LG is focusing on building its new smartwatch powered by Qualcomm's new chip specifically made for wearables, the Snapdragon Wear 2100. This smartwatch could be launched anytime within the year.
LG joined forces with Qualcomm in unveiling the Snapdragon Wear 2100. LG Electronics vice president of wearables David Yoon took the time to announce that the company is using this processor in its forthcoming smartwatches.
“We are delighted about Qualcomm Technologies’ next generation wearable plans, are planning to extend our collaboration with the new Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100 processor, and look forward to launching new smartwatches and other wearable devices that bring new and innovative use cases to consumers later this year,” says Yoon in a blogpost.
Thinner And Longer Battery Life
Qualcomm says that Google's Android Wear and the Snapdragon Wear 2100 will throw in new and improved experiences for users.
With the new chip onboard, the upcoming new smartwatch from LG is believed to be thinner and feature a beefed-up battery life.
In comparison with the Snapdragon 400, the new chip is 30 percent smaller. This paves the way for slimmer, sleeker designs down the road.
Snapdragon Wear 2100 has 25 percent less power consumption than the Snapdragon 400, which increases the battery life of the smartwatch.
Smart Sensing And Always-Connected Feature
The new chip comes with what Qualcomm calls "an integrated, ultra-low power sensor hub," which supports richer algorithms to achieve greater accuracy.
On top of that, users of next-generation smartwatches, just like LG's upcoming smartwatch, will be treated to an always-connected experience.
Two Variants
This new chip has two variants. While both of these versions come with low-power Wi-Fi connectivity and Bluetooth, the other variant features a next-generation LTE modem, allowing users to send messages, answer calls, stream music and more using their smartwatch by means of 4G LTE and 3G data.
The chip maker says the new processor not just powers smartwatches. Quite a few wearables featuring the new chip are already in the works. Additionally, the Snapdragon Wear platform is not only suited for smartwatches, but for sports watches, trackers and connected headsets as well. The chip also supports the Android operating system.
Is It The Watch Urbane 2nd Edition?
Back in November, LG cancelled the Watch Urbane 2nd Edition only a week after the smartwatch hit the shelves and just a week prior to the official launch.
LG said it added into the device a new "advanced component" that had not been used in an LG wearable device. This component could discolor or disrupt the displays on its second-edition smartwatches.
"During aggressive testing over thousands of hours under severe conditions, it was revealed that this component failed to meet LG's quality standards and could potentially impact our image quality over the life of the device," said LG during the time.
Before pushing out its explanation, LG initially said its engineers uncovered a problem that would affect the day-to-day functionality of the Watch Urbane.
There are no signs that the new LG smartwatch could be the cancelled Watch Urbane 2nd Edition.
