OnePlus will launch its first smartwatch in early 2021

[Shawn Knight]

The big picture: Chinese smartphone maker OnePlus is planning to release its first wearable device early next year. The company initially aimed to launch a smartwatch years ago but wisely chose to play the waiting game and let the market mature a bit. Now it seems that the timing is right to move forward with a new product category.

In a recent post on Twitter, co-founder Pete Lau said fans have long requested the company make a watch. “As you might have heard over the weekend – we’re making one, to be released early next year,” Lau added.

Many of you said you wanted a watch, and as you might have heard over the weekend—we're making one, to be released early next year. Wishes do come true.🎁 https://t.co/H1Fqv9srXj

— Pete Lau (@PeteLau) December 22, 2020

This isn’t the first we’ve heard of a smartwatch being linked to OnePlus. Back in 2015, the company developed a wearable for the budding segment but ultimately scrapped the product before bringing it to market. Lau told The Wall Street Journal at the time that “we have to be focused.”

In hindsight, that was probably a wise move. Smartwatches didn’t infiltrate the consumer electronics market as quickly as some experts had anticipated. For years, they struggled with practicality issues – that is, what were they good for, aside from telling time? As the tech evolved, health and fitness emerged as the big selling point for most smartwatches and that remains true today.

Waiting also gave OnePlus more time to grow its brand, especially important in this scenario considering the company was only founded in late 2013.

OnePlus has since expanded its product line and now offers headphones, power cables, cases and even branded backpacks and tote bags. At this junction, a smartwatch does seem like the next logical step in OnePlus’ product evolution.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/88075-oneplus-launch-first-smartwatch-early-2021.html

 

[p51d007]

I love it when people call it an "independent newcomer", kind of like OnePlus did when they
started. Small "new" company...don't have enough resources to make enough phones, so everyone has to have an invite. One hell of a marketing idea! Create buzz! Everyone knows that OnePlus is a subset of Oppo. Oppo makes everything. Most all of OnePlus devices are scaled back versions of Oppo devices. You can bet the smartwatch (which obviously looks like an Apple watch) will be missing some "key" features, that will show up on the more expensive Oppo watch.
(I've had 3 OnePlus phones, work well...I just get tired of the mis-information about them being a new independent company...that's all).

 

[Uncle Al]

Interesting observation p51d007, thanks to you I'm a little smarter today!

 

[mbk34]

I couldn't work out whether this article was reporting or just advertising blurb for a potential product. Simple things like a price, what OS it runs or why it's different from any other smart watch are all completely missing.