Any smartwatches announced at IFA a significant step forward?

[dawheat]

So I'm running a Moto 360 and found it better than expected. I end most days at 50-60%, imo it looks great on men (not too big), and does 98% of what I use my watch for perfectly - notifications, time, and as a smart unlock device.

I get the new ones are more powerful, will probably last longer - but do say of them make a real difference in day to day use?

It's odd, I still don't mind shelling out for a new flagship every year, but I just don't feel the same about my watch anymore. And this from someone who had the original Gear, then Gear 2, then Gear Fit, and now the 360.

Thoughts? Anything jump out at people as a real step forward?

 

[vi edit]

Well, the new Moto 360 sport looks interesting. Built in GPS, ability to store music, more durable and a screen that's supposed to be very easy to read in the light. I'm intrigued. Would be a very nice running companion.

 

[Red Storm]

IMHO the next big thing for Android Wear devices will be NFC for stuff like Android Pay.

 

[Commodus]

The Moto 360 Sport is the cleverest of the bunch, while the Huawei Watch seems the best-looking (the new, regular Moto 360 in 42mm being a close runner-up).

With that said, a lot of what's coming out of IFA seems to be an acknowledgment of design elements that Apple got right (it didn't get everything right) when it unveiled its watch a year ago. Accept that women exist, and that not everyone wants a gigantic watch; use quality materials, not just cheap variants on plastic and rubber; give people a wider choice of bands, and make them relatively easy to replace.

There wasn't a lot of improvement under the hood, though... still the usual Snapdragon 400 stuff, no great leaps in battery tech or connectivity. A lot of that hinges on Google, I know, but that just shows how relatively slow Android Wear development is.

 

[poofyhairguy]

I think the biggest change is that the newer models officially support OSX. That is huge.

 

[TheStu]

The Moto 360 Sport is the cleverest of the bunch, while the Huawei Watch seems the best-looking (the new, regular Moto 360 in 42mm being a close runner-up).

The Moto 360 (and Sport) are confusing to me:

1: The Sport has a silicon body/skin/whatever, and there's no mention of it being removable. Which will be awesome if its clasp breaks. There's also no mention of price.
2: The regular 360 is gendered for some reason. There is the Men's 42mm in Silver, Black, and Gold. Then the Women's 42mm in Silver, Rose Gold, and Gold. They also have special bands on both sides. Why? Why did they feel the need to put it into gendered categories?

 

[MrSquished]

2: The regular 360 is gendered for some reason. There is the Men's 42mm in Silver, Black, and Gold. Then the Women's 42mm in Silver, Rose Gold, and Gold. They also have special bands on both sides. Why? Why did they feel the need to put it into gendered categories?

It's a great idea. Watches are also inherently jewelry, and there are men's watches, women's watches and unisex watches. How is this not an obviously smart move?

 

[s44]

There is the Men's 42mm in Silver, Black, and Gold. Then the Women's 42mm in Silver, Rose Gold, and Gold. They also have special bands on both sides. Why?

Because traditionally, women's watches have narrower lugs for narrower bands.

If you're a woman who wants full wrist coverage, nothing is stopping you from buying the Men's version.

Personally, I think it may be worth waiting for generation 2.5 and the 14nm parts.

 

[dawheat]

Hmm, reading some first takes on the Gear S2 are more positive than I expected, considering it's running Tizen.

The lack of apps don't bother me since I'm not a big fan of doing a ton on my watch - just do time, notifications, and health tracking well. I prefer the Moto 360 over my older Gear 2/Fit watches just b/c Android Wear seemed more polished and reliable.

Any other round watches introduced use the bezel like the S2? Lookwise they all pretty much seem the same (moto, Huawei , Samsung, etc).

 

[TheStu]

It's a great idea. Watches are also inherently jewelry, and there are men's watches, women's watches and unisex watches. How is this not an obviously smart move?

It's gendering for a weak reason IMO. The "women's" mechanical watches with which I am familiar generally have MUCH smaller faces and bands than "men's" (which nowadays are bordering on the gigantic, frankly). These have the same size displays, and only (as s44 points out) different band widths.

It would still be gendering for a weak reason if the 42mm was "Women's" and the 46mm was "Men's".

Offering the different sizing is a great idea. Having both wide and narrow straps is a great idea. Having 4 different colors for the casing is a great idea. Everything except the part where they have certain options gendered is great.

Because traditionally, women's watches have narrower lugs for narrower bands.

If you're a woman who wants full wrist coverage, nothing is stopping you from buying the Men's version.

Ah, I didn't notice that the straps were a different width. The displays are the same size, and I was stuck on being confused by the color differences (Men can get the black, women can't. Women can get rose gold, men can't).

And of course women can buy the "Men's" black watch with wider black band, and men could buy the "Women's" rose gold watch with narrower rose gold band, I just don't know why the labels are there. But since they have the same size display and casing, it's really just the straps that are different sizes, it's still going to be big on a small wrist.

 

[MrSquished]

I just pre-ordered a 2nd gen moto 360. Said it will ship on sept. 29th.

black band. black case. silver chamfer bezel. 46mm case.

 

[tnt118]

I really thought I'd get a second watch this generation for different occasions, but it's such a "meh" step forward I doubt I can justify it. I will take a look at the 360 sport, but I don't see anything these other watches will be doing any better than a first gen 360.

Edit: and when you consider it might be possible to snag a 360 for $100-$120 in the near future, I'd think that's the far better value.

 

[MrSquished]

I really thought I'd get a second watch this generation for different occasions, but it's such a "meh" step forward I doubt I can justify it. I will take a look at the 360 sport, but I don't see anything these other watches will be doing any better than a first gen 360.

Edit: and when you consider it might be possible to snag a 360 for $100-$120 in the near future, I'd think that's the far better value.

I never bought the original 360. The terrible battery life and processor turned me off. Plus not being easy to change bands/lack of lugs (looking like areal watch). This one cures all of the issues of the 1st one. Seemed like a good time to jump into the smartwatch field.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Edit: and when you consider it might be possible to snag a 360 for $100-$120 in the near future, I'd think that's the far better value.

Great point. Android Wear is Android Wear.

I really dislike my G Watch as a watch (love Android Wear) but none of these watches are what I want as a replacement. What I want is the One Plus One version of what is coming out- aka a nice round watch at half the price.

I was hoping for more success out of the Apple Watch to make that day come sooner. Maybe by the third gen we get that.

 

[Commodus]

I never bought the original 360. The terrible battery life and processor turned me off. Plus not being easy to change bands/lack of lugs (looking like areal watch). This one cures all of the issues of the 1st one. Seemed like a good time to jump into the smartwatch field.

To be fair, the battery life did get considerably better with a firmware update. Unfortunately, Motorola likely cost itself some sales by rushing the original 360 out in a rough state. Good thing it was successful enough to merit a second generation, then!

 

[foghorn67]

I never bought the original 360. The terrible battery life and processor turned me off. Plus not being easy to change bands/lack of lugs (looking like areal watch). This one cures all of the issues of the 1st one. Seemed like a good time to jump into the smartwatch field.

The battery is pretty good now. For me, it's 6:45AM to around 11PM with a good 45% left.

 

[trmiv]

Not really seeing anything yet that makes we want a new watch. I love my LG G Watch R, but I'd need a decent leap forward to make me want to spend more money on a watch.

 

[WelshBloke]

Hmm, reading some first takes on the Gear S2 are more positive than I expected, considering it's running Tizen.

The lack of apps don't bother me since I'm not a big fan of doing a ton on my watch - just do time, notifications, and health tracking well. I prefer the Moto 360 over my older Gear 2/Fit watches just b/c Android Wear seemed more polished and reliable.

Any other round watches introduced use the bezel like the S2? Lookwise they all pretty much seem the same (moto, Huawei , Samsung, etc).

That actually looks not horrible.

Cant tell how thick it is in that gif though, is it a brick like every other smartphone?

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

The battery is pretty good now. For me, it's 6:45AM to around 11PM with a good 45% left.

Do you use ambient screen for that?

Because IIRC I was getting similar battery results with no ambient screen. Compare this to my G Watch which has like 70% left at 11pm still.

 

[ClockHound]

I'm waiting for the pocket smartwatch. Something to match my smartvest. With the pithiest Twitter quotes engraved in 24 caret gold pixels. To be glanced at occasionally while waiting for the tech world to come to its senses.

:biggrin:

 

[gorcorps]

I'm waiting for the pocket smartwatch. Something to match my smartvest. With the pithiest Twitter quotes engraved in 24 caret gold pixels. To be glanced at occasionally while waiting for the tech world to come to its senses.

:biggrin:

Uh... the phone IS a pocketwatch

That's what makes this whole cycle funny. We had pocket watches, which gave way to wrist watches, which started to slide once people had clocks on their phones, and now some people who weren't wearing watches are starting to wear smart watches

 

[foghorn67]

Do you use ambient screen for that?

Because IIRC I was getting similar battery results with no ambient screen. Compare this to my G Watch which has like 70% left at 11pm still.

Nope. I don't see the point of ambient screen in my own use. If I want to tell the time, it turns the screen on.

If I don't navigate my drive, battery is more like 55% at midnight. More than enough for me.

 

[shabby]

Any other round watches introduced use the bezel like the S2? Lookwise they all pretty much seem the same (moto, Huawei , Samsung, etc).

Doubt we'll see any other watch with that feature http://www.sammobile.com/2014/11/27/samsung-patents-a-ring-operated-smartwatch-design/

 

[Mopetar]

Hmm, reading some first takes on the Gear S2 are more positive than I expected, considering it's running Tizen.

I'm rather impressed with the Gear 2 as well. I think it's the first smart watch (excluding the pebble) that's reasonably sized. Even the Apple Watch is too thick for my tastes. The rotating bezel that looks like a gear is pretty interesting and clever as well.

 

[dawheat]

I'm rather impressed with the Gear 2 as well. I think it's the first smart watch (excluding the pebble) that's reasonably sized. Even the Apple Watch is too thick for my tastes. The rotating bezel that looks like a gear is pretty interesting and clever as well.

Hmm I honestly wasn't going to upgrade my watch this gen, but I'll at least check out the new 360 and the Gear S2 when they come out. I know there are reasons, but now that everyone else has a round watch, why does Moto still have to have their flat tire?

Right now I'm leaning toward the Gear S2 Classic simply based on reviews/videos, though again I'm going to wait until I can hold them in my hand. I'm curious if they got the resistance level/effort right on the bezel.