Chinese smartphone brand IQOO, known for its high-performance devices, has just unveiled its first foray into the wearable market with a new smartwatch. Conveniently called the “iQOO Watch,” the device bears a striking resemblance to the vivo Watch 3 and even shares the same operating system, BlueOS.

What’s intriguing is that the model appears to prioritize intuitiveness, offering easy access to all its controls — whether through the rotating crown or the physical button on the base. Additionally, it boasts its own app store for adding more features.

iQOO Watch Display and Design

The iQOO Watch features a 1.43-inch OLED display with a resolution of 466 x 466, offering the option for the screen to be in sleep mode or always on. A particularly charming detail is the automatic color detection according to the bracelet: if changed, the watch face adapts its visual presentation to match the new model.

Regarding bracelets, there are three options available: sewn nylon, silicone, or genuine leather, all of which are interchangeable. In terms of main dimensions, the smartwatch weighs 36 grams (excluding the bracelet), measures 46.1 millimeters from end to end, and has a thickness of 11.3 millimeters, not including the biometric sensor on the back.

Features and Functionality

In terms of features, the iQOO Watch comes in two versions: one with and one without eSIM. This differentiation primarily concerns mobile data usage, as the version with eSIM offers autonomous internet connectivity and the ability to make calls directly from the watch itself.

According to the manufacturer, the sensors boast a 97.7% accuracy rate in health assessments, covering blood oxygenation, step counting, heart rate monitoring, and sleep tracking. iQOO has implemented two measurement formats: during the day, the watch employs a light-based system, while at night, it automatically switches to an infrared pattern.

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When it comes to sleep tracking, the iQOO Watch adopts the same “gamification” approach seen in other devices of its kind. The watch measures total hours slept, evaluates the quality of deep sleep, and provides a final score, which users can utilize to set short-term, medium-term, and long-term goals. Moreover, if multiple watches are purchased for different family members, the dedicated iQOO Watch app on smartphones enables the sharing of sleep results for all users.

In sports mode, the watch offers over 100 different exercise modalities, complete with exercise guidance, coaching modes, and performance reports. Similar to sleep monitoring, this data can assist users in establishing metrics for their regular physical activity routines.

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Lastly, the watch features NFC technology and is equipped with a 505 milliampere-hour (mAh) battery. In continuous use, it can last approximately eight days with Bluetooth activated and paired (or 16 days in energy-saving mode) for the version without eSIM. However, for the version with the connected virtual chip, these numbers decrease significantly to three days with Bluetooth paired and seven days in economical mode.

The Arrival of a New Wearable Player

The smartwatch market is dominated by established players like Apple, Samsung, and Fitbit. IQOO’s entry throws a new competitor into the ring, potentially offering a fresh perspective and features targeted toward a specific audience. Whether they can carve out a niche in the crowded market remains to be seen, but this smartwatch marks IQOO’s intention to become a more comprehensive brand in the mobile tech space.

Who is IQOO?

IQOO is a sub-brand of BBK Electronics, the Chinese conglomerate that also owns Oppo, Vivo, and OnePlus. Launched in 2019, IQOO focuses on delivering premium smartphone experiences with a strong emphasis on processing power and gaming capabilities. Their phones are known for features like high refresh rate displays, powerful processors, and fast charging.