The LG Watch Style and Watch Sport are “designed with Google,” and set the standard for Android Wear 2.0 smartwatches.
Android Wear 2.0 is officially here, and while the update is due to roll out to current smartwatches in the “coming weeks,” you can experience it as soon as February 10 with LG’s all-new Watch Style and Watch Sport models.
LG’s two new smartwatches were “designed in collaboration with Google” — most likely in a similar fashion to how most Nexus devices were built. Both devices serve different purposes, if you can’t tell from their very basic names. The Watch Style is the smaller, elegant option with swappable bands, and the Watch Sport is bulkier, bigger, but packs way more features.
If you want the best Google and Android Wear have to offer, the LG Watch Sport is your best bet. While Sport is in its name, it looks just as elegant as the Watch Style — albeit bigger and thicker.
The Watch Sport has a 1.38-inch, full-circle Polymer-OLED display, and its screen packs a 480 x 480-pixel resolution with 348 pixels-per-inch. It’s powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear 2100 processor with 768MB of RAM. It houses a 430mAh battery and has 4GB of internal storage, and you’ll find the following sensors: GPS, Bluetooth, NFC, Wi-Fi, accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer, a PPG to measure heart rate, and an ambient light sensor.
NFC means you can now use Android Pay — a new addition in Android Wear 2.0. The Watch Sport also allows for cellular connectivity, making it equally useful when your phone isn’t nearby.
The screen is covered by the stainless steel case and Gorilla Glass 3 — all of which helps make it 14.2mm thick. It’s IP68 dust- and water-resistant, meaning you can take it for a dive a little deeper than 1 meter for more than 30 minutes. The strap is made of thermoplastic polyurethane, but unfortunately it isn’t compatible with Android Mode’s snap-and-swap bands.
There are three buttons with specific functions on the right side of the watch that help make it look sporty. One triggers Google Fit and another Android Pay — in the middle is a rotating power button that lets you call upon Google Assistant when you hold it down. Google Assistant is also a new addition in Android Wear 2.0.
The Watch Sport’s colors are titanium, and a gorgeous dark blue.
