If you love the minimalist aesthetics of Apple smartwatches and phones, but the ecosystem that Android provides, there’s a new entry in the market to consider.
Coming soon to Singapore on Aug 15 is the very first smartwatch by Chinese consumer electronics company Oppo. Simply named the Oppo Watch, it comes in two sizes, a 46mm and a 41mm watch face, and runs on Google’s Android operating system Wear OS.
The two sizes aren’t just different in heft, but in design and function too. Only for the 46mm, find LTE connectivity and a unique borderless feel thanks to a dual-curved screen (the first for a smartwatch) combined with a quadric 3D flexible display.
The sizes come in different colour schemes as well, and the larger variant also sports longer battery life. Whichever you choose, both feature getting to a full charge within a brisk 75mins, thanks to Oppo’s rapid charging technology.
Wear OS users will immediately find the interface familiar. The watch is powered by the Snapdragon 3100 chip, but also the Apollo 3 Wireless SOC as a co-processor, giving it greater lifespan. This also means access to Google’s full suite of apps via the Play Store, as well as services like Google Fit, Pay and Assistant.
In terms of compatibility, the Oppo Watch can be connected to all Android and iOS devices. This means you don’t necessarily need to have an Oppo smartphone in order to sync your smartwatch up. But if you’re considering getting an Oppo phone, their new Reno 4 Pro, also launching on Aug 15 in Singapore, is worth considering.
Value wise, the new smartphone entry is competing as a mid-range option, yet offering features more often seen in higher-end models. Sporting a 90Hz display refresh rate, 3D curved touchscreen, a total of five cameras, ultrafast charging (0-100% in 36mins) and stereo speakers, there is real value here. There is however, no 5G capability.
The camera features are likely the deciding factors here. On the front is a powerful 32-megapixel selfie camera, while the main set-up on the back is actually made up of four cameras—a 48-megapixel primary camera, an 8-megapixel ultra wide-angle camera, a 2-megapixel macro camera, and a 2-megapixel mono lens.
Combined, this makes it easy to take Insta-worthy portrait photos even in low light. Of note are two new photo taking functions. The in-built AI Color Portrait Photo mode allows you to instantly take vibrant, high-contrast shots with black-and-white backgrounds, while the Night Flare Portrait Mode basically gives you bokeh effects whenever you want.
There’s an AI Color Portrait Video function as well. But for avid videographers out there, it’s the new 960fps AI Slow Motion feature that you’ll love. It allows you to take epic slow-motion shots in great detail, making cinematic videos of raindrop splashes or the swooshing of your hair an easy feat to pull off.
The Oppo Watch 46mm and 41mm are priced at $399 and $299 respectively, while the Reno 4 Pro is priced at $899, available in Silky White and Starry Night matte designs. Both are available in Singapore islandwide on Aug 15.
Pre-orders are available now.
