2015 is the year the battle for your wrist goes nuclear, as the highly anticipated Apple Watch will finally hit store shelves.
But it’s not here yet. Watches using Google’s Android Wear, however, are, and they have been getting better since they were first unveiled last June.
Two of the latest watches in the Google camp: Sony’s SmartWatch 3 and LG’s G Watch R. Both watches have unique features that help them stand out from the first wave of Android Wear devices. Sony’s watch offers a standalone GPS, while LG’s has a completely circular display.
Both watches work only with Android phones, so if you’re an iPhone user, you’ll have to either ditch your precious handset or wait for the Apple Watch. So should you grab one of these watches now, or wait to see what Apple has to offer?
Still clunky
The sad truth about smartwatches: So far, they’re ugly. They’re too big and look like toys. Sure, the Pebble Steel and Motorola’s Moto 360 are beautiful pieces of technology, but they aren’t fashion pieces. The watch-shaped (round) LG G Watch R is, sadly, also an affront to watchmakers.
Its aluminum body is attractive as far as smartwatches go, and the physical ring of hour and minute markings surrounding its display helps the G Watch R at least ape the appearance of a classic watch. But the leather band that comes with it is stiff and uncomfortable to wear, and the watch’s bulky design means you’ll never forget that you have it on.
And then there’s Sony’s SmartWatch 3. It doesn’t even try to look like jewelry. Instead, the company is banking on a more geek-chic angle.
The SmartWatch 3’s body is a detachable rectangle that slides out of the watch’s proprietary band. The band itself has a bulky clasp that’s super-uncomfortable when you wear it while using your keyboard, because it pushes up on your wrist every time you rest your hand on your desk.
When it comes to screen quality, the LG G Watch R is superior to the Sony SmartWatch 3, which has a slightly dimmer and more washed-out display than the LG.
This is dummy text. It is not meant to be read. Accordingly, it is difficult to figure out when to end it. But then, this is dummy text. It is not meant to be read. Period.