The Apple Watch is easily the most popular smartwatch in the world. In fact, back in 2017 the wearable series overtook Rolex to become the most popular watch on Earth. While most iPhone users unanimously opt to purchase the Apple Watch if they’re looking for a wearable, things are a little different on Android. Google – the owner of Android and Wear OS – doesn’t actually make a smartwatch of its own. Instead there are a number of wearable offerings from third-party manufacturers such as Samsung, Huawei and Xiaomi for users to choose from.
Chinese tech giant Oppo clearly sees the lack of a universal Android smartwatch as an opportunity. At its Innovation Day last month, the Shenzhen firm announced it was hard at work on a wearable of its own.
A teaser image shown from the firm during its Innovation Day keynote showed the outline of its smartwatch – the device was shown to be square in shape à la Apple Watch and feature a leather strap.
Unfortunately, Oppo stayed tight-lipped on any other details about its forthcoming smartwatch. The firm is widely expected to unveil the wearable in full at its MWC conference in Barcelona next month.
However, a new detail about the hardware may have just leaked on Chinese social network Weibo – it seems Oppo’s smartwatch could come with a signature feature of the Apple Watch Series 4 and Series 5.
According to the account Digital Chat Station, Oppo’s wearable will be capable of performing an electrocardiogram (ECG) on users.
As a quick reminder, an ECG is a test that uses the electrodes to measure a person’s heart rhythm and electrical activity. In a nutshell, it can be used to spot any abnormalities like heart disease.
During the unveiling of the Apple Watch Series 4 back in September of 2018, Apple made a big song and dance about the device’s ability to perform an ECG. In particular, the firm pitched the device as coming with the first ECG app “offered directly to consumers”.
Samsung’s Galaxy Watch Active 2 is the only Android wearable thus far that is claimed to be capable of performing an ECG. However at the time of writing the feature still hasn’t gone live on the device since its September release in the US.
Although the latest Oppo leak is certainly tantalising, it should certainly be taken with a pinch of salt. That’s because Digital Chat Station has since removed its comment on Weibo claiming the Chinese firm’s wearable will be capable of performing an ECG. It’s currently unclear why the comment was deleted.
Express.co.uk will be in the audience of Oppo’s MWC showcase next month, so we’ll be first to let you know if the firm does unveil its smartwatch in full.
Until then, you can read about why we’re incredibly excited for Oppo’s forthcoming flagship smartphone – the Find X2.