Motorola Moto 360 Release Date, Price, Specs: Features Include Wireless Qi Charging and Sapphire Glass
Samsung and LG have already released their market bets for wearable devices; Samsung with its Galaxy Gear and LG with its G Watch. Motorola still hasn't released its own device but there are already reports and leaks of the specs as well as prices. The Moto 360 will have to go up against the inevitable release of Apple's iWatch, and the company will want to set the standard in its upcoming smartwatch release.
It is already confirmed that Motorola will be taking a different route from Samsung and LG when it comes to the watch's shape. Instead of the box-type design of the Galaxy Gear and G Watch, the Moto 360 will be donning the round-face type design of traditional watches. There are rumors that the iWatch will also be taking the same round-face type design but nothing is yet confirmed.
The Moto 360 will be sporting an OLED display, in tandem with its circular design since it will be imperative that such a small device conserve battery life. The watch's internal specs are still unknown, as Motorola hasn't announced anything, and probably won't until its official unveiling.
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What is known about the Moto 360 is that it can be worn on either the left or right wrist because of its orientation-free design. The watch is also rumored to act like a normal watch, where it displays the time and notifications as a screensaver when it is not being used.
The glass protecting the display won't be the standard Gorilla Glass that most phones have but Sapphire glass. This is reported to be four times stronger than Gorilla Glass and it would make sense since the Moto 360 will be facing everyday bumps and scratches that a normal watch would face.
Unlike Samsung's Galaxy Gear that can only sync with other Samsung devices, the Moto 360 won't be restricted to just the Moto X or the Moto G. The Motorola watch will be compatible with any Android device that can run Android 4.4.3, 4.4.4, and the to-be-released Android L.
Google has been innovative about how the watch charges. It doesn't have any micro USB ports or charging jacks, instead charging via magnetic 'Qi' induction. Naturally, any physical charging ports would make the watch look unsightly and apparent, the Qi charging method will be a feature that sets the watch apart from its competitors.
The features will however, fetch the Moto 360 a premium price of probably $350 but Motorola is hinting that it would just be priced at $250. It is unlikely that the watch will sell for a lower price because of its Sapphire glass protection and wireless charging features. Motorola still hasn't announced an official release date but it is speculated to be sometime before the holiday season 2014.
