There’s been a whole host of new Android Wear smartwatches landing as of late – from the Tag Heuer Connected to the Fossil Q Founder – but perhaps the most exciting new arrival is the Moto 360 Sport.
Motorola has just announced that the sporty version of its popular smartwatch will go on sale later this month in Europe, and in early January in the US.
The reason its launch is significant is because it’s only the second Google-powered watch to feature GPS connectivity. From the dozen or so other Android Wear devices already on sale there has only been one with GPS on-board, the Sony SmartWatch 3.
The inclusion of GPS connectivity turns a smartwatch from a notification device into a fully fledged running assistant. With GPS enabled, wearers will be able to accurately track their runs without the need to be paired to a companion smartphone. Apps such as MapMyRun and Endomondo offer Android Wear extensions for run tracking on the fly.
The Moto 360 also includes a barometric altimeter for altitude tracking and your daily fitness stats - calorie burn, steps and so on – will be recorded by the built-in Moto Body software. Google Fit compatibility is, of course, on offer too and there’s an optical heart rate monitor built in to the back for bpm-based zone training.
The Moto 360 Sport model is made from a single-structure silicon case and band and features air vents at the side to keep runners’ wrists cool.
Moto states the battery life is a day of mixed use although we’re pretty sure that GPS use will absolutely hammer the 300mAh battery pack.
The display is a 1.37-inch LCD number, with a resolution of 360 x 325. Motorola is keen to point out that the AnyLight display is “the world’s first hybrid screen that automatically adapts to the level of natural light”. What that means for the wearer is reflection of natural light when outdoors.
The Moto 360 Sport will be available direct from Motorola on 7 January, priced at $299. It comes in three colours – white, black and orange. A wider rollout will begin on 10 January.
