The first Android Wear watches hit the market this week, with LG and Samsung leading the charge and serving up the first devices using the new smartwatch platform. LG launched the G Watch, and Samsung fired back with its Gear Live smartwatch. Each device is a member of the next generation of “smart” wearables.
Sizing Them Up
All Android Wear watches run the same OS, which opens the door to a bevy of shared feature sets that keep users remotely connected to their smartphones. This leaves buyer choice largely dependent on aesthetics and hardware: The LG G Watch sports a 280 by 280 pixel, 1.65-inch LCD IPS display, while the Samsung offering offers a 320 by 320 pixel Super AMOLED display at 1.63 inches. Though almost identical in size, the screen performance should be noticeably different judging by their respective resolutions.
“The G Watch also outshines the Gear Live when it comes to outdoor visibility, though that difference is far less pronounced,” Computerworld reports, reflecting on their hands-on time with the device.
Life and Storage
The G Watch will likely outlast the Gear Live with its 400mAh battery. The new entry from Samsung features a smaller 300mAh battery, yet the inevitable bloatware running on both of the devices could detract from their potential longevity.
Tangible, objective differences are few. Each device has an internal storage capacity of 4GB and uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 1.4GHz processor clocked.
Where to Buy
Both the Samsung Gear Live and the LG G Watch will be available for purchase from the Google Play Store. The G Watch costs $229, while the Gear Live is a bit more affordable at $199. Both must be paired with another Android device running OS version 4.3 or later.
Are you ready to don an Android Wear device, or are you waiting for the anticipated Moto 360 Android Wear device speculated to launch this fall?
Image courtesy of Flickr
[cf]skyword_tracking_tag[/cf]