Cartera de Google Cae el apoyo a las personas mayores Androide Y Usar sistema operativo Se compila y pronto es posible que la aplicación no funcione para algunos usuarios. El gigante tecnológico ahora ha aumentado los requisitos para la aplicación Wallet a Android 9 o posterior para teléfonos inteligentes y Wear OS 2.0 o posterior para relojes inteligentes. La razón principal citada para este cambio fue la seguridad y la disponibilidad de nuevas funciones. Parece que Google Wallet no podrá agregar nuevas actualizaciones de seguridad a versiones anteriores del controlador.
Esta actualización se agregó recientemente a Google Wallet. Pagina de soporte. La página ahora especifica que la aplicación de billetera ahora requerirá Android 9 o superior. El mensaje también decía: “Para ayudar a mantener las funciones de Wallet más seguras, debemos poder enviar actualizaciones de seguridad a su dispositivo. Las actualizaciones de seguridad no están disponibles para versiones de Android inferiores a 9.0. Los mismos requisitos de actualización se aplicaron a Wear OS y ahora se aplicarán”. Se requiere que Wear OS 2.x ejecute la aplicación. Un informe de 9to5Google ha destacado que estos requisitos serán aplicables a partir del 10 de junio.
Según la página de soporte, el motivo de este movimiento es que la aplicación Wallet no podrá proporcionar actualizaciones de seguridad para versiones anteriores de Android y Wear OS. y lo que vale la pena mencionar, Google Wallet se lanzó en 2022 y es compatible con Android 5 y versiones posteriores. Esto se cambió el año pasado a Android 7, que se está actualizando nuevamente. El gigante tecnológico también declaró que las nuevas funciones que planea para la aplicación de billetera no serán compatibles con versiones anteriores, y destacó que la compañía planea introducir nuevas funciones pronto.
Google finalmente Lanzado Su aplicación Wallet se lanzará en India el 8 de mayo. Sin embargo, a diferencia de otros mercados, la aplicación no ha reemplazado a Google Pay como aplicación de billetera y pagos unificados. En cambio, Google Wallet ahora funciona junto con Google Pay y sirve como plataforma para almacenar tarjetas de embarque, tarjetas de fidelidad y de regalo, entradas para eventos, llaves de coche y billetes de transporte público.
El fabricante de Android dijo que se ha asociado con más de 20 empresas en India, como PVR, Inox, Air India, Indigo, Flipkart, MakeMyTrip, EaseMyTrip, Ixigo y Pine Labs. Google también tiene la intención de asociarse con más empresas en los próximos meses.
Los dispositivos portátiles están en camino de convertirse en la próxima gran tendencia tecnológica para los niños, y eso incluye Los mejores relojes inteligentes. En su última actualización, Google Se está preparando para agregar una nueva función WearOS que ayudará a los padres a administrar el uso del reloj inteligente de sus hijos durante el horario escolar.
el Notas de la versión del sistema de Google Para mayo de 2024, compartimos que la nueva función Schooltime está diseñada para uso de los padres y les permitirá establecer límites en el acceso a las aplicaciones que usan sus hijos. Los padres también tendrán la opción de silenciar el reloj inteligente de sus hijos, limitando las distracciones y permitiéndoles concentrarse en el aula.
Google aún no ha anunciado cómo funcionará School Time, pero imaginamos que los usuarios podrán cambiar la configuración de School Time de sus hijos desde su aplicación Wear OS. Tampoco sabemos todavía si la función estará disponible en todos los dispositivos WearOS o si solo será accesible en dispositivos WearOS más nuevos, como Google Píxel Reloj 2.
(Crédito de la imagen: Google)
Aunque es una nueva incorporación a la interfaz de usuario de WearOS, la configuración parental para la tecnología portátil no es nada nueva. manzana Una función similar, también llamada “Hora de escuela”, se introdujo con la actualización de watchOS 7 en 2020. Permite a los padres restringir ciertas funciones a sus hijos. reloj de manzanaincluida la configuración de períodos de tiempo en ciertas aplicaciones y complicaciones en la esfera del reloj, al tiempo que les permite acceder a funciones como anillos de actividad, y la función Horario escolar en WearOS probablemente funcionará de manera similar.
Análisis: ¿Los fabricantes de relojes inteligentes se dirigen cada vez más a los niños?
Aunque Google se queda atrás en sus funciones parentales para relojes inteligentes, es bueno ver que la compañía tiene en cuenta a los usuarios más jóvenes de relojes inteligentes: funciones como School Time facilitan que los usuarios en edad de escuela secundaria se concentren en cosas como estudiar. Sin embargo, la nueva actualización de Google también puede indicar que está dirigiendo sus dispositivos portátiles a usuarios más jóvenes.
Es comprensible por qué los niños en edad de secundaria querrían usar un reloj inteligente, especialmente si ya lo están usando. Teléfonos Google Píxeles Le gustaría explorar dispositivos portátiles que amplíen su funcionalidad y servicios. Pero los niños más pequeños están cada vez más interesados en los relojes inteligentes.
Algunas marcas fabrican relojes diseñados para niños pequeños: creemos Fitbit Ace 3 Es una sólida opción básica para un reloj inteligente para niños. Entonces, ¿el lanzamiento de la función School Time por parte de Google podría ser una señal de que un nuevo reloj inteligente de Google para niños está en camino?
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While bias in generative AI is a well-known phenomenon, it’s still surprising what kinds of biases sometimes get unearthed. TechCrunch recently ran a test using Meta’s AI chatbot, which launched in April 2024 for over a dozen countries including India, and found an odd and disturbing trend.
When generating images using the prompt “Indian men,” the vast majority of the results feature said men wearing turbans. While a large number of Indian men do wear turbans (mainly if they’re practicing Sikhs), according to the 2011 census, India’s capital city Delhi has a Sikh population of about 3.4%, while the generative AI image results deliver three to four out of five men.
Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time generative AI has been caught up in a controversy related to race and other sensitive topics, and this is far from the worst example either.
How far does the rabbit hole go?
In August 2023, Google’s SGE and Bard AI (the latter now called Gemini) were caught with their pants down arguing the ‘benefits’ of genocide, slavery, fascism, and more. It also listed Hitler, Stalin, and Mussolini on a list of “greatest” leaders, with Hitler also making its list of “most effective leaders.”
Later on that year in December 2023, there were multiple incidents involving AI, with the most awful of them including Stamford researchers finding CSAM (child abuse images) in the popular LAION-5B image dataset that many LLMs train on. That study found more than 3,000 known or suspected CSAM images in that dataset. Stable diffusion maker Stability AI, which uses that set, claims that it filters out any harmful images. But how can that be determined to be true — those images could easily have been incorporated into more benign searches for ‘child’ or ‘children.’
There’s also the danger of AI being used in facial recognition, including and especially with law enforcement. Countless studies have already proven that there is clear and absolute bias when it comes to what race and ethnicity are arrested at the highest rates, despite whether any wrongdoing has occurred. Combine that with the bias that AI is trained on from humans and you have technology that would result in even more false and unjust arrests. It’s to the point that Microsoft doesn’t want its Azure AI being used by police forces.
It’s rather unsettling how AI has quickly taken over the tech landscape, and how many hurdles remain in its way before it advances enough to be finally rid of these issues. But, one could argue that these issues have only arisen in the first place due to AI training on literally any datasets it can access without properly filtering the content. If we’re to address AI’s massive bias, we need to start properly vetting its datasets — not only for copyrighted sources but for actively harmful material that poisons the information well.
Hisense introduced four separate series of mini-LED TVs at CES 2024, with the lineup led by a massive 110-inch model, the 110UX. The 110UX is the largest TV in the company’s flagship ULED X series, which also features a 98-inch model – the baby of the family.
We’ve been looking forward to testing the new Hisense U8N, which is the successor to the Hisense U8K, and the mid-range option in our best TVs guide. But the company has now surprised us with yet another new mini-LED TV series, the Hisense U9N.
The U9N series slots in between the ULED X and U8N series TVs and brings many of the premium features of the flagship line to a lower price point, according to Hisense. Those features include Hi-View Engine X picture processing and a mini-LED backlight with up to 5,300 local dimming zones. The brightness of the U9N series is specified as 5,000 nits, which is the same brightness spec Hisense listed for the new 98-inch ULED X model at CES.
Similar to the new U8N series, U9N TVs use a quantum dot LCD panel and support Dolby Vision, Dolby Vision IQ, and HDR10+ high dynamic range. Other picture enhancements include IMAX Enhanced and Filmmaker Mode picture presets, an anti-glare screen, and an ultra-wide viewing angle feature to improve off-center viewing.
On the audio front, U9N series TVs have a built-in 4.1.2-channel Dolby Atmos audio system, with up to 82W of power. Hisense has also outfitted its new TVs for 2024 with the Google TV smart platform, Wi-Fi 6E wireless connectivity, and a built-in ATSC 3.0 tuner to receive next-gen digital TV channels.
Gaming features on the U9N series include 144Hz native refresh rate for PC gaming, VRR with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro support, Dolby Vision gaming, Auto Game Mode, and a new Game Bar feature with a user customization option.
The U9N Series is coming to BestBuy.com this summer and will be priced at $2,999 for the 75-inch size and $3,999 for the 85-inch size.
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Analysis: Super-bright TVs are becoming the new normal
There are advantages to viewing with a TV capable of high brightness, specifically when it comes to movies. Some movies are mastered with brightness peaks exceeding the 1,000 nits threshold typically used for 4K HDR production – in some cases up to 4,000 nits – and any TV capable of displaying that content will have a picture quality advantage.
TVs with high brightness also have advantages for daytime viewing, when the set has to compete with bright room lighting, which can dull the image and create distracting screen reflections.
Mini-LED is a better option for high screen brightness than regular LED and OLED tech, which is why TV makers are increasingly turning out models with mini-LED backlights. Hisense is using mini-LED for its full 2024 TV lineup, and Sony has switched from OLED to mini-LED for its flagship 2024 TVs, the Bravia 9 series.
We’ve had a chance to test Samsung’s flagship 4K mini-LED TV for 2024, the Samsung QN90D, and it measured around 2,000 nits peak brightness. We also tested the company’s flagship 8K mini-LED TV, the Samsung QN900D, and it measured an impressive 2,338 nits.
Hisense is claiming that its new U9N series TVs are capable of 5,000 nits peak brightness – more than twice what Samsung’s brightest mini-LED TV can deliver. A 75-inch Samsung QN90D costs $3,299, while the 85-inch QN90D costs $4,799. With Hisense’s U9N series priced at $2,999 and $3,999 respectively for the 75-inch and 85-inch models, these new TVs should provide serious competition for both Samsung and Sony.
TVs are getting bigger, as that 110-inch Hisense ULED X model proves. But the next battlefield in the TV wars is brightness, and if the Hisense U9N can hit 5,000 nits while costing less than its premium competition, it could up the stakes considerably.
There’s some good news for Samsung and the Wear OS segment overall. A new report indicates that sales of Wear OS-based smartwatches will improve considerably this year. This will come at the expense of Apple’s WatchOS, which is quite interesting.
Wear OS smartwatches sales to increase in 2024
According to a new report from Counterpoint Research, Wear OS’s market share will increase by 6 percentage points to 27% in 2024. Last year, Wear OS’s market share was 21%, while watchOS’s was 53%. This year, Wear OS seems to be attracting more users as more Android users find premium smartwatch experiences.
Wear OS sales are estimated to improve by 37% compared to 2023, which is a great sign for the whole Wear OS market. After years of bad performance and glitchy software, Fossil was forced to leave the Wear OS (and the whole smartwatch) market. Samsung worked with Google to launch Wear OS 3, which brought new life to the operating system and gave it the much-needed stability and marketing. Google has also been actively adding more features to Wear OS and managing to bring more apps.
Google also launched its own smartwatch, the Pixel Watch. Recently, OnePlus, OPPO, and Xiaomi started making smartwatches based on the Wear OS platform. They, along with Samsung, will help grow the Wear OS market. This could help improve the overall experience for Android users and the quality of the Android ecosystem. However, wear OS still needs some improvements, especially in terms of battery life and integration with Android smartphones, Google TV devices, and wireless earbuds.
Anshika Jain, Senior Research Analyst at Counterpoint Research, said, “Just as in the case of smartphones, where there is a shift toward premium devices in consumer buying patterns, we are witnessing that first-time smartwatch users or upgraders in the Android camp are now looking for a much better user experience and are willing to spend more when going for their next purchase. Due to this, we expect greater adoption of Google’s Android Wear (Wear OS) since these devices provide a robust third-party app experience, Google AI assistant, and precise health tracking, customization, and battery optimization.”
You can watch our review of the best Samsung smartwatch right now, the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, in the video below.
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Google IO 2024 is approaching fast, with the big G’s festival for Android 15, Wear OS 5, Android TV and more kicking off on May 14. And we now have an official schedule to give us some hints of the software (and maybe hardware) announcements in the pipeline.
The Google IO 2024 schedule (spotted by @MishaalRahman on X, formerly Twitter) naturally doesn’t reveal any specifics, but it does confirm where we’ll see some big new software upgrades.
The keynote, which will be well worth tuning into, will kick off at 10am PT / 5pm GMT on May 14 (which works out as 3am AEST in Australia). But the details of the follow-up sessions give us a taster of what will be shown off, including our first proper look at Wear OS 5.
That’s confirmed in the ‘Building for the future of Wear OS’ session, which will help developers “discover the new features of Wear OS 5”. Considering the smartwatch platform appeared to be flirting with the Google Graveyard not long ago, that’s good news. We’ll presumably hear more about a release date at the event, and maybe even a Pixel Watch 3.
What else does the schedule reveal? Android 15 was always a shoo-in for this year’s show, so it’s no surprise that the OS will be covered alongside “generative AI, form factors” and more at Google IO 2024.
Thirdly, AI will naturally be a huge general theme, with Google Gemini a consistent thread across the event. Developers will discover “new ways to build immersive 3D maps” and how to make “next-gen AI apps with Gemini models”. Gemini will also power new apps for Google Chat and create new content from images and video, thanks to Google’s multi-modal Gemini Pro Vision model.
Fans of Android Auto will also be pleased to hear that it’ll likely get some upgrades, too, with one developer session titled “Android for Cars: new in-car experiences”. Likewise, Google TV and Android TV OS will get a mention, at the very least, with one session promising to show off “new user experience enhancements in Google TV and the latest additions to the next Android TV OS platform”.
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Because Google IO 2024 is a developer conference, its sessions are all themed around software – but we’ll almost certainly see lots of new hardware treats announced during the keynote, too.
This week, rumors about a refreshed Pixel Tablet (rather than a Pixel Tablet 2) suggested it could also make its bow at Google’s conference. A Google Pixel Fold 2 is also on the cards, though we have also heard whispers of a Pixel 9 Pro Fold instead.
As always, we can expect some surprises too, like when Google teased its live-translation glasses at Google IO 2022, which then sadly disappeared in a cloud of vaporware. Let’s hope its new ideas for this year’s conference stick around a little longer.
A few weeks ago, Google released the first beta version of Android 15 for Pixel devices. However, the company has yet to officially announce the new features it will bring with the upcoming version of Android. Next month, the company plans to unveil Android 15, Android TV, and Wear OS 5 at the Google I/O 2024 event.
Google to unveil new features coming to Android 15, Android TV, Android Auto, and Wear OS 5
On the itinerary webpage of Google I/O 2024, Google has revealed developer sessions it will hold during the event. The company will start the event on May 14, 2024, with its keynote event unveiling the new features of Android 15, Android TV, and Wear OS 5. Then, it plans a separate Developer Keynote. In subsequent sessions, Google will unveil what’s new in Android, Generative AI features, new device form factor optimizations, and more. It will also discuss the future of Wear OS, the new Watch Face Formet (developed by Samsung), and how to build apps for an increasing range of device sizes.
As Samsung is expected to unveil the Galaxy Watch 7 in July, it will likely run Wear OS 5-based One UI Watch out of the box. The Galaxy Watch 7 is expected to have three variants, and one of those could have a squarer screen.
It will also discuss improvements to Gemini (and Gemini API), Google Play Store, ChromeOS, Android Auto, Android Automotive OS, new app design and development guidelines, and Android TV. It will also showcase how to build apps and widgets that work well on various form factors, including phones, tablets, and foldable devices. Apparently, Google is making it easier to build and design beautiful Android and Google TV apps.
It also appears that Google will unveil new features for Google Maps, Google Pay, Google Wallet, Google Chrome, and several other AI and web technologies. Expect many of those features from Android 15 and Wear OS to be included in One UI 7 and One UI Watch 6 for Samsung devices.
An FCC (Federal Communications Commission) listing was recently spotted indicating that a new WearOS smartwatch by Google is currently in the works with the model number G4SKY. The post itself doesn’t specifically say it’s a smartwatch. However, discovered instructions on viewing the “FCC E-label” strongly suggest that it is indeed a wearable. Don’t get too excited because it’s most likely not the Pixel Watch 3. 9To5Google in their coverage points out a couple of clues hinting at what it could possibly be.
The timing of the post is strange, notes 9To5Google. The Pixel Watch 3 is scheduled to come out in October. The FCC listing for the next-gen wearable should, at the very earliest, come out in the summer. Second, it lacks support for ultra-wideband (UWB), a connectivity protocol that’ll allow “for a faster and more precise unlocking experience”.
The feature was revealed back in early March after 9To5Google dove into the Android code. Not every global region supports UWB so Bluetooth will stay available. Additionally, the mystery device won’t be some other Google hardware like Pixel Tablet 2 either because it’ll have LTE connectivity, according to the news site.
Secret project
So if it’s not the Pixel Watch 3, then what is it? The publication believes we’re looking at the tech giant’s new mid-range wearable which they refer to as the “Pixel Watch 2a.” Further investigation shows the smartwatch will “exist in one variation” only equipped with Wi-Fi as well as the aforementioned Bluetooth and LTE connectivity.
What’s interesting about all this information is not a single leak or report has come out claiming Google is working on a mid-range smartwatch.
A stripped-down version of the Pixel Watch is something we haven’t seen before and could fill a niche of people wanting a low-cost wearable from Google or Fitbit. The latter is another possibility. If you look at the current Fitbit smartwatch catalog on the official website, nothing is below $200, so there’s room for cheaper hardware.
You can look up the listing yourself by going to the FCC’s Generic Search page and then entering “G4SKY” into the Product Code box. Be warned the material isn’t the most engaging read. It consists primarily of letters of approval, a couple of schematics, and test results.
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Do keep in mind this is all speculation. Nothing is known for sure, although Google I/O 2024 kicks off in about three weeks from the time of this writing. We would expect to see the Pixel Watch 2a appear alongside other mid-range devices like the Pixel 8a.
Wear OS 4 only launched last year, and despite new versions of Wear OS not usually landing yearly, it looks like Wear OS 5 might launch well before the end of 2024.
That’s not confirmed just yet, but leaks point in that direction. So your Wear OS smartwatch could be getting a major software update much sooner than you might have expected.
Exactly what that update will include is less clear, but below you’ll find everything we’ve heard about Wear OS 5 so far, including speculation as to its likely release date and compatibility.
Then, under that, we’ve included a wish list of the features and improvements that we most want Wear OS 5 to bring.
Cut to the chase
What is it? The next major Wear OS operating system update
When is it out? Possibly August
How much will it cost? It will be a free update
Wear OS 5: Rumored release date
Wear OS 5 might launch with the next Samsung Galaxy Watch (Image credit: Future)
Wear OS 5 might launch initially on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7, which itself will probably be announced at Samsung’s next Unpacked event, rumored for July, and then – based on past form – will probably ship in August.
The reason we think Wear OS 5 might launch with this wearable is that a leak suggests Samsung is attempting to get Wear OS 5 – based on Android 14 – working on its new Exynos 5535 chipset, which is likely to first be used by the Galaxy Watch 7.
Note however, Samsung’s take on Wear OS 5 will almost certainly use the company’s One UI Watch overlay, so for a less modified take on Wear OS 5, you’ll probably have to wait for the Google Pixel Watch 3, which will likely land in October.
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Take the above leak with a pinch of salt, because while Wear OS 4 launched a year before that on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6, it was a whole two years earlier in August 2021 that we saw Wear OS 3, and Wear OS 2 landed three years earlier than that.
Now, there have been some – mostly smaller – updates in between these, but Google hasn’t stuck to a yearly cadence for big Wear OS updates. So based on that history, it would seem more likely that Wear OS 5 would land in July or August of 2025.
For now, we’ll assume the leak above is accurate, which would mean we may only have to wait a few months for Wear OS 5. It might also mean Google is switching to a yearly update cycle for its smartwatch operating system going forward.
Wear OS 5: predicted compatibility
Wear OS 5 is sure to run on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 and Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 Pro (or Classic, depending on which launches). In fact as noted above these wearables will probably be the first to launch with Watch OS 5.
The Google Pixel Watch 3 is also certain to support Wear OS 5, since Google makes both, and most other upcoming Wear OS watches probably will support it as well.
Beyond that, most current smartwatches that run Wear OS 4 will likely get Wear OS 5 sooner or later, especially those that launched in the last year or so, like the Google Pixel Watch 2, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 line, the OnePlus Watch 2, and many of the other best Wear OS watches.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 is sure to get Wear OS 5 (Image credit: Future)
However, as with Android updates, we wouldn’t expect all of these to get Wear OS 5 on day one, so you might be waiting a while depending on your watch, with Google and Samsung devices likely being first in line.
Wear OS 5: News and leaks
So far, the only real leak surrounding Wear OS 5 is simply that it might launch this year, as detailed above. As such we don’t have any real idea of the features or improvements it might bring, but at a minimum, you can probably expect bug fixes, along with improvements to performance and power efficiency.
Of course, since this update moves the operating system from version 4 to 5, we’d expect quite a bit more than that – we’re just yet to learn what.
Wear OS 5: What we want to see
While we don’t yet know what Wear OS 5 will offer, we have some ideas of what we want from it, which you’ll find below.
1. More AI baked in
A Google Pixel Watch showing the logo of the WearGPT app (Image credit: Google / WearGPT)
AI is the big buzzword in tech right now, and smartphones like the Google Pixel 8 and Samsung Galaxy S24 are embracing it in a big way, but so far smartwatches haven’t so much.
Sure, you can now get ChatGPT on Wear OS, but the core operating system doesn’t feel very AI-infused. With Wear OS 5 we’d like that to change. That could mean bringing the AI-powered Google Assistant with Bard to your wrist. Google has already announced this AI upgrade for Google Assistant, but not yet launched it.
Or perhaps the company will instead bring the rumored Pixel-exclusive Pixie AI assistant to at the very least Pixel Watches. In any case though, we want smartwatches to start getting in on the AI action.
2. Bring Safety Check to all devices
Safety Check on the Google Pixel Watch 2 (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
With Wear OS 4, Google added some new safety features to its Pixel Watch line. These include Safety Check – a feature that lets you set a check-in timer on your watch, which will then automatically share your location with emergency contacts if you don’t confirm you’re ok at a designated time.
This and other safety features like Emergency Sharing (which will share your real-time location with select contacts) are important and potentially even life-saving additions that anyone could benefit from, so we’d like to see them offered as a standard part of Wear OS 5, rather than being exclusive to Google’s Pixel Watches.
3. Fitbit for every wearable
Fitness tracking on the Google Pixel Watch 2 (Image credit: Future)
Similarly, Google only offers Fitbit functionality on Pixel Watches, so we’d like to see the Fitbit app work with other Wear OS smartwatches too.
Sure, this is less essential than safety features, and there’s always Google Fit or third-party fitness tracking services, but Fitbit is a particularly accomplished fitness tracking service, and with health and fitness tracking being such a big part of smartwatches, it would be nice if this worked on more of them.
4. Improved efficiency
The Google Pixel Watch 2 (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Smartwatch battery life by and large isn’t great, and while the battery capacity will have the biggest impact on that, making the software more efficient can also help the battery go further.
So one other improvement we’d like to see with Wear OS 5 is a focus on making the operating system as efficient as possible, so your smartwatch will last longer between charges.
OnePlus has revealed the OnePlus Watch 2 Nordic Blue, a special edition of its OnePlus Watch 2 which offers a classic dive watch-style dial, new strap and other touches.
The OnePlus Watch 2 Nordic Blue shares the same internal specs as the regular OnePlus Watch 2, including its 100-hour battery life (made possible by its crafty use of dual chipsets) and Wear OS 4. No new workout profiles or other internal features have been added to this edition of the watch: it’s all external changes to this contender for one of this year’s best smartwatches for Wear OS users.
As well as the new two-tone colorway and GMT dial in the style of classic chronometers, the strap is a hybrid of real leather and fluoro rubber, so it’ll look slick on the wrist and remain ‘skin friendly’, although it’s not clear at present whether the genuine leather aspects of the strap will be fully waterproof or not. In a statement, OnePlus said the watch is inspired by “Scandinavian beauty and design aesthetics.”
OnePlus Watch 2 is available for pre-order now in the UK and EU for £329, equivalent to around $407 / AU$630. At a press conference in Finland on 23 April, it was referred to as a UK and Europe exclusive, costing €379 euros on the continent.
It’s a slight price increase compared to the standard Watch 2, which costs £299 in the UK, but that often happens with limited or special editions. Those who pre-order the OnePlus Watch 2 Nordic Edition in the EU through the OnePlus website can also get a free pair of OnePlus Buds 3 with the purchase.
OnePlus has its fair share of evangelists, but most are people with good knowledge of the technology and smartphone market. The OnePlus Watch 2 Nordic Blue edition represents the Chinese communications brand’s first real foray into lifestyle territory, an attempt to woo more European customers with its Scandi aesthetics and analog watch-inspired design.
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It just might work. At the time of writing, our OnePlus Watch 2 (non-Nordic blue) is being reviewed, but OnePlus is far more likely to make headway with a lifestyle watch in the West than other Chinese companies (like Huawei with its beautiful Huawei Watch Ultimate), for the simple reason that it runs Wear OS and can be used with people’s Google accounts.
This means, unlike Huawei, you’re not locked into needing a OnePlus phone to make the most of it; you can connect to one of the best Android phones, grab a couple of third-party apps and get on with things. The 100-hour battery life also means it’s usable over a long weekend, great for active wearers who find themselves using a lot of the battery-sucking GPS-powered workouts such as hiking, running and cycling. Making the watch more stylish with a leather-effect strap and cool dive watch feel is the icing on the cake.
Lifestyle versions of existing smartwatches aren’t a new phenomenon in wearables, but OnePlus’ first go at it emphasizes the watch’s existing fitness credentials, already-long battery life, and the Watch 2’s chunky aesthetic – which benefits from the dive watch makeover. It shares the same design ethos as the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic and, at the higher end, the Garmin Marq range such as the Garmin Marq Athlete (Gen 2), bringing in traditional chronograph elements to shake up their endless procession of silicone bands and black screens.
OnePlus Watch 2’s makeover might not yet woo Samsung Galaxy users, who are firmly embedded in the Samsung ecosystem, or Garmin diehards dedicated to outdoor adventure and batteries that last weeks rather than hours. However, those looking for a cool-looking watch running Wear OS, with battery life beyond Google Pixel Watch 2’s 24 hours, might have found what they’ve been looking for at last.
