Google OS Powered LG G Watch, Samsung Gear Live Smartwatches Launched in India

In a surprise move, search engine giant Google for the first time has released Android Wear powered LG and Samsung smartwatches in India simultaneously with 12 select regions.

"Watches powered by Android Wear aim to show you the right information and suggestions you need, right when you need them," said Sundar Pichai, SVP (senior vice president), Android, Chrome & Apps.

 "It's been great to work with LG on the launch of the G Watch — especially given its simple, easy-to-use design," he added.

As teased by the company during the last three months, LG G Watch does live to up to the expectations in terms of hardware specifications. It boasts of slim and minimalistic design [rectangular] based on a stainless steel body with PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) coating and water-and-dust resistant IP67 certifications.

Under the hood, it packs, Android Wear OS, 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 series CPU, 512MB RAM, 4GB inbuilt memory and in-built mic, so that the users can use voice-commands to get flight data, traffic, favorite team scores right on the smartwatch, provided the device is in sync with companion smartphone. Users can even receive/reply texts (via voice-to-text feature) and check call details. 

On the other hand, Samsung Gear Live too boasts of similar specifications. It flaunts a 1.63-inch super AMOLED screen with 320x320p resolution with IP67 certifications (capable of surviving under 3 feet of water for up to 30 minutes) and ships with 1.2Ghz processor 512MB RAM and 4GB inbuilt memory.

The key difference between the two devices is that the Gear Live boasts a heart rate monitor seen in the flagship Samsung Galaxy S5.

"Samsung has been a pioneer in the quickly-evolving wearable market, and the launch of Gear Live furthers our efforts to deliver a simple and intuitive wearable experience to consumers," said JK Shin, CEO and President of IT & Mobile Division, Samsung Electronics.

 "Through our long-term close collaboration with Google, we have successfully incorporated the capabilities of Android Wear into the Gear Live, in a way that only Samsung can do. I am confident that Samsung and Google together, we will grow the smart wearable market to positively impact consumers' life," he added.

Both LG G Watch and Samsung Gear Live have been listed at the Google Play India website for ₹14,999 and ₹15,900. While the LG device is available for pre-booking with shipment to begin from 8 July,  the release date of Samsung smartwatch is yet to be revealed by the company.

Key specifications of LG G Watch and Samsung Gear Live:

 [Image Credits: LG Newsroom; Samung Mobile Press]