(ThyBlackMan.com) How’s the new LG Watch W7? If that’s the question you’ve been asking for some time now, here’s everything you need to know about LG’s new smartwatch. LG calls it a “hybrid smartwatch” because interestingly, the LG Watch W7 features two mechanical hands powered by quartz movement. These mechanical hands sit above the watch face and help the smartwatch stand out from the crowd.
The new LG smartwatch W7 runs on the latest version of Android Wear, Google’s operating system for wearable devices. The watch sports a 1.2-inch touch-enabled display. With the Watch W7, you can enjoy both digital and analog watch features on your wrist, but the only thing that disappoints the most is its hefty price tag.
Price
You can buy LG Watch W7 for $450, which is more than the price of the Apple Watch Series 4. Even the GPS model of the latest Apple Watch is available at $399. Is LG Watch W7 better than the rivals? We compared the new LG smartwatch with leading smartwatches in the price range and sadly, there’s nothing that makes the LG Watch W7 a value for money deal.
If the price tag is not a major concern, you are probably looking for a feature-rich watch with perfect design. While many other smartwatches, including Apple’s latest Watch Series 4, look like a mini smartphone in square and rectangular shapes, the LG has chosen a more traditional design approach. The watch is made with premium quality stainless steel and looks more like an analog watch. This design is even different than LG’s previous products in the smartwatch category.
Design
The steel case is black and it is wrapped by shiny silver lugs. Both the inner and outer bezels are black and highlight the minute and hour marks in white color. The round shape gives this watch a more traditional look, but sadly LG is only offering the Watch W7 in one size and it’s large.
The LG Watch W7 comes in 44.5mm size and it looks masculine. This is obviously not the right watch for people with small wrists, but if you like big watches, you can go for it. The watch feels comfortable and light, and despite having a silicone strap, it feels good on the wrist.
Hardware
The LG Watch W7 is built using the Snapdragon Wear 2100 Platform. The chipset was announced by Qualcomm in 2016. It means that the LG Watch W7 is powered by an old processor even when the chip maker Qualcomm has announced Snapdragon Wear 3100. The new processor offers higher performance, better connectivity, and improved battery life.
Another bummer is that while all the leading smartwatch companies are focusing on accuracy of data, the LG Watch W7 doesn’t even feature GPS. It means your tracking data will not be as accurate as you’d expect. That said, the watch also doesn’t feature a heart rate sensor which means it still lacks the fitness tracking abilities many companies are offering at a lower price.
Contactless payment has become a norm in many countries, but sadly, there’s no NFC available on the Watch W7 making it very light on the hardware side. The watch features an accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer, and magnetic sensors. Smart implementation of mechanical hands allows users to check directions on the compass in a different way. The watch’s mechanical hands move towards the north when you use the compass.
Features & Battery Life
Lack of modern hardware components kills the potential of the LG Watch W7. Without GPS, NFC, and heart rate monitor, you can’t expect accuracy and many features that are required to run certain apps. The LG Watch W7 comes equipped with a 240mAh battery and according to LG, the watch’s battery can last for up to two days. The company also claims that the watch is capable of working for 100 days in the mechanical watch mode. In this mode, all the smart features of the watch are turned off.
Bottom line
The LG Watch W7 is a smartwatch you would want to skip because it is underpowered in terms of hardware and software. The watch looks beautiful, but as far as the value is concerned, you can get a lot better watch than this without spending $450.
Staff Writer; Corey Shaw
Have any Tech Tips? News? Hit up our Tech Guru at; CoreyS@ThyBlackMan.com
