Android Wear 2.0 Review: Google's Latest Answer to the Apple Watch

The good: Better complications, Includes Google Assistant, Can run standalone apps, Improved fitness tracking, Refined interface that's easier to use, Works on Android and iOS The bad: Mostly playing catch up to Apple and fitness trackers, Smart reply suggestions don't always work well Who should buy: Android phone owners interested in smartwatches will be pleased with the improvements coming in 2.0, but the software won't do much to convince smartwatch skeptics When Android Wear first debuted in 2014, smartwatches were still largely unfamiliar territory, and Google was just figuring out how to adapt Android to wearable devices. More than two years later, Google's refined take on those efforts are set to debut. LG's Watch Style and Watch Sport, out Feb. 10, will be the first smartwatches to ship with Android Wear 2.0, the massive software update Google unveiled last spring. The refresh gives Google-powered smartphones more ammunition to compete with rival devices, especially the market-leading Apple Watch. Among Android Wear 2.0's biggest improvements is how much easier it is to navigate. It's simpler to launch apps, manage notifications, and customize watch faces.