LG’s Android smartwatch a first in Singapore

SINGAPORE — Smartwatches have been touted as the next big thing after Google announced Android Wear in March to help the development of smartwatches. And as Apple is still keeping mum over its rumoured iWatch, LG’s G Watch is the first 
Android Wear smartwatch to hit 
Singapore.

The G Watch is a 1.65-inch smartwatch that works with all phones with Android 4.3 and above.

While the watch’s design is not 
anything to shout about, its buttonless screen is sleek — and you can use any 22mm strap to jazz up your device. No issues while wearing it too: It never feels blocky on the wrist.

Using the device is simple — swiping 
the watchface will help you scroll through notifications. Getting it to send a message or an email is simple: Just say “Ok Google” or tap the top-left corner of the screen, then speak into the watch.

Usage is intuitive and Google appears to have improved voice recognition for non-American accents (except when it comes to understanding the enunciation of certain locations in Singapore, such as Potong Pasir).

The G Watch could understand most of what I was saying, even with music from a concert blaring in 
the background.

The watch’s screen is always on, so you get notifications right away, and dims on standby. We could not test its battery life for this review, as LG had provided a pre-production model. Nonetheless, the Korean firm promises battery life of about a day and a half.

Colours on the screen can afford to be more vibrant, while direct sunlight makes the watch harder to use.

The G Watch also tracks the steps you take — like a fitness tracker does — but does not have a sleep-tracking function, until someone designs an app for it. Still, a handful of apps are available, such as Runtastic, which helps track your running.

The G Watch was able to check messages, such as SMSes and emails, quickly without my having to take out my phone, and had the ability to 
respond quickly.

There are still improvements that can be made and more apps will make it more useful. But if you cannot wait to make your foray into the wearables frontier, this may be for you.

Priced at S$268, the G Watch is now available in Black Titan or White Gold at selected Challenger and Best Denki outlets, as well as at http://handphoneshop.com.