Can Google turn its smartwatch OS around with new devices?
So it looks like a ZTE Android Wear smartwatch is happening after yet more evidence has surfaced, which seems to confirm the Chinese company is set to join the Wear party this year.
The folks at Android Soul spotted that a device with the model name ZW10 has recently been awarded a Bluetooth SIG certificate. Under the description section it reveals that the certificate is for a smartwatch that will support 3G connectivity.
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Earlier this month ZTE confirmed it was working on its first Android Wear smartwatch later in 2017 and hinted that it would work as a standalone device, which would back up the 3G support. The company said it already had a US network lined up and that it would come with LTE so don’t need your phone with you.
Lixin Cheng, ZTE USA’s CEO, also hinted that we can expect a battery life that’s better than the current crop of Android Wear watches but still within a slim watch body.
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To give you an idea of ZTE’s previous form, the Axon Watch (pictured) debuted in Europe at MWC 2016 but has been on sale in China since late 2015. It runs the Chinese Tencent TOS+ platform, has a round, 1.4-inch, 400 x 400 sapphire-coated display and a 300mAh battery.
As with Huawei’s upcoming VR headset, there’s a chance ZTE will release an Android Wear watch for the US and Europe and keep working with TOS+ in China.
Android Wear 2.0 is a hot topic right now with the big OS update rumoured to land on 9 February alongside two new LG Android Wear smartwatches. With the arrival of Wear watches from Casio, New Balance and confirmation that a Swarovski Android Wear smartwatch is happening, it’s shaping up to be a big year for the platform.
Source: CNET and The Android Soul
