The big daddy of the round smartwatch was always the original Moto 360, with its sexy round looks and edge-to-edge thin bezel display. It looked classy and simply reminded smartwatch makers that the smartwatch doesn’t need to have a massively redesigned look — classic good looks worked just fine, if not better.
While the second generation Moto 360 fixed many of the problems that existed with the original smartwatch, there just didn’t seem to be enough to set it apart from its other Android Wear rivals. Matters are made worse in Malaysia as the biggest selling point of the Moto 360 — Moto Maker — isn’t even available here.
However, if you’re like me, and have coveted this watch since you first laid eyes on it, good news! It finally got its official release here in Malaysia.
I can’t really put into words why I like this watch. Maybe it’s how every little detail of it’s build is just slightly more refined than its competition. Take the Huawei Watch for example, it’s a thing of premium beauty that just oozes elegance, but if you ask me, I think the Moto 360 is just a little more refined and put together just a little better than the Huawei Watch.
And when it comes to a premium build and feel, we all know the little details matter.
But, I know many of you will be disappointed by the fact that the flat tyre is still here, despite the fact that other round smartwatches have done away with it. I was a little annoyed by it at first, but at the risk of sounding like a terrible cliche, there is no exquisite beauty without some strangeness in the proportion.
There are other things to like about the Moto 360 too, like Android Wear. It has come a long way since its inception, bringing it closer than ever to being a well rounded smartwatch OS. However, it would be nice to have a more user-friendly UI so you won’t have to spend an hour or two just trying to work out how to navigate the interface. Plus, just because it doesn’t stand out too much in terms of performance and functionality compared to its rivals, it doesn’t mean that the watch isn’t a good performer. It is still a pretty solid all-rounder.
What’s more, if you get the standard version, you have a near endless choice of straps as they use standard 20mm, 22mm and 16mm straps. If you’re a fitness junkie, they’ve even got a Moto 360 Sport variant which comes with a new ‘AnyLight’ display that improves visibility under bright light, plus GPS connectivity. However, this variant comes with a proprietary, non-swappable rubber strap which means that if you tear the strap, you’re going to be in a pretty bad spot.
Here’s a recap of the specs. The standard Moto 360 retains the same round look with a durable 316L stainless steel case. The 46mm version gets a 1.56″ 360×300 display, while the smaller 42mm unit gets a 1.37″ 360×325 display. It supports both Android and iOS smartphones and it connects via Bluetooth and WiFi. There’s also a heart rate sensor and IP67 dust and water resistance.
I can’t say this is the best Android Wear smartwatch money can buy because it certainly doesn’t blow people away with a kick ass spec sheet, but I can tell you that if I were to get an Android Wear watch, this would be it. It just looks and feels right on the wrist. It’s a smartwatch you buy with the strongest muscle in your chest, not that bowl of grey noodles sitting in our heads. If you are interested, the Moto 360’s pricing is as follows:
Moto 360 second generation 42mm Unisex Black — RM1,399
Moto 360 second generation 42mm Women’s Rose Gold — RM1,499
Moto 360 second generation 46mm Men’s Silver — RM1,599
Moto 360 Sport Black — RM1,399
All the smartwatches will be on sale at SenQ, Urban Republic and Thunder Match stores nationwide, as well as online at Lazada Malaysia. As a little icing on the cake, if you pick up the Moto 360 at the roadshow, you will be getting a 10% discount on all models on sale. If you purchase two smartwatches, that discount goes up to 20%. There is also a special deal for the first 100 customers, the details of which can be found here. The roadshow is being held at Mid Valley and will run until this Sunday, 21st February.
Still torn and can’t decide on a smartwatch to get for yourself? Maybe our updated Smartwatch Buyer’s Guide can lend a hand, so be sure to check that out.
