The smartwatch wars are going hot. So how do the armies compare?

The Apple Watch hits stores in just two weeks, and based on the reviews, it’s both an impressive bit of modern technology and a beautiful piece of jewelry. But the Apple Watch isn’t the only smartwatch on the market.

Apple’s nemesis, Google, already has its own watch operating system,Android Wear, and companies like Samsung, LG, and Motorola make smartwatches that run it. What’s more, these Google watches are less expensive than the Apple Watch and come in a host of different styles.

The smartwatch wars are going hot. So how do the armies compare?

Design

The Apple Watch isn’t just another gadget, it’s a statement piece, and as such Apple made sure that its latest creation looked as good as classic timepieces that have come before it. Wrapped in your choice of aluminum, steel, or gold, the square Apple Watch comes in two sizes: 38 mm for those slight of wrist and 42 mm for those with larger wrists.

It looks great in either size, and some of the optional bands for it are both great-looking and mechanical marvels. The Apple Watch is an absolute beauty. 

Unlike the Apple Watch, which is rectangular, you can get a round Android watch if you want. Or a rectangle. But of the multiple Android Wear watches on the market, only two, the Motorola Moto 360 and the Huawei Watch, are truly attractive. Many of the other Android Wear watches look more like nerd toys than fashion accessories.