OnePlus Watch: The first smartwatch from the smartphone experts

OnePlus celebrates its entry into the smart watch segment with its OnePlus Watch. And this premiere sounds quite promising. The smartwatch is not only supposed to have a long-lasting battery. On top of that, OnePlus is giving the smartwatch its own operating system.

Just in time for the release of the OnePlus 9

The Chinese company has certainly not chosen the time for the presentation of its OnePlus Watch by chance. After all, the name of the popular smartphone manufacturer is on everyone’s lips right now. The reason is the upcoming release of its new smartphone flagships OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro. Although a smartwatch is a completely different product, the typical characteristics of the manufacturer can also be seen in the smartwatch. This already starts with the price-performance ratio. The OnePlus Watch is supposed to be launched at an MSRP of just 160 Euros.

Smartwatches from smartphone manufacturers that have been loyal to Android for many years usually rely on the WearOS operating system. OnePlus, however, is taking a different route and putting its own operating system on its feet. This will probably not only have advantages. First and foremost, we will have to expect a comparatively narrow range of apps, for better or worse. However, the watch’s design is not annoying at all. It is very appealing due to its simple appearance. The OnePlus Watch clearly belongs to the category of smartwatches where you have to look twice to distinguish it from an analog watch.

The two buttons located on the side of the case are primarily intended to serve as the control unit. The pretty OLED display, which measures 1.39 inches, should be particularly impressive. Thanks to a pixel density of 326 ppi, the pictures should be pleasingly sharp. In terms of color, the selection is somewhat limited. The case with a diameter of 46 mm comes in silver or black.

Durable battery for at least 7 days

A look at the OnePlus Watch’s features does not reveal any big surprises. Rather, it becomes clear that it is a solidly equipped smartwatch. For example, you should be able to make calls and display messages. The smartwatch can initially only be paired with an Android smartphone. However, OnePlus says that a corresponding update will also ensure compatibility with the iPhone. This is supposed to come at a later point in time.

However, the OnePlus Watch should also be able to offer certain features independently of the smartphone. For example, the user will have 2 GB of the original 4 GB internal memory for storing their own music. Owners of a OnePlus TV will also be happy about the possibility to use the watch as a smart remote control. This does not affect us German users yet. When it comes to battery performance, OnePlus has already won many laurels – and rightly so. The company has revolutionized smartphone batteries with fast charging, among other things. It is therefore hardly surprising that the manufacturer provides its smartwatch with a full 402 mAh battery.

This is supposed to be able to last up to two weeks. If you ever forget to charge the battery, this is not a problem. OnePlus promises that the smartwatch’s battery can be recharged to last a day within five minutes. Athletes will be happy about the smartwatch’s extensive protection. OnePlus promises protection against dust and water according to IP68 certification. You should also be able to wear the watch up to a water depth of 50 meters (max. for 10 minutes). So that the activity can also be measured when swimming, a heart rate monitor is of course also on board, as well as a GPS receiver.

Market launch still uncertain

When the new smartwatch will be launched, we do not know yet. When it comes to the price, things look different. OnePlus wants to launch its first own smartwatch at an MSRP of 160 euros. This sounds very fair in view of the features.