OnePlus Watch 2 could launch soon to compete with Galaxy Watch 6

According to multiple leaks and rumors, OnePlus is developing a new smartwatch called the OnePlus Watch 2, which will come as a successor to the first smartwatch from the company, the OnePlus Watch. So far, we got to know a few specifications of the wearable and see renders of the product. However, we didn’t get any information about when the company would launch it. Fortunately, that’s changing today.

In a new post on X (formerly Twitter), Max Jambor claims that OnePlus will launch the OnePlus Watch 2 at Mobile World Congress Barcelona (MWC Barcelona), which will be live from 26 February 2024 to 29 February 2024 in Barcelona, Spain. OnePlus is holding an event today to launch the OnePlus 12 series smartphones, and a few people were expecting the company to launch the wearable at today’s event. However, they were surprised about why OnePlus was not teasing the smartwatch. Now, they know why.

OnePlus Watch 2 expected features

Previous leaks and rumors suggest that the OnePlus Watch 2 will feature the Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 chipset and the WearOS operating system. The latter is a huge step up from RTOS, which lacked many features that modern operating systems for smartwatches, such as Google’s WearOS and Apple’s WatchOS offer. That was one of the main reasons why the OnePlus Watch didn’t take off. In the latest tweet, Max reiterates that the OnePlus Watch 2 will feature WearOS. Expect OnePlus to soon start teasing the wearable.

Author's Note: With a powerful chipset and WearOS, the OnePlus Watch 2 might seem like a direct competitor to the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6. However, it will take the OnePlus Watch 2 a lot more to be a real competitor to the Galaxy Watch 6, including a modern design, rugged build quality, cellular connectivity, capability to accurately track fitness activities, and a long battery backup. I am not sure that OnePlus will be able to offer all that, and even if it does, the wearable might not feel as polished as the one from Samsung.