The LG Watch Style – as its name suggests – is a stylish accessory that combines the functionality of a classic timepiece with that of a fitness tracker.
Alluring lines and fully customisable face are just some of this smartwatch’s highlights.
Intuitive and responsive interface alongside quick synchronization with your mobile device and a bunch of smart features make it well worth considering for your daily activities.
Background
The LG Watch Style is the brand’s fashionable alternative to the rugged yet higher-spec LG Watch W7.
Built in collaboration with Google, it’s based on the simple-to-use Android Wear 2.0 interface and fills the gap between utilitarian-looking smartwatches and stylish timepieces. This device has sleek lines, interchangeable bands, and an easy to personalise face.
Its slim design incorporates an intuitive display and interactive crown that enhances user experience and control.
Few but accurate activity tracking features appeal to fitness enthusiasts. It doesn’t have outstanding battery life and is not compatible with many apps in the Play Store, yet it’s an independent device that can keep you away from your mobile.
Features
LG and Google focused more on smart than fitness tracking features. Frankly speaking, this is not the most feature-packed smartwatch out there, but it’s still a capable device with discreet functionality.
Besides a functional touchscreen, it comes with a surprising interactive crown you can use to browse and interact with the apps.
Just scroll it to navigate through the various menus or press it to activate the smartwatch, end a call, or return to the home screen.
A simple interface improves the user experience; you can just scroll to read longer messages instead of opening different pages and can exit the apps without hassle.
Interactive crown apart, the LG Watch Style also recognises gestural controls, letting you scroll through the apps, read messages, and return to the home screen with simple flick or shake wrist movements.
Voice control via Google Assistant takes the smartwatch experience to a whole new level. You can use it to access functions, set reminders, or even write texts.
One of LG’s Watch Style most sought-after features is the quick messaging that lets you read and reply to texts directly from your wrist.
The Smart Reply function boasts improved handwriting recognition, or you can use the virtual keyboard. What’s best is that you can even use emojis while chatting on WhatsApp, WeChat, or Facebook Messenger.
Design
The LG Watch Style has a slim profile that appeals to gents and ladies alike. The design combines metal and plastic elements without feeling cheap.
Three colour choices include titanium, silver, and the highly acclaimed rose gold, while the genuine Italian leather bands add an elegant touch.
Regardless of what colour you pick, you can always give it a fresh look by simply swapping the wristbands or changing the colour or background image of the face.
The LG Watch Style lets you choose from five face colours and six themes, all brilliantly displayed by the full-circle P-OLED display.
Depending on the theme, you can also choose up to 8 compilations of apps to arrange in any way you like, for quick access to the most used features.
Like all smartwatches that respect themselves, the LG’s is splash-resistant, but you’ll have to take it off before jumping in the pool.
Fitness Tracking
While LG didn’t focus much on activity tracking functionalities, this smartwatch can still satisfy the fitness junky.
Slim, lightweight, and stylish, it can be worn for most activities throughout the day, at the gym or office.
Pair it with Google Fit and use it while you’re running outdoors or on a treadmill, walking, climbing, cycling, and even when doing quirky yoga poses or aerobics.
It utilizes your phone’s GPS and comes with a built-in accelerometer that tracks your steps, travelled distance, and calories burnt.
The lack of a heart rate monitor make it less accurate for counting calories, but the steps and distance are accurately recorded. Depending on the theme and configuration you selected, it can show the metrics directly on display.
Another missing function is sleep monitoring, that majorly lacks because when you sleep, this smartwatch has to sleep too. It has short battery life but comes with a convenient wireless charging dock with magnetic base.
Main Advantages
- Subtle, simple, and lightweight design
- Fast and responsive Android Wear 2.0 interface
- Play Store integration
- Native app support for Android and iOS devices
- Designed for all wrists
- Easy to read in the sunlight
Main Disadvantages
- Disappointing battery life
- No built-in GPS
Competition
| LG Watch Style | Fossil Sport | Huawei Watch 2 | Montblanc Summit 2 | |
| Display size | 42.3 x 45.7 x 10.79 mm | 43 x 43 x 12 mm | 48.9 x 45 x 12.6 mm | 46 mm x 46 mm x 12.5 mm |
| Display type | Gorilla Glass 3 | Glass | Corning Gorilla Glass | Domed sapphire glass |
| Resolution | 360 x 360 pixels | Not specified | 360 x 360 pixels | 400 x 400 pixels |
| Weight | 46 g | Not specified | 40 g | |
| Band material | Italian leather | Silicone | Silicone | Rubber |
| Water resistance | Splash-resistant | 5 ATM | 1 ATM | Splash-resistant |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | Bluetooth Smart, Wi-Fi | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
| GPS | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Heart rate monitoring | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Smart notifications | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sleep tracking | No | No | No | No |
| Customisable faces | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Multi-sport profiles | No | No | No | Yes |
| Battery life (smartwatch mode) | Up to 10 hours | Up to 24 hours | Up to 10 hours | Up to 24 hours |
How We Tested
To test the LG Watch Style, we wore the timepiece for the whole day, performing all kind of activities.
We were impressed with the accuracy of its activity tracking features. However, the calories burnt may not be truly accurate, majorly due to the lack of a heart rate monitor. It doesn’t have GPS, but it utilizes your smartphone’s GPS without trouble.
It’s so lightweight that you can easily forget you’re wearing it, which is a true advantage. The only thing that disappoints is the really short battery life. It abandoned us after using it intensively for about 8 hours.
Summary
The LG Watch Style is a capable timepiece and a great choice if you’re looking for an Android Wear smartwatch. It can replace your phone on more than one occasion, and it’s truly easy to control.
Slim and sleek lines appeal to fashionistas, while the slick, twistable crown enhances ease of use and functionality.
Sure, it’s not the most capable fitness tracker out there, but it’s an outstanding smartwatch. No doubt, true value for money if you don’t mind the annoyingly short battery life.
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