14 DAY TRIAL // Chinese manufacturer Oppo might be known for its fancy, limited number smartphones, but it appears the company has started looking with interest towards the wearable market.
The company is not making smartwatches for the time being, although we’re pretty sure they will appear on the menu at some point.
For the time being, Oppo’s wearable portfolio includes only the O-band, a fitness tracker which will go on sale globally soon enough.
Oppo targets the wearable market too
Chinese customers can already purchase the O-band, but soon enough so will you. The folks over at Mobile Geeks have tracked down the bracelet and managed to get a better look at it, so we can give you a better idea at what to expect when the band arrives in the wild.
The wearable takes advantage of dot-matrix, instead of a normal touch display, but given the fact that most fitness-related wearables don’t even have a screen to begin with, this might be considered a plus.
The O-band’s main purpose will be to monitor fitness data, including steps taken, calories burned and sleep monitoring. The wearable can be connected to a smartphone, so the information gathered up by the band can be displayed on the larger display of the handset.
The bracelet is made of rubber, so in theory it should be quite comfortable to wear around. The bracelet can be charged via contracts living on the back. You just place the wearable on the docking station and the juice starts pumping.
In China, Oppo is offering the band for approximately €70 / $87 which is quite affordable. However, we still don’t know if these prices will be maintained once they arrive on the international market.
As you can see in the photos, the wearable doesn't look too bad, but there are other cheaper alternatives if you’re looking to purchase a smart bracelet from a Chinese vendor.
The competition has even cheaper smart bands
For example, popular smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi is selling its first fitness wearable for just $13 / €10.
For this amount of money, you get a plasticky band to wear around your wrist that comes devoid of a screen. It incorporates a vibrating alarm feature and can track how many steps you have taken while running or walking. It will also monitor your sleep cycle.
That’s pretty much what the Oppo O-band can do, but Xiaomi offers something extra. With the Mi Band, you’ll be able to unlock your Xiaomi phone by virtue of using the smartband, which is pretty cool.
But if you’d rather have a wearable with a display, the Oppo O-band might be for you.
