Apple is now accepting pre-orders for the Apple Watch starting Friday April 10th. Though the product looks promising, the Apple Watch is not the only smartwatch on the market. Competitors include the Pebble Time, the Moto 360 and the Samsung Galaxy Gear. In this article, we will nail down the features of the Apple and compare it with the Moto 360 from Motorola.
Pricing
Motorola has Apple beat in the pricing department with the Moto 360 retailing for $250, though you can pick one up for as low as $165 this week as part of a sale at Google. The Apple Watch, on the other hands, starts at $349 for the Sport edition and climbs to $549 for the Apple Watch and up to $10,000 for the Watch Edition.
Availability
The Moto 360 is available now online and in retail stores such as Best Buy. The Apple Watch will go on sale starting April 24th. Early sales and pre-orders will be limited to online transactions only due to strong demand and constrained supplies of the device. Pre-ordering started last Friday with ship times quickly slipping to June for all models of the Watch.
Mobile OS Compatibility
The Apple Watch is compatible with newer iOS devices including the iPhone 5, 5s, 5c, 6 or 6 Plus. The Moto 360 is compatible with Android devices running Android 4.3 or greater, though rumors suggest Google may be bringing its Android Wear platform to iOS.
Software OS
The Apple Watch runs Watch OS, which shares a similar look and feel to iOS. The Moto 360 is an Android Wear device, which is Google’s wearable OS platform.
Dimensions
The Moto 360 is available only in a 46mm size, while the Apple Watch is available in both 38mm and 42mm sizes.
Connectivity Options
The Apple Watch offers Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, NFC and Bluetooth 4.0, while the Moto 360 adds A-GPS/Glonass along with Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0. Neither the Apple Watch nor the Moto 360 offer 3G or 4G cellular connectivity options.
Storage and RAM
Details on the Apple Watch are not yet known, but the Moto 360 ships with 4GB of onboard storage and 512MB of RAM. Apple typically does not divulge this hardware information, which means we will have wait until iFixit can obtain an Apple Watch and tear it down.
Camera
Neither the Apple Watch or the Moto 360 offer a camera.
Display Size and Resolution
The Apple Watch and Moto 360 differ significantly in their display with Apple opting for a rectangular display and Motorola choosing a round display. The Motorola display is moderately sized, measuring 1.56-inches at its widest spot and featuring a 320 x 290 display. According to Apple’s WatchKit documentation and reviewer first-hand information, the two Apple Watch models have different screen resolutions and display sizes. The smaller 38mm model has a resolution of 272 x 340 packed into a 1.5-inch display while the larger 42mm Apple Watch has a 1.7-inch display with a resolution of 312 x 390.
Display Material and Technologies
The Apple Watch uses Ion-X glass for its display material in its Sport model and Sapphire in its Watch and Watch Edition. Ion-X is known for its shatter and impact resistance while Sapphire delivers exceptional scratch resistance and clarity. The Moto 360 incorporates Gorilla Glass 3 into its screen, a shatter and scratch resistant material often seen in smartphones and tablets.
Both the Apple Watch and the Moto 360 include multitouch touchscreen displays, but Apple sets its Watch apart with the new Force Touch technology that can discern the difference between a light tap and a long touch. This allows users to tap for some actions and long press for others.
Processor
Apple custom designed the new S1 processor exclusively for the Apple Watch. The System in Package” (SiP) includes an application processor, RAM, NAND flash and support for connectivity processors, sensors and more. Performance details are sparse, but estimates suggest the Watch will be more powerful than the first iPad.
Motorola looked to the past for its processor choice, opting to use the older 1GHz single-core TI OMAP 3 processor in its smartwatch instead of the newer Snapdragon 400 used in competing Android smartwatches. Motorola has been criticized for this choice — no only is the OMAP processor no longer being made by TI, it also was built using a 45nm process that puts it at a power consumption disadvantage when compared to the newer low-power 28nm used in newer processors.
Casing styles and Band Options
The Apple Watch is available in 54 possible stock configurations that are designed to suit a variety of consumers. Casing choices include the aluminum Sport model in silver or space gray, the stainless steel Watch model in silver or black and the rose or yellow gold Watch Edition. Band options also run the gamut with several different leather bands, a link bracelet, and a Milanese loop. There also is fluoroelastomer band that provides a variety of colorful choices for consumers. Though you can swap bands, they must be compatible with the Apple Watch.
The Moto 360 offers fewer stock options than the Apple Watch with only leather and stainless steel bands to accompany stainless steel casing choices of a light finish, dark finish and champagne gold finish. Bands, however, are swappable with the Moto 360 supporting any off-the-shelf 22m straps.
Physical buttons
The Moto 360 includes a single button that is similar in appearance to a standard watch crown. The button can be used to activate the Watch, put it into sleep mode and also provide access to the settings menu when held for a few seconds. Its utility is limited when compared to the digital crown technology adopted by Apple.
Apple sets the bar with its new Digital Crown, which functions both as a home button for navigating through apps and an input control that allows you to zoom and scroll. Apple also includes a second button that supports both a single press and double press and activates apps such as the contacts and Apple Pay.
Battery Life and Charging Options
Apple claims the Watch will feature up to 18 hours of battery life under everyday usage. If you use the device for music, talking on the phone or fitness tracking, this estimate may decrease. The Moto 306 is advertised as delivering all day battery life from its 320Ah module.
When power runs dry, you can recharge the Apple Watch using an inductive MagSafe charger that attaches to the back of the unit. The system is completely sealed with no exposed contacts. Additional chargers are available from Apple with prices starting at $30. The Moto 360 includes a wireless induction charging system that ships with a dock.
Watch Faces
Both the Apple Watch and the Moto 360 allow you to change the Watch face to a style that suits your needs.
Phone Call support
Apple advertises the Watch as being able to both send and receive phone calls directly from the Watch, which includes the necessary microphone and speaker.
The Moto 306 allows you to answer calls, but the conversation portion is handled by the phone and not the Watch. You also can send a call to voice mail or reply with prewritten message from the Watch.
Mobile Payments
Apple Watch owners can pay directly from the Watch thanks to the onboard NFC and support for Apple Pay. The Moto 360 currently does not offer a similar mobile payment system.
Voice control
Both the Apple Watch and Moto 360 include microphones for Voice Control of the features. Apple relies on a version of Siri to handle the voice commands while the Moto 360 uses Google Now.
Fitness Tracking
Both the Moto 360 and the Apple Watch include a heart-rate sensor with fitness tracking capabilities. The Apple Watch ships with a built-in activity app that tracks all movement and a workout app for specific exercise programs. This data is then shared with the Health app on iOS. Besides step counting, the Moto 360 also supports sleep tracking.
Navigation
Both the Apple Watch and Moto 360 use GPS from the connected phone to track your location and provide navigation information.
Have you ordered an Apple Watch or are you tempted by the low price and possible future iOS integration of the Moto 360? Let us know your smartwatch buying plans in the comments.
