Everything you need to know about LG's GPS and NFC-packing lead device
With four devices under its belt, LG was already the most prolific Android Wear manufacturer before its new flagship 2.0 smartwatch – the LG Watch Sport – went live.
The LG Watch Sport, along with its little sister the LG Watch Style, take the Korean company’s Wear smartwatch count to six, and are the first devices to come rocking Android Wear 2.0. Built in close partnership with Google, the Sport is the undisputed Wear king right now, with a spec sheet that makes the most of every opportunity – both hardware and software – that Android Wear 2.0 offers.
Check out our LG Watch Sport review if you’re considering splashing the cash for one, or read on to find out everything you need to know about it…
LG Watch Sport: Design and display
In order to be placed in the conversation with the smartwatch elite, display is crucial – after all, it’s the thing you’ll have to encounter every time you pick up your device.
And thanks to a circular, 1.38-inch 480 x 480 P-OLED getup, the LG Watch Sport is able to to do just that. Its 348ppi also gives it an advantage over the Apple Watch Series 2 in the pixel density department, as well as any other Wear display.
The image above also shows off the two finishes of the stainless steel Sport – titanium and dark blue – with its full size (measured from screen to rear cover) sitting at 45.4 x 51.21 x 14.2 mm.
When it comes to finding apps on the display, you can scroll up and down the interface with a finger or by using the rotating side button. This also doubles up to help you check notifications or read through longer messages.
LG Watch Sport: Hardware muscle
While a solid display and design is always a nice start, it’s often what’s under the hood that can separate a device.
Packing a a 1.1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100 processor and 768MB of RAM, users should be able to seamlessly glide through the fresh Wear experience.
And though this is vital for the day-to-day running of the watch, it’s the Sport’s inclusion of GPS and LTE connectivity that will have the rest of the wearable game on notice.
Thanks to this, it’s the first Android Wear device that can truly make the case for being a replacement for your smartphone.
LG Watch Sport: Feature packed
Joining its LTE and GPS functionality, the Sport manages to fit in NFC support to allow you access to Android Pay – something that can’t be said for its Style equivalent.
The LG Watch Sport also features your standard wrist gesture movements, letting you wake and lock things up without having to prod the screen or its buttons.
And for those looking to stay in shape, Google Fit comes pre-installed in the watch to help keep track of your health and provide challenges. This is helped by the Photoplethsmogram (PPG) sensor to monitor your heart and deliver readings.
If you’re in a rush and need to get on with your workout, the device will automatically pick up what activity you’re partaking in – be it running or cycling – after three minutes. And if you happen to be hitting some push-ups, sit-ups, squats or curls, these are also automatically counted.
With an IP68 rating, the LG Sport Watch is also protected from dust and water exposure to a depth of 1.5 meters (for up to 30 minutes). In real terms, this essentially means you can take it out on a run and be safe in the knowledge it’ll come through for you.
Finally, for those looking to touch base with the best of both worlds, the Sport is also compatible with iOS. Just don’t tell Apple you’re going behind its back.
LG Watch Sport: Android Wear 2.0
Since LG and Google have been closely collaborating, it’s no surprise the Sport and its Style sibling are the first to run the new OS.
Combined with this device, Android Wear 2.0 allows you to download any apps and stream music from the cloud by staying connected to LTE/3G, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.
It’s also able to bring you several new features, such as standalone apps that work without your phone and Google Assistant. Smaller improvements, meanwhile, include a keyboard, upgraded handwriting recognition and smart replies.
LG Watch Sport: Battery life
Alongside the rest of the internals, the LG Watch Sport is also donning a 430 mAh battery, allowing you to experience around a day of continuous use before it needs to rest on the wireless charging cradle. However, we’ve managed to stretch it out a little longer.
While this may not sound overly efficient – certainly paling in comparison to the longevity of some devices within the wearable scene – no other device is chewing up quite as much life by providing GPS, NFC and LTE support.
LG Watch Sport: Price and release date
By now, you’re probably wondering when this Android Wear 2.0-packing smartwatch behemoth is going to drop.
Well, for those in the US, you’ll be able to pick the LG Watch Sport from 10 February for $349. Currently, though, its UK release date and price are yet to be confirmed.
