The original OnePlus Watch was launched by the company in March 2021 and was highly anticipated by OnePlus enthusiasts. However, users were slightly let down as the smartwatch featured an RTOS-based operating system, rather than Google’s WearOS.
As per the latest reports, the upcoming OnePlus Watch 2 is rumoured to come with WearOS 4. OnePlus may have finally heard the call of its users, and could finally switch to WearOS.
OnePlus Watch 2 May Come With WearOS 4
Last week, we exclusively revealed the renders of the upcoming OnePlus Watch 2 in collaboration with leakster OnLeaks. The watch is expected to feature a similar circular design with a multifunctional button module on its right side.
Popular tipster Max Jambor has now reported that the OnePlus Watch 2 will run on WearOS 4. Max has posted a tweet on Twitter mentioning that OnePlus is gearing up to switch from RTOS to the more popular WearOS.
#OnePlusWatch2 Design has been revealed in some gorgeous looking renders by @OnLeaks – I’ve seen quite a few comments asking about the OS it runs though.
Let me reveal to you: The all new OnePlus Watch2 will run WearOS 4 ✅
— Max Jambor (@MaxJmb) November 10, 2023
To recall, the OnePlus Watch from 2021 had great hardware and was appreciated for its display quality. The smartwatch was one of the best picks in the midrange segment and also carried the premium shadow of OnePlus smartphones.
However, the original OnePlus Watch ran on a custom RTOS interface and lacked some native WearOS features. Although the UI of the OnePlus was smooth and feature-rich, the lack of WearOS was a dealbreaker for several users.
If the report from Max is believed to be true, the upcoming OnePlus Watch 2 could prove as a strong competitor for the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6, and the Pixel Watch 2.
The OnePlus Watch 2 was also recently spotted on the BIS certification portal. Hence, the watch could quickly launch in India alongside its global announcement.
Oneplus Has Done This Before
OnePlus started its journey in 2014 with the OnePlus One, which created a brand new ‘flagship killer’ segment in the smartphone market. While the device was popular for its powerful specifications, sandstone back, and notorious invite-only system, the OnePlus One had another unique card up its sleeve. The device ran on Cyanogen OS, which was a popular custom ROM back then in the Android modding community.
Instead of using the vanilla version of Android from AOSP, OnePlus teamed up with CyanogenMod Team to launch the OnePlus One with Cyanogen OS. The company then shifted to developing its own UI named Oxygen OS based on Android.
Hence, if the OnePlus Watch 2 makes the shift to WearOS, this won’t be the first time that OnePlus completely changed the software of its product in just one generation. The company has already seen the success of switching software based on audience feedback with Oxygen OS.
It makes sense for OnePlus to make the switch to WearOS as it brings support for native Google features, and eases the integration of the smartwatch with the Android ecosystem. However, it is worth noting that OnePlus has not released or confirmed any details of its upcoming smartwatch.
