After the Moto 360 debuted in the market last Sept. 5, the gadget analysts from iFixit managed to get a closer look at all the components of Motorola's first Android wearable. They dissected the device from the inside out to see if the $249.99 price tag is all worth it.
One of the things that iFixit noticed when they opened the smartwatch was the conflicting detail about its battery size. According to earlier advertisements, Moto 360 runs on a 320mAh battery, but the guys at iFixit found out that it only has a 300mAh battery. While this may seem quite disappointing, Motorola has provided an explanation. Ars Technica quotes:
The typical battery capacity for Moto 360 is 320 mAh and the minimum is 300 mAh. In the mobile industry, sometimes both the minimum and typical capacity is listed on the battery, with the typical capacity quoted as the official battery size. Both figures are included on the batteries of our Moto X, Moto E and Moto G devices. In the case of smaller devices, we aren't always able to list both figures. For Moto 360 we only had room for one figure and choose to list the minimal capacity of the battery. We see how this can be confusing and we will look into ways to add the typical capacity as well in the future."
The testers also found out that the internal parts of the smartwatch are not as good as its sleek external appearance. It has a TI OMAP 3 processor, which was introduced in the market three years ago. This raised the question whether Moto 360 can actually function well when the Android Wear 2.0 update rolls out soon.
iFixit also pointed out the Moto 360 claims that it can run properly using the typical 22-millimeter wristband. However, "the included instructions tell us replacing the band, or adjusting a metal band requires 'specialized tools' and the skills of a jeweler. We had no trouble with our trusty tweezers." Another report said that only the metal wristband manufactured by Motorola can be used since any other wristband from other makers could interfere with the wearable's feature.
On the other hand, another reviewer noted that the ads for the first round smartphone in the market claimed that charging Moto 360 will never be a complicated feat. Users can simply place the device on its sleek little charger, and that's that. It also said that the wearable can be charged using any wireless charger. However, the tester found out that Moto 360 tends to shut down or overheat when charged using a wireless charger.
These Moto 360 problems raised by different reviewers can lessen the appeal of the smartwatch.
