With a stainless steel buckle and case, a scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass screen and a mirrored plastic back, Moto has thought a lot about the 360’s styling.

1

Appy days

Check Google Play for extra Android Wear-enabled apps – the usual suspects and some unexpected gems

2

Juicy extras

Works with QI-compatible chargers – anything from standard pads to cushions

and pebbles

3

Changing faces

Use Motorola Connect for even more customisability, like the ability to change colours on watch faces

Motorola can enjoy the limelight, for now...

Motorola has done a great job on the design of the Moto 360, and aside from the slightly confusing Google UI this is a premium product. Compared to the plethora of sport bands, which offer HR monitors and step counters for around £120, the Moto 360 also offers great value for those keen to test out a smartwatch experience in style. However, Apple will be a big upset for Motorola come January, as the Apple Watch is likely to deliver equal if not better design. That said, given the Android/Apple OS divide behind this wristy business, it’s unlikely that this choice is bothering much of the population.

Instead of a winder/crown there’s a lowprofile push-button. At 43mm across and 11mm deep, it’s not the biggest smartwatch out there, but it’s far from understated.

The 1.5-inch LCD has a resolution of 320x290, which is fine at a normal viewing distance, but on closer inspection it’s not the best. Clearly having a higher-res screen would have had an effect on Moto’s claim of all-day battery life. While it’s easily possible to stay powered-up on an average day, Moto has anticipated night-time charging by adding a bedside clock-style function to the charger.

The UI is a mash-up between Android Wear and Google Cards that can be brilliant, like when you’re using Google Maps and getting vibrate alerts when a direction change is required. It can be random too, however.

Sadly, Motorola has built the 360 with a fouryear-old TI OMAP 3 chip (OMAP3630) inside, rather than the Snapdragon 400 that graces the Samsung and LG, so you do get some lag.

The watch is surprisingly useful every day – wrist alerts are weirdly compelling, as is the fitness aspect. Google Wear is clearly still in its infancy, and Motorola’s open-source policy here has left the ball very much in Google’s court. Until the Apple Watch lands in early 2015, this is the smartwatch to beat. £199, moto360.motorola.com Love Classic, stylish design. Useful alerts and synced media controls Hate Confusing UI. Dated, four-year-old chipset T3 Says The design king of smartwatches you can get your hands on right now