We already have some potentially fantastic smartwatches to look forward to between now and later in the year – including the Google Pixel Watch – and it looks like we may be able to add another one to the list, courtesy of Mobvoi and its TicWatch brand.
Mobvoi apparently I’ve been sending emails (opens in new tab) certain customers about a new device, as noted by 9to5Google (opens in new tab), and all indications are that a flagship Wear OS smartwatch is on the way. No name is mentioned, but it is likely to be the TicWatch Pro 4.
We were quite impressed with the TicWatch Pro 3 released in 2020 and the Ultra version that followed in 2021. We’ve also seen the more affordable TicWatch wearables, but the next one will likely be positioned at the more expensive end of the spectrum.
Potential resources
In its email, Mobvoi mentions a “flagship” watch with a “premium design”. There are also references to long battery life, support for NFC and GPS payments, and IP68 waterproof protection. That sounds like a pretty high-end smartwatch to us.
The communication also talks about the ability to monitor irregular heartbeats (atrial fibrillation) and stress levels – these features are also in the TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra, but Mobvoi suggests the new model will offer more improvements.
As we heard at Google IO 2022, there’s renewed momentum behind the Wear OS platform and the devices that support it. It looks like Mobvoi wants to be a part of this, with the email saying that the product in question is “about to be released”.
Review: A fresh start for Wear OS
Wear OS, formerly known as Android Wear, is the smartwatch operating system that Google built to take on the mighty Apple Watch – and it’s fair to say that devices running the software have had mixed fortunes in recent years.
In fact, only Mobvoi branded TicWatch and Fossil with its impressive series of smartwatches, which keep the Wear OS flag flying. Meanwhile, the Apple Watch has continued to get stronger with each passing year.
But the signs for the future are promising. Google has been putting more time and effort into Wear OS lately, while Samsung has moved its own watches to the platform – with the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro now just around the corner.
Then there’s the Google Pixel Watch coming later this year. Add in whatever the new TicWatch model is, and we’re talking serious competition for the Apple Watch by the time 2022 draws to a close.
