LG G Watch and Samsung Gear Live now available in Google Play

By Andrew Martonik
published

Google dropped a bit of a bomb on us all at Google I/O today by announcing that the LG G Watch would go on sale in Google Play today, then doubled up on that by announcing the Samsung Gear Live and also making it available today.

The LG G Watch comes in at $229 and is shipping July 3rd (though LG said July 7th previously), while the Samsung Gear Live comes in at just $199 and ships July 8th. Interestingly, in the UK the G Watch is the cheaper of the two at £159 (shipping July 4th), with the Gear Live coming in at £169 (shipping July 8th).

If you need a little more information to help you make your buying decision, be sure to check out our initial hands-on time with both the G Watch and Gear Live.

Andrew Martonik
Andrew Martonik

Andrew was an Executive Editor, U.S. at Android Central between 2012 and 2020.

65 Comments
  • Gear Live ordered in Black. Woot!
  • me too!
  • Me three!
  • Me four!
  • lol, which will have updates past 1 year?
  • Sooo tempting! but I'm holding out to see what the moto 360 has to offer Posted via Android Central App
  • This! Brought to you by the Nexus M8
  • +1
  • The LG one is cheaper than the samsung one here in the UK EDIT: ah i see it mentions that....it's really weird!!
  • Ordered a Samsung as well. Excited! Posted via Android Central App
  • For me it's showing the LG as leaving warehouse by July 3rd, and July 8th for the Gear Live. I'm in Canada FWIW. EDIT: Nevermind, the original post has been updated to reflect the same.
  • Just bought G Watch white gold
  • me too, i reckon if you're gonna change the strap then the contrast of the gold will keep it looking light.
  • Same Posted via Android Central App
  • JULY 87TH!?! Haha seriously though UK pricing is odd, but less than I expected for both. Posted via Android Central App
  • LoL. Saw that too. I July 87th must be some time in October or so.
  • September 25th by my reckoning.
    Hehe Moto 360 should be out by then! Posted via Android Central App
  • Order placed
    Thank you. Your order has been placed, and you will receive an email shortly with the details of your purchase.
    I went with the black LG G watch.
  • Tempting but I'll hold out and see what gets released around Christmas holiday Posted via Android Central App
  • Ordered it, 1 day shipping which means i'll get it on the 7th? Why couldn't they released it on the 2nd so it wouldn't coincide with the holiday? or will UPS deliver on the 4th?
  • Well that blows the Gear Live only works with Samsung phones. I was hoping simce it was on Google Play that Google would have stopped that nonsense.
  • Where the hell did u read that? It clearly says compatible with Android 4.3 and up. Doesn't say anything about Samsung phones. Posted via Android Central App on The Nexus 5
  • It says the following: "The Samsung Gear Live is compatible with all Samsung phones running Android 4.3, Jelly Bean™ or higher....". That really sucks if it is the case.
  • That cannot be true. I can't imagine it coming into the Play Store so closed off.
  • It doesn't say ONLY Samsung phones.
  • True.
  • It is not the case. It mentions Samsung phones but it is more what it doesnt say which is that it is NOT compatible with other phones. Wear is compatible with all phones 4.3 and up.
  • This is cut and paste right from the play store purchase screen " Android Wear extends the Android platform to wearables. The Samsung Gear Live is compatible with all phones running Android 4.3, Jelly Bean™ or higher, and all of your favourite Android apps will display notifications on the Samsung Gear Live" Posted via Android Central App
  • What's more, I visited the compatibility checker site and my N4 is (obviously ) compatible. Wonder if trolling or just legitimately wrong. Posted via Android Central App
  • It should work with other phones too. Check the bottom of the page. I went with G Watch for the bigger battery. Requirements
    Smartphones running Android 4.3 or higher (check compatibility at g.co/WearCheck).
  • Ordered the G Watch. Woot.
  • Just ordered the LG G Watch in black. Can't wait for it to come in!
  • G Watch in black ordered with one day shipping. Posted via Android Central App
  • Will walk into best buy on the 7th. will walk out with a Gear Wear and skip the shipping fee! will use saved money to buy a new watchband...
  • I wanted to go the same but according to my local Best Buy, they aren't even loaded into their inventory system. Even their website still says "coming soon". Bbbeessstttt Bbbuuuyyyy!!!!
  • Anyone else see that the Gear description page says it only works for Samsung phones running Android 4.3 jelly bean or higher? So according to the Play Store it only works with Samsung phones.... Posted via Android Central App
  • Are you sure you're not reading "smartphone" as "Samsung phone"? cause on the play store it says smartphones... Posted via Android Central App
  • Others have said that it's compatible with all devices running Android 4.3+. Maybe some error?
  • It's under the "Bringing Android to wearables" section. I'm aware it says differently at the bottom of the page but I just want to make sure it will work with my HTC One before I purchase. Posted via Android Central App
  • They WANT you to pair it with a samsung phone, they are not REQUIRING you to use a samsung phone.
  • Even so, it feels like an outright lie and is pretty much false advertising IMO.
  • Nothing absolutely killed me today so I guess that I am going to end up waiting until later in the year. Not waiting for anything particular, just to see where it all goes.
  • Looks like it Posted via Android Central App
  • Agreed, there was lots of "that's pretty cool", but no " I must have that NOW! ". Posted via Android Central App
  • Can the bands be changed out?
  • yeah so far they both take 22MM bands which I believe are standard
  • I'd totally buy that Samsung Gear Live if I wasn't already committed to buying the Moto 360
  • X Posted via Android Central App
  • I'm tempted. Was waiting for the 360 after the early renders. Now seeing the thickness and the band/flaw at the screen bottom, one of these may be the better call. Posted via Android Central App
  • Guys, To use the Samsung to track my runs it's necessary carry the phone or the watch has GPS?
  • Ordered the G watch. Believe it will be better for me in my work environment. But I'm still getting the moto 360 when it comes out. Posted via Android Central App
  • $30 difference is pretty big at this price point. anyone know why LG's is selling for more?
  • Bought one of each for each arm! No... Not really. I had to buy a lawnmower today... :( ಠ益ಠ
  • http://www.geekmelange.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/indiana_jones_grai...
  • +googol ಠ益ಠ
  • Just ordered the Gear Live as well. Dimensions are a bit smaller and it is also lighter vs the LG G. I have a small wrist and also like something light so this is perfect. Posted via Android Central App
  • Not bad prices, still personally don't need own. Out of the 2 I do think the gear looks better but still nothing touches the 360 though I do wonder what that little black cutoff point is on the display. Posted via Android Central App on nexus 7 (2nd gen)
  • How did you guys choose between the two?¿? Posted via Android Central App
  • I'm tempted to get a Samsung but I'd like to see one in person first.
  • Samsung also introduced Smart watches along Smart Phones
    Detail : http://www.androiddiscuss.net/samsung-introducing-smart-watch-along-with...
  • So the LG one is priced almost the same as the US after VAT in the UK, whilst the Samsung one want a £29 (circa $49) premium over US prices. That rules the Samsung one out for me, although I would have bought it in preference as a stop gap until the 360 arrives. Sick of companies trying to extract huge extra margins out of me because of where I live.
  • So how much do you think the Moto 360 will cost?
  • $249 at minimum. It may be as much as $299. Posted via Android Central App
  • And I just passed my return date for my gear 2 guess I'll keep it and see how the wear turns out and if anything I'll sell it on swappa Posted via Android Central App
  • Ordered the gear live. I prefer the look over the LG G Watch as Gear live's body tapers into the strap nicely. This would've been so useful to have now, I'm in Japan currently and it's getting tedious whipping out the phone constantly for navigation purposes, especially when its raining.