There have rumours of a Xiaomi smartwatch doing the rounds for some time, but a new report suggests we could see something concrete from the company in the next week.
The Chinese firm, which produces smartphones such as the Mi 5, already makes a range of fitness trackers, the latest being the Mi Band 2.
But now it appears Xiaomi is gearing up to expand into the smartwatch market, according to a report from Gizmo China, based on a Weibo post from someone who is reportedly the ‘Chinese Mobile Phone League Secretary General’.
The post in question doesn’t reveal too much about the product, but says it will be unveiled at a conference on August 25.
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Xiaomi’s device is also said to be quite different to the Apple Watch, and will apparently still be geared towards those that ‘love sports’.
Also seemingly revealed in the post is that the new wearable will not be as cheap as many were expecting. Xiaomi usually undercuts its rivals significantly, but following this latest report, it seems the firm’s smartwatch will not be as cheap as the expected 999 Yuan (£115/$150).
Of course, international buyers will likely pay more than that, once resellers add their share to the overall price, but the company has a reputation for providing affordable devices.
It’s Mi Band 2 only costs £35, and the Mi Band and Mi Band 1S were similarly affordable products. Take this claim of an expensive product, as well as the whole report, with due caution, therefore.
Whether or not the smart watch will make it to international markets remains unclear, but it seems unlikely at this point.
Stay tuned for more from Xiaomi, as the firm is also expected to unveil a new Redmi 4 phone at the August 25 event.
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Would you like to see a Xiaomi smartwatch make it to international markets? Let us know in the comments.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
