Delayed … The overseas popularity of LG’s Watch Urbane smartwatch has delayed its Australian arrival.
AMERICA’S insatiable appetite for smartwatches is preventing Australians from getting their hands on the technology, as LG revealed its latest wearable gadget would be delayed due to overseas demand.
Australian delays for the all-metal LG Watch Urbane follow local sell-outs for its last smartwatch, the G Watch R.
But while there is a wait for smartwatches the South Korean technology giant today revealed its newest smartphone, the leather-backed LG G4, which will arrive in Australia next month, with an “indicative” retail price of $949 for its top model.
LG’s Watch Urbane smartwatch, due in Australia this August.Source:Supplied
LG Australia senior marketing manager Brad Reed said the company’s latest smartwatch — the first to boast Google’s Android Wear updates — was now scheduled to hit Australian stores in August despite its American release last month.
“Demand for the product globally, especially in the US, has soaked up all the available stock,” Mr Reed said.
“It is on its way. We would have liked to have it a little earlier but a market like Australia doesn’t have the pulling power to get the stock when we want it.”
LG Australia marketing general manager Lambro Skropidis said the local arm of the company was keen to deliver more smartwatches to Australian consumers after selling the entire of its last wearable release, the G Watch R.
Revealed … LG’s newest smartphone, the leather-backed LG G4. Picture: Supplied.Source:Supplied
“Australia is one of the countries where smartwatches and fitness bands are always going to be popular so our problem is when a product is popular in America (they take all stock),” he said.
While smartwatches do not yet enjoy the popularity of smartphones, Mr Skropidis said the recent launch of Apple’s Watch would boost interest in the market, as users could more easily compare wearable technology.
“There would have been a lot of people waiting back saying ‘I’m going to wait’,” he said.
“Now you can make your comparisons without waiting for that mystery product to get launched.”
LG will launch the first leather-backed phone in Australia on July 14, however, revealing the G4 would come in two varieties: a top model with two rear plates including an eye-catching “full-grain” stitched leather model, and second model with just one rear cover in plastic.
Here next month … The LG G4 smartphone will have an “indicative” retail price of $949 for its top model. Picture: Supplied.Source:Supplied
Early prices put the models at $949 and $899, Mr Reed said, though carrier discounts and packages would be revealed on July 1.
The G4 smartphone will go head to head with Samsung’s Galaxy S6, launched in March, and features an upgraded rear camera with 16-megapixel resolution, laser autofocus, larger sensor and wider, f1.8 aperture, a slightly curved 5.5-inch touchscreen, and, unlike its main rival, a removable battery and memory card slot.
The G4 will feature NFC technology for mobile payments through its leather cover, but users will have to buy a separate cover to enable wireless charging.
[Source:-news.com.au]