LG To Launch Round Faced Smart Watch

NOTE: Newly Updated information from 28 August 2014 below, including specs and a new photo.  

The new device will be shown at the European IFA show in September
and during the weekend LG posted a video to YouTube, teasing the release of
“a perfect circle” device for the show that kicks off on September 5.

The video is light on details, but it does show that the
company is ditching the square interface for a design that customers may find
more appealing. The graphics showed off some of the potential uses of the
smartwatch, but also had something noticeable missing from other round watches
on the market. Unlike the Moto 360, the new LG watch didn’t appear to have a small
window at the bottom of the watch face. If a release announcement is made
during IFA 2014, LG may have been working on the round watch at the same time
as the square G Watch.

 Click video for LG Watch trailer.

A number of features are shown off in a succession of
flashes, including several watch faces, a compass and step and distance
counters. However, the stylized design that LG shows closely resembles what
could be considered a traditional watch, with a larger core portion that the
band would connect to at tapered points. It also shows a button on the side,
something that closely resembles a traditional winding arm.

The teaser also hints at what the device may be called.
Kicking off the video is a round logo with an inset R. If the naming scheme
were to follow the previous LG watch, the round device could be called the LG G
Watch R. If the company is truly starting off from their previous square design
in the LG G Watch, as is eluded to in the teaser, then the naming scheme would
be all but certain.

Update: 

LG has released more details and specifications of its first full circle Plastic OLED (P-OLED) display that, unlike the Motorola watch, will use 100pc of its circular display. 

It will have a 1.3-inch ‘full circle’ display with a resolution of 320×320, with a 1.2GHz Snapdragon processor, 4GB storage, 512MB RAM and a “durable” 410mAh battery, with full Android Wear compatibility and an IP67 water resistant rating of up to 30 minutes in one metre of water. 

Catching up to Samsung’s heart beat monitoring features, LG’s new watch has a “suite of health and fitness apps” including the ability to monitor your heartbeat with the support an an embedded “photoplethysmography” (PPG) sensor. 

Click to enlarge

A round smart watch from LG

Smart notifications are also promised letting users known of important reminders, missed calls, messages, upcoming meetings, events and local weather forecasts. 

LG says the design is elegant with a “refined aesthetic that is reminiscent of traditional timepieces”, alongside “classic curves encased in a strong, durable stainless steel frame and carries a suite of watch faces that are accessible with a simple touch of the display”. 

It also has an interchangeable 22mm calf skin leather strap. 

Dr. Jong-seok Park, President and CEO of LG’s Mobile Comms Company, said: “What we’ve noticed in the year of the wearable is that this is a category that can’t be compared to smartphones and tablets. 

“Wearables are also accessories and consumers will want more than one to choose from. So we wanted to complement the modern design of the original G Watch with the classic look of the G Watch R. Customers can’t go wrong with either device.”

Due to launch in “key markets early in Q4 2014”, Australian prices and availability will be announced at that time. 

Key Specifications:

– Chipset: 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400

– Display: 1.3-inch P-OLED Display (320 x 320)

– Memory: 4GB eMMC / 512MB RAM

– Battery: 410mAh

– Operating System: Android Wear?(compatible with smartphones running Android 4.3 and above)

– Sensors: 9-Axis (Gyro/ Accelerometer/ Compass), Barometer, PPG

– Colour: Black

– Other: Dust and Water Resistant (IP67)