smartwatches

oneplus-lowers-watch-3-price-by-$150,-promises-refunds-for-early-buyers

OnePlus lowers Watch 3 price by $150, promises refunds for early buyers

Things are still uncertain, but OnePlus claims to have made some adjustments to its supply chain so it can offer the Watch 3 at a more palatable price. It’s unlikely that OnePlus could eat the cost of that Chinese tariff on a wearable, so perhaps it found a way to redirect its shipments through another location with lower tariffs.

A company spokesperson confirms the watch is now listed at $349.99 in the US, and it will stay at that price despite any future changes to import tariffs. This is a bit higher than the original $330 price tag, but it’s not bad given the challenging market conditions and OnePlus’ Chinese roots.

“This change reflects our effort to be transparent, responsive, and committed to bringing the OnePlus Watch 3 to the US at a competitive price point, despite the ongoing market conditions,” a OnePlus spokesperson said.

At $500, the OnePlus Watch 3 was hard to justify when devices like the Pixel Watch, itself not exactly a bargain-priced wearable, are available for substantially less. Still, there are probably some OnePlus fans who bit at $500. The company says anyone who paid that price since the watch’s release in early April will get a refund of the difference—keep an eye out for an email from OnePlus support with details.

For anyone who was planning to pick up the Watch 3 and was scared off by the tariff increase, the lower price is available immediately in the OnePlus store.

OnePlus lowers Watch 3 price by $150, promises refunds for early buyers Read More »

oneplus-releases-watch-3-with-inflated-$500-price-tag,-won’t-say-why

OnePlus releases Watch 3 with inflated $500 price tag, won’t say why

watch 3 pricing

Credit: OnePlus

The tariff fees are typically paid on a product’s declared value rather than the retail cost. So a $170 price bump could be close to what the company’s US arm will pay to import the Watch 3 in the midst of a trade war. Many technology firms have attempted to stockpile products in the US ahead of tariffs, but it’s possible OnePlus simply couldn’t do that because it had to fix its typo.

Losing its greatest advantage?

Like past OnePlus wearables, the Watch 3 is a chunky, high-power device with a stainless steel case. It sports a massive 1.5-inch OLED screen, the latest Snapdragon W5 wearable processor, 32GB of storage, and 2GB of RAM. It runs Google’s Wear OS for smart features, but it also has a dialed-back power-saving mode that runs separate RTOS software. This robust hardware adds to the manufacturing cost, which also means higher tariffs now. As it currently stands, the Watch 3 is just too expensive given the competition.

OnePlus has managed to piece together a growing ecosystem of devices, including phones, tablets, earbuds, and, yes, smartwatches. With a combination of competitive prices and high-end specs, it successfully established a foothold in the US market, something few Chinese OEMs have accomplished.

The implications go beyond wearables. OnePlus also swings for the fences with its phone hardware, using the best Arm chips and expensive, high-end OLED panels. OnePlus tends to price its phones lower than similar Samsung and Google hardware, so it doesn’t make as much on each phone. If the tariffs stick, that strategy could be unviable.

OnePlus releases Watch 3 with inflated $500 price tag, won’t say why Read More »

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Pebble’s founder wants to relaunch the e-paper smartwatch for its fans

With that code, Migicovsky can address the second reason for a new Pebble—nothing has really replaced the original. On his blog, Migicovsky defines the core of Pebble’s appeal: always-on screen; long battery life; a “simple and beautiful user experience” focused on useful essentials; physical buttons; and “Hackable,” including custom watchfaces.

Migicovsky writes that a small team is tackling the hardware aspect, making a watch that runs PebbleOS and “basically has the same specs and features as Pebble” but with “fun new stuff as well.” Crucially, they’re taking a different path than the original Pebble company:

“This time round, we’re keeping things simple. Lessons were learned last time! I’m building a small, narrowly focused company to make these watches. I don’t envision raising money from investors, or hiring a big team. The emphasis is on sustainability. I want to keep making cool gadgets and keep Pebble going long into the future.”

Still not an Apple Watch, by design

Pebble watch showing a text watchface (reading 12:27 p.m.), with greenh silicone band and prominent side button.

The Pebble 2 HR, the last Pebble widely shipped.

Credit: Valentina Palladino

The Pebble 2 HR, the last Pebble widely shipped. Credit: Valentina Palladino

Ars asked Migicovsky by email if modern-day Pebbles would have better interoperability with Apple’s iPhones than the original models. “No, even less now!” Migicovsky replied, pointing to the Department of Justice’s lawsuit against Apple in 2024. That lawsuit claims that Apple “limited the functionality of third-party smartwatches” to keep people using Apple Watches and then, as a result, less likely to switch away from iPhones.

Apple has limited the functionality of third-party smartwatches so that users who purchase the Apple Watch face substantial out-of-pocket costs if they do not keep buying iPhones. The core functionality Migicovsky detailed, he wrote, was still possible on iOS. Certain advanced features, like replying to notifications with voice dictation, may be limited to Android phones.

Migicovsky’s site and blog do not set a timeline for new hardware. His last major project, the multi-protocol chat app Beeper, was sold to WordPress.com owner Automattic in April 2024, following a protracted battle with Apple over access to its iMessage protocol.

Pebble’s founder wants to relaunch the e-paper smartwatch for its fans Read More »

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The best Android smartwatch 2022: Samsung, Mobvoi, Fossil, and more

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Samsung has new concerns as its smartwatch market share dips in Q3

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Samsung has new concerns as its smartwatch market share dips in Q3 Read More »