OnePlus will eventually be producing a smartwatch in 2021, CEO Pete Lau revealed on Twitter, marking the first foray into wearable technology for the mobile business. There are not many specifics yet on the forthcoming unit, like what smartwatch OS will run, a price, or even a definite release date—Lau just states that it will be "released early next year."
The idea of a OnePlus smartwatch isn't new; a few years back, the company allegedly produced a Wear OS (then only called Android Wear) smartwatch. OnePlus eventually nixed the product, however, We had finished the design but we still decided to scrap it, Lau said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal. We've got to be focused.
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
OnePlus has begun to branch out beyond phones in recent years, though: in addition to its high-end mobile portfolio last year, the company is also manufacturing a range of headphones, a budget line of Nord phones, and even smart TVs.
The launch of the OnePlus smartwatch in 2021—the company's first—also falls hot on the heels of the introduction of the Oppo Watch earlier this year, which was identical to the first-ever smartwatch that Oppo had designed. Given that there has been no lack of comparisons between Oppo and OnePlus products in the past (the two firms share the owner of the large BBK Electronics conglomerate), it is likely that the upcoming OnePlus watch might take some inspiration from the current Oppo Watch.
