablet, though. This is a version of the G Pad 10.1 that has an LTE connection. Verizon and LG have not said anything about this device at this time.
Even with an LTE connection, the G Pad 10.1 is expected to be affordable. The specifications are not cutting edge; however, they are perfectly suitable for many consumers. The display’s resolution is 1280×800. The processor is a Snapdragon 400 with 1GB of RAM. The camera on the back is 5MP and up front is a 1.3MP camera. Nothing too crazy on this device.
Come comment on this article: LG G Pad 10.1 shows up at FCC with LTE connection for Verizon
LG to update Japan-exclusive Isai with three new colors and 3GB of RAM
LG first launched the LG Isai earlier this year as a Japanese exclusive with the company’s first WQHD display. Today the Korean tech giant has revealed a refreshed version of the Isai with similar specs and features to the original, with a few changes. First the new Isai ships with VoLTE capabilities, allowing users to place calls over the LTE network. Additionally the amount of included RAM has been boosted from 2GB to 3GB, bringing the specs even closer to LG’s current flagship, the LG G3.
The other specs of the device remain largely the same, including a 3,000mAh batter, 32GB of internal storage (expandable via microSD by 128GB), Bluetooth 4.0, WiMAX 2+, NFC and an IR sensor. The body is also expected to be water and dust-proof, and will come in three new colors including black, aqua and pink gold. The camera arrangement is the same as on the original Isai with a 13.2-megapixel sensor on the back and a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera. The new Isai will likely be a Japan exclusive like the original, but depending on reception we could see a refresh of the G3 featuring VoLTE capabilities.
Source: KDDI
Via: G For Games
Come comment on this article: LG to update Japan-exclusive Isai with three new colors and 3GB of RAM
LG G3 scheduled to receive Android 5.0 Lollipop by end of year
Word is trickling in regarding when the flagship phones of 2014 will receive Android 5.0 Lollipop. One of the devices we have been waiting to hear about is the G3. There has been next to nothing stated about when it would get a taste of Lollipop. Luckily, an LG representative went ahead and gave a general expectation. The representative said that the G3 would receive Android 5.0 by the end of this year.
This is for the international version of the G3; therefore, owners of carrier versions in the United States should expect it in early 2015 just like everyone else owning another device.
Via: GSMArena
Come comment on this article: LG G3 scheduled to receive Android 5.0 Lollipop by end of year
LG says LG G3 Android Lollipop update is coming before the end of 2014
Closely following the news that the Samsung Galaxy S5’s Android Lollipop update might be coming sometime in December, a rumour has emerged that says the LG G3 Android Lollipop update will also be arrive before the end of the year. This information was apparently conveyed by the European branch of LG which promised its Dutch and Belgian LG G3 customers that the update would be coming before the end of 2014.
This is a relatively ambitious timeline from LG which didn’t get out the LG G2 Android KitKat update out until February/March earlier this year. Still, it’s always good to hope, and it’s obviously in LG’s best interests to make its best selling flagship so far the best it can be, particularly in a climate that now actually has competitors with Quad HD displays to rival the G3’s.
What do you think about the LG G3 Android Lollipop update schedule? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: TechTastic via Phone Arena
//<![CDATA[
ord = window.ord || Math.floor(Math.random()*1E16);
document.write('‘);
//]]>
The post LG says LG G3 Android Lollipop update is coming before the end of 2014 appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
AIVAnet 