By Jonathan Keane
The Apple Watch isn’t the only smartwatch show in town. Google’s own wearable operating system, Android Wear, plays host to devices from manufacturers like Motorola and Samsung. Android Wear was also recently updated with several new features for future watches to compete with the Apple Watch. Here are some of the best Android Wear watches currently out there.
Moto 360
When it comes to Android Wear smartwatches, Motorola has the lead with its Moto 360. Released late last year, the watch strikes a balance between smart device and traditional watch. The 1.5” round display wins marks for its design compared to the typically rectangular smartwatches that are already out there. As for specs, it’s got 4GB of storage and a 320mAh (milli-ampere hour) battery with wireless charging (to compare, the Apple Watch has a 205mAh battery.) Other features include a pedometer and heart rate monitor. Unsurprisingly, Motorola is reportedly already working on the Moto 360 2.
LG G Watch R
LG has a couple of smartwatches under its belt at this stage. One of the latest is the G Watch R, a slightly more rugged and sporty looking watch than many other Android Wear devices. This time LG ditched the square design of its predecessor in favour of a slick round face that perfectly complements everything under the bonnet. The G Watch R has a 1.2GHz processor, 4GB storage, and a 410mAh battery for two days of battery life. The screen has a 1.3” circular P-OLED display along with changeable straps and it’s pretty light at 62g too.
Sony Smartwatch 3
Sony may not have the same clout in the smartwatch world that LG and Samsung have, but its Smartwatch 3, the latest in the range, is no slouch. Its 1.6” rectangular transflective display is even a little sharper than the Moto 360’s and like a lot of Android Wear watches, it can be used as a standalone wearable so it may even appeal to iPhone users that are looking for something a little different. It’s also proven quite popular with fitness and workout enthusiasts that are in the market for a smartwatch.
Samsung Gear Live
You’ll have to act fast, if you’re looking to get your hands of one of Samsung’s Gear Live smartwatches. It will likely be Samsung’s last Android Wear smartwatch with all future devices running the company’s own Tizen operating system. The Gear Live came out over a year ago and was one of the first Android wearable devices that really caught some attention but expect some new revamped Samsung smartwatches in the near future.
Asus ZenWatch
The Asus ZenWatch is one of the newer Android Wear smartwatches out there. Asus is another brand of smartwatch that may not command the same attention as other makers but the ZenWatch has received several glowing reviews for both its style and specs. Its curved 1.6” Gorilla Glass display comes with 14 custom faces along with features like a heart rate sensor, which are becoming a standard for smartwatches at this stage. Perhaps the only real complaint to be levelled against Asus here is that the ZenWatch’s battery life is less than two days.
