You can now buy the LG Watch Urbane from the Google Store for $350

LG promised the LG Watch Urbane would be up for purchase in the Google Store by the end of this month, and sure enough it is. You can head right here to buy LG’s latest Android Wear smart watch for 0.

That’s a lofty price tag for the LG Watch Urbane, though many would argue it’s for good reason. The device is crafted using premium materials (stainless steel body in gold or silver, genuine leather straps) and a very nice design. It’s probably the best looking Android Wear smart watch to date.

The LG Watch Urbane sports a 1.3-inch 320 x 320 P-OLED display, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of storage, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 400 chipset. It also runs the absolute latest version of Android Wear out of the box (which brings support for WiFi, always-on apps, emoji gestures and more).

Unfortunately it doesn’t look like you’d have your watch in time for weekend fun. Google’s store currently shows that it’s not expected to leave the warehouse until May 8th, though as we’ve seen in the past a few lucky orders could arrive much sooner than anticipated. Be sure to place your order for one if you have the money to spare and have been waiting for a smart watch that’s as beautiful as it is capable.

Hands-on with the LG Watch Urbane [VIDEO]

Last month LG officially announced their newest Android Wear device, the LG Watch Urbane. It’s a more elegant version of the previous LG G Watch R. They replaced the plastic with a much more premium looking metal. In case you were wondering, “urbane” actually means “suave” and “refined,” which accurately describes this watch.

LG is showing off the Urbane at Mobile World Congress right now, and we were lucky enough to get out grubby paws on it. Aesthetically it’s one of the nicest Android Wear devices that has been announced. It’s bulkier than the Huawei Watch, but doesn’t have the Moto 360 “flat tire.” We also really like the removal of the fake dial. The G Watch R was more sporty, whereas the Urbane could be worn at a formal event.

In terms of specs the Urbane is no slouch. The display is 1.3-inches with 245ppi. Powering it is a 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, 512MB of RAM, and 4GB of storage. It has a 410mAh battery, IP67 rating, and 9-axis sensor for fitness tracking. The Urbane will be available in gold or silver. Pricing and availability have not been revealed yet. Until then, feast your eyes on the glorious photos below.

You can now buy the LG Watch Urbane… with airline miles

LG has yet to set a formal release date for the LG Watch Urbane, but it’s already possible to buy one… sort of. You can’t buy it with money like you would any ordinary purchase. You need miles. Airline miles. United Airlines’ reward miles, to be specific.

If you happen to have, say, 41,100 rewards points floating about in your account you can place an order for one right now and have it shipped within 10 days’ time. This is great news for people who have enough money to travel around the world many times over, but if that isn’t you then you’ll sadly have to wait for the general retail release (which should happen this month if LG’s estimation is still accurate). Find the goods right here.

LG Watch Urbane orders are beginning to ship from the Google Store

Google’s original estimate for shipping the LG Watch Urbane was May 8th, but orders are already starting to head out of the door. Many have reported seeing shipment notifications, which means it should arrive on folks’ doorsteps within the week. Google’s website has also been updated to mention that orders now leave the warehouse within 1-2 business days instead of the aforementioned May 8th date.

The LG Watch Urbane is perhaps the most beautiful Android Wear smart watch available right now. Its 0 price tag might be a tad off-putting at first, though LG is hopeful you’ll find it worth every penny once you have it in your hands (or, more appropriately, on your wrist). Let us know if your order has shipped if ordered one when they went on sale.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

LG Call app lets you dial anyone straight from your LG Watch Urbane

A new app for LG’s latest smartwatch — the LG Watch Urbane — has hit Google Play. It’s LG Call, and it servers a simple function: letting you call people from your wrist. You can choose from your contacts, your most recent calls, or simply dial in a full phone number in case you don’t have the number in your contacts.

It’s important to note that the app only seems to be compatible with the LG Watch Urbane right now. No competing smartwatches have support, and not even LG’s older watches — the LG G Watch R and the LG G Watch — will be able to use it.

We’re hoping this’ll change in the near future, but for now you’ll only be able to use it if you sprung for the company’s latest and greatest. Grab the download here if you have the appropriate hardware.

LG Watch Urbane teardown shows the battery is pretty easy to replace

iFixIt has done their tried and trusted teardown on the new LG Watch Urbane, the latest Android Wear smart watch from the South Korean company. As beautiful as the smart watch is on the outside, we’re always curious about the bits that you won’t often get to see in your day-to-day usage.

The teardown didn’t reveal anything out of the ordinary. LG still knows how to fit square circuitry into a circular chassis. Assembly is very clean and makes us confident the smart watch can stand the test of time.

One thing iFixit notes is that the battery is quite easy to replace if you find it’s on its last legs. This is thanks in part to a motherboard that is held in place with standard Philips-sized screws and a just a few connectors to deal with. Watch band replacement is also going to prove to be quite easy, though this is by design and should be possible even without fully dismantling the watch.

Unfortunately the display is where things get trickier, as LG has a multi-layered design that features a good deal of adhesive. While it’s possible to completely remove the display without breaking anything, it will require you to re-adhere the display and glass. That could become a messy job for someone who isn’t experienced, so the Watch Urbane was awarded a repairability score of 7/10 (10 is easiest to repair). Take a look at the full teardown notes at the source link if you’re curious.

[via iFixIt]

Is a deluxe version of LG Watch Urbane on the way?

The LG Watch Urbane is already one of the nicest looking Android Wear smartwatches on the market. It has a round display without the infamous “flat tire,” premium leather bands, and a beautiful metal finish. Everything about it screams “elegant,” but LG isn’t stopping there. A recent trademark suggests that the Watch Urbane is about to get the deluxe treatment.

LG Electronics Inc filed a trademark for the name “Watch Urbane Luxe” on June 11th. We don’t have to take much of a leap to figure out that this is a new smartwatch. All we have to go on is a name, but this name gives a lot away. We know it will be in the Urbane family, which means it will most likely be round. The “Luxe” moniker is often used to describe something luxurious or deluxe. Putting all the clues together we can reasonably guess that this will be an even more premium version of the Watch Urbane.

Would you be interested in a more refined version of the Watch Urbane?