Everything we know about the LG G Watch
The LG G Watch has been officially unveiled but there is still much we don’t know about the device, including the exact LG G Watch release date is and how much it will cost.
Confirmed back in March as the first wearable to run the new Android Wear OS, the LG G Watch is set to go head-to-head with the likes of the Samsung Gear 2 and Motorola Moto 360 in the growing smartwatch space.
Despite announcing the timepiece will touch down in Q2 of this year, a timeframe which runs until the end of June, LG has remained coy on exact G Watch specs and details. Despite the manufacturer keeping schtum, a number of G Watch specs and features have surfaced.
Here’s everything you need to know about the LG G Watch, including details on the G Watch price and launch. We will continue to update this post as new details emerge so bookmark it now to keep up-to-date.
LG G Watch Release Date
A precise LG G Watch release date is unkown, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have a pretty good idea as to when the smartwatch will hit retailers.
LG has been quite open in confirming the G Watch release date will be held during the year’s second quarter, although a more accurate arrival time has been hard to come by.
"You can expect it in quarter two of this year, so very, very quickly," James Marshall, LG’s European Director of Mobile Communications said while speaking exclusively with TrustedReviews recently.
Despite LG failing to narrow down the Q2 launch window, several sources have claimed that the LG G Watch release date is set for late June.
Indeed, the G Watch release date could be confirmed later this month. LG has revealed that it will host a ‘G’ branded press conference on May 27, an event which will likely see the G Watch presented in more detail.
Despite marking the manufacturer’s return to the smartwatch race after a five year absence, the LG G Watch release date looks set to share the limelight – and the launch stage – with the company’s latest flagship smartphone, the LG G3. It has been suggested that the two products will hit shop shelves on the same day, with bundle packages potentially being offered.
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LG G Watch Price
LG has yet to announce an official LG G Watch price, but much speculation – and a fair few leaks – give us some inkling.
With the rival Samsung Gear 2 setting wannabe owners back a lofty £250, LG has suggested that the LG G Watch will be considerably cheaper.
According to leaks out of France, the G Watch price will be set below the €200 (£164) mark on the continent.
"LG France confirms that the G Watch shows available in our region in the month of June, and costs only 199 €," Les Numeriques reported.
What’s more, LG officials have offered more precise LG G Watch price details for the UK.
Speaking at a recent product showcase, the Korean manufacturer is said to have confirmed the LG G Watch price will be sub-£180 when launched on British shores. Finalised pricing is expected during the May 27 event.
LG G Watch Specs
Again, LG has yet to detail the G Watch’s full specs sheet, instead preferring to tease certain elements of the watch and let further details trickle out.
Unlike the Motorola Moto 360 – currently the only other Android Wear smartwatch confirmed for launch – the LG G Watch will feature a square display. While LG has yet to reveal the exact size or quality of this wrist-based panel, reports claim a 1.65-inch screen.
Although unconfirmed, if accurate this would see the LG G Watch line up almost identical in size to the 1.63-inch Samsung Gear 2 Neo.
Size aside, what is official is that the LG G Watch screen will be an always on affair. While we are not sure how damaging this will be to the watch’s battery life, LG best have something clever up its sleave to avoid nightly trips to the charger. On the plus-side, an always-on display will help better bridge the gap between standard and smart watches.
Sadly, as revealed in the images of the device, the LG G Watch will not support standard microUSB recharging. The watch has been shown featuring a propriety five point charging mount, a feature that is to require the need of not just a special cable, but a full charging dock.
The LG G Watch will be available in two colours – black and white, with the white strapped option featuring a gold frame to the body. Both will be IP67 water and dust resistant, handy for those trips to the beach and for use during sporting activities.
While you might not get away with swimming in the G Watch, there will be no need to worry about splashes and spillages.
Importantly, LG has avoided falling into the same pitfall as Samsung when it comes to the watch’s connectivity and compatibilities options.
Capitalising on the Gear 2’s faults, much in the same vein as the Sony SmartWatch 2, the G Watch will be compatible with a "wide range of Android smartphones," not just LG’s own offerings. A full list of compatible devices has yet to be announced.
LG G Watch Features
For those who remember the ambitious LG Watch Phone of 2009, the LG G Watch is set to mark a considerable step forward. According to the manufacturer, the G Watch will be "an entirely new beast" to its past wearables efforts, a statement backed up by the LG G Watch features list.
Leading this list is the Android Wear OS at the device’s heart. Marking a new breed of smartwatches, the LG G Watch is the first device to run the wearable-centric extension of Google’s Android software.
According to Google, Android Wear is about "glanceable, actionable" information, with a simple, touch and voice command based interface.
The Android Wear base will see the smartphone connected G Watch relay messaging and notification alerts direct to your wrist. With the LG G Watch packing an integrated microphone and speaker, the watch will also let you control the device simply by saying ‘Ok, Google’ followed by your desired command.
Bringing everything from mapping and weather details direct to your wrist, the LG G Watch will also include a range of inbuilt sensors, such as a gyroscope and accelerometer to better track location-based details. What’s more, this collection of sensors will allow for fitness tracking features when paired with apps.
We fully expect LG to confirm all the final LG G Watch details by May 27 so stay tuned to TrustedReviews for all the latest on one of the most exciting wearables of the year.