As a family tech blogger, I love playing with and researching all the new smart gear. One of the fastest growing markets over the last 3 years has been smart wearable technology, such as watches. LG is always a player in this field and they just came out with a new smart watch that gives a very welcome old school spin on wearable tech. As a member of the Best Buy Blogger Network I am thrilled to have a chance to review the new LG Watch W7 Smartwatch and share my thoughts about it.
The W7 combines a beautiful digital display and an analog watch – with real watch hands. A very unique and in my opinion cool idea.
The LG Watch W7 Smartwatch is aimed at the men’s market, it is a larger piece of equipment, but it looks and feels the part. I have played with many smartwatches over the years and either they fit awkwardly or feel as light as a feather. There is some weight to the W7 and it feels like a watch should.
The LG W7 pairs with both Android and iPhone, so it is an equal opportunity watch for all to enjoy!
In addition, when you have on one of the conventional “watch” backgrounds, others can’t even tell that you are wearing a smartwatch. Which makes it totally different than most other smartwatches.
Wear OS
The LG Watch W7 is a Wear OS smartwatch. However it has a bit of an unexpected twist. As opposed to many smartwatches on the market, which aim at pure fitness, the Watch W7 is a hybrid aiming at more of a fashion target by combining a great blend of style and function.
Since it is powered by Wear OS, that means all the fun bells and whistles from Google come with it. Including Google Assistant and fitness tracking features.
High Craftsmanship
The premium stainless steel design is another feature which allows the LG Watch W7 to stand out as a functional, but fashionable piece of equipment. The stainless steel gives it a great look and also helps it resist corrosion and scratches helping ensure long lasting use.
The gearbox of the W7 is Swiss made which helps deliver precise hand movements for accurate time monitoring.
Display
The screen quality is very sufficient at 300 dpi on a 1.2 inch screen. The W7 offers an LCD display inset under the glass which provides an excellent view from all angles. This is a consistent thing that I found myself always being happy about.
Having the actual watch hands on the W7 is a great touch, it makes it feel more like a watch than a computer. However, those watch hands can also get in the way of the digital screen. I can imagine some people having an issue with this, I think this new style is well worth any minor disruption of the view.
What’s Missing?
The LG Watch W7 is a great piece, however there are somethings which I am a bit surprised it doesn’t have. A hear rate monitor almost seems like it should be a fixture on every smartwatch, but it is not on the style first W7. Also, missing is the ability to pay for items via NFC and speakers.
Even with these couple of areas for improvement, the LG Watch W7 Smartwatch gets the job done. It offers an incredible blend of style and performance. At a price point of $249, it is right in the middle with its competition, while serving a category that is underdeveloped . . . creating a smartwatch for those who actually want it to perform as a watch as well.
The LG Watch W7 Smartwatch is available at Best Buy and don’t forget about Best Buy being THE location to do all of your shopping for your loved ones this holiday season!
