LG is bringing a stylish new smartwatch to MWC, the LG G Watch Urbane

We recently discussed wearables, smartwatches in particular, in our Friday Debate podcast and post. One of our shared opinions what that current Android Wear and wrist bound devices could use a little design makeover. It seems LG felt the same way already, we are hearing that they will have a new, classy watch headed to MWC in March, the LG Watch Urbane.

At first glance, the LG Watch Urbane appears to take the basic rounded design of the LG G Watch R, and glam it up a bit. We’re told it is a full metal design, save the watch-face itself, and can accept any 22mm band of your choosing.

Rounding out the specs list, expect the same internals as the G Watch R, a 1.2GHz Snapdragon 400 SoC, 512MB of RAM, 4GB internal storage, that 1.3-inch rounded display and sensors including accelerometer, barometer, compass and heart rate sensor. A 410mAh battery should keep the lights on for a day, hopefully. The LG G Watch Urbane will also be dust and water resistant.

Keeping things running, the LG G Watch Urbane will ship with the Android Wear operating system, Google’s home-grown OS for wearables.

We’ll be at Mobile World Congress in March to see LG’s new watch, and a large list of other exciting new devices in action. Sadly, we may have to wait until then to learn more about the LG G Watch Urbane, including pricing and availability.

What do you say, would you purchase the LG G Watch Urbane, the full-metal luxury variant of the G Watch R?

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LG WATCH URBANE MELDS CLASSIC LOOK WITH ENHANCED FEATURES

Elegant, Full Metal Smartwatch from LG Coming to MWC 2015

SEOUL, Feb. 16, 2015 ― LG Electronics (LG) will unveil its first all-metal luxury Android Wear device, LG Watch Urbane, at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2015. As its name suggests, the smartwatch is designed for a sophisticated and cosmopolitan wearer that delivers unparalleled technology and performance. LG Watch Urbane is the perfect device for wearers looking to add both style and high-tech flare to their everyday lives.

The LG Watch Urbane follows closely in the footsteps of the LG Watch R, the first smartwatch with a full circular Plastic OLED (P-OLED) display, which LG launched in October 2014. While the LG Watch R was designed with the active user in mind, the LG Watch Urbane is more formal with a thinner profile making it perfect for either men or women. Resembling a luxury timepiece, LG combined a classic design and innovative features to add style and convenience to everyday life while raising the already high standards set by its predecessor.

The LG Watch Urbane is crafted around the same 1.3-inch full circle P-OLED display as the LG Watch R but features a narrower bezel that gives it sleeker lines. The LG Watch Urbane has all of the hallmarks of a fine watch, making it the perfect fashion accessory. Its stainless steel body is available in polished silver and gold finish and is complemented by a beautifully stitched natural leather strap for a more classic look. The strap can be replaced with any 22mm wide band to suit the occasion or the wearer’s mood. Powering all of this is an intuitive touch-based user interface that makes the LG Watch Urbane compatible with smartphones running Android 4.3 and above.

Like the G Watch R, LG’s latest Android Wear device includes a photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor that can measure a wearer’s heart rate and average pulse during exercise. Always-On ambient mode shows the time on the display at all times in dimmed mode, saving battery life.

“The LG Watch Urbane’s classic design and smart features make it the perfect smartwatch to complement our G Watch and G Watch R, which were designed as more casual and active devices,” said Juno Cho, president and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “LG Watch Urbane is an important part of our strategy to develop wearable devices that are worn and viewed as everyday accessories, not electronic gadgets.”

Additional details including price will be announced in local markets at the time of availability.

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