LG G Watch Release Date, Features & Cost: Early Reviews Say No Power Button, Screen Too Big
LG has revealed that both the G3 and the Android Wear-based G Watch will be available worldwide. AT&T has become one of the first American carriers to sell the phone. Both devices will become available beginning July 11 but interested customers may begin to pre-order the devices as early as July 8.
According to Gadgets.ndtv, "The company has confirmed that the LG G Watch will be available both online as well as in physical stores in twelve countries, including - Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Spain, South Korea, United Kingdom, and United States. While [it] will be up for grabs from physical retailers in fifteen countries, among which include Brazil, Mexico, Russia, Singapore and New Zealand."
LG marks its supremacy as the first tech company to release an Android Wear device. The G3 watch will sell for $229, the same price as it's been tagged by Google Play Store while it will be available for $199 with a two-year contract. Customers also have the choice to pay $29 per month in one year's worth of next installments.
"We've been working diligently to be the first U.S. carrier to offer the brand new LG G Watch and among the first to offer the LG G3 smartphone on the nation's most reliable 4G LTE network," quotes MarketWatch.com of Jeff Bradley, senior vice president - Devices, AT&T.
"AT&T offers one of the largest and best selections of LG devices and these products take our device portfolio to the next level. The LG G3 is a cutting-edge device and our first in a next-gen Quad HD display," he adds.
The device's early entry into the smartwatch market pits it directly against the Moto 360 which is expected to bow into the market sometime late in the summer.
When it comes to the watch's specs, it's got a 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor; 512MB of RAM, an IP67 rating with dust and water resistance; an always-on 1.65-inch IPS (280x280 pixels) display; 4GB built-in storage, a 400mAh battery, Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity, and a 9-axis sensor. The device weighs 63g and has the following dimensions: 37.9x46.5x9.95mm.
According to early reviews, the G Watch is seen as a non-descript and generic watch that won't really turn heads. Gizmag writes that the band feels a bit "cheap" but consumers may opt to swap the band for any 22mm strap.
"The bezels are a little large but not a deal breaker. The watch itself sits a little high off of the wrist and is a bit large but again, not in a way that makes me want to get rid of it," write Techaeris. Another review noted that the watch is a bit too wide and thick making it too large for the average female wrist.
It was also noted that the "always on" feature drains the battery and doesn't give the user an option to turn down the display.