Credit: Jimmy Westenberg / Android Authority
- OnePlus is launching a $ 40 fitness band tentatively known as the OnePlus Band.
- It would rival the Xiaomi Mi Band 5, offering AMOLED, water resistance and long battery life.
- It would be launched in early 2021.
Update, December 31, 2020 (10:00 ET): It was yesterday that the first news about a possible OnePlus fitness band was on the way. Now, thanks to the pourer @stufflistings on Twitter, we have what appears to be our first rendering of the device.
See the image below:
As you can see, the fitness track looks a lot like other products from several competing brands, including Xiaomi. What you will need to differentiate it from the package will be the connected application software, which will be the first time for OnePlus.
The original article on this new product continues below.
Original article, December 30, 2020 (1:38 pm ET): You may not need to spend a lot on the OnePlus watch to get a wearable from the enthusiast emblem. Android Central sources say OnePlus is developing a $ 40 fitness band that would compete with low-cost activity trackers like the Xiaomi Mi Band 5.
See too: The best fitness trackers
The OnePlus Band is supposed to match its main opponent with important features, including an AMOLED screen, a “multi-day” battery and water resistance for exercise. It is not certain what (if any) advantages OnePlus would have to offer, although it would clearly bet on its name to have some weight.
OnePlus Band: When and where will it land?
OnePlus could introduce the fitness band sometime in the first quarter of 2021, the insiders said. As the company would like to anticipate the launch of the OnePlus 9, it may debut the tracker as early as January or early February. However, it can only be released to India first – other regions would receive the band at a “later date”.
An entry in this space would make sense. Like B.C pointed out, the fitness band would serve as the wearable counterpart to the OnePlus Nord line – a more affordable alternative for those willing to give up some sophisticated perks. And when analysts say Nord is doing well in India, it can easily make sense to launch a tracker that builds on that success.
The challenge may simply be to stand out. There’s not much room for advanced hardware in this space, and OnePlus wouldn’t have the luxury of customizing a complete smartwatch platform like Wear OS. Rivals like Xiaomi can succeed simply by having an existing foothold and offering a “good enough” product. Although OnePlus has its brand, it still needs to start from scratch.