The smartwatch category continues to grow as wearable technology becomes one of the hottest segments in the industry. However, it seems as though no one has got the form factor quite right yet. The biggest knock against the smartwatch offerings to date is their giveaway rectangular form factor.
That all changes with the new Moto 360.
Google’s (GOOG) sale of Motorola Mobility to Lenovo (LNVGY) should be finalized later this year, but Motorola has at least one remaining big product release scheduled under the Google banner: the Moto 360 watch.
Anticipation has been high ever since the stylish smartwatch was demoed at Google I/O 2014 in June, and it’s easy to understand why. Release after release, the smartwatch offerings from Samsung (SSNLF), Pebble, Sony (SNE) and other industry leaders have been rectangular or square — dead giveaways as being wearable technology.
The Moto 360 is the first mainstream smartwatch to break that mold, using Google’s new Android Wear operating system to drive a round-faced display that could pass as a regular wristwatch.
In our Moto 360 watch review, we’ll see if the Moto 360 watch is the one that finally gets it right.
Moto 360 Review: Almost Perfectly Round
Much of the buzz around the Moto 360 watch has been focused on its form factor: round instead of square. Sure, it’s still larger than a typical wristwatch face and thicker, too, but its appearance is much more natural, compared to other smartwatches we’ve seen so far.
The circular case combined with the brilliant display showing an analog watch background makes this the first smartwatch that someone could wear without immediately advertising the device to everyone in the room.
There’s a catch, though. The case is round, but if you look closely at the display itself, you’ll notice a small section at the “bottom” that’s blacked out. It’s less noticeable in PR shots with a black background, but you can see it clearly in the photo on the right. Motorola had to slice off a section of the display to fit the components in the Moto 360.
That compromise will hit the Moto 360 when LG releases its new G Watch R later this year. It’s a round Android Wear smartwatch, but unlike the Moto 360 watch, its display is perfectly round too — no cutout for electronics.
Moto 360 Review: Making the Most of Android Wear
Google engineers put a lot of thought into Android Wear, and the Moto 360 proves that it’s possible to incorporate easy to use touch controls in a round display.
And this smartwatch features all the capabilities that make Android Wear so compelling: contextual awareness, voice-activation and Google Now integration.
Whether you find the circular watch face a must-have or not, with the high-quality materials used by Motorola, the Moto 360 is probably the most premium looking Android Wear smartwatch available.
Anyone who wants the functionality of the current crop of wearables with a high-class look should find this watch fits the bill.
Moto 360 Review: Specs
- 1.5-inch backlit LCD touchscreen display at 320 x 290 pixel resolution
- Gorilla Glass 3 cover
- Bluetooth 4.0
- Optical heart rate monitor
- Pedometer
- Runs Android Wear
- Compatible with most devices running Android 4.3 and up
- Expected MSRP $249.99 (to be confirmed when Motorola launches the Moto 360 watch on September 4)
Moto 360 Review: Conclusion
Not everyone hates the rectangular form factor used by the current smartwatch contenders, but the fact remains that many people are turned off by having an obvious mini computer strapped to their wrists. Rectangular is associated with clunky and geeky.
A smartwatch with the more traditional round watch face looks more stylish to many people, and just as importantly, it’s less obvious that there’s a high-tech device strapped to your wrist.
Before Google released Android Wear, a round display wasn’t practical, but the new operating system for wearables has opened the door and soon we can expect to see more. In fact Forbes’ Ewan Spence has already called the recently announced LG G Watch R — a round-faced smartwatch — the “Moto 360 Killer.”
With the G Watch R on its way and Apple (AAPL) expected to announce its iWatch on September 9, the Moto 360 watch won’t have a lot of time with the spotlight to itself. Still, when Motorola officially releases it on September 4, the Moto 360 will be at the pinnacle of the smartwatch food chain — if only for a few days.
As of this writing, Robert Martin did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities.
