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The Moto 360 Sport goes on sale in the US in January
The UK and France can order Motorola's latest watch in mid-December.
The new Moto 360 was a definite step up over the original model, but we found it wasn't particularly well-suited to workouts. Motorola appeared to know that right off the bat, as the company announced it was working on a "sport" model specifically for the athletically-minded. Now, the company's finally telling us when it'll be available. The Moto 360 Sport will go on sale in the UK and France on December 18th and will follow in the US on January 7th. The $299 watch will also be available in Best Buy stores all around the US on January 10th.
The biggest difference between the standard Moto 360 and the new Sport model probably comes down to the materials its made of -- Motorola says the new watch's silicone construction will resist stains and fading and won't absorb sweat. It also features "side ventilation channels" to keep your wrist feeling cooler. There's also a new display that the company calls AnyLight. It's a hybrid screen that works like an LCD is lower light but also features a front-lit reflective mode that should work better in bright sunlight. There's also a built-in GPS, the better for tracking your runs, particularly if you go without a phone.
It sounds like a decent package for Android Wear fans who also want a good fitness tracking device, but there are a few downsides over the standard model. Most notably is the fact that you can't swap out the band: what you choose is what you're stuck with. Motorola is offering black, white and orange models for starters, and it wouldn't surprise us to see more colors come later, but there's no Moto Maker customization to be found here.
The Moto 360 Sport definitely seems like a better option than the standard model when you're working out, but the jury's out on whether you'll want to wear this watch all day, every day. If you do, it features the standard Android Wear features you'll find on all other such smartwatches out there. If you're an Android Wear fan who likes to exercise, this is probably one of the best options out there for you -- and it doesn't cost any more than the standard Moto 360. Just make sure you're OK not being able to swap bands before you make your purchase.
