Motorola's highly-anticipated Moto 360 has finally made its official debut at the IFA 2014 trade show and it's every bit as impressive as expected.
In a field currently populated by rather bulky smartwatches with rectangular form factors (aside from the newly-announced LG G Watch R, which has a round display), Motorola wants to offer a gadget that looks and feels like a classical watch, yet has the power and functionality of a smart device.
Motorola aims to "reinvent the wristwatch" with its new Moto 360, a beautiful gadget that boasts a circular display and a choice of stylish wristbands made of "real leather."
In terms of specifications, the new Moto 360 sports a 1.6-inch round display with a resolution of 320 x 290 and a pixel density of 205 pixels per inch (ppi), with Gorilla Glass protection for extra scratch resistance. The gadget comes with 512MB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage capacity, Bluetooth 4.0 LE, IP67 certification for water resistance in up to three feet of water for up to 30 minutes, and wireless charging.
Unlike other smartwatches out there, the new Moto 360 comes with an inductive wireless charger that also serves as a watch stand, delivering far greater convenience. To charge the device, simply place it on the charger.
"Moto 360 is a classically-designed, modern timepiece powered by Android Wear. Comfortable, familiar, and crafted with the finest materials, Moto 360 keeps you up to date without taking you away from the moment," Motorola touts in its announcement. "Glance at your wrist to see updates or just speak to get the info you need. Keep track of your steps and know your heart rate thanks to a built-in pedometer and heart rate monitor. Enjoy battery life that lasts all day, then just place Moto 360 on its wireless charging dock at night."
When it comes to build materials, the Moto 360 is made out of stainless steel and offers three different options for leather straps: classic black, stone leather, and limited-edition grey. Two metal options will also become available for purchase later this year for $299 - one with a dark finish and the other with the classic stainless steel look.
The Moto 360 will pair with any smartphone running Google's Android 4.3 or later via the Android Wear app, which is available as a free download from Google Play.
The new Moto 360 smartwatch from Motorola goes on sale starting on Friday, Sept. 5, on the company's website, Best Buy's online store, and the Google Play Store, sporting a $249 price tag.
For more information about the new Moto 360 smartwatch, head over to the product page at this link or check out the video below to see it in action.
