Apple Watch Gets Another Competitor in the Android-Based LG Watch Urbane

MacRumors · Feb 16, 2015

LG Electronics today announced a new device in the line of Android Wear smartwatch products, called the LG Watch Urbane. Planned for a full unveiling at Mobile World Congress next month, the watch is said to combine the traditional aspects of a luxury timepiece with the "high-tech flare" of a modern smartwatch.

The LG Watch Urbane follows in the footsteps of LG's previous foray into the world of smartwatches with the LG G Watch R, launched last October. LG says while the G Watch R was designed with a more active lifestyle in mind, the Watch Urbane has taken a more formal, classic route that will suit both men and women. Despite the formal look, the Watch Urbane is powered by a smartwatch-style touch-based interface that is compatible with any smartphone running Android 4.3 or above.

"The LG Watch Urbane's classic design and smart features make it the perfect smartwatch to complement our G Watch and G Watch R, which were designed as more casual and active devices," said Juno Cho, president and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. "LG Watch Urbane is an important part of our strategy to develop wearable devices that are worn and viewed as everyday accessories, not electronic gadgets."

The LG Watch Urbane includes the same 1.3-inch full circle P-OLED display as the LG G Watch R - which was the first smarwatch to include such a display - but features a narrower bezel this time around, offering it that more formal, sleeker look touted by LG. The watch comes in gold and silver options with a natural leather strap that can be replaced by any 22mm wide band, according to the company.

Not many specific details were given on the device's smartwatch capabilities, but LG confirmed the LG Watch Urbane will be able to measure a user's heart rate for fitness purposes thanks to a photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor built into the device. Other key factors, like pricing and whether the new Android-based smartwatch will hit around the Spring launch of the Apple Watch, was not yet disclosed by LG.

Key Specifications:

- Chipset: 1.2GHz Qualcomm® Snapdragon(TM) 400
- Operating System: Android Wear(TM)
- Display: 1.3-inch P-OLED Display (320 x 320, 245ppi)
- Size: 45.5 x 52.2 x 10.9mm
- Memory: 4GB eMMC/ 512MB LPDDR2
- Battery: 410mAh
- Sensors: 9-Axis (Gyro / Accelerometer / Compass) / Barometer / PPG (Heart Rate Sensor)
- Colors: Gold / Silver
- Other: Dust and Water Resistant (IP67)

LG's newest foray into the increasingly crowded world of smartwatches is the latest in a long line of companies announcing new iterations of older products, or new products altogether, preparing to do battle with Apple's April launch of the Apple Watch.

Article Link: Apple Watch Gets Another Competitor in the Android-Based LG Watch Urbane

viorelgn · Feb 16, 2015

Who will win ?

it will be a great battle.

OllyW · Feb 16, 2015

Looks a bit chunky around the lugs.

JayLenochiniMac · Feb 16, 2015

Much better looking than the others but still runs Android Wear.

Rayd5365 · Feb 16, 2015

I think that thing looks really nice. Tough to say about functionality at this point, but there's certainly going to be a lot of competition in this space.
It also seems like it's going to shake out to be more "Apple against the world" in that Apple will be the primary player for iOS and "the world" will be offering stuff for android.

thekeyring · Feb 16, 2015

I wonder if Blackberry will make a smart watch.

treborn · Feb 16, 2015

competition?

Thanks for the update on the opposition, but this is not a competitor to the  WATCH. Now, if it ran on iOS, then I would have to agree.

The only competition is Pebble Watch, and the Alcatel One Touch Smart Watch. And since we are Copy & Pasting from The Verge; http://www.theverge.com/2015/1/5/7490483/alcatel-onetouch-watch-hands-on-ces-2015

Popeye206 · Feb 16, 2015

Monkey see, monkey do.

In will be interesting in 3 years to see if the smart watch really does catch on or if this was the most over-hyped product category ever.

73b · Feb 16, 2015

Android Wear devices keep getting better and better. Meanwhile Apple has yet to announce full specs....

kds1 · Feb 16, 2015

Despite everyone that has Apple Macs, iPhones, and iPads, AppleTV's, and iPods, and their attractive stores filled with employees in t-shirts, Apple is still considered a high end, one might possibly even say, "luxury" brand.

LG is not.

nfl46 · Feb 16, 2015

I like the gold one! Nice to see a good screen on it. Can't wait until the price of these things drop, though.

RodThePlod · Feb 16, 2015

MacRumors said:
Planned for a full unveiling at Mobile World Congress next month, the watch is said to combine the traditional aspects of a luxury timepiece with the "high-tech flare" of a modern smartwatch.

Shame LG don't know the difference between flair and flare. Says it all, really...

RTP.

extricated · Feb 16, 2015

It is a nice design.
Tame. And I don't mean that in a bad way.

Software? We'll see where it goes.

I have my doubts, but I am always in support of a competitive market.

cogitodexter · Feb 16, 2015

Not keen on the design - bland and the bezels are much too big. Not a patch on the Moto 360 (despite the latter's 'chin').

stewy · Feb 16, 2015

Popeye206 said:
Monkey see, monkey do.

In will be interesting in 3 years to see if the smart watch really does catch on or if this was the most over-hyped product category ever.

Are you kidding me? Apple is following in this category.

BrerBear · Feb 16, 2015

Targeting people who buy both Android and luxury items.
That's a failure in the making.

bsforever · Feb 16, 2015

So this will be their what third smartwatch iteration? SMH - clearly these companies don't think these things through and sorely lack the courage of their convictions.

This is yet another rushed DOA me-too product. One thing as someone said earlier is Apple is considered an upmarket brand or maybe even luxury - which goes a long way toward selling watches, and that is quite a different kettle of fish from selling consumer electronics.

Moreover, having their own Apple stores are an advantage which will be so crucial in selling the Watch. The in-store experience and ability to try them on is something most of these Android wear OEMs don't have.

nagromme · Feb 16, 2015

The design actually looks pretty reasonable to me--I dislike it, but I can see many would like it.

But there are problems: functionality/power vs Apple Watch, developer support (we'll see) and that ugly low-DPI display LG is using (not to mention round, which looks nice but is terrible for text info).

It's a decent attempt if priced cheaply--because the pixelated face is going to stand out from the old-fashioned body like a sore thumb, outside of PR mock ups.

stewy · Feb 16, 2015

BrerBear said:
Targeting people who buy both Android and luxury items.
That's a failure in the making.

Keep telling yourself iPhone is a luxury item... They sell then at Walmart like all the other luxury items.

nagromme · Feb 16, 2015

stewy said:
Are you kidding me? Apple is following in this category.

Everyone else rushed out half-baked "F1RST" smart watch attempts after Apple's smart watch plans leaked as rumors. They failed to deliver much, while Apple's head start is about to release a more powerful and well-planned package.

It depends what you find to be the most useful and meaningful definition of "following."

Sales numbers and comparative reviews will be interesting.

winston1236 · Feb 16, 2015

kds1 said:
Despite everyone that has Apple Macs, iPhones, and iPads, AppleTV's, and iPods, and their attractive stores filled with employees in t-shirts, Apple is still considered a high end, one might possibly even say, "luxury" brand.

LG is not.

No, it's not. Its a consumer brand that anyone can buy.

Rogifan · Feb 16, 2015

cogitodexter said:
Not keen on the design - bland and the bezels are much too big. Not a patch on the Moto 360 (despite the latter's 'chin').

How do you swipe on this watch or is everything done via the crown?

winston1236 · Feb 16, 2015

nagromme said:
The design actually looks pretty reasonable to me--I dislike it, but I can see many would like it.

But there are problems: functionality/power vs Apple Watch, developer support (we'll see) and that ugly low-DPI display LG is using (not to mention round, which looks nice but is terrible for text info).

It's a decent attempt if priced cheaply--because the pixelated face is going to stand out from the old-fashioned body like a sore thumb, outside of PR mock ups.

Functionality? Really? The Apple watch loses something like 90% of functionality when its away from a paired phone...

SixtyK · Feb 16, 2015

thekeyring said:
I wonder if Blackberry will make a smart watch.

They barely make a phone.

ArtOfWarfare · Feb 16, 2015

winston1236 said:
No, it's not. Its a consumer brand that anyone can buy.

Um...

You might be a tad out of touch, I think.

If I could buy more Apple products, I would. But I'm using my vintage (almost obsolete) Macs because I can't afford to replace them. I won't be getting the first Apple Watch because I can't afford one. I do have the latest and greatest iPhone, but I skipped several generations because I didn't have the money to buy the other ones.

Apple Watch Gets Another Competitor in the Android-Based LG Watch Urbane

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