The Moto 360 is now available for purchase for $249. The most anticipated Android Wear watch yet features a handsome round display that measures 1.56 inches. The screen is touch-sensitive and will brighten when you tilt it. Just about the entire face of the watch is consumed by light, which puts it a step above most smart watches in that regard.
As for the display, the watch has a two-step bezel leading up to the number dial. If you don’t like a particular face, you can press and hold the display until a carousel of other choices appears. The wrist strap for Moto 360, made by Chicago-based Horween Leather, looks great and appears to be built to last. Stainless steel bands, offered in steel grey and silver, will be priced with the watch at $299.
In addition to looking great, the 360 connects you to your Android device via Bluetooth. Sports scores, email notifications and social media updates are accessible at your wrist. You can measure your heart rate, track your steps, manage incoming and outgoing calls and install a myriad of different apps with 360.
When the data stops flowing to your phone, or your Bluetooth connection ends, data stops flowing to your watch. Even with no connections, you still have access to a few verbal commands, like asking for your heart rate or a stop watch or tracking your steps.
There’s a wide competitive field for the 360 that includes the LG G watch and the Samsung Gear Live watch. The trio share many similarities, but the tiny details may decide the winner in the long run. The LG G and Samsung Gear Live have the same processor, but the 360 uses an OMAP 3 processor made by Texas Instruments.
Battery size for the 360 falls right between the LG G and the Samsung Gear Live. Motorola claims the 360 can run a full day off one charge. Samsung and LG offer a docking station for its watches, but the contacts on the back of the watches will invariably become worn over time. The 360 includes a cradle that appears built to last much longer that its rivals.
In terms of design, the 360 isn’t the only round-faced smart watch anymore (LG G’s face is round as well), but the bezel and finish makes it appear more sophisticated than the LG (for some people). Others will appreciate the LG’s close resemblance to some G-Shock watches, and some will fall in love with Samsung’s high tech appearance. In any case, the 360 appears to have an early lead in the smart phone watch race.
Featured image via Motorola
