LG promises to come full circle with G Watch R teaser (video)

25 Aug 2014

Still from 'LG's New Wearable : Official Teaser' by LG Mobile Global on YouTube

LG is planning to steal Motorola’s thunder at consumer electronics show IFA in Berlin next week with a new smartwatch featuring a circular face.

According to a teaser video uploaded to the LG Mobile Global YouTube channel, all will be revealed about the G Watch R (for ‘round’, no doubt) at the tech expo.

Motorola has also planned some unveilings next week, including the Moto 360, its own round-faced smartwatch.

It won’t be the first time LG and Motorola’s wearables have competed for attention. The original rectangular-shaped G Watch had been on show at Google’s developer conference this summer alongside the Moto 360.

Like the 360, the G Watch R will use Android Wear as its operating system but, unlike the 360, the watch screen fills a perfect circle, without a slight black bar across the bottom.

The video from LG Mobile Global provides the merest of glimpses at the new wearable – but, thankfully, we have screenshots to extend our ogling.

Other features expected on the new device include a digital pedometer, distance metre and compass.

Asus is also expected to launch a smartwatch at IFA, though it’s believed to have a squared shape, meanwhile, rumours of a wearable device from Apple refuse to abate. We might just have to rename September ‘Smartwatch Month’.

Elaine Burke is the host of For Tech’s Sake, a co-production from Silicon Republic and The HeadStuff Podcast Network. She was previously the editor of Silicon Republic.

editorial@siliconrepublic.com