We’ve known about the Oppo Watch for months but only now is an incarnation of it seeing release outside of China.
On 31 July, Oppo announced a pair of new Oppo Watch variants that deviate from the original, which debuted exclusively to the Chinese market back in March, earlier this year.
Chief among them is a move away from the proprietary Android-based user experience that the first round of Oppo Watches offered, opting instead for a Wear OS-based user experience. The alterations don’t stop there, however.
We actually discussed the implications of a Wear OS-powered Oppo Watch in our weekly podcast, Fast Charge:
Oppo is also bringing several models of its Enco true wireless buds to new markets too.
What features does the Oppo Watch have?
There are two new Wear OS-based Oppo Watch variants to choose from: a 41mm WiFi/Bluetooth model, with a 1.6in 320×360 AMOLED display, a 300mAh battery (with a 75-minute recharge time) and water resistance up to 3ATM.
Then there’s the beefier 45mm version, which ups the ante thanks to a larger 1.91in ‘rectangular 3D flexible AMOLED’ screen (which is to say, it curves over along all four sides), a ceramic back, faster Oppo Watch VOOC Flash Charging, water-resistance up to 5ATM and integrated LTE cellular connectivity.
Both leverage Wear OS and all of the staple experiences that it brings, including Google Fit support and Google Pay via NFC for contactless payments.
On top, Oppo’s paired the Watches up with its HeyTap Health app, which as well as providing deeper health tracking (and even voice-guided five-minute workouts) can also be used to automatically style a watch face to complement your outfit, simply by snapping a pic of your ensemble.
Related: Best Smartwatch 2020
Of course, the elephant in the room is just how familiar the Oppo Watch looks. Both models resemble the Apple Watch with startling accuracy, right down to the aluminium alloy casing and proprietary interchangeable straps (which snap off with the click of a button – just as on the Apple Watch).
Oppo’s design doesn’t feature a rotating crown, meaning you’ve got a greater chance of smudging the screen as you swipe around but there are two buttons on the right side of the body too.
While there’s no getting around the fact that the design feels decidedly copycat – this is probably the best Apple Watch alternative out there and perhaps one of the stronger Wear OS-powered watches to date.
If you’ve always lusted after an Apple Watch but you’re an Android user – this might be the watch to get.
When is the Oppo Watch on sale?
Assuming you’re into the Oppo Watch’s aesthetic, the next question is when can you get your hands on one? Oppo has said that the 41mm version will go on sale in the UK on 3 September; available from Amazon UK in black, silver or rose gold.
The LTE-capable 46mm version won’t be made available until October, launching in either black or Glossy Gold.
The Chinese Oppo Watch launch actually featured a third premium stainless steel model; which incorporated a real Italian leather strap and sapphire into its design. The 31 July announcement made no mention of a Wear OS equivalent, but there’s a chance Oppo will consider it if this initial run does well.
How much is the Oppo Watch?
With a larger, more complex display arrangement, a few more premium materials, faster charging, better water resistance and LTE onboard, the larger 45mm SKU is set to cost £369 at launch, which the 41mm model will retail for £229 in the UK.
For comparison, the most-basic GPS-only 40mm Apple Watch Series 5 starts at £399, making these ‘dOppogangers’ a compelling alternative.