LG G Watch, Samsung Gear Live Vie for Smartwatch Buyers’ Attention

by Don Reisinger

For a small device that sits on the wrist, the Gear Live has a surprisingly strong processor. The device comes with a 1.2GHz chip that’s capable of handling all kinds of tasks, including voice recognition, heart rate monitoring and viewing of digital entertainment. That’s a strong processor for a small device.

It’s nice to see Samsung investing in ample internal storage for its new smartwatch. The company’s Gear Live comes with 4GB of internal storage and 512MB of RAM to help it handle processes. In the mobile space, 4GB might not seem like a lot of storage, but for a device that interfaces with smartphones, that’s quite a bit.

Samsung’s Gear Live’s display measures 1.63 inches. The screen has 278 pixels per inch and is a SuperAMOLED screen. What all that means is the device will deliver high-quality visuals and should show off everything one needs throughout the day. One other important point: It’s always on, so it’s easy to glance at the screen to get information.

One of the key elements of the Gear Live is that it’s fully water- and dustproof. Samsung says that users can wear the device anywhere they want—in the shower, in the ocean or while doing hard work—and it should be able to come out of it without any issue.

The Gear Live will set customers back $199, making it surprisingly affordable for a higher-end watch running Android Wear. However, the device will only work with Android 4.3 (or higher) devices, so that should be kept in mind. The Gear Live is launching on July 8.

The LG G Watch is all about customization. The device comes in the customer’s choice of “Black Titan” or “White Gold,” and several colors for the strap are available for those who want a unique look. LG is planning to make hardware customization a key component in its device plan, so expect more straps to come along in the ensuing months.

The LG G Watch, like the Gear Live, comes with what the company calls “an all-day charge.” The G Watch has a 400mAh battery that will last all day, despite the screen always being on. Interestingly, the Gear Live has a 300mAh battery and boasts the same all-day claim. Once these devices launch, it should be interesting to see which does the better job of holding a charge.

Those who want the best experience with the LG G Watch will need to have an Android smartphone with them. However, LG’s Android Wear device will only support Android devices that are running Android 4.3 or higher. So, if you haven’t updated your device’s software just yet, do it.

There isn’t all that much of a difference between the G Watch and the Gear Live. Like the Gear Live, the G Watch comes with a 1.2GHz processor and 4GB of internal storage. It also has a 1.6-inch display, though the G Watch has an IPS LCD. Both products also support Bluetooth. The key differentiation between the devices might just be the G Watch’s bigger battery.

Although there isn’t much difference between the Gear Live and the G Watch, LG is selling its smartwatch for $229. To make up for that slightly higher price, LG is promising to get its product out to customers by July 3. Both devices are, as of this writing, still available for order.