- OnePlus Watch may run Wear OS out of the box
- OnePlus is working closely with Google on an improved version of Wear OS for the OnePlus Watch
- We can expect the OnePlus Watch to launch alongside the OnePlus 9 series in 2021
The OnePlus smartwatch has been teased on more than one occasion. It was cancelled and bought back from the grave by rumours multiple times over. In the here and now, the OnePlus launch is officially delayed, with no concrete release date in sight. We reported earlier that the OnePlus Watch would not come with Wear OS. OnePlus CEO Pete Lau has walked back on that statement in an interview with Input. It appears that the OnePlus Watch may run on Wear OS after all. Although it lacks an official release date, fans can rest easy knowing that an OnePlus-branded smartwatch will eventually hit the shelves at this point.
Also read: OnePlus Watch may launch without WearOS; Cyberpunk 2077 edition straps leaked
Running Wear OS on the yet-to-be-launched OnePlus Watch doesn’t come as much of a surprise. OnePlus often follows OPPO’s footsteps when it comes to design and software cues. OPPO’s current line of wearables all run Wear OS, so it is quite obvious that OnePlus will follow suit. Additionally, Wear OS is the go-to for many OEMs, as designing a wearable-specific OS can be a bit of a daunting task.
Until very recently, Google was notorious for meting out step-motherly treatment to Wear OS (formerly known as Android Wear). Thankfully, the situation has improved after the rebrand, much to the relief of many OEMs who want to use the software on their device.
Pete Lau said that OnePlus aims to create an ecosystem that allows you to improve connectivity between the watch, Android TV, and Android phones.
Lau has also confirmed that OnePlus is working closely with Google to develop an improved version of Wear OS for the OnePlus Watch. He also adds that OnePlus aims to create an ecosystem that allows you to improve connectivity between the watch, Android TV, and Android phones. The lack of the mention of fitness features of the OnePlus Watch raises questions about whether it will focus on health and fitness, which is quite odd, considering that everyone else is doing the diametric opposite by including more fitness-related features into their wearables.
Update: OnePlus has clarified to 9to5Google that the company working on a smartwatch and working with Google on improving Wear OS are two separate things and that it is not necessary that the OnePlus Watch with run Wear OS.
The OnePlus Watch launch date is tentatively set for 2021, and we may see it release alongside the OnePlus 9.
