LG Electronics has revealed that its upcoming smartwatch G Watch will be water resistant and have an always-on display.
When LG announced the Android Wear-based device last month, hardware details were sparse. But in a bid to build hype ahead of the launch later this year, the company has started to spill the beans.
The smartwatch will just like Samsung's Gear 2 family be water and dust resistant, according to the G Watch website.
How well a device can handle water and dust is rated using a specification called Ingress Protection. The Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo are rated at IP67, which means they are totally protected against dust and can survive in up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes. For now, LG doesn't say what the G Watch's rating is. Irrespective of what it is, buyers should keep in mind that water resistant isn't the same thing as waterproof.
Additionally, LG's website said the G Watch will be available in "stealth black" and "champagne gold" and the screen is always-on. What that means for battery life remains to be seen, but the number of hours between charges has been a weakness of many existing smartwatches.
LG hasn't announced the pricing and an exact launch date yet for the device, but recently told PC Advisor that it won't retail for more than £180 (US$300) including local tax and start shipping in July.
Wear is a platform that extends Android to wearables. To make the OS a better fit for the small screens smartwatches have, the new user interface relies on voice control and Google Now to present relevant information to the user.
Thanks to Android Wear, smartwatch competition will increase, which is usually a good thing for users. The G Watch will compete with not only Samsung's Tizen-based products, but also Motorola's round Android Wear-based Moto 360 and products from Pebble and Sony.
Send news tips and comments to mikael_ricknas@idg.com