Anyone can now order the first Android Wear smartwatches, Google announced the news at the I/O 2014 developer conference. Customers can pre-order the LG G Watch, priced at $229, and the Samsung Gear, priced at $199, at the Google Play Store. Shipment for the LG G Watch starts on July 3rd, and on July 8th Samsung will start shipping the Gear watch.
Samsung and LG are among the first companies to ship the new smartwatches running Android Wear, a new version of Google’s operating system for wrist watches.
Although, we heard from Google a few months ago about Android Wear, now consumers will finally be able to get their hands on the new form factor of wearable wrist watches.
LG G Watch tech specs
- Operating system: Android Wear
- Display: 1.65-inch 280 x 280 IPS LCD
- Weight: 63g
- Battery: 400 mAh
- Processor: 1.2GHz
- Wireless: Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy
- Storage: 4GB
- RAM: 512MB
- Ports and connectors: USB pogo pin and Micro USB on charging cradle
- Sensors: 9 Axis (Accelerometer/Compass/Gyro)
- Requirements: Smartphone running Android 4.3 or higher
Samsung Gear Live tech specs
- Operating system: Android Wear
- Display: 1.63-inch 320 x 320 SuperAMOLED (278 ppi)
- Weight: 59g
- Battery: 300 mAh
- Processor: 1.2GHz
- Wireless: Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy
- Storage: 4GB
- RAM: 512MB
- Ports and connectors: USB pogo pin
- Sensors: 9 Axis (Accelerometer/Compass/Gyro/Heart rate monitor)
- Requirements: Smartphone running Android 4.3 or higher
While both models coming from Samsung and LG look good, the Motorola Moto 360 is by far the best we have seen making use of the circular screen, so you may want to hold off until it becomes available.
With Google finally ready to ship Android Wear, now I wonder how long will it take for Microsoft and Apple to follow.
