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Add to SafariWhen comparing LG G Watch R vs Samsung Gear Live, the Slant community recommends LG G Watch R for most people. In the question“What are the best smartwatches?” LG G Watch R is ranked 11th while Samsung Gear Live is ranked 25th.
Question Ranking
Pros
Pro Can be customized with any 22mm watch strap
Pro Appears to be a traditional watch
The LG G Watch R is not nearly as attention seeking as other smartwatches.
Pro Great specs for fast speeds
The G Watch R has 4GB of internal storage, a 1.2GHz processor, and 512MB of RAM.
Pro Glare resistant high quality 320x320 resolution
The G Watch R has a sharper resolution than the previous version, and is meant to promote visibility in direct sunlight.
Pro Water and dust resistant
It's IP67 certified.
Pro Completely round display
Many users seem to hate square watches because they look antiquated and clunky. The G Watch R is refreshing to many folks because of its attractive round face.
Pro PPG heart-rate sensor
Pro Waterproof to one meter for 30 minutes
This watch will do fine in the rain, shower, or while washing hands - but it shouldn't be submerged in water frequently.
Pro Bastic fitness tracking capabilities
Currently the heart rate monitor works with Samsung's S-Health app. The heart rate monitor itself works good, but the app is somewhat clunky and there aren't that many features to speak of except for tracking your heart rate over time. Hopefully it will be compatible with third-party apps that build on it.
Pro Good display
The Gear Live has a clear 320x320 sAMOLED display, with rich blacks that blend with the bezel. It may be slightly harder to see the information in direct sunlight.
Pro Reasonable water resistance
Submerging the watch in water might not be a good idea, but it won't stop working due to rain or if you spill your tea on it.
Pro Built-in Wi-Fi
Pro Good build quality
Unlike other Android Wear smartwatches available currently, this has an aluminum body.
Cons
Con Discontinued
The LG G Watch R has been discontinued in favor of the new LG Watch Urbane. It is no longer available from the Google Play Store, and the only Amazon listings are over $600.
Con Expensive
The watch is expected to cost around $290 - it could be argued that the watch is overpriced for the amount of benefit it produces.
Con Low app compatibility because of the circular screen
Many apps are made to accommodate square screens, so the G Watch R's circular screen may result in frequent compatibility issues.
Con Inconsistent voice command accuracy
This watch is highly accurate for short commands like setting a timer or asking for directions, but longer commands are often misinterpreted.
Con Two day battery life
While the battery in this watch is much better than some of the alternatives, it still has a long way to go in order to become a competitor with the top smart-watches in terms of battery life.
Con No ambient light sensor
Con Lacks a GPS sensor
Con Horrible charging mechanism
Multiple reports of the charging mechanism breaking or not working properly. In addition, the design is fiddly and annoying due to its snap-on nature.
Con Incompatible with older Android OS versions
Make sure you're Android phone's OS version is 4.3 or higher and it supports Bluetooth 4.
Con Hard to see text in direct sunlight
It may be slightly harder to see information in direct sunlight.
Con Bad battery life
Samsung's Gear Live has a 300mAh battery that lasts less than a full day.
