LG Watch Style: A Stylish and Functional Android Wear 2.0 Watch

The LG Watch Style was recently announced, and I had the opportunity to try it out for a little while. As I mentioned in my review of the LG Watch Sport, one of the main features that these two watches share is their compatibility with Android Wear 2.0. However, it's worth noting that many older devices will be receiving an update to Android Wear 2.0 and will also gain access to its feature set.

When it comes to the Android Wear 2.0 features on the LG Watch Style, I was pleasantly surprised by how well they have been implemented. The entire user interface (UI) has undergone a significant change for the better. Gone are the days of swappable watch faces that simply displayed static information; now, you can customize your watch face to display various information and even shortcuts to apps. Swiping quickly between these different components allows you to access other customized features depending on the situation.

Another notable feature of Android Wear 2.0 is its improved notification system. Notifications are now more robust and offer a range of actions that you can take in response, based on what app is sending them. This makes it easy to respond to messages, emails, and even texts without having to pull out your phone. Additionally, the watch comes with a built-in keyboard that allows for quick responses, although typing directly on the screen is still not recommended.

One of the most interesting aspects of Android Wear 2.0 is its standalone app store. This means that apps are self-contained and do not need to be installed as companion apps on your phone. Developers can create apps specifically tailored for the watch, which limits the number of apps available but also allows for more focus on creating high-quality, watch-specific experiences. Furthermore, this feature enables users with Android phones to download apps directly onto their watches, without needing a linked phone.

In addition to these new features, the LG Watch Style also retains many of the familiar characteristics from previous Android Wear devices. Fitness tracking, GPS, music controls, and more are all available, making it a solid choice for fitness enthusiasts. The watch itself is designed to be small but stylish, aiming to look like a real watch rather than a smartwatch. The swappable bands, including one made of leather, add a touch of versatility to the design.

However, there are some notable omissions in the LG Watch Style. For example, it lacks LTE connectivity, which would have allowed for phone calls, texts, and data access without needing your phone nearby. Additionally, GPS and heart rate monitoring are missing, although the watch does track steps and reps thanks to the new Google Fit app.

Despite these limitations, I was impressed by how well the LG Watch Style performs in terms of battery life. It lasts about an entire day, from waking up to going to bed, which is quite impressive considering its small size. The fact that it's smaller than any other watch on the market currently is also a notable advantage.

One final aspect of the LG Watch Style that I want to mention is its design. While some smartwatches can scream with their technology, this one blends in seamlessly. It looks like a real watch, not a smartwatch trying to be something it's not. This is especially important for those who want to keep their smartwatch hidden away and only pull it out when needed.

Overall, the LG Watch Style is a solid choice for anyone looking for an Android Wear 2.0 device with style and functionality. While it may lack some features that are found on other watches, its strengths in terms of design, battery life, and user interface make it a compelling option.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: en- Along with the LG Watch Sportthat was recently announced by LG,there was the smaller andpotentially more stylishLG Watch Style, which is aptly named.I had it for a little bit and I think,at this point, it's probablyokay to do a review.(upbeat music)As I mentioned in theLG Watch Sport video,a big part of the featuresfor these two watchesis that they come with Android Wear 2.0.The thing is, though,that it's already beenofficially announced thata lot of older devicesare gonna be getting anupdate to Android Wear 2.0and then they'll also geta lot of those features.So just keep that in mind whenyou're watching this video.Don't use the majority of those featuresas a particular reason toget this particular watch.Unless, of course, you'rejust super impatientand don't wanna wait for the update,which, you know, I kind of understand.With that said, I'm gonna gothrough some of my favoriteAndroid Wear 2.0 featuresthat are on this watch.If you watched the LG WatchSport video already though,I'll leave a link belowbecause it's basicallythe same thing, you can click that linkand you'll jump through the videoto after that and you can watch the rest.If you haven't seen that video, though,I recommend checking it outbecause these are some features,at least, that future AndroidWear watches will havebut also comes right away on this watch.The entire UI, first off,has changed for the better.From swappable, customizable watch facesthat you can actuallyput different informationon the watch face just as you needed,even shortcuts to apps, et cetera,you can then swipe quickly between themto get to other watch faces with othercustomized things you've done,depending on the scenarioyou need at that moment.Also, just better menus.Just a more intuitive design overall.My favorite features inAndroid Wear 2.0 so farare notifications being more robustand having a lot more actionsthat you can take with them,based on what app is sending them.And having a keyboard on the watch.I know that that sounds ridiculousbut in practice, it'sactually kinda useful.You can now respond totexts, emails, et cetera,by Swyping on a tiny keyboardthat is actually pretty accurate.You can also type on it, butthat is actually ridiculous.I like it because forshort messages, at least,I can respond without using voice to textand making whatever theconversation is aboutpublic to everyone around me.Also, it's fast enoughthat I don't feel the needto take out my phone to typethat short message instead.Lastly, there is somethingsuper interestingabout Android Wear 2.0 andthat's that it comes withits own standalone app store.Essentially what that meansis that instead of the appsbeing companion apps totheir phone counterparts,they are actually their ownself-contained apps on the watch.This allows you to limit thenumber of apps on the watchsince you don't have to installeverything that is on the phone.And developers can makeapps that are specificto the watch stand out betterin the watch-only store,as opposed to mixed in with a plethoraof regular phone apps in the Play Store.Additionally, this meansthat if you don't havean Android phone, forexample, you can downloadthese apps on the watch andthey work independently.That means, for example,if you had an iPhone,you could still get all of these appsfrom this Watch Play Store.In addition to the newfeatures found in Wear 2.0,it of course has all thefeatures you are used to from 1.0like fitness tracking, GPS,music controls, et cetera.At roughly the same sizeas the old Huawei Watch,which I was a big fan of,it's small in a good way.And unlike its ratherbulky, in my opinion,LG Watch Sport sibling, it aimsto actually look like a real watch.In fact, in the weight department,it's actually almost theopposite of the LG Watch Sport.It has to be probably thelightest watch I've ever used.The watch face is a stainlesssteel casing around a1.2 inch POLED screen with360 by 360 pixel resolution.That makes it about .1 inchessmaller than the Watch Sportbut with a slightly higher pixel density.You can navigate the screenusing touch like normalbut there's also arotating dial on the sidethat allows you to scroll through menus,notifications, et cetera,and can also be pushed downto go to the watch face or the home,I guess you would call it,or to open the app drawer.Also, unlike the Watch Sport,it features Android Wear'sMODE swappable bands and comes with onethat says its leather,but if we're honest,has a spongy quality to the bandthat reminds me less ofcowhide and more of styrofoam.At least, though, you canhead to the Google Storeand buy some of those swappable bands,should the mood strike you.Along with that, it alsohas 500 megabytes of RAM.The new Snapdragon Wear processor,which is a processor by Qualcomm,made specifically for Android Wear.And also has four gigsof internal storage.The internal storage canbe used to download appsfrom the aforementioned Play Storebut also can be used to download musicfrom Google Play Music,installed directly on the watchso that if you wanted to pairit to a Bluetooth headset,you could technically listento music from the watchinstead of from your phone,if you wanted to, say, leave it behind.And it needs a Bluetooth headsetbecause it has no speaker.So there will be no DickTracy-style calling on the watch.- Dick Tracycalling Hemlock Holmes,calling Hemlock Holmes.- The thing is, LG probablydoesn't really want you toleave your phone behindwhen it comes to this watch.It's missing a few featuresthat are kind of key for that.One of them being LTE,which I mentioned aboutthe Watch Sport video, allowsyou to make phone calls,receive texts and send them out,and also use data withoutyour phone anywhere near it.But besides missing LTE, the Watch Styleis also missing GPS anda heart rate monitor,which, I mean, I would assumea lot of fitness peoplewould like to have.It does track steps and reps, though,thanks to the new AndroidWear 2.0 Google Fit appbut it won't account forchanges in heart ratelike some other fitness bands will.As far as better life is concerned,it lasts me about an entire day,from waking up to going to sleep.Sometimes it might dielike just before that.But that's actually pretty goodconsidering how small ofa battery this thing has,and it's much smaller thanany other watch on the market right now.But for me, again, I care only that mywatch or my gadget or whateverlasts from when I wakeup to when I go to bedbecause for me, that's when I go to sleepand I plug it in anyway, so it's fine.One thing I love about this watchis that it looks like a real watch.I'm really opposed to watches that, well,smart watches that just kindof scream, \"I'm a smart watch,\"to anybody that's walking by.And also, if you were looking for, like,an analog watch that told the time,but also wanted some added featureslike notifications, all the apps,responding to text with Swype,you know, et cetera, et cetera,what comes with a smart watch,but it also looks prettygood while doing it,this isn't a bad option.The other watch that I would recommendthat can do all of that andprobably a little bit more,once Android Wear 2.0 comesout for it is the Huawei Watch.Also, Huawei has already confirmedthat they are announcing a Huawei Watch 2at Mobile World Congressaccording to a lot of websites.And so when that happens, itshould be similarly styledto the original, have morefeatures in it as well,but even without that,it'll also drop the priceof the current HuaweiWatch, I would imagine.So I would at least waituntil Mobile World Congress,which is right around the corner,before you decide to buy any new watches.And right now, thereason that I would mayberecommend the Watch Style overthe Huawei Watch, at least,depending on what happensafter Mobile World Congress,is because at the momentit is $100 cheaper.There you guys, a quickreview of the LG Watch Style.Let me know what you guys thinkof the watch in this reviewin the comments below.And if you liked this video,please thumbs up it or share.It is greatly appreciated.And if you want more videos like this,please check out the YouTube channel.The link should be around here somewhere.And if you like what yousee there, please subscribe.As always, thanks for watching.(upbeat music)\n"