The short turnaround between G Watches (2.5 months) is indicative of LG’s strategy.
A typical product development cycle spans the course of several months, and depending on the device, could take up to a year or more.
This means the G Watch R was in development alongside the original, so the square model was likely a proof of concept; something to satisfy the early adopters and work out bugs while the stylish version wrapped up development.
In other words, the R is the marquee smartwatch LG’s really banking on, and the fact that it’ll be introduced just hours after the 360’s launch means that all of the momentum and hype Motorola has spent months building up may quickly vanish.
Whether it was a stroke of luck or brilliant timing on LG’s part, it shows either way that the competition will be heating up next week.
LG’s not the only manufacturer coming out with a new watch soon.
Other brand launch
ASUS will launch one at IFA as well (though its shape is square in its teaser).
HTC has something in the works for later this year; Samsung could easily launch another Gear for the holidays; and let’s not even get into the Apple watch speculation.
The Moto 360 is still the best-looking smartwatch we’ve seen thus far, but the space is becoming much more crowded than it was two months ago.
And it may not retain that top-dog status for long after it finally gets released.