Smart watch lji. Review of smart watches LG G Watch R: walking in a circle

LG G Watch is a modern representative of the category of wearable electronics, the so-called smartwatch, the first product of the Korean company on Android base Wear powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 400 chip and designed to take advantage of the operating system Android and viewing alerts right on your wrist.

LG Electronics is preparing to release its first operating system-based smartwatch. This is reported by GizChina with reference to materials from the website of the National Radio Research Agency of South Korea. The novelty, which appears in the regulator's database, has already passed the certification procedure and is about to appear in retail.

The fact that smart watches and bracelets are now almost at the peak of popularity, once again, we think, is not worth reminding. Moreover, you can use them both in the summer for a morning run in the park, and in winter, when you don't want to take your phone out of your pocket to view notifications. In Russia, there is a fairly large assortment of appropriate accessories, although many models are sold 1.5-2 times more expensive than in the USA or Europe. Therefore, we have selected five smartwatches and bracelets, which are worth paying attention to and getting much cheaper.

The on-screen keyboard, named by smartwatch users as one of the most long-awaited innovations in 2.0, turned out to be insufficiently adapted for models with a round screen. According to the official tech support forum, Russian-speaking owners of LG G Watch Urbane and Huawei Watch have difficulty typing some characters on the letter keyboard due to their banal absence.

Welcome to the ninety-ninth edition of our weekly Android News. Today in this episode we'll talk about Xiaomi Redmi 4A, LG Watch Style and Sport, and more! Below you can familiarize yourself with the same news in a traditional text format, if it is more convenient for you.

Over the next few days, employees of the South Korean company LG should present a pair of new smartwatches. We are talking about Watch Sport and Watch Style, the main features of which will be working under the Android Wear 2.0 operating system, the presence of dust and water resistance, as well as support for a voice assistant. Thanks to a recent leak, evaluate the appearance of the packaging of the latter, and with it, the final design of the model will be obtained right now.

Initially, smartwatches were created in order to track the activity of the owner and be a natural extension of your smartphone. However, developers almost instantly realized the potential of this category of devices and set about creating various applications. Now there are hundreds of thousands of them: ranging from simple programs to display the weather forecast and ending with not the worst games. However, this did not end there either. The most talented enthusiasts put a lot of effort into putting on the watch what is not meant for them. Today's case is no exception. So how does Windows 7 work on? Let's see.

Some time ago the legendary Counter strike has already become the heroine of our news feed. Last time, a certain Alibek Omarov managed to port the game to the OS and capture the gameplay on video. But as recently as yesterday, it became known that another "left-handed" named Dave Bennett decided to go even further and launched CS 1.6 on his LG G Watch. What for? Just because he can afford it.

Welcome to the thirty-seventh issue of our weekly Android News. Today in the episode we'll talk about the new Nexus, LG Watch Urbane 2,

With the help of the lg watch style device, the user can read a message, answer an incoming call or see what time it is without taking a smartphone out of his pocket. But these features are present in many smartwatches. Let's consider what are the advantages and features of the lg watch style w270 model, what buyers think about it, and why it is in great demand.

Specifications

• operating system: Android Wear version 2.0;
• dimensions: 42.2 × 5 × 10.8 mm;
• weight: 45g;
• RAM: 512 MB;
• built-in memory: 4GB;
• processor: Snapdragon Wear 2100, 1.1 GHz;
• battery: with a capacity of 240 mA ∙ h;
• screen: 1.2 inches, P-OLED, 360 × 360 pixels;
• sensors: gyroscope, accelerometer;
• connection: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth;
• cost: about $ 250.

What is included

The gadget is packed in a tight box and securely fixed. The set includes the watch itself, a power supply unit with an American plug, a wireless Charger and instructions for use. All components are located in special compartments.

Appearance and comfort in use

The lg watch style w270 model was made by the developers in 3 colors: titanium, silver and pink gold... Already from the name it is clear that we are dealing with something noble and refined. This is true. Outward appearance attached great importance, the watch will look stylish on both men's and women's wrist. Doesn't look alien, thin and neat.

Let's consider each color scheme separately. The case of LG watch style titan 270 is made in dark gray, titanium color with a black strap - this option is the most strict and classic. The Pink gold model looks more gentle and elegant, the module itself is light pink, and the bracelet is milky. The third option is silver with a beige strap.

Smart watches lg style are round in shape, the side edges and frames around the display are made of stainless steel. The back side, which is adjacent to the hand, plastic is a necessary measure for the possibility wireless charging... The screen is covered with a bulletproof protective glass to prevent scratches and other damage. There is a rotating button on the side of the module. It is designed to navigate the menu, quickly turn pages, call the Google assistant, and is very convenient to use in the cold, when the sensor is cold and inconvenient to operate.

Read also:

Smart watch with measurement of blood pressure and heart rate

An interesting feature of the device is the attachment of straps by the Snap-and-Swap mechanism. They can be easily separated from the module at the touch of a button. The strap itself is made of Italian leather, soft to the touch, comfortable. Fastens as standard, there are slots for adjusting the volume so that the watch does not dangle or crush. Since the bracelet can be easily removed, it can be replaced with another one at any time, but you will have to purchase it separately - there is only one in the kit.

Smart watches lg watch style w270 are protected from dust and water according to the IP67 standard, so if:

• they got caught in the rain;
• were in the shower;
• fell into the sand

then it's okay - such situations are provided by the manufacturer, the device will remain safe and sound.

Display and its features

We are dealing with a 1.2ʹʹ P-OLED screen. Expansion - 360 × 360 pixels, 290 dots per 1 inch, allows you to maintain a clear color image in any light. There is graininess, it does not cause discomfort during use, but from the outside it may not seem solid. When you change the viewing angle, the colors fade, blue appears, but if you do not tilt too much, the image is juicy and saturated.

Increased impact resistance is provided by durable Gorilla Glass 3, it is not only durable but also thin, which can significantly reduce the thickness of the lg watch w270.

The screen is always on, so you don't need to press anything to see the time.
Key functions, watch features

Let's start an overview of the functions of the lg watch style w270, find out what the model can boast of

Supports 10 Essential Features

1. Displaying the time, notifications received on the smartphone, as well as incoming calls. You don't have to take your phone out of your bag or pocket to see who's calling.
2. In lg watch style branded shockproof glass: thin and light.
3. Installability additional applications... First of all, it is recommended to install Google Fit, the program will save daily loads (walking, running, trips), all achievements and records.
4. The watch allows you to exchange instant messaging v social networks, messengers (Viber, Whatsapp). There is voice input as well as using the keyboard. Tiny letters are hard to hit, but continuous input and pre-built templates save the day.
5. Measurement of calories burned during the day. Now it's easier to monitor your health, plus it's motivation not to eat an extra bite of something sweet.
6. Availability of Wi-Fi. The device connects to available network so you can quickly find the information you need without a smartphone.
7. LG Watch Style determines the level of physical fitness of a person, gives recommendations on how to calculate the optimal load for the day.
8. The presence of Bluetooth. Music and photos you like are easily transferred to your device.
9. There is a route tracker. You can save the travel plan if you want to follow the same path again.
10. Synchronization with a smartphone. If the phone is stolen or lost on the street, just open the desired section in the watch - it will show the location.

Read also:

Review of smart watches Kingwear KW98

Features of the model

Let's see how the LG Watch Style W270 is advantageous compared to the rest. except touch screen, the presence of a side button, it became possible to control the wrist. If your hands are full of bags, and at this inopportune moment a message arrives, you can still see who sent it, or read it. The gadget is controlled by hand movements.

Software

The LG watch style software is new: the user interface has been redesigned, now you can customize the watch face or download a new one based on your personal preferences.

There is now an unread notification indicator in the form of a white dot at the bottom of the screen.

In previous models, the inability to enter from the keyboard was a big problem. What if a person is at a conference or meeting, and you urgently need to answer a call or SMS? Now the ice has broken, such an opportunity has appeared. And even if the word is entered incorrectly (it’s hard to hit the small letters), there is autocorrect, the device will “guess” which word was meant.

Power and battery life

The processor of the LG Watch Style W270 in combination with the Android Wear 2.0 operating system provides the device with performance, so the device responds to touch without delay and the first time.

The battery with a capacity of 240 mA ∙ h ensures the operation of the device without recharging throughout the day. This moment causes a lot of negative reviews from buyers, but almost all gadgets have this problem. Plus, if you do not use Wi-Fi and turn off the screen, it can last 1.5-2 days (but if you constantly do this, why then the clock). There is no problem in charging the device overnight.

The wearable market is already quite saturated today. Some manufacturers focus on social functions, others are trying to make the device stylish, for others the main thing is to get ahead of Apple and competitors, and then, as they say, we'll figure it out. With the introduction of the G Watch R, LG decided to style their accessory and equip it with a truly circular display.

Laziness is the engine of progress.

Manufacturers of such devices offer us another option to make our life, as they like to say - easier. In fact, they are still probing the market for themselves and trying to convey to the consumer that using such a technique will save you a lot of time. And this time means precious seconds that you spend to get your smartphone out of your pocket and see the cause of the vibration.

We have already reviewed smartwatches, which can be described, perhaps, by the word "damp". It has been aptly observed that using such a device on Android Wear raises more questions than convenience. Let's see what this time the engineers from Lg decided to conquer us. So, a new generation of smartwatches: G Watch R.

Appearance

Now they really look like a clock. The round display is framed by a metal frame with sub-hour markers. This frame gives a great resemblance to a real watch and from a distance it seems that you have a mechanical (or not so) chronometer on your wrist. The only drawback of this frame is the short-lived paintwork, which, after 2-3 months of use, will treacherously expose the metal base.

The case itself is made of stainless steel, however the back cover is made of plastic. It also has connectors for charging, an optical heart rate sensor and a microphone on the side.

Like all real watches, the object of our review has a wheel for setting the time. Here it partially fulfills a decorative function: you cannot set the time with it, it just spins. But it still has functionality: this is the only physical button on the case, with which you can turn off the screen, and if you hold it down, then turn off the gadget itself. Based on the location of this key, it is immediately clear that they are suitable only for right-handers.

One of the winning solutions is the use of a standard 22 mm watch strap. If desired, it can be replaced. However, the set already comes with a strict leather bracelet in black.

Of course, the main criterion for such gadgets is screen... And this is where the innovation lies. It uses a P-OLED matrix, notable for its circular physical shape.

Due to the change in shape and size, the matrix has not lost its advantages in the form of excellent readability in bright light and high energy efficiency.

The screen size is 1.3 inches, the resolution is 320 x 320 pixels. Do not forget that the display is circular, so the word diameter is more appropriate here. Although the resolution is not that great, it gives a high quality image. Pixels are visible at maximum brightness and then, if you look closely. For this parameter, the device gets a well-deserved top five.

Specifications

• Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, 4 cores Cortex-A7 1.2 GHz;
• RAM 512 MB;
• storage 4 GB (there is no direct access to the storage, so you won't be able to use it for your own purposes);
• battery 410 mAh, 3.8 V;
• standard bracelet, replaceable (22 mm)
• protection against water and dust IP67;
• sensors: gyroscope, accelerometer, digital compass, heart rate monitor and barometer;
• dimensions: 46.4 x 53.6 x 9.7 mm;
• weight 62 g

The kit includes an original LG charger. To start charging, the case is magnetized to the contacts. I often faced the problem of incorrect positioning of the halves, which led to the shutdown of the charging process.

Separately about sensors

Such a set will delight all owners of the miracle walkers. First of all, of course it's great to play with the heart rate monitor. Convenience is that the application remembers 3 previous heart rate measurements so that the owner can see the difference himself.

Of course, while the technologies are not very accurate, so the sensor often lies with 5-7 strokes.

In principle, this is not so critical, but on the other hand, there have been more spreads. After all, 68-70 beats per minute differ from 80, and with such a difference in heart rate, the state of health is different.

The pedometer sometimes also adds several (and sometimes ten) steps to the actual ones. Moreover, it is easy to deceive him: you can shake your hand while sitting (or lying) and they will show that you have walked several steps.

Usage

The G Watch R fits well on the hand. Of course, a little thick, but for a watch of this size, the ratio of thickness to diameter is just right. On a woman's hand, they would stand out strongly and look somehow unnatural. Still, they are more masculine.

The display can be adjusted. For example, the Theater mode allows you to display the time in standby mode. It is noteworthy that each dial has its own alter ego in standby mode. G Watch R are activated by raising their hands. Not new function in such gadgets, and very often a false alarm occurs when you are driving or when you decide to scratch your head.

How do we know about notifications? It's simple. Screen activation and short-term vibration. The latter is quite powerful and tangible. It cannot be confused with anything. There are two ways to manage notifications: either send a command to open the application on your phone / tablet (which will force you to reach the main device anyway), or answer with a voice directly from your wrist.

Here, too, there are some nuances: the messages have a restriction on symbols, a detailed answer to the interlocutor will not work. And if you decide to add something to what has been said, you will have to wait for a new notification to arrive, or, again, you will have to go to the smartphone.

Android Wear

Don't be confused by the word Android in this phrase. From it there is only a name. The platform is designed specifically for wearable gadgets that are not designed for powerful hardware. There is a minimum of functionality. LG decided not to make any of its firmware changes and left everything as Google intended.

The catch is that the interface was originally designed for use on rectangular or square screens. The lack of development of the platform led to rapid emissions of devices not quite adapted to round screens. Clearly, the difference in the presentation of information on different screen shapes looks like this:

And here are a few more photos of the interface, where all this is noticeable even stronger:

Unfortunately, the "axis" has remained invariably raw since the days of the first G Watch.

For example, there is an error in the firmware of these watches (I don’t presume to say everything), due to which, after synchronizing with a smartphone, they show the time an hour ago. The problem is solved by changing the time one hour ahead on the smartphone, which will entail rearranging all alarms and reminders. Because of this, when viewing the time on the phone, one involuntarily wants to check with another watch. This problem has already been described more than once in the comments to the Android Wear app in Play Market, but it hasn't disappeared with the new update either.

By the way about the update. Still, Google does not sit idly by. Finally, the glitch of the transition has disappeared: when you are in one of the sections of the menu, a swipe to the right returns us to the home screen, and not a step back.

Unfortunately, no attention was paid to other inconveniences. About them in order:

• You cannot set the alarm for the time you want, only in 15 minute graduations;
• When using the gadget as a remote control to control music, sometimes sticking occurs and two songs in a row are switched at once;
• When trying to "write a letter" the program cannot recognize the name of the contact to whom we are sending this letter and invites us to pronounce it again. Vicious circle.
• If you are going to go somewhere, say, on the weekend, then you will have to take charge with you, since the time autonomous work does not exceed a day or two. The moment is softened by the fact that it is very small and will not take up much space.
• A wise process of "getting to know" a gadget with a paired device. Two-way pairing will confuse the non-advanced user. NFC would have helped, but not in this case.

But there are still more positive points:

• 24 preset watch faces. For comparison, have Motorola moto 360 there are only 7
• A complete fitness tracker
• The ability to install third party applications from special section Play Market
• No lags or glitches (thanks to the powerful processor)
• Dust and moisture protection IP67
• Sturdy steel body

Outcome

During 2 weeks of use, I tried to find an answer for myself: do I need this particular watch? For myself, I decided not. You see, none of the manufacturers has ever given a really objective reason to buy this kind of gadgets. Perhaps Apple will open our eyes to all of us, as it did with the iPad in its day.

I have compiled a list of 3 pros and cons of buying the LG G Watch R.

• Stylish design. Walkers attract attention;
• 2 days of "life" with similar characteristics, not many players on the market can give;
• If you keep an eye on your health and exercise, then here is your favorite.

• Of course, the price is 17-19 thousand rubles;
• Illegal and unintuitive interface;
• 2 days of "life", although more than that of other manufacturers, is still not enough.

Whether to buy these G Watch Rs or not, let everyone decide for themselves. From the experience of use, we can conclude that LG in the new watch did work on the errors, but not enough for such a device to be taken seriously, all the more to give that kind of money for it.

The conclusion is simple: sloths and gadget lovers should definitely take it, the rest are better off withholding money for a more thoughtful and cheap option, because not everyone is ready to pay the price per G watch r in the amount of 18,000 rubles.

Round smartwatches are rare. And there are only two models in this form factor on Android Wear. If Moto 360s have been on sale for a long time and have already been in our test, then the new LG has just appeared. The main advantage against the background of the famous American competitor can be considered the operating time. Read more about this and other features of the LG G Watch R on Hi-Tech.Mail.Ru for the first time exclusively with the global launch of the model.

With all the variety of Android Wear watches, don't be fooled by the affinity with full-fledged Android. Although they have common roots, the watch still has an OS with a different ideology. If you really want to, you can download Android applications through the SDK, but they will not work normally, even if they start (different permission and restriction of network access). There is not enough software adapted for Android Wear (for this moment- just over a thousand programs), and these are mainly dials. There is almost no customization, which is disappointing for both manufacturers and end users. The models differ by dials and occasionally by one or two applications (for example, for fitness at Moto 360).

However, the biggest limitation is the functionality of Android Wear watches without a smartphone, as they are mostly used for notifications only. And one way or another, you still need a smartphone for almost any action. This creates a vicious circle in which all models on the market exist, be it the Moto 360, LG G Watch R or any other Android Wear watch. The situation can only be resolved by Google itself, which will reconsider the approach to the category. But when this will happen and whether it will affect the current models is not yet clear.

According to Hi-Tech.Mail.Ru, the price of the LG G Watch R will be $ 299, and official sales in Russia will start in mid-November.

LG G Watch R does not carry any revolution in this sense, but it compares favorably with the form factor. The fact is that this is the only round watch on Android Wear, except for the good old Moto 360. The latter, by the way, are not officially supplied to Russia with all the consequences. Other manufacturers (Samsung, Sony, ASUS) are in no hurry to release round watches, and in vain. Already with this, LG watches catch attention. But, looking ahead, I can say that the advantages of the model do not end there.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Compatibility: smartphone with Android 4.3 and above
• Operating system: Android Wear (4.4W.2)
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 400, 1.2 GHz
• Memory: 4 GB, RAM 512 MB, no expansion slot
• Screen: P-OLED, 1.3 ”, 320x320 pixels
• Battery: non-replaceable, 410 mAh
• Wireless connection: Bluetooth 4.0
• Ports and connectors: docking station with microUSB
• Dimensions / Weight: 46.4 x 53.6 x 9.7mm (11.1 with frame) / 62g

DESIGN, ERGONOMICS

The first generation G Watch looked too simple for a watch. Actually, there was no special design, a nondescript rectangle with a rubber strap. As a result, even at the lowest price, the model was lost against the background of Android Wear counterparts. In the second version were made correct conclusions... And now LG watches look pretty good. First, they are now round, which is more natural. Secondly, the case is metal and the strap is leather. Thirdly, a hardware button has been added (and also a photoplethysmography sensor (PPG), but more about it later).

For my taste, the G Watch R still falls short of the reference Moto 360 in this regard. But some, on the contrary, prefer LG watches more. In general, taste. In any case, such a comparison is already very good, given that Motorola now has the most beautiful smartwatches on the market. True, if the Americans have unisex, then the Korean watches are suitable mainly for men who will even like the massiveness. Moreover, the G Watch R is only available in black

The case is made of stainless steel, and the application of the scale in a circle makes the model even more like a classic watch, while all the features of Android Wear are available, including changing dials. By the way, 24 branded ones are preinstalled, but more about them later. If the first G Watch had a rubber strap, then calfskin is used here. As a result, the novelty is more pleasant to wear. The strap has a standard 22 mm mount, but changing it yourself is not so easy (but possible).

The function button is located on the right and is stylized as a plant, it even scrolls. In fact, scrolling does nothing (apparently, the limitations of Android Wear did not allow this to be used), and pressing the button can only wake up the watch, and holding it takes you to the settings. There are no other elements on the case. On the back there is an optical heart rate sensor (green LED). The latter has already become a standard attribute of smartwatches, but, by the way, it was not in the first G Watch.

The watch has a photoplethysmography sensor (PPG) - an optical heart rate sensor in the form of a green LED.

Comparison of LG G Watch vs G Watch R:

Filling, operating time, screen

There is a full-fledged moisture and dust protection according to the IP67 standard. This means, among other things, the possibility of immersion in water to a depth of 1 m for up to 30 minutes. The watch has successfully passed the tests, we had no complaints. But this is standard functionality for modern smartwatches, including the Moto 360. But what sets the LG G Watch R apart is the stuffing.

There is a full-fledged moisture and dust protection according to the IP67 standard.

It uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor with a frequency of 1.2 GHz, and a 410 mAh battery (Motorola has an old TI OMAP3630 and a modest 300-320 mAh). The operating time pleasantly surprised: a full charge of the LG watch is enough for honest two days in the mode with the always on screen or up to three days with automatic shutdown display (standard Android Wear functionality). In continuous play mode, the model lasts 3 hours and 26 minutes - this is not an ideal watch owner, but for Android Wear the indicator is worthy, perhaps the best among models based on this OS. The watch is charged for 1 hour 40 minutes, there is no wireless charging.

The operating time of the LG G Watch R was a pleasant surprise. A full charge is enough for the watch for two honest days in a mode with an always-on screen.

The screen of the G Watch R is notable for the fact that for the first time a round matrix based on plastic OLED (P-OLED) technology is used. The size is not the largest (1.3 ”), but at 320x320 it gives a good pixel density. As a result, the picture on the screen looks great. The traditional advantages of OLED technology - good readability in the sun and high energy efficiency - have not gone anywhere. The latter makes a big contribution to the good battery life of the LG G Watch R, since the chipset and battery capacity alone would be small (the Moto 360 uses a more voracious IPS).

For the first time, a circular matrix based on plastic OLED (P-OLED) technology was used.

LG G Watch R have 512 MB random access memory, which is standard for a watch. The connection with a smartphone (only Android is supported) is via Bluetooth 4.0 LE, within about 20-30 meters indoors, which is quite enough. There are many apps for finding a smartphone, which is handy. As usual in Android Wear, there is a hard link to a smartphone, most actions are impossible without it. You won't be able to answer the call either - just reject it or accept it on your smartphone. The platform's functionality is severely limited, but we'll talk about that later.

The watch has 4 GB of built-in memory (similar to the LG G Watch), but they are used for office needs and are not available to the user (again!). There is no expansion slot or even the ability to store data (for example, multimedia). All Android Wear watches are companions, not standalone gadgets, hence the trade-offs. If you require something different, it is better to pay attention to competing systems, for example, Tizen.

Android Wear, software

The LG G Watch R runs on Android Wear 4.4W.2. The main innovations are GPS support and the ability to play music from the watch. In the latter case, we are talking about stream caching and transmission via Bluetooth (there is no usual audio jack in LG watches). The first is for the future, because there is no GPS in this model. More significant changes will be in Android Wear 2.0.

There are 24 branded watch faces, all of them below. In addition, Android Wear allows third-party downloads (such as styling like Apple Watch) and create your own. You can make on your own just such a clock that you specifically like and which no one else will have.

In general, before us - standard android Wear both in terms of interface and functionality. I have already written about this OS in more detail. More than a thousand applications have appeared in the past months, but most of them are useless. Small sales (only 255,000 smartwatches were sold in Europe in the first half of 2014) and resource constraints lower the overall development bar for Android Wear.

The usage scenarios for Android Wear watches are quite specific and mostly boil down to notifications.

The scenarios for using watches on Android Wear are quite specific and mainly boil down to notifications, that is, they still force you to climb behind your smartphone. For example, you can see caller when you are in the cinema, on a bike or just hands are busy. You can dictate the answer (Russian is recognized, but don't dream of punctuation marks). Also available standard commands voice: set an alarm, write a letter, turn on the timer, etc. But for more or less complex tasks - again - you need a smartphone. For example, when navigating on your watch, you will see only direction arrows, and there will be no voice prompts or maps (this is all on a smartphone). Other scenarios are similarly implemented: the watch is a smartphone companion with the most basic functions. For example, you can control music playback from your smartphone (convenient for jogging).

In fairness, it should be noted that among the hundreds of applications mentioned above, there are some quite independent ones, for example, a full-fledged web browser with multitouch support, but there is no Network in the watch (no Wi-Fi or 3G), all from a smartphone. So independence is conditional here. There are also simple toys like shooters from a tower at landing parachutists, but I have a bad idea of ​​a situation when you play on a watch, and not on a smartphone, where the graphics are better, the choice is greater, and the screen diagonal is much more comfortable. So it turns out that the functionality of Android Wear remains highly questionable in terms of the real usefulness of the platform. Let's see if the developers can implement something in the future.

OPINION HI-TECH.MAIL.RU

Compared to the first generation G Watch new model is a big step forward. The design has become more pleasant, ergonomics, characteristics, functionality are better, and the operating time is increased. But the main advantages are, of course, in the exterior of the G Watch R - finally, the LG watch looks like a watch, not an experimental sample. It should be understood that the software models are almost the same, we have a standard Android Wear OS with all that it implies. And the price has grown quite noticeably (in the US $ 299 versus $ 229, for comparison Moto 360 costs $ 249). Due to its massiveness, this watch is not suitable for women, the device is purely masculine. Well, all the owners of iOS, Windows Phone and other alternative OSes by, because Android Wear only works with Android gadgets (due to Google's deep integration).

The LG G Watch R is a good buying candidate for those looking for a round Android Wear watch and not intimidated by the OS's features. On this path, you have two options: a Korean gadget or an American one. The latter is, of course, the famous Moto 360 watch. They are prettier, but the hardware loses. On the side of G Watch R, the best operating time, as well as official deliveries to Russia (warranty, support, etc.). After the price cut, the new LG can be a very interesting purchase, but at the start of sales the watch is overpriced. According to our information, LG G Watch R will appear in Russia in mid-November.

Aside from the high price tag, this is a great watch for Android Wear lovers if you like this design (that's subjective). During testing, they pleasantly surprised us with the operating time and the quality of performance, all other parameters are also at a decent level. This is one of the best and most balanced Android Wear watches. For which they receive from us an honorable recommendation award.

The LG G Watch R is one of the best and most balanced Android Wear watches out there. For which they receive from us an honorable recommendation award.

pros

• Good time work
• Metal case
• Quality OLED screen
• Waterproof and dustproof IP67

Minuses

• Massive body
• High price

We are talking about a relatively new smartwatch from LG with Android Wear, which, as it turned out, was made “for growth”. The filling is good enough - powerful processor, enough memory, with a slot for a SIM card, GPS, NFS ... but with its own nuances. I will review it using the example of used watches bought on ebay.

It was not me who chose the watch, the person threw off the link and asked to buy it. I just saw that the seller was reliable, and then I did not have to waste time on returns / disputes.
In this area I was generally a complete layman and for myself did not even understand why they were needed. Before that, I only held a Chinese type of smart watch in my hands - in fact, it is rather just a reduced phone.

Specifications:

OS Android Wear
Case Stainless Steel 316L, Brushed Metal Finish 45.5 mm Diameter; 14.2 mm Thickness
Chipset 1.2 GHz Qualcomm® Snapdragon ™ 400
Display 1.38 "Full Circle P-OLED (480x480, 348 ppi)
Memory 768 MB / 4 GB eMMC
Battery 570 mAh
Connectivity LTE / 3G, Bluetooth® Version 4.1; Wi-Fi® Connectivity and Offline Music Play
Sensor 9-Axis (Gyro / Accelerometer / Compass) / Barometer / PPG (Heart Rate Sensor)
Protection IP67 Certified; Waterproof for up to 1 meter for 30 minutes

Purchase as usual through an intermediary. 3 days from the seller to the intermediary, another week and the package is in my hands. The weight of the parcel with packaging was 700 grams, for which I paid 93 hryvnias or $ 3.5.
Usually I am not a fan of unpacking, but when I opened this box I could not help but take a picture of its contents:

How many I have bought, but I have not yet met such a filler. :)

I wondered how much I paid for the packaging itself.

Packaging + filler weighs more than a watch in its original box with accessories.
It turns out that out of $ 3.5, I gave about 2 bucks for waste paper. :)

Here is the branded box itself, I put it on the USPS box for size comparison.
Let's move on to the content. The watch was bought second-hand with very clear traces of use, but which are visible only on the back of the watch, and will not be noticeable in use.

The watch screen is simply gorgeous! Practically does not fade in the bright sun.
On the left side is the microphone and speaker hole.

WITH right side 3 buttons. The central one is probably used most often. When pressed, the watch goes into sleep / economy mode and back. When you double-tap, the screen turns off completely, which will give you an increase in autonomy. When you press the top button, you immediately go to the contact list, when you press the bottom button, Google fit (sports tracker) opens.

The silicone strap is quite tough. As you can see, even after not very careful use, there are few traces of use left on it. The material cannot be called pleasant to the touch, but it does not cause any inconvenience on the hand. I want to note right away that the strap here is part of the system's functionality. Gps antennas, communications and others are brought into it ... Therefore, it will simply not be possible to change it for some other one. Or buy from the same model (there is also a leather one for this watch) or put your hands on - on the forum I saw the result of reworking an iron bracelet with the introduction of the necessary antennas into it.

Here you can see the main traces of the used one. Considering that the watch arrived without an opening tool back cover, I think that the main damage is from the fact that the previous owner tried to open them inaccurately with a screwdriver or something else. In order to insert a SIM card, I had to use a dental instrument. The cover is clamped very tightly. From the characteristics it follows that the watch is protected according to the IP67 standard - this is certainly not enough to use it under water, but on the forum I saw the owners who used the watch while surfing, and the watch did not bend after that. But the watch is not mine, and I did not test it myself.
The holes in the heart rate sensor are visible on the cover. As well as contacts for magnetic charging.

The charger connects easily, and keeps up normally. On the other end of the usb wire, but when I connected it to the computer with my own wire, it was not determined in any way, it just started charging.

In addition to the cord, the kit also included the charging itself, according to the characteristics of which it gives out a current of 0.85A.

The first thing after I got it out of the box, I immediately tried it on on my hand. Because this nuance worries me more than all the technical bells and whistles.

Unlike those knobs that I once saw earlier from the Chinese, the watch looked quite organic and did not protrude in any way on the hand.

Now more about the functionality.
As I said, this watch was completely new to me, and I never thought about it at all. But when I got them in my hands, I became interested - why do people need them at all.
I had to google a lot to understand the general principle of the clock on AW, and how to work with them in general.

Immediately after turning on and connecting them to the phone, you will not be able to start using them. First, you need to install on the phone Android app wear.

After installing the application, the clock was first updated for a long time, and then it was synchronized even longer.

While the clock was synchronized, I studied with curiosity the second mode of the clock - power saving, this is when the image becomes less bright and black / white. The modes are changed by the gyroscope - if you turn the watch towards you, we see a beautiful color picture, if you lower your hand, or turn away from yourself, the economy mode is activated.

The application itself in the phone disappointed with its relatively low functionality - you can change the dial from it, go directly to the desired category in the play market.

A couple of settings for the watch itself are also available.

To make a screen on the clock screen, you need to send a request to create a screenshot in this application, wait about a minute and when the clock icon appears in the notification curtain, choose where to send this screen. I just couldn't find how to save the picture on my phone.

So right after switching on, we see a beautiful classic dial.

The dials in the watch can be changed not only from the application in the phone (although you will have to install new ones in the BB), just hold your finger on the screen a little and it will offer you to choose from what is installed:

Each dial has a beautiful functional look, where the time, date, compass, altitude, distance traveled, the remaining charge of the watch can be displayed ...

And also a simplified view for energy-saving b / w mode

First of all, we are looking for information about the system:

The main thing here is Android version wear.
If you look for the description of the operating system, then you will read that this is the OS for additional devices that can work in conjunction with the phone.
And indeed so - with version 1.5, the watch is very dependent on the phone to which it is attached, and very little knows how without it - to call from the SIM card inserted into the watch, listen to music synchronized via google play, use a fitness tracker. The NFC built into the phone cannot be used in any way, despite the built-in GPS module, the location is taken from the BB ...
The watch changes a lot after installing AW 2.0 - it becomes more independent and can use more of its technical capabilities. For example, the watch can be used without a phone as a GPS tracker using its own built-in GPS module. We can say that the watch was released and sent on sale long before it could be 100% used.
Since at the moment officially AW 2.0 has not yet been released (they promised in May), and only those who risked installing the firmware for developers appreciated the new features.

So, as I said above, the watch is actually an external accessory for your phone. All notifications are displayed on them, which are usually shown in the upper curtain.
Therefore, the applications on the watch are extensions of the applications on your phone. Those applications that support AW will appear on the watch itself. Somewhere they will only be able to report on some events, somewhere they will be able to work as a remote control. For example, as with music - if you turn on the music on the phone, a status appears on the screen with the name of the song and the ability to switch songs, sound control ... I had a small dictaphone in my phone, so the same application appeared on the watch with a button to start this dictaphone ...
To get into the list of these applications, just swipe left on the screen.

There are also applications that can use the built-in capabilities of the watch itself, for example, the heart rate monitor application. To check your heart rate right on your phone, you need to put your finger on the camera. The watch uses a built-in sensor for this.

You can start a map on the clock, and look at the clock to navigate the streets. True, as I already wrote, despite the fact that the "location" option is enabled on the watch itself, the location will be taken from the phone. And if the phone is turned off and you try to use the maps, the watch will try to determine its location for a long time and will not do it, despite the presence of built-in GPS.

This is how the card looks in economical, black and white mode.

There are even a few very primitive games that can be played right on the watch.

Calls can be received using the built-in microphone and speaker. If the street nearby is not noisy, then you can somehow talk. Otherwise, you will have to put the watch close to your ear.
You can connect a wireless headset to the watch and talk through it. But if you connected the watch to the phone as an audio device (and answer phone calls from the watch), then you will not be able to connect the headset to them.
In terms of Wifi and bluetooth range, I did not test in detail, but leaving the phone in one room, I calmly walked around the apartment and the clock kept confidently in touch.

Autonomy.
Since I had a watch for a couple of days, I decided to wear it a little and test it in order to understand - what is the point of them in general Everyday life... The first day, of course, I climbed into the clock to look at every little thing, constantly trying to find something else new. In such a fairly active mode, without reducing the brightness, without turning off any wireless interfaces, the charge was enough until the end of the day, i.e. hours at 10-12.
The next day, after taking them off the charge, I used it as I would use it at home - I climbed there only when notifications came, looked at the time, did not talk after hours, did not turn off wifi, left the default brightness - 5. As a result, the clock lasted about two days.

I read on the forum that by turning off wifi, the screen, to reduce the brightness to a minimum during activity, some achieved work for up to 3 days. Although, when buying, I would expect that I will have to charge every day.

Conclusions:
My conclusions cannot be called objective, since I had no previous experience with such smartwatches. But on the whole, my impression was positive, for all the time I did not notice any glitches. The screen is very impressive, the dimensions themselves and in general visually look great. My friends took them for ordinary hours, until I received a notification on them - their eyes were round like 5 kopecks. :) Of the minuses, I can only note that at the moment the watch cannot fully use all its capabilities due to the outdated operating system. And also a relatively short battery life - they will have to be charged every day along with the phone. The price tag is certainly not comparable to the Chinese for 30-60 bucks, but this is not 250-350 bucks, which I also saw in May.

UPD: Since everyone pounced on me in the comments, for what I called this watch the best, I will write down why I decided so. Yes, I held only this model in my hands, but I previously studied what else is on the market with Android wear OS - in terms of technical parameters, this model is second only to Tag Heuer Connected, which has a price tag of 10 !!! times higher. This item immediately throws them out of the comparison list. At a price of up to $ 200 with such capabilities on AW, I did not even find anything close. And they look really cool! If I'm wrong, write in the comments - I'll be happy to study this issue in more detail.

Also, a small video review, do not kick too much - I shot it for the first time:

I plan to buy +15 Add to favourites I liked the review +27 +54