Michael Crider
A lot of OnePlus fans have been waiting for the phone maker to bring its “never settle” attitude to smartwatches, especially considering the decline and fall of the Roman Empire Android Wear. Those fans might be disappointed, as the OnePlus Band is very much a budget device, competing with the Xiaomi Mi Band and launching exclusively in India.
The OnePlus Band is fitness-focused, with a tall, skinny 1.1-inch AMOLED screen and a silicone band that can be swapped out for different colors. Underneath is a heart rate sensor, accelerometer, and gyroscope, the better to track your steps and workouts. The band can handle basic notifications and music controls, as well as a few tools like camera shutter and find-my-phone, but it looks like there’s no intention of adding extra apps.
The band is IP68 waterproof (enough for fairly long swim) and uses Bluetooth 5.0 low energy. That, combined with a 100mAh battery, should let it last up to two weeks on a single charge. You’ll need the OnePlus Health app in order to actually track workouts and sleep, but like Samsung’s wearables, it works with any Android phone. iOS compatibility is planned for the future.
The OnePlus Band is releasing in India tomorrow, January 12th, at 9 AM IST for OnePlus Red Cable Club members. Everyone else can buy it the following day. It costs 2500 rupees, approximately $35, with navy, black, or grey-on-orange color options. There’s no indication of when, or if, it will expand to other markets.
Source: OnePlus India via XDA
