Smartwatches: from Apple Watch to the Moto 360, what's on offer? - PHOTO

Apple’s unveiling of its Apple Watch smartwatch on Tuesday has thrown wearable technology under the spotlight - but Apple has joined a very busy market of useful, internet-connected watches. Here’s everything you need to know about smartwatches, and nine of the best.

Apple Watch

The long-anticipated Apple Watch is an extension of the iPhone on the wrist. It has a touchscreen display, but also what Apple is calling a “digital crown” on the side, which is a jog dial that allows users to turn it to adjust features and settings, including zooming in and out of a map, or setting the time.

Apple’s main focus is on apps, health and communications, with third-party apps from Twitter and Facebook shown off. A heart rate sensor on the back combines with movement tracking for fitness monitoring.

The Apple Watch won’t be available until Spring 2015, which means the rest of the pack has quite a head start on Apple.

Expert view: We don’t know until we get our hands on one next year.

Cost: $350 (£215) in spring 2014

• The Apple Watch: light, clever, but how long does the battery last?

• Apple Watch has designs on health industry – but is it good for doctors?

• Apple Watch first reactions: a great bit of kit, or just plain ugly?

Motorola’s second smartwatch and its first using Google’s Android Wear software, the Moto 360 is the first Android smartwatch to be released with a round 1.5in screen.

It runs Google’s latest smartwatch software and connects to Android smartphones and tablets via Bluetooth, allowing notifications from apps, calls, texts and emails to pop up on the screen as small cards.

The 360 has a heart rate sensor on the back, while steps and activity are counted by an accelerometer for fitness tracking.

The interface is simple, the display attractive and the choice of watchfaces plentiful. Users can speak into their watch to search with Google or dictate messages, while Google Now presents information including aeroplane boarding cards or bus stop timetables when needed.

Users can also control their music and get turn-by-turn directions delivered to their wrist from Google Maps.

Expert view: The best looking, most comfortable smartwatch, but let down by poor battery life of less than a day.

Cost: £200 from the end of September

• Motorola Moto 360 a smartwatch masquerading as a classic time piece

LG’s G Watch was one of the first Android Wear watches released, and like the Moto 360 connects to an Android smartphone via Bluetooth to display notifications and other information. It has a square screen, lasts about two days on a single charge and is waterproof.

The G Watch lacks a heart rate monitor, but tracks steps and calories burnt, and allows users to control music, get directions and everything else Android Wear provides.

Expert view: A good balance of battery life and notification features but the design might put people off.

Cost: £160 available now

• LG G Watch review

The Gear Live is Samsung’s Android Wear smartwatch, which was launched at the same time as the LG G Watch. It too has a square screen, connects to an Android smartphone via Bluetooth and displays information, notifications, direction and music track changes.

The Gear Live also has a heart rate sensor built into the back for fitness tracking and is waterproof.

Expert view: The heart rate sensor doesn’t add much, but the bright screen and comfortable fit make it a solid Android Wear watch.

Cost: £170 available now

• Samsung Gear Live review

The second round Android smartwatch, the LG G Watch R is essentially the square LG G Watch above squeezed into a circular frame. It looks more like a traditional watch with a completely round 1.3in screen and has a heart rate sensor on the back, unlike its square brother.

Expert view: Similar to the LG G watch but a more attractive round design and a heart rate monitor.

Cost: around £170 expected to be released in October

• LG G Watch R: the smartwatch that looks like a watch

(theguardian.com)

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