LG Watch W7 Includes Google Assistant

 

 

 

The new  LG Watch W7  stands out from the crowd from today’s digital watches. 

 

With a Swiss-made gearbox, the LG Watch W7 has two physical hands over a digital display for a precise and accurate time.

 

It’s funny to say, but this is innovative. I have tested smartwatches for the past 5 years and I’ve never seen this before.

 

The LG Watch W7

 

 

Having physical watch hands helps in two ways:

 

First, at a quick glance, you can see what time it is without having to press a button for a digital display. 

 

Second, if the watch battery dies, you can still tell the time.   

 

Should you forget to charge the LG Watch W7, the just watch only mode can last up to 100 days between charges, that’s a long time!

 

The LG Watch W7 with its 1.2″ LCD screen is perfect for the someone who appreciates a good-looking watch but desires the features of a smartwatch.  It’s one of the first smartwatches to feature Google Assistant. 

 

 

Google Assistant

As a Google Assistant fan, I was excited to try this feature out.  A simple swipe from the left over the watch face brings up Google Assistant, ready to take your command or question.  

 

Ask questions or give commands like…

• what’s the current temperature?
• what’s the five-day forecast?
• remind me to pick up sour cream when I go to Walmart
• add coffee creamer to my shopping list
• send a text to Tom that I am running 5 minutes late
• what is the phone number for my local Starbucks?
• how late is Disneyland open?
• what is on my calendar today?
• give me directions to Yogurtland

 

 

Once you swipe the watch to open up the Google Assistant screen, you tap a microphone when you are ready to speak. 

 

Below the mic, it also gives valuable information like the current temperature, date, how far away you are from work or home, and the option to find a nearby coffee house or gas station for you…complete with pictures, hours, and a button to press for navigation.

The LG Watch W7 does not have a speaker, so any information Google Assistant gives you is written on the watch face.  But many times you do have the option to send the results you receive to your phone.

The integration of Google Fit is another nice synergy of the LG Watch W7.

Google Fit

Google Fit gives you Smarter Health Coaching to help motivate you towards your goals, based on guidelines from the American Heart Association and World Health Organization.  The LG Watch W7 easily tracks steps and calories.

But Google Fit wants to motivate you to do more – to get up and get moving. 

From the Google Fit screen you swipe from the right on the LG Watch W7, you’ll see two circles.  They represent Move Minutes and Heart Points.

Move Minutes – Move minutes are tracked to incentivize you to move more and sit less.  You earn move minutes for all activity – big and small.  They are designed to help you to think of using the stairs rather than the elevator or to take a walk after lunch.

Heart Points – are earned for more strenuous exercise that gets your blood pumping.  You will earn one point for moderate activity like walking and double points for exercise like running or aerobics.

The beauty of Google Fit is that it automatically tracks your activity whether it’s walking, running, cycling. spinning, pilates, and more.

The LG Watch W7 does not track your heartbeat which is a little unusual for today’s fitness trackers.  I suspect it’s because of the room needed for the physical watch hands gearbox.

Although steps and calories are tracked, the Move Minutes and Heart Points bring a new dynamic to watching one’s health and give people a better understanding of ways to improve their health.

Google fits works with other fitness apps like Strava, Runkeeper, Endomondo, and MyFitnessPal, so you can be sure to get your Move Minute and Heart Points with these apps too.

Another neat feature of Google Fit is its Guided Breathing.  It’s a two-minute exercise that helps you take deeper breaths by following its prompts. 

Perfect at the office, home, or subway when you need a mini de-stress break. 

The LG Watch W7 also has some handy built-in tools like a compass, stopwatch, timer, calibration, a barometer, and altimeter to assist with outdoor adventures and goal tracking. 

It is IP68 rated, which means it can be submerged in up to one meter of water up to 30 minutes without worry, though it is not intended for swimming or diving.

Other Apps

• Foursquare City Guide
• Runtastic
• Runkeeper
• The Weather Channel
• Todoist
• Mr. Time
• Pandora
• iHeart Radio
• Uber
• Nest
• Facebook Messenger
• Google Keep
• and more

LG also offers a handful of watch faces to customize your watch to your liking.

The LG Watch W7 is available in one size, 44.5 mm in stainless steel, along with a high-quality rubber watch band.   

The watchband is universal and can easily be switched out with any band you prefer.  It’s a sharp looking watch.