The largest Android Wear partners, LG, Motorola, and Huawei are reportedly putting off plans to release new wearables this fall, which is seen to be a troubling sign for the companies trying to gain traction from the get-go. However, these Google partners consider the hold a safe move.
Apple and Samsung devices were reported threats to Android Wear watches, the reason for Google partners to skip a new Android Wear Watch release for 2016. With the fast model to model transition of the two tech giants, Android Wear production was placed on hold as Android smartwatch makers find customer interest in said gadgets shooting down. Smartwatch sales have been declining over time, and the makers of wearables are now focusing on fitness and fashion.
According CNET, LG, Huawei and Motorola won't be releasing new smartwatches for the upcoming shopping season. However, LG was able to release a new smartwatch model earlier this year through the LG Watch Urbane 2nd Edition LTE.
With that said, Apple and Samsung are left to dominate the global sales of smartwatch this coming holiday. Alongside the launch of Apple's iPhone 7, this digital device leader announced its update on Apple Watch through the Series 2. This latest Apple watch will focus on fitness, incorporated with a new waterproof design, and dropped the price of the first Apple watch. The tech company even confirmed partnership with Nike as the two will release the Apple Watch Nike+. On the other hand, Samsung has recently released its Gear S3 which runs the company's own Tizen operating system.
The many makers of Android smartwatch were expected to announce release of new smartwatch models during September's IFA trade show, but the ZenWatch 3 of Asus was the only unit model that launched.
"We want to see what sticks," said LG spokesman Ken Hong, as reported by CNET. The LG Watch Urbane 2nd Edition will serve as a test device that will let the firm know if consumers want a more feature-packed smartwatch that can be untethered from a phone.
"One of the things we see in the future is connected [cellular] watches, and our opinion is that while it's technically feasible, the trade-offs on the product itself means we're not quite ready yet," said a spokeswoman for Motorola.
