The LG Watch Urbane is probably the first smartwatch to take the need for high-end style seriously, but does it pull it off?
Wearable technology has long been criticised for its lack of style; many of the early attempts at smartwatches seemed to take more inspiration fromKnight Rider and Dick Tracy than Tag Heuer or Rolex. But amid growing pressure to extend the appeal of wrist-worn devices beyond sci-fi fanatics and 90s detective cartoon enthusiasts, wearable technology makers have finally started paying attention to fashion.
The industry received a massive boost this year when Apple launched itslong-awaited Watch – a device that some analysts predict will sell 36 million units in its first 12 months. Notably, Apple pitched the Watch as a fashion item rather than simply a gadget, with former supermodel Christy Turlington Burns figuring prominently in the company's promotional activities.
Now other smartwatch makers are being forced to up their game, and ensure that they put as much care into the design of their devices as the functionality. So far, LG has been the most successful on this front, developing first the G Watch R, with a large circular face and sporty design, and now the Watch Urbane, made from luxury materials and with a high-end price tag to match.
With its metal body and stitched leather strap, the LG Watch Urbane clearly hopes to be to Android users what the Apple Watch is to iPhone users. It has a premium feel and, thanks to the latest Android Wear software release, it is has many of the same features as the Apple Watch – including hands-free actions, always-on apps, WiFi support and an emoji recogniser.
However, unlike the Apple Watch, the LG Watch Urbane is bold and distinctive. It immitates traditional watch design and bears more than a passing resemblance to some Michael Kors products – a brand that divides critics. This is not a safe crowdpleaser, it is a distinctive fashion item that customers will either love or loathe.
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