OnePlus’ first attempt at making a smartwatch was largely a boring endeavor, despite its impressively sleek appearance. The biggest downside, of course, is the software. It is essentially a simple piece of software rebuilt on a very basic real-time operating system (RTOS) foundation.
Simply put, it’s not an app-loving operating system and falls short of the deep functional excellence offered by Google’s Wear OS and Apple’s watchOS. A second attempt, which has just appeared online, may atone for those sins.
OnLeaks leaker (via My Smart Price) has shared alleged renders of the second generation OnePlus Watch. Instead of copying what Samsung and Fossil are doing with their smartwatches, OnePlus appears to be pursuing an original design that combines a rounded dial and a flat right edge reminiscent of Casio’s G-Shock series watches.
The metallic arm extends a bit further from the main frame compared to what we see on Samsung’s latest Galaxy Watches. This is a subjective aesthetic deviation, but from above, it appears that the arms could provide a more secure grip on the strap attachment.
But the most interesting element of this latest leak is the chip inside and the software changes it could bring. OnePlus will reportedly use the Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 chip, a wearable platform that is a familiar name in the Wear OS space.
The leaked report doesn’t explicitly detail the OnePlus-equipped Wear OS experience on the smartwatch, but the Qualcomm chip is a bit too powerful for an RTOS, so there’s that. There’s also a separate report from leaker Max Jambor claiming that the OnePlus Watch 2 will indeed be powered by Wear OS — specifically Wear OS 4.
By using Wear OS, OnePlus not only avoids the hassle of managing custom software experiences — it also adds a dimension of convenience for users. The biggest and most prominent advantage is the app availability and seamless cross-device connection with Android phones.
Before we dig deeper into the tentative spec sheet, keep in mind that these renders are based on “actual images of a prototype in the testing phase.” However, brands often test multiple versions of the same product and they don’t always look the same.
The leaker estimates a 1.43-inch OLED display on the OnePlus Watch 2. Beneath the display is an integrated biosensing module similar to those seen on Samsung’s latest smartwatches, such as the Galaxy Watch 6.
Unfortunately, that’s all that’s been revealed about the OnePlus Watch 2’s internal hardware or health-focused features. The second-generation OnePlus smartwatch is rumored to launch next year, and it wouldn’t be surprising if it appeared alongside the upcoming OnePlus 12 flagship smartphone.
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