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Update: December 17, 2020 (02:00 PM ET): OnePlus CEO Pete Lau not too long ago performed an interview with numerous journalists. During his chat, he talked a bit about the OnePlus Watch. That new data is included in the hub beneath!
Original article: September 27, 2020 (four AM ET): OnePlus has lengthy aspired to create an ecosystem of units that stretches past smartphones. The firm’s efforts in the direction of reaching this purpose began with the OnePlus Bullets Wireless neckband earphones again in 2018. Since then, OnePlus has expanded its lineup with TWS earphones, wi-fi chargers, and even televisions. However, the health wearables area is one which the producer has left untouched until now. This is about to change.
From Oppo to Realme, to Vivo — all of OnePlus’ sister corporations beneath the BBK Electronics umbrella have introduced or launched a health wearable. The Oppo and Vivo smartwatches are the newest on this onslaught, and by the seems to be of it, OnePlus isn’t trailing far behind. Enter the OnePlus Watch.
So far, little is understood about OnePlus’ debut endeavor in the smartwatch class, however we’ll spherical up all the rumors on this article. We’ll additionally listing out some expectations we have from the OnePlus Watch, given the crowded promote it’s about to enter.
OnePlus Watch: Name and launch date
It’s not stunning that OnePlus is making a smartwatch. Creating equipment to go alongside smartphones has been a observe in the tech business since kingdom come. Samsung has finished it, Apple has finished it, Xiaomi’s in the thick of it, and practically each main smartphone model you may identify is increasing its wearables portfolio.
Also learn: The finest smartwatches you should buy proper now
OnePlus first dabbled with the thought of a smartwatch in 2016 however finally shelved the thought. In reality, the model had a accomplished smartwatch again then however determined in opposition to bringing it to the marketplace for no matter cause.
However, firm CEO Pete Lau confirmed in an interview that the OnePlus Watch is again in the pipeline. He was mum on a whole lot of particulars however did expose that it’s coming quickly. We anticipate it to launch sooner or later in 2021.
As far as the identify goes, everyone seems to be referring to it as the OnePlus Watch. There’s been no affirmation from the firm that that’s the identify, however we wouldn’t be shocked if that’s what finally ends up taking place.
OnePlus Watch rumored design and specs
There isn’t a single leak on the market about the specs of the so-called OnePlus Watch. The solely data to date comes from tipster Max J on Twitter, who posted a cryptic teaser about the smartwatch having a spherical dial as a substitute of a sq. face.
The tipster doesn’t even point out the identify of the smartwatch. He solely alludes to its attainable round design, which instantly distinguishes it from the Apple Watch-esque Oppo Watch. However, it does open up the risk of the OnePlus Watch resembling the spherical Vivo Watch or the Realme Watch S Pro.
If that’s the case, OnePlus won’t have to construct a smartwatch chassis from scratch. It might simply borrow Vivo or Realme’s design and slap its most popular {hardware} on it. Then once more, OnePlus may undertake a very recent strategy for its first timepiece.
When it does launch, the OnePlus Watch might also embody a Cyberpunk 2077-inspired particular version. Straps with Cyberpunk insignia and vivid yellow inserts have leaked.
Will the watch run on Wear OS?
According to Pete Lau, OnePlus is working carefully with Google to develop the software program for the watch. Now, he didn’t particularly say that the OnePlus Watch will run on Wear OS, however the firm working with Google leaves little to the creativeness.
Interestingly, Lau freely admitted that Wear OS “definitely has room to improve.” He went on to talk about how his firm is making options to Google on what may be finished to make the consumer expertise higher for the upcoming watch. According to Lau, this co-working effort “has been something looked at very positively from Google’s side.” Take that as you’ll.
OnePlus Watch: What we want to see
While we don’t have any clue about the specs and software program of the OnePlus Watch, there are some things we would love to see on it. Whether OnePlus has already considered these or not is anybody’s guess, however right here’s what a OnePlus Watch seems to be like in our minds.
Bright AMOLED always-on show
An OLED or AMOLED show is the gold normal for smartwatches proper now. We would love to see the OnePlus Watch deliver a vivid and crisp always-on AMOLED display screen like the one on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 and even the Oppo Watch. Sure, meaning you gained’t get battery life that lasts weeks, however no full-fledged smartwatch can promise you that as of late. The Galaxy Watch Three tops out at round three days with AOD turned off, whereas the Oppo Watch simply lasts 24 hours with the function turned on.
Not many AMOLED-touting watches can final for per week or extra, although some Fitbit and Garmin units do. I might be glad if the OnePlus Watch might take cellphone calls, get notifications, run apps, monitor exercises, and mainly do the whole lot a smartwatch is anticipated to do. Of course, with an always-on AMOLED display screen that doesn’t kill the watch by mid-day and makes it tick for not less than 24 hours.
Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 4100 Plus
OnePlus and Qualcomm have had a terrific partnership when it comes to smartphones, and we anticipate to see the similar for when the firm launches smartwatches. Unlike the Oppo Watch that homes the two-year-old Snapdragon Wear 3100 chipset, we hope the OnePlus Watch upgrades to the Snapdragon Wear 4100 Plus.
The new 12nm chip guarantees the quickest clock pace (1.7GHz) on any Snapdragon Wear platform by Qualcomm to date. Compared to the 1.1GHz clock pace on the Wear 3100, this could really feel like a big increase. The new-generation chip additionally improves upon reminiscence, GPU, and digital camera efficiency, and comes with a co-processor that guarantees nice enhancements to battery life. Pair this with 1GB RAM and 8GB storage, and you’ll have fairly the highly effective watch in your wrist.
Wear OS with some tweaks
Let’s be sincere, Google’s Wear OS platform hasn’t actually managed to dominate the smartwatch ecosystem. It’s largely relied on Qualcomm’s {hardware}, and that door was shut for the previous two years. With the new Wear 4100 chipset, there’s renewed hope for the way forward for Wear OS watches. There’s additionally a new model of Wear OS that’s based mostly on Android 11 and helps the newest Snapdragon Wear chips. It guarantees sooner app begins, faster entry to data, a simplified pairing course of, improved assist for LTE, and extra. For best-in-class smartwatch efficiency, we would have preferred to see the OnePlus Watch pair the Snapdragon Wear 4100 Plus with the newest Wear OS software program out-of-the-box.
Also learn: The finest Wear OS apps for Android
We additionally wouldn’t thoughts seeing some sensible software program tweaks comparable to a reimagined ZenMode for watches or customized battery modes like the Fossil Gen 5. It’s additionally completely attainable that the OnePlus Watch might be a fundamental health watch, sans any third-party apps, like what we’ve seen from Huami’s Amazfit.
Match rivals’ options
We don’t want OnePlus to cover behind an eye-watering variety of health/sports activities modes like some watches on the market whereas compromising on the accuracy of core sensors (learn Amazfit Stratos 3). What we want to see is an correct coronary heart price and GPS sensor, NFC for distant funds, wi-fi charging, OnePlus’ signature Warp Charging, in addition to blood oxygen monitoring. Stuff like Google Assistant assist will routinely come if the watch sports activities the Wear OS platform. All this can guarantee the OnePlus Watch stands on equal footing with different latest smartwatches like the Apple Watch 6 or the Galaxy Watch 3.
A measured worth
What we’ve described above might sound like the excellent Wear OS smartwatch, and you may say that every one this will’t presumably come low-cost. You can be proper. We don’t anticipate the OnePlus Watch to be beneath $200 with all these options and the newest Qualcomm chipsets. If the Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 3 worth is any indicator, then the OnePlus Watch might value round $300.
There’s additionally the Apple Watch SE that is available in at $279, and that’s the one OnePlus would most likely have to beat. Both Apple and Samsung are ecosystem leaders for smartwatches, and OnePlus has its work lower out for it. Maybe a $250-$300 worth level might make the OnePlus Watch the finest Wear OS watch to purchase. I suppose we’ll have to wait and watch.
(This story has not been edited by Newslivenation employees and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)