When comparing LG G Watch R vs Microsoft Band, 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 Microsoft Band is ranked 21st.
Specs
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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 Always-on heart-rate monitor
There is a built in heart rate monitor that is always monitoring and for the most part it is consistent in its tracking. This way people can get a full view of what their daily heart rate is at any given time.
Pro Allows downloading workouts
Users can download workouts to their devices from companies that have partnered with Microsft such as Gold's Gym or Men's Fitness. This allows for one to find workouts that fit their needs that are created by people familiar with what should work the best.
Pro Shows email, sms and call notifications
No matter the device being used, Android, iOS or Windows Phone the Microsoft Band is able to show ones connected devices emails, SMS and call notifications. This makes it easy to see what ones alerts are without having to pull the phone out of their pocket.
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 Finess tracker heart rate monitoring
Fitness tracker
Con Slightly too big and heavy to be unnoticeable
Like most smart watches the Micorsoft band is big and heavy (due to their screens) and will be hard to forget one is wearing it due to the weight size and shape.