LG Watch W7 Is A Wear OS Hybrid Smartwatch With Mechanical Hands

LG did not just announce its new V40 ThinQ flagship Android smartphone, but it also introduced its new smartwatch. Called the LG Watch W7, the Wear OS-powered device is the very first hybrid smartwatch from LG that features mechanical hands.

“Developed in partnership with Soprod SA of Switzerland, the LG Watch W7 features high-precision quartz movement and physical watch hands wrapped in a stainless steel body,” LG said in a press release. “Combining smart and mechanical features in a single timepiece gives the LG Watch W7 unique powering options.”

The LG Watch W7 looks a lot like a premium wristwatch that carries over some of the design elements of the LG Watch Urbane. With the combination of the circular 1.2-inch touchscreen display and the mechanical clock hands, users have the option to turn it into regular wristwatch by turning on the analog-only mode. This turns off the device’s smart features and it will continue to operate like a regular watch.

The LG Watch W7 also comes with an impressive battery life of up to two days with its 240 mAh capacity battery. If users turn on the watch-only mode, battery life can be extended with an additional 3-4 days. Battery life can also last up to 100 days if users decide to only use this mode on the Watch W7.

The mechanical hands aren’t just for telling time either. They are also designed to show wearers additional information, including altimeter, barometer, stopwatch, timer and compass directions. With Wear OS onboard, users will be able to fully customize the user interface and put other watch faces and complications.

In addition to the touchscreen display, the Watch W7 features a rotating watch crown and two physical buttons on one side, according to Android Authority. These provide users with more than enough options on how to easily navigate the Wear OS user interface to access apps, health tracking and notifications.

Unfortunately, the LG Watch W7 appears to disappoint in one aspect. The device is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100 chipset. It would have been better if it were powered by the recently announced Snapdragon Wear 3100, which could have helped in further extending battery life and delivering faster performance. As for other specs, the Watch W7 comes with 4GB of storage, Bluetooth 4.2, Wi-Fi and it is rated IP68 water and dust resistant.

The LG Watch W7 will arrive with a $450 price tag and will be available at Best Buy starting on Oct. 14. Preorders for the W7 will open on Oct. 7, according to The Verge.