LG updates G Watch to prevent corrosion and skin irritation

LG is rolling out an update for its smartwatch G Watch that should ensure that less corrosion occurs at the charging pins. The electrically charged pins are in contact with the skin, where a chemical reaction with sweat can cause skin irritation.

The rollout of the update in question has recently started, but it may take some time before the software is available to all users. Although LG itself has not announced what the update, with version number KMV78Y, will bring, solving the corrosion problem seems to be the most important improvement: a Google spokesperson confirmed to Android Police.

LG’s G Watch has five pins on the back that are used to charge the smartwatch. However, there is constant voltage on the pins, which can cause a chemical reaction if the smartwatch comes into contact with sweat, which acts as an electrolyte, on the skin. This reaction causes corrosion on the pins, but can also cause wearers of the watch to suffer from skin irritation.

The update for the smartwatch ensures that there is no longer voltage on the pins when not charging. This should prevent the chemical reaction with the sweat on the skin and thus solve the corrosion and irritation problem. It is not yet known what further improvements the update will bring.

Several users have complained in recent weeks that the charging pins corrode quickly and cause irritation. Incidentally, this does not only apply to LG’s G Watch, but also to Samsung’s Gear series, which may therefore have the same problem. It is unclear whether Samsung is also working on an update.