"Style" and "Sport", the new smart watches launched by LG will run on the Google's latest smart watch operating system Android 2.0. "Style" and "Sport" are billed as the first smart watches to be powered by the much-improved operating system.
According to Cnet, "Style" is thin and lightweight in appearance. "Style" is a more of a basic smart watch from LG that does not take full advantage of the new improvements from Google. It is devoid of heart rate sensor, speaker for answering calls, and NFC for mobile payment. Its best feature is a rotating digital crown which mimics the Apple Watch, which can be used to navigate the interface, to access an on-watch Google Play Store, and use the Google Assistant.
LG's "Style" also falters on the battery life, it being only 240 mAh, much lesser than other existing smart watches. The lack of heft and the plastic back also demeans the style quotient of the device. The existing android smart watches are supposed to see an upgrade in the coming weeks, making it even difficult for "Style" to sell in the highly competitive market.
According to Wired, LG's "Sport" smart watch is a class apart from "Style". It has everything, ranging from NFC to heavy duty waterproofing. Not only does it connect to the phone but also can easily replace the phone. The "Sport" is thicker than the "Style" and is heavier as well.
The battery life of "Sport", though, is a major concern just like that of the "Style". A maximum of 20 hours on an Android smart phone and even lesser, around 15 hours on an iPhone, is not the sign of a good smart watch. This detriment is considered to be a big one in today's smart watch market.
Both the "Style" and the "Sport" don't have all the specs worth the price tags they bear. The "Style" is priced at $249 whereas the bulkier "Sport" is priced at $349. LG needs to improve the features and battery life of its watches, to compete with the next generation of smart watches, soon flooding the market.
