So far we often assume that smartwatch is destined to be a
complement to a smartphone. So does it mean that the opportunity of smartwatch
to be a primary communication tool has been closed?
Well ... not really, LG has recently announced its newest
smartwatch named LG Watch Urbane 2. This smartaatch is claimed as the first
Android Wear smartwatch that packs cellular connectivity, LTE. So in other
words, it can function independently without having to be paired to a
smartphone.
Yup, this smartwatch can be used to call via cellular
network. Users can also enjoy music with the help of Bluetooth headphones. And
when you are doing activities, LG Watch Urbane 2 will measure almost all
important parameters, such as the heart rate, and even the user's emotional
stability.
LG Watch Urbane 2 packs 1.38 inch P-OLED screen with a
resolution of 480 x 480 pixels (348 ppi). This is believed to be the sharpest
resolution in smartwatch category today. Qualcomm's Snapdragon 400 chipset is
believed to be the brain of the smartwatch's computing capability. LG Watch
Urbane 2 comes with 4 GB internal storage so that you can save quite a lot of
song files in it. The connectivity features include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1, and
4G / LTE.
Surely this computing capability won't be enough without the
presence of complete sensors. LG has equipped the LG Watch Urbane 2 with an
accelerometer, gyroscope, compass, barometer and GPS. So, this smartwatch can
measure the speed of your movement without having to 'borrow' the smartphone's
GPS.
The design of LG Watch Urbane 2 still refers to the
traditional watch just like its predecessors. The stainless steel case has a
diameter of 44.5 mm, slightly larger than the other smartwatches, but it also
leads to a fairly large battery capacity, exactly 570mAh. This smartwatch is
water resistant with IP67 certification.
On the right side of the screen, you'll find three buttons -
one of them doubles as a crown. These buttons serve to provide quick access to
a number of applications such as Contact and LG Health. Quick access to the
Contact application is crucial because LG Watch Urbane 2 is marketed as a
communication tool, not just a complement to a smartphone.
Nevertheless, you can still use it together with a
smartphone. LG Watch Urbane 2 is compatible with Android and iOS devices, so
that it could be considered by wide consumers. LG plans to market the LG Watch
Urbane 2 in the US and Korea first, and then followed into other areas.