OnePlus tests the water ahead of smartwatch launch
We’re only days away from CES 2021, and all the talk seems to be about OnePlus in the wearables world.
The company has now formally teased the OnePlus Band fitness tracker, which was rumoured over the Holiday period.
It looks to be heading for India first, after the OnePlus India account was the first to tweet a teaser picture.
Full guide: OnePlus Watch price and release date
This year, we are here to help you achieve all your fitness goals and make your life easier.#SmartEverywear
Head to the link to get notified: https://t.co/LUCWvulREa pic.twitter.com/ynLzgyFxku
— OnePlus India (@OnePlus_IN) January 4, 2021
OnePlus Band leaked images
But we’ve already seen leaks of OnePlus Band. We were a little cautious about reporting these as we weren’t certain of their accuracy, but there’s a strong correlation between the leaked pictures and the teaser.
The pictures were leaked on twitter by StuffListings. The band appears to closely resemble the Oppo Band. For the unaware, Oppo and OnePlus are both sub-brands of Chinese tech powerhouse BBK – so this does appear to be a re-branding exercise.
Reports suggest a 1.1 inch AMOLED, heart rate with SpO2, 13 exercise modes, IP68 water resistance and 14 days battery life.
Exclusive: This is the OnePlus Band.#OnePlus #OnePlusBand pic.twitter.com/JxYoSMxxTn
— Mukul Sharma (@stufflistings) December 31, 2020
That happens to be the exact specs of the Oppo Band – so there doesn’t seem to be much mystery left in this, other than price.
The Oppo Band was launched in China for CNY199 (which works out around $28).
Initial rumors suggested the OnePlus Band would retail for ₹3000 ($40) – but that does seem high for that market. We’ll update with more information when we get it.
Of course, all eyes are on the Wear OS-packing OnePlus Watch that’s slated for later this year. In the meantime, it seems OnePlus is testing the waters in its key markets with this rebranded device.