Google is rebooting Android Wear, and has some new flagship hardware to herald the new beginning for its smartwatch software. Let's see how the new LG Watch Sport compares to the aging Huawei Watch.
Size
The LG Watch Sport is a little bigger, though you'll want to note that it appears to be measured including its crown (power button), so the casing-size difference isn't big at all.
Build
Both watches have stainless steel casings, though the back (wrist-facing) side of the Watch Sport is made of plastic.
Display size
The Huawei Watch still has one of the best screen-to-face ratios in smartwatches. Its display is a smidge bigger than the Sport's.
Display resolution
Resolution, however, is a big advantage for the Watch Sport: Its screen is 22-percent sharper. (Though we never thought the Huawei Watch's screen was lacking in this respect.)
Display type
LG stuck with P-OLED (plastic OLED) vs. the Huawei Watch's AMOLED.
Display covering
Huawei has the advantage here, with its sapphire display covering.
Standalone cellular
The LG Watch Sport can work without a paired phone, using cellular (4G LTE) data.
GPS
The Sport also adds GPS, to track your location sans phone.
Water resistance
The Sport has better water resistance, though both offer solid protection (just no swimming).
Android compatibility
Both will pair with Android phones.
iPhone compatibility
Ditto for iPhones.
Mobile payments
Android Wear 2.0 supports Android Pay, but the Huawei Watch doesn't have the necessary NFC hardware inside for it to support it.
Swappable bands
You can't switch out bands on the LG Watch Sport, since there are antennae built into its strap.
Scrolling dial
A direct knockoff of the Apple Watch's Digital Crown, the Sport lets you twist its power button to scroll through lists, messages and feeds.
Battery
The Sport has a larger battery, but with its cellular radio and denser display, that doesn't necessarily translate to better battery life. (Stay tuned for our review for more on battery life.)
Heart-rate sensor
Both watches can track your pulse.
Software
The LG Sport launches along with the LG Watch Style as the two Android Wear 2.0 showrunners. But the Huawei Watch is also scheduled to receive the big update "in the coming weeks."
Release
Unless you get a steep discount, this isn't a good time to buy the 17-month-old Huawei Watch. We may well see its follow-up in a couple weeks, at the Mobile World Congress conference.
Starting price (full retail)
The Huawei Watch starts at just $50 cheaper; all the more reason to stay away until we (quite possibly) see the Huawei Watch 2 later this month.
For more, you can read New Atlas' early impressions of the LG Watch Sport and our full review of the Huawei Watch.
