What's the best smartwatch?
The 10 best smartwatches you can buy today - best smartwatch reviews, best wearable tech reviews
Best smartwatch 2015: Why do I need a smartwatch?
There's an interesting theory that smartwatches are to the smartphone what wristwatches were to the pocket watch. Picture the way the average gentlemen used to have to rummage through his pocket for his watch prior to the 20th century - now skip forward 100+ years and the average smartphone user still has to dive into his/her pocket to check their phone. Read: The best smartphones: The best phone you can buy in 2016.
The kicker now is that your smartphone holds far more information than a pocket watch ever did, yet all of which is still locked into your pocket. The theory behind smartwatches is not for you to make calls with and speak into, like Inspector Gadget, but instead they provide a quick and easy way to check what notifications are on your smartphone, so you can decide whether it's worth delving into your pocket or searching around your bag to fetch your smartphone or not.
Best smartwatch 2015: What makes a good smartwatch?
So when testing for what is the best smartwatch, the important factors to consider are how much of your smartphone's functionalities can it perform, and how well does it handle each task, the final attribute is obviously style - it's still bling after all.
You'll also want to make sure it's compatible with your smartphone - some are only for iPhone or Android while others support most phones. Note that Android Wear now has iOS support but the experience is cut down in comparison. Some smartwatches use different software such as the Gear S2 which runs Tizen, Samsung's own OS - it's a legitimate alternative to Android Wear
.
As is stands, you'll need to pick a watch with more limited functionality if you want long battery life while ones which can do all sorts will typically last a couple of days. Fitness fans will want to look for a device with a heart rate monitor and built-in GPS, although the heart rate monitors are often poor.
We consider the important factors of a smartwatch to be level of notification detail, battery life, style, water resistance, compatibility with a range of devices/smartphones, plus additional features such as microphones Wi-Fi support so you don't have to connect to a phone for full functionality.
With very similar, if not identical, hardware on offer with many of the Android Wear smartwatches, a large part of the decision will come down to design and price.
Best smartwatches 2015
10. Samsung Gear 2
The Samsung Gear 2 is a stylish smartwatch packed with features but has limited appeal due to small list of compatible devices. It's still too bulky and many of those features don't work well or are unnecessary. Then there's the high price tag which means unless what the Gear 2 has to offer is genuinely what you want a smartwatch for, you'll be better off elsewhere.
9. Sony SmartWatch 2
Sony SmartWatch 2 is a good value for money smart watch. It improves on the original version in key areas such as design, battery life and showing the time. With plenty of apps to download and use, there's lots of functionality too.
8. LG G Watch
The LG G Watch is the best smartwatch we've reviewed so far, partly due to the affordable price tag and the excellent, albeit not flawless, Android Wear system. You will need a device with Android 4.3 or later, though. The design of the G Watch doesn't wow so check out the Gear Live and the upcoming Moto 360.
7. Apple Watch
We can't help but think that Apple has tried to do too much with this first generation Apple Watch. There are so many ways of interacting with it and so many different features and elements to get used to that the learning curve is surprisingly steep. It takes a lot of getting used to, and at times it feels counter-intuitive, something we're not use to with Apple devices.
That's why we'd struggle to recommend spending the £299 or more it'll cost you to buy this smartwatch. As is often the case, waiting for the second generation of the Apple Watch is likely to be a wise move, because Apple is going to learn a lot from this first generation smartwatch and from the customers and fans that are using it.
6. Microsoft Band 2
It is very difficult to score the Band 2, because it is such a specific product with a unique feature set. But let's unpack it: it is definitely good value, as the combination of sensors and features is much greater than any comparable product at this price. And it is well made if not the last word in elegance, nor with perfect battery life. If you are looking for a GPS runner's or cyclist's watch it is a good one at a good price, and it also offers the productivity and sleep tracking. And if you want a smartwatch you will like what the Band 2 does, but you may hanker after the ability to compose and send messages. Simply, I don't. I like to wear my dumb watch, and I like for my phone to stay in my pocket rather than on my wrist. So for me the Band 2 is a winner.
5. Sony SmartWatch 3
The SmartWatch 3's biggest strength is its built-in GPS, but you'll still need a smartphone for driving directions. It's also great to see a standard USB charging port. The transflective screen is a good idea, but in practice battery life is no better than other smartwatches with better-looking screens. Ultimately, unless you're on a fixed budget, the G Watch R is the better choice. If you can't afford that, wait a few months: the price is bound to drop.
4. Samsung Gear S2
Based on our time with the Samsung Gear S2, we think it's a sleek smartwatch with an attractive design. It offers fairly standard smartwatch features like fitness tracking, but also includes some rather interesting features including a rotating bezel used for navigating the UI and enhanced app capabilities. At £249, it sits itself alongside the likes of the Moto 360 2, and we think the Gear S2 is a great, if not better option for Android users – especially with a custom, intuitive UI.
3. Motorola Moto 360 2
The new 2nd-generation Moto 360 is a decent smartwatch offering excellent build quality and hardware. The value is good if you avoid the extras on the Moto Maker but they are hard to resist. Battery life is fairly good and performance too apart from the odd moment. All of this is leading to a whole hearted recommendation, if only Motorola had made the one change we wanted – removing that flat tyre from the display. As much as we like the Moto 360, it's hard to look past this, as small as it may seem.
2. Huawei Watch
At a lower price, the Huawei Watch would be the best Android Wear smartwatch on the market but it's a little too much for our liking. Although it's absolutely stunning and the build quality is exquisite, the watch lacks GPS, the heart rate monitor doesn't work very well and the charger is fiddly.
1. LG Watch R
Quite rightly, LG has decided to launch a round screen version of its first Android Wear device in the form of the G Watch R. It adds much needed style and class to the smartwatch and has an excellent round screen which doesn't have a section missing. It's a shame that it's more expensive than the Moto 360 but if you're going to spend £200, £25 isn't much extra. As long as you like the design of it over the Moto 360 which is down to personal taste.
Since all the Android Wear smartwatches run the same software, design is an extremely important area when making a buying decision. The advantage of the G Watch R, if you can afford it, is that it's the most normal looking smartwatch around. Whether you personally like the look or not is a personal matter and a watch is a fashion item so this could immediately put you off buying it.
We like the look of the G Watch R and despite appearances, it's actually thinner than the Moto 360 at 11.4 mm compared to 11.9 mm. It doesn't sound like much but a fair bit of that measurement is simply the bezel around the edge which is pointy.
The watch is also pretty light at 61 g which is less that it looks and like rivals it is IP67 rated so is completely protected from dust and water resistant for up to 30 minutes at a maximum depth of one metre.
Build quality is good with a stainless steel body – we can only find the black model although there was a silver one on show at IFA 2014 which is where we first saw the device. Included is a leather strap and you can switch it for any standard 22mm alternative if you want which is good. It's plain black and although LG had various on display in Berlin we can't find them for sale anywhere.
The main disadvantage to the design is that it's quite large, like others, meaning that females are likely to find it huge. LG only has one image of a woman wearing the G Watch R on its site and we know why. The firm along with others, are probably kicking themselves after Apple announced two different sizes of the Apple Watch.
LG G WATCH HANDS-ON REVIEW: HARDWARE AND SPECS
We're seeing almost identical specs across all the Android Wear smartwatches with a few little differences here and there. The core hardware is a familiar Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 1.2 GHz processor, 512MB of RAM and 4GB of internal storage. We've had no problems with performance on any Android Wear smartwatches.
A battery size of 410 mAh is pretty typical and there's the usual array of sensors including a gyro, compass, accelerometer. An additional feature which you don't always find is the heart rate monitor which sits on the back and a barometer for altitude. Unfortunately the heart rate monitor tends to take a good while to record a measurement and often fails.
See also: Samsung Gear S hands-on review.
Unlike the Moto 360, it will only take a reading when you ask it to which helps with battery life. While the Motorola only lasted us a day, the LG has made its way through 3-4 days on average although this will drop to a couple if you have the screen set to always on and you use it a lot.
Matching the original G Watch, this smartwatch charges via a magnetic dock. It works fine but we'd rather have the wireless charging of the Moto 360 which also shows the time and progress while docked.
The 1.3in screen might sound small but looks great in circular form and easy to use with Android Wear. The display itself is P-OLED and has a resolution of 320 x 320. In regular watch mode, you'd be forgiven for thinking the moving hands were real.
Important in the fight with the Moto 360, the G Watch R doesn't have the bottom part of the screen cut off or the slightly annoying moiré effect around the edge since there's no bevelled edge to the glass. LG points out, and quite rightly so, that it's 'full circle'.
LG G WATCH HANDS-ON REVIEW: SOFTWARE
If you've got this far in the review, you'll know that the G Watch R comes with Android Wear. You can use Google's wearable OS with any Android device running version 4.3 or later by connecting it over Bluetooth. You'll get essentially the same experience as other smartwatches with Android Wear – the main difference is the circular screen rather than square.
More: http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/review/smart-watches/lg-g-watch-r-review-3543856/
LG G WATCH: SPECS
- LG G Watch: Specs
- Android Wear
- 22mm (0.86inch) Changeable Watch Strap
- 1.65in IPS LCD (280x280)
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor with 1.2GHz CPU
- 512MB RAM
- 4GB internal storage
- Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy
- Micro USB on Charging Cradle
- 9 Axis (Accelerometer/Compass/Gyro)
- 37.9 x 46.5 x 9.95 mm
- 63 g
- 400 mAh
Android Wear is upon us and is Google's version of the popular mobile OS specifically designed for wearable devices like smartwatches. The LG G Watch is one of two launch products for the platform alongside the Samsung Gear Live so here's our full LG G Watch review. Read: The best smartwatches of 2014: List of the best wearable tech you can buy right now.
The wearable sector is one of the fastest growing in technology and if you haven't been convinced to buy a smartwatch yet, perhaps Android Wear is the reason you need. Smartwatches have been, at times, good but almost always lacking in some way or another.
As you might expect, Android Wear ties in with the main OS and aims to bring things forward in terms of both style and functionality. "Android Wear organises your information, suggests what you need and shows it to you before you even ask." says Google. See also: What is Google Android Wear?
LG G WATCH REVIEW: DESIGN AND BUILD
Out of the three announced Android Wear smartwatches, the LG G Watch is certainly the plainest looking. It's an understated square black slab with little going on – not even a button on the side. Perhaps this stealth style will appeal to some but to us it looks like LG's design department got a basic idea together then went to pub never to return and finish the project. The 'White Gold' model is a little more interesting but is likely too feminine in appearance for male consumers.
Smartwatches tend to be a bit bulky and the G Watch is about the thickness of a smartphone at 9.95 mm. We'd rather it was thinner but it doesn't feel too big when you've got it on. Weight isn't a problem at 63 g.
The G Watch comes with a rubber strap which has a nice smooth finish making it more comfortable than most and less clammy in hot conditions (although it's definitely not sweat-resistant). If for whatever reason you don't like the supplied strap, you can change it for any standard 22mm replacement which is always a good feature to include. This way you could spend a few quid to improve things on the style front with perhaps a contrasting stainless steel strap.
With no physical buttons, it's a little difficult to know what to do with the G Watch once you take it out of the box. To save you reading the instruction manual, simply put the watch on its charging cradle. There is a reset button on the back should you need it which you need a SIM removal tool or similar to push.
Last but not least on the design front, is the G Watch's waterproof credentials. It has an IP67 rating matching the Samsung Galaxy S5 smartphone meaning it's completely dust tight and can be submerged in up to 1m of water for a maximum of 30 minutes.
On a practical level, this means you can leave the G Watch on in the shower or go for a paddle with it without worry. Possibly more beneficial is the ability to simply wash it under a tap if it gets sweaty or dirty.
LG G WATCH REVIEW: HARDWARE AND PERFORMANCE
Even though the G Watch is the least exciting Android Wear device in terms of looks, you get some decent specs for your money.
The most important element of a smartwatch is the screen which on the G Watch is an IPS LCD panel, 1.65in in size. It looks great with nicely popping colours and a decent resolution at 280 x 280 although we've seen better. The size is just about right in order to provide enough space for information but not feel too big on your wrist.
Although it's advertised as 'always on' you can opt against this in the settings menu of Android Wear. It simply means you have to turn the screen on with a tap when you want it. If you do leave it 'always on' the device will automatically dim to conserve battery life.
Under the stealthy black exterior is a competent 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor with 512MB of RAM. About what you'd find in a mid-range smartphone and we've had no problems with performance on the G Watch – it's as nippy as you like and will also appear to be laggy if you companion smartphone or tablet doesn't have a data connection.
The G Watch, as you would expect, connects to a smartphone via Bluetooth (4.0 Low Energy) and other specs include a 4GB of internal storage, a built-in mic, accelerometer, gyro and compass sensors and a 400mAh battery. We'll talk about what some of this hardware is for later.
Like a smartphone, a smartwatch with an LCD screen will vary on battery life depending on how much you use it. We've been using the G Watch with the screen set to off to get the best possible battery life and it will easily last a few days without needing to be charged. Heavy users will get about 3-4 days use while lighter users will get up to a week.
As we mentioned earlier, the G Watch charges by way of a cradle. The watch sits in place easily thanks to magnets and charges via five small metal contacts. It works perfectly well and we're impressed with how quickly the G Watch reaches 100 percent but if you don't have the cradle then you have no way of charging up which can be frustrating.
LG G Watch review hardware
LG G WATCH REVIEW: ANDROID WEAR SETUP AND COMPATIBILITY
Once you've turned the G Watch on for the first time you'll be asked to select your language, then you'll be prompted to download the Android Wear app to a smartphone or tablet. It's free in the Google Play store.
If you have Bluetooth switches on, your companion device will easily find the G Watch and you'll be paired up quickly. Following a quick and helpful tutorial on how to navigate Android Wear you're away and ready to use the device.
It's a wonderfully quick and easy process that even beginner Android users will be able to understand and follow.
It's worth pointing out that the device which you want to connect the G Watch to needs to be running version 4.3 Jelly Bean or later. If you're unsure about compatibility, visit g.co/WearCheck on your device before splashing out.
LG G WATCH REVIEW: ANDROID WEAR FEATURES AND USABILITY
We're onto Android Wear itself so bear in mind that the system isn't exclusive to the G Watch while you read this section.
That aforementioned tutorial will get you up to speed with how to navigate and use the user interface but even if you breeze through it paying no attention you won't find it hard or time consuming to get accustomed to Android Wear. The interface is extremely user friendly unlike some previous Android-powered smartwatches.
In a nutshell, it's like have Google Now on your wrist and if that means nothing to you then Android Wear uses a card style system where each notification gets its own card. You swipe up and down through all the available cards to view them, swipe right to dismiss or clear on and swipe left for more information.
A slightly annoying thing is that there's no way of recalling a card If you accidentally swipe it away. There's also no way of choosing the order in which the cards are displayed either which would be nice.
One of the most common cards, for example, is weather and will show current information but swiping left will give you a four day forecast. Each card is given an appropriate background wallpaper which is a nice touch.
The main advantage of a smartwatch is getting notifications from your smartphone tablet without getting it out of a pocket or bag. Many smartwatch makers have tried to pack in too many additional features but Android Wear gets the basics right.
More: http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/review/smart-watches/lg-g-watch-review-3532599/
