Motorola managed to turn quite a few heads with the Moto 360 smartwatch, an Android Wear device that took the most basic watch design and further enhanced it by adding smart features. However, while Motorola is yet to fully disclose all the details about Moto 360, LG is already out with its second Android Wear smartwatch, which also happens to be a Moto 360 rival, at least when it comes to design: the G Watch R.
The smartwatch features a circular 1.3-inch plastic OLED (P-OLED) display with 320 x 320 resolution, 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of storage, 410mAh battery and Android Wear under the hood.
The G Watch R is also IP67 certified for dust and water resistance, and features a “durable stainless steel frame,” and interchangeable 22mm calf skin leather strap.
The device should launch at some point in the fourth quarter of the year, with prices yet to be revealed.
The full press release follows below.
LG READYING SNEAK PEEK OF NEW G WATCH R AT IFA 2014
New Android Wearable First to Feature Full Circle P-OLED Display
SEOUL, Aug. 28, 2014 — Following the June release of one of the first-to-market wearable device powered by Android Wear™, LG Electronics (LG) is quickly expanding its wearable product offerings with the unveiling a new Android Wear device — the LG G Watch R at IFA 2014 in Berlin next week. The LG G Watch R is the world’s first watch-style wearable device to feature a circular Plastic OLED (P-OLED) display and utilizes 100 percent of its watch face.
The most eye-catching feature of the LG G Watch R is its 1.3-inch full circle P-OLED display that produces stunning image clarity even under bright sunlight and superb clarity when viewed from any angle. Powered by a powerful 1.2GHz Snapdragon 400 processor, the LG G Watch R offers 4GB of storage, 512MB of RAM and a durable 410mAh battery. This Android wearable will effortlessly run all compatible apps available in the Google Play Store and with an Ingress Protection Rating of IP67, the LG G Watch R is designed to run for up to 30 minutes in one meter of water.
With Android Wear™ at its core, the LG G Watch R delivers essential and relevant information exactly at the right time and place. With a suite of LG health and fitness apps, users can also monitor their heart rate with the support of the embedded photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor. And the smart notifications provide users with important reminders of missed calls and messages, upcoming meetings, events, and local weather forecasts.
With an artisanal elegance, the LG G Watch R boasts a refined aesthetic that is reminiscent of traditional timepieces. Replete with a circular watch face, this elegantly crafted Android wearable has classic curves encased in a strong, durable stainless steel frame and carries a suite of watch faces that are accessible with a simple touch of the display. Its interchangeable 22mm calf skin leather strap also complements its overall aesthetic, giving it an air of modern prestige.
“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,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, president and CEO of the LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “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.”
The LG G Watch R will be available in key markets early in the fourth quarter of 2014. Prices and details of availability will be announced locally at the time of launch. Visitors to IFA can see LG G Watch R up close in Hall 11.2 of Messe Berlin from September 5-10.
Key Specifications:
￭ Chipset: 1.2GHz Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 400
￭Ÿ Display: 1.3-inch P-OLED Display (320 x 320)
￭ Memory: 4GB eMMC / 512MB RAM
￭ Battery: 410mAh
￭Ÿ Operating System: Android Wear™ (compatible with smartphones running Android 4.3 and above)
￭Ÿ Sensors: 9-Axis (Gyro/ Accelerometer/ Compass), Barometer, PPG (Heart Rate Monitor)
￭ Color: Black
￭Ÿ Other: Dust and Water Resistant (IP67)
