OnePlus Watch 2 officially on the way with early-bird special offers

OnePlus asserts that it will get things right this time as the OEM counts down to its comeback to the "high-stakes" premium wearables market. It backs the freshly-confirmed Watch 2 to pack "the best-ever battery life" in a casing "that epitomizes both elegance and durability".

The Watch 2's design is indeed slated to incorporate stainless steel and sapphire crystal in "Black Steel" (glossy black) and "Radiant Steel" (silver-gray) finishes. It will also clearly stand out in the premium space, however, with an unusual 'ledge' along the right side of its face; then again, the feature may prove an innovative way to house both a physical crown and a clickable button.

Then again, there are still no indications that the smartwatch will really challenge others such as those of the Samsung Galaxy Watch6, Ticwatch Pro or Xiaomi's own Watch 2 series, with their Wear OS-based UIs and dedicated wearable platforms, in 2024. (In fact, unfortunately, OnePlus' claim that its "New Flagship Smartwatch" will last up to 100 hours per charge - and "in full Smart Mode" too - is historically a red flag in that area.)

Nevertheless, clues that the second-gen OnePlus Watch will not come in cheap on its February 26, 2024 debut (at 16:00 CET/10:00 EST/20:30 IST) already abound, with teasers for up to €179 (~$194) of "savings" to be made on its release to the European market (comprising a €30 early-bird coupon, another for €50 on subscribing to its launch page and a "guarantee" of the €99 Buds 3 free in the box) a dead giveaway in that respect.

The Watch 2 will also be available in North America (where OnePlus now sells $0.99 Early Bird Coupons for $50 or CA$60 off the wearable) and India (where the smartwatch can be "pre-reserved" from now for INR 1000 ($12) off its launch price and a free pair of the latest Bullets Wireless Z2 with ANC worth INR 2,299 (~$27)) from its Barcelona debut.

Meanwhile, the Galaxy Watch6 series now starts for ~$204 on Amazon