LG has officially entered the lucrative wearable market

LG has officially launched their two new wearable fitness devices at their home turf in Korea. According to LG, the Lifeband Touch and Heart Rate Earphones offer practical features and the most accurate data collection and analysis currently available, making it easier for wearers to take control of their health. Unlike the offerings of Samsung, their main rival in their home country, the two new wearables can be used with any Android smartphone.

The Lifeband Touch is your typical fitness tracker, although LG’s model utilizes a bright, full-touch OLED display that display a number of data points that’s aimed at helping users with their workout regimen. A unique motion sensing algorithm detects when a user rotates their wrist which triggers the display, and then turns off again when they put their wrist down. Like most Bluetooth wearables, the Lifeband Touch allows users to control their phone.  The Lifeband Touch is also equipped with a triple-axis accelerometer and an altimeter.

The Heart Rate Earphones on the other hand, are a slight deviation from known wearable designs. If the name of the device didn’t clue you in, it’s intended to measure your heart rate through your ears. LG says that the unique physiology of the ear allows the device to get more accurate health and fitness metrics compared with other devices. While the earphones can be used alone, it can also be paired with the Lifeband Touch for maximum effect, and when paired with the LG Fitness App, users can also receive audible status updates informing them of their heart rate and VO₂ max (maximal oxygen consumption) levels in real time.

Both devices will initially launch in the US come May 18, and will have a rollout in other markets including Asia soon after. No price for the two devices has been set.