What happened? The upcoming OnePlus smartwatch called Watch Lite will work with both Android and iOS smartphones.
- This makes the OnePlus Watch Lite one of a small group of non-Apple smartwatches that work with iPhones.
- Other specifications of the smartwatch include a lightweight 34 gram design, a 1.78-inch AMOLED display, and 24-hour continuous heart rate monitoring.
- The affordable smartwatch also offers 5ATM/IP68 water resistance.
Why is this important? While the OnePlus Watch Lite is shaping up to be a great smartwatch in terms of specs, its cross-platform compatibility is the biggest surprise of all.
- This is the company’s first smartwatch compatible with Apple iPhones.
- Previously, OnePlus smartwatches were tied to the company’s smartphones and other Android phones, limiting their reach compared to other manufacturers.
- Additionally, this also suggests that Android-based brands are starting to recognize and respond to the demand for affordable non-Apple smartwatches for iPhones.
Why should I care? If you’re an iPhone user who doesn’t want to spend between $250 and $300 on the cheapest Apple smartwatch, the OnePlus Watch Lite is a really powerful and more affordable alternative.
- For Android users, this means broader ecosystem compatibility.
- Cross-platform devices also tend to have better companion apps.
- The OnePlus Watch Lite could also appeal to users who own both an Android and an iOS smartphone.
Okay, what’s next? OnePlus will introduce the Watch Lite on December 17, 2025.
- However, it remains to be seen whether all iOS features such as incoming call notifications, notifications and replies will work with the smartwatch or whether Apple’s platform limitations will limit certain features.
- If OnePlus achieves even 70-80% parity on iOS, it could encourage other Android OEMs to offer cross-platform support for their affordable smartwatches.
- The OnePlus Watch Lite remains a Europe-only product for now, suggesting that buyers in the US may have to wait to get their hands on it.
