If you've been thinking about possibly getting an Android Wear smartwatch, head to Best Buy. The retailer is getting ready to launch the LG G Watch and Samsung Gear Live in its retail stores.
The major players in the smartphone world are all taking the battle to the wrist. Samsung has already released a handful of smartwatches running three different operating systems. The Galaxy Gear was launched last October alongside the Samsung Galaxy Note 3. The device bombed with consumers since it could hardly make it through a day of use before needing to be plugged into a charger and it also had a bulky design that didn't allow users to swap out its watchband since Samsung chose to place the camera on the band.
Samsung took another stab at the smartwatch world when it unveiled the Gear 2, this time with its flagship Galaxy S5. This device ran Samsung's in-house Tizen OS in place of Android. Finally, the company recently announced an Android Wear-based smart watch with the Gear Live.
The Samsung Gear Live and LG G Watch are both the poster children for Google's Android Wear OS. The smartwatches are the first to go on sale and will be joined by Motorola's Moto 360 later this summer.
If you've been considering taking the plunge on either the LG G Watch or Samsung Gear Live but want to compare how they look and feel in person, you'll be happy to know that Best Buy is getting ready to offer both Android Wear smartwatches in its retail stores in the near future.
The retailer's online store currently lists the LG G Watch in stock and ready to ship for $229.99, while the Samsung Gear Live is available for pre-order for $199.99 and lists store pickup as "Coming Soon." A tipster on Android Central who claims to work for Best Buy says the LG G Watch will be available on July 17 and the Samsung Gear Live will be in stock on July 24.
As always, it's best to take rumored availability dates with a grain of salt until something official comes out.
