The smartwatch started emerging nearly two years ago. However, up until this time, it is still struggling as far as gaining user acceptance is concerned as well as proving that it’s more than just a smartphone accessory.
When Motorola released its first ever take on the smartwatch, the Moto 360 (1st gen), the company was able to prove why smartwatches were having a hard time gaining mainstream reception.
Just recently, the American tech company released the second generation of its Moto 360. The next iteration of its smartwatch has gone a long way when it comes to balancing functionality and style.
The company stayed true to its promise that it will deliver a far better user experience than the one the first-gen smartwatch gave its users. Motorola proved that despite more room for improvements, the latest Moto 360 is still worth a shot.
The Moto 360 (2nd gen) takes a form of refinement from its original design. The company opted for the minimalist look with the device sporting a round form, a single button on its metallic casing, and the bezel around it.
Some reviews have stated that one good thing about the smartwatch is its aesthetics because it is very stylishly-looking. However, given its functions as a smartwatch, the latest Moto 360 proves that it has more than just good looks.
The smartwatch is 11.4mm thick and comes in three different sizes, two of them aptly designed for men with 42mm and 46mm diameters. The third variant goes well with women as it has a diameter of 42mm but sports a thinner strap.
As per The Guardian, the Moto 360 (2nd gen) runs Android Wear and connects to users’ Android smartphone or iPhone via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. It is important to note that when users start up their Moto 360 (2nd gen), they will be instructed to download the Android Wear app.
Once a user has paired his smartwatch with his smartphone, the app goes right into business, automatically syncing the settings of his smartphone into the Moto 360 (2nd gen).
According to some reviews, the downside of this process is that after the automatic set-up, users will have to spend a lot of time filtering apps and notifications that they don’t need. Some first-hand users of the Moto 360 (2nd gen) complained that after setting up, they were bombarded with emails, map suggestions, alerts, and notifications.
In addition to the standard apps of the Android Wear such as Google Fit, the Moto 360 (2nd Gen) also added Moto Body, the company’s own fitness tracking app.
Through Moto Body, the wearable can read one’s heart rate, count the user’s steps and calories burned. It can also keep track of the user’s daily activity with reminders, statistics, as well as motivational messages that pop up from time to time.
Reports suggest that users prefer Moto Body than Google Fit as the former is more convenient and even syncs with the latter. The app will calculate the owner’s vital sign averages over 14 days which is really beneficial for someone who maintains a healthy lifestyle.
Dropping by Motorola’s website, users can find customization options. The site will allow them to choose the size, bezel, and watchband of their choice.
The Latino Post notes that the bands come in either black, brown, or the same colors as the bezel for $50 or more. The watch straps are easily interchangeable, making customization a fun experience for those who own the wearable gear. The device comes with a wireless charging cradle that’s actually very handy to users.
The first-generation Moto 360, just like a slew of first-generation smartwatches, disappointed tech enthusiasts with its slow performance and poor battery.
This year, Motorola has stepped up its game so it is confident that it won’t get the same negative reviews anymore on its latest smartwatch. The latest Moto 360 has been upgraded with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor clocking at 1.2GHz.
The smart wearable also has an Adreno 305 GPU and a half gigabyte of RAM. Motorola has also improved the battery capacity to 400mAH on the 46mm variant.