LG has officially introduced its new smartwatch – G Watch R – featuring a round display. The smartwatch has 1.3-inch plastic OLED panel with 320 by 320 resolution.
The G Watch R is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor running at 1.2 GHz along with 512MB of RAM. It runs Android Wear, Google's custom operating system for wearable devices, and is compatible with smartphones running Android 4.3 and above.
The smartwatch comes with 4GB of built-in storage. It features sensors such as Gyro/ Accelerometer/ Compass), Barometer, PPG. The G Watch R has IP67 certification to make it dust and water resistant. The smartwatch is powered by a 410 mAh battery. The G Watch R promises “smart notifications” for missed calls and messages, upcoming meetings, events, and local weather forecasts.
The main highlight of the device is the circular watch face. The screen is hemmed in by stainless steel frame, and comes with 22mm interchangeable calf skin leath strap.
LG will be officially unveiling the G Watch R at IFA 2014 Berlin next week. The smartwatch will be available in select markets starting the fourth quarter of the year. There's no word on the pricing yet.
"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," says 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."
LG's new G Watch R is a significant upgrade over the original G Watch launched few months ago. Despite being one of the first ones to launch Android Wear based devices, LG did not manage to create a buzz like Motorola did with its Moto 360, which also has a round display. With the G Watch R, LG has tried to steal Motorola's thunder.
Samsung has also launched its new smartwatch, while Asus is also planning to launch one soon.
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