What you need to know
- A new hint suggests that OnePlus’ next smartwatch may switch from RTOS to Google’s Wear OS.
- OnePlus’ sister company Oppo teased the release of the Watch X on February 29th, and its hardware looks very similar to early images of the OnePlus Watch 2.
- Oppo’s post for the X reveals a “Wear OS by Google” logo, and the watch requires Android 8.0 or higher.
OnePlus has remained silent on whether its next smartwatch will use RTOS, but there are new clues that hint at a switch to Google’s Wear OS.
Oppo, OnePlus’ sister company, teased the upcoming Watch X, scheduled to be released on February 29th, on X (formerly Twitter).
Introducing #OPPOWatchX, your all-in-one companion. Scheduled to be released on February 29, 2024. Please stay tuned. #ElevateEveryMoment pic.twitter.com/b0wekt1coqFebruary 23, 2024
The hardware looks very similar to previous OnePlus Watch 2 press images, with angular side buttons. That said, there could be some tweaks to the hardware.
OnePlus has already confirmed that it will announce the OnePlus Watch 2 at MWC on February 26, delaying Oppo’s smartwatch announcement by three days. But the interesting part of Oppo’s post about the X is the little “Wear OS by Google” logo below the tagline. The fine print at the bottom also states that Android 8.0 or higher is required.
If Oppo’s next smartwatch is running Wear OS, it’s almost certain that OnePlus’ next wearable product will also be running the same OS. Sure, there’s a slight chance that the OnePlus Watch 2 will stick to its RTOS roots, but given how strong the bond between the two companies is, that doesn’t seem all that likely.
It’s no surprise that Oppo and OnePlus are launching new Android smartwatches next week. Both companies are part of the same Chinese conglomerate, and it seems like it’s their job to launch similar devices under different names (think Oppo Find N3 and OnePlus Open).
For now, some key specs for the Oppo Watch X have already been confirmed, including a 1.43-inch OLED screen with 466 x 466 resolution. It also comes with a 500mAh battery that supports 10W charging.
Additionally, the OnePlus Watch 2 may have the same size battery as the Watch X, as stated in the FCC listing (via 9to5Google ). A few days ago, OnePlus also confirmed that the watch will have up to 100 hours of battery life in smart mode.
Achieving 100 hours using Wear OS would be quite a feat. I’m interested in what efforts OnePlus is making to achieve this. This smartwatch marks the return of the Chinese company after its three-year hiatus.
