iFixit welcomes two out of three announced Android Wear smartwatches, the LG G Watch and the Samsung Gear Live. How did they fare in the teardown?
Better than expected.
First the LG G Watch. The G Watch has swappable straps, which wasn't easy to remove. Its back cover comes off after removing the screws, revealing the battery pack and all other goodies under the hood. The front half is home to the display, the motherboard and the rubber gasket responsible for the G Watch's IP67 rating. The display and bezel can be pried apart after the glue is loosened with some heat. That's it. iFixit gives the LG G Watch 9 out of 10.
Now for the Samsung Gear Live. The Gear Live also comes with swappable straps but Samsung's are easier to remove than the G Watch's. Remove the screws as well, pop up the back cover, and the battery is there, alongside a surprise: a Bluetooth/Wi-Fi antenna. Official documents from Samsung don't mention this piece so there may be a reason to be cautious of the Gear Live. Like the G Watch, the front part of the Gear Live contains the motherboard and the display. The display is fused to the metal chassis of the smartwatch though so iFixit docked some points, giving the Gear Live an 8 out of 10.
More than just taking a peek inside gadgets and devices, iFixit treatments are done to give consumers an idea as to how easy it is to disassemble a certain unit. While Android Wear smartwatches are designed to keep up with the abuse of everyday activities, they will break down eventually, making repairs inevitable. The easier it is to tear apart a device, the easier it is to do a repair, and this is reflected in the iFixit score. The higher the score, the better.
IP67 ratings for the LG G Watch and the Samsung Gear Live are proof that these Android Wear smartwatches can survive more than just few bumps and splashes. "But even should they be damaged, in other ways as well, both appear to be easy to take apart and repair, with the exception of the Gear Live's display. That smartwatch's secret Wi-Fi antenna does call into question the device's hidden capabilities," concludes Android Community.
The Moto360 is slated to come out in summer and complete the initial lineup of Android Wear Smartwatches. It is expected to be trickier to repair though, no thanks to its rumored wireless charging capabilities and circular design.
