OnePlus may unveil a $40 fitness band to rival Xiaomi
Recognition: Jimmy Westenberg / Android Authority
- OnePlus is reportedly launching a $ 40 fitness band.
- It would be able to compete with the Xiaomi Mi Band 5 as it offers AMOLED, water resistance and long battery life.
- It would start in early 2021.
You may not need to use the OnePlus watch to get a wearable enthusiast badge. Android Central Sources claim OnePlus is developing a fitness band valued at around $ 40 that would compete against inexpensive activity trackers like the Xiaomi Mi Band 5.
The OnePlus fitness band will reportedly equip its main antagonist with key features like an AMOLED screen, multi-day battery, and workout-friendly water resistance. It’s not sure what (if any) perks OnePlus would offer, although it would clearly bet that its name carries some weight.
See also: The best fitness trackers
OnePlus will introduce the fitness band sometime in the first quarter of 2021, said the tipsters. With the company looking to push the launch of OnePlus 9, it could introduce the tracker as early as January or early February. However, it could only start for India first – other regions would get the band at a “later date”.
Entering this room would make sense. As AC pointed out that the fitness band would serve as a portable counterpart to the OnePlus Nord line – a cheaper alternative for those looking to forego some high-end perks. And if analysts say the North is doing well in India, it could easily make sense to launch a tracker that benefits from that success.
The challenge can simply be to stand out. There’s not much room in this area for advanced hardware, and OnePlus wouldn’t have the luxury of customizing a full smartwatch platform like Wear OS. Competitors like Xiaomi can be successful simply by gaining a foothold and offering a product that is “good enough”. While OnePlus has its brand, it still has to start from scratch.
