OnePlus could be about to enter the smartwatch space

OnePlus could be about to enter the smartwatch space. That's according to a tipster for Indian publication TechPP. They posted a tweet suggesting OnePlus is gearing up to release a “fitness band” by using the Shenzhen firm’s signature slogan: Never Settle. They said: “For all of you who have a fitness band right now, darlings, or are planning to acquire one shortly, I have two words: never settle.” While the post from the writer doesn’t explicitly confirm a OnePlus wearable is coming, we think the inclusion of the firm’s slogan speaks for itself.

If true, this wouldn’t be the first time OnePlus has toyed with releasing a smartwatch. The firm’s co-founder Carl Pei confirmed back in 2015 it scrapped a fitness tracker it had been working on at the eleventh hour. Speaking to TechRadar at the time, Pei said: "We asked ourselves, what is the goal? We decided we needed to focus on smartphones, to ensure we're launching quality products and leave the wearables and speakers to the people who know what they're doing." In 2018 purported images of the scrapped OnePlus smartwatch emerged courtesy of BGR. The device was shown looking very similar to the Moto 360 with a circular case and brown leather band. Most notably, no heart rate sensor was shown on the bottom of the device. According to PhoneArena, there’s evidence to suggest a OnePlus smartwatch could launch alongside the Chinese firm’s forthcoming OnePlus 8 series, that’s been tipped to be unwrapped during the first half of next year.

If OnePlus is indeed working on a wearable, it could beat Google’s long awaited Pixel Watch to market. The American tech giant was initially tipped to reveal a smartwatch alongside the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL on October 9, but apparently the launch was ditched at the last minute. There’s still plenty of signs to suggest Google is toying with wearables. Ahead of Google’s hardware event last month, Japanese outlet Nikkei said it was possible a smartwatch could be unveiled. While such claims didn’t materialise, murmurings of a smartwatch from Google have been consistent for some time now. Plus, Google just dropped two-billion hints it has big ambitions in the wearable space. Last Friday the tech giant announced it had acquired Fit for $2.1 billion.

For all of you who have a fitness band right now, darlings, or are planning to acquire one shortly, I have two words: never settle. — Tech Auntyji (@techauntyji) November 2, 2019

OnePlus toyed with releasing a smartwatch a few years back

PhoneArena has said there's evidence to suggest a OnePlus watch could launch next year