Review of LG G Watch R

The G Watch R’s key selling point isn't hard to spot. Where most Android Wear smartwatches offer a conventional rectangular screen, the G Watch R’s display is a perfect circle. We’ve seen this type of design before, in the shape of the Motorola Moto 360; but where the lower part of the Motorola’s screen is cut off by a small black bar, LG’s latest smartwatch displays a fully circular face.

It’s a design that instantly lends the G Watch R a certain cachet. To our eyes, a square-faced smartwatch, no matter how luxurious, inevitably calls to mind the low-cost digital watches of yore. The G Watch R’s classic shape suggests a more grown-up accessory, an effect that’s supported by the faux winding knob (which in fact turns the screen on and off), and completed by a dive watch-style bezel. The chunky body won’t suit slender wrists, but at 62g it’s lighter than most dumb chronometers, and the comfortable leather strap is easily replaceable via a standard 22mm fitting.

LG G Watch R review: display

Wake the watch up and you’re greeted by a 1.3in screen, with a 320-pixel diameter that translates to a pixel density of 246ppi. That’s not quite Retina-sharp at typical watch-reading distances, but it delivers crisp and clear text and images. LG has also chosen to use P-OLED technology, which delivers sumptuous colours that really leap off your wrist; at maximum brightness it’s a sight to behold (around 310cd/m2), and easily readable, even in bright sunlight.

So far so good – but there’s a catch. The G Watch R’s high-brightness settings can be a bit too dazzling for discreet indoor use, and there’s no ambient light sensor to automatically dial down the brightness when needed. If you want to make the most of the display’s capabilities, therefore, you have to keep adjusting the settings by hand. We ended up choosing a mid-range setting and sticking with it, and we suspect most users will do the same.

It’s also worth mentioning that OLED screens are susceptible to screen-burn, which isn’t covered by the warranty. It remains to be seen whether this early generation of Android Wear watches will remain in use for long enough for that to be a problem. Android Wear tries to minimise burn by subtly shifting the position of your watch face each minute, and you can help matters further by choosing mostly black faces and switching between them periodically.

LG G Watch R review: other features and battery life

The outer ring surrounding the screen is, in our view, a design misstep. It doesn't actually rotate – not that you could really take the G Watch R diving anyway, as its IP67 rating means it’s only water-resistant to a depth of one metre. And the raised surround interferes with the swipe gestures that are used to navigate Android Wear, creating a sense that the software and hardware don’t quite gel. Those who prefer a minimalist face may find the physical markings a needless visual distraction as well.

And then there’s the charger. Similar to the regular G Watch, the G Watch R charges via a USB dock that attaches magnetically to the back. But it’s a disconcertingly loose fit, feeling more like a pedestal than a clip. It takes only an inadvertent shove to knock the watch off its charger, which doesn’t inspire confidence.

Since all Android Wear smartwatches run the same base software, the G Watch R can’t really be faulted in terms of function. The vibrator is a bit weedy, but you do get a heart-rate monitor for one-shot pulse readouts, which several models (including the original G Watch) lack.

What’s more, LG has packed in the biggest battery we’ve yet seen on an Android Wear device, rated at 410mAh. In our tests, this gave the G Watch R a projected battery life of two days and 21 hours per charge (at default settings), helped along no doubt by the efficiencies of the OLED display.

That isn't the transformative leap in smartwatch longevity that we’ve been waiting for, but it’s 19 hours longer than the original G Watch, our previous Android Wear battery-life champion.

LG G Watch R review: verdict

That, perhaps, is the G Watch R’s saving grace. If you’re looking for an upmarket smartwatch, the Moto 360’s wireless charger, built-in light sensor and edge-to-edge screen make it a much slicker and more polished device. It’s a touch cheaper, too, but battery life of barely over 24 hours means the G Watch R is a better compromise.

It doesn’t come close to the elegance of a real high-end timepiece, and it’s significantly more expensive than its rectangular rivals. But if you’re looking for an eye-catching Android Wear watch that won’t let you down at the end of the day, it’s your best bet – so far.