TheLG G Watch R( at Amazon)(Opens in a new window)already looked good, but the LG Watch Urbane looks even better. That's important, since appearance is really the only thing that sets the two watches apart. The Urbane has a stainless steel finish and a leather strap for that expensive, business-chic look. But it's a tough sell at $349, which is the same price as the base model of theApple Watch($300.00 at eBay)(Opens in a new window), and a lot more than the $99Pebble. And despite the new 5.1 software update, Android Wear still underwhelms. The LG Watch Urbane is arguably the best-looking Android Wearsmartwatchyet, but you're better off saving $100 on the G Watch R.
Design and Display
LG doesn't exactly go back to the drawing board wuth the Urbane, but the design refresh is the lone distinguishing factor between it and the G Watch R. The Urbane's face is still round, but it's nestled in stainless steel with a silver finish, rather than the black plastic of the G Watch R. It's a more classic look than the marked bezel of its predecessor, and it's definitely more high-end than similar Android Wear smartwatches like theMotorola Moto 360($179.97 at Amazon)(Opens in a new window). Screen aside, the Urbane looks more like a traditional timepiece than some sci-fi gadget strapped to your wrist.
The attached black leather band with white stitching is an improvement over the cheap-looking, rubbery sport straps you get with most smartwatches, but it doesn't feel like the best quality given the price. The leather already appeared wrinkled and stressed in certain areas after a few days of use, and it's far too rigid for my taste. You can switch it out for any 22mm band of your choice, but chances are, part of the reason you're buying this watch is for the leather band. The watch is rated IP67 for dust and water resistance up to one meter for 30 minutes, but you'll still want to keep that leather band out of the water.
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还有的s the size of the Urbane: It's big. It's the same size as the G Watch R, which measures 1.8 by 2.1 by 0.4 inches (HWD). But the Urbane is slightly heavier, too, coming in at 2.3 ounces. I found it comfortable enough to wear, so the bulk didn't bother me too much. Still, be warned that this is a big watch, and if you have slender wrists (like I do), the Urbane's size is even more obvious.
The P-OLED (plastic OLED) display looks sharp and vibrant. It's the same 1.3-inch, 320-by-320 screen as the G Watch R, which means blacks are rich, whites are bright, and colors look clear and crisp, even in direct sunlight. Overall, the display is comparable with the Apple Watch in terms of brightness and quality. Pressing the crown on the side activates the display; otherwise, the Urbane is locked in a dimmed, always-on state when you're not actively using it in order to save battery power. Tapping it also triggers the screen.
Hardware and Battery Life
Since the Urbane is a near-exact match of the G Watch R, it contains the same innards, including a 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, 512MB RAM, and 4GB storage. It also contains an accelerometer, a barometer, a compass, a gyroscope, and a built-in heart rate monitor, which was a bit finicky during my testing. It jumped from 56 beats per minute to the high 70s in back-to-back readings.
Also like the G Watch R, the Urbane uses a 410mAh battery that lasts for maybe two days if you only use it to tell time, or for basic tasks like the stopwatch app or heart rate monitor. Otherwise you'll have to recharge it nightly, which is still a major drawback for nearly all smartwatches on the market today, including the recent Apple Watch. Only the Pebble family lasts up to a week on a single charge.
The Urbane uses a magnetic charging cradle. The connection is pretty good, so you shouldn't have any trouble getting it to stay put so long as it's on a flat surface. It also vibrates slightly so you know when the watch is docked, and the display gives you a circular graphic that indicates how much battery power has been restored.
Like other Android Wear watches, the Urbane connects to devices that run Android 4.3 and higher via Bluetooth 4.0. For this review I tested it with anHTC One M9($159.99 at Amazon)(Opens in a new window).
Android Wear Updates
The Urbane is the first smartwatch to ship with the latest version of Android Wear, 5.1, which includes built-in Wi-Fi support. That means you can use the watch without a phone or tablet nearby, so long as the watch is connected to a Wi-Fi signal. That's a plus, but you're still mostly relegated to indoor environments or public spaces where Wi-Fi is provided. And in order to connect to password-protected networks—which is most of them—you still need to pull out your phone to type in the code. It seems that the smartwatch, no matter how hard it tries, just cannot get way from relying on the smartphone.
Android Wear 5.1 also introduces wrist flick gestures for scrolling through the menu's "card" interface. It failed to work just as many times as it responded correctly to my movements. It might be useful when your other hand is busy holding onto a subway pole, but I can't think of many other real-world scenarios for it. Plus, it just looks and feels awkward.
The new Android Wear update also improves menu navigation a bit. Now you can swipe left from the home screen to access a vertical list of apps, swipe left again to view your contacts, and swipe left once more for a list of basic actions the watch can perform.
Beyond that, there's not a whole lot else to the Android Wear update, which will also be available on other Android Wear devices, so the LG Watch Urbane isn't exactly unique in that regard. Yes, there are some new watch faces to choose from, but the Urbane is still primarily a delivery method for notifications and voice commands.
For a deeper analysis of the Android Wear operating system and its features, you can read our reviews of theLG G Watchand theSamsung Gear Live.
Conclusions
With the Apple Watch now available, our standards for smartwatches have increased. Google's Android Wear OS is in the best position to offer an alternative to Apple's iOS-centric juggernaut, but the LG Watch Urbane, even with its upgraded look, doesn't change our lukewarm feelings on Android Wear in general.
The Urbane is definitely one of the better-looking smartwatches out there, but that's not enough to recommend it, especially given the high price. For that kind of money, you can get the better-overall Apple Watch (if you own an iPhone), or save some dough and opt for the Moto 360 or the G Watch R. Or, if you're just looking to dip your toe in the smartwatch waters, the Pebble is a solid alternative, and costs just $99.
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