Images of a long-abandoned Xbox smartwatch built by Microsoft have emerged online, with specs information to boot.
Back in 2013 and 2014, there were fleeting rumours that Microsoft was working on smartwatch for gamers. It wasn’t a massive surprise; wearables were the hip thing back then, and all tech firms were keen to get a slice of the pie.
However, no such smartwatch was ever released, with those who followed the rumours left scratching their heads. Microsoft had, seemingly, abandoned the idea of an Xbox wearable for good.
Fortunately, Finnish publication Suomimobiili has posted photos of what it claims is the long-lost Xbox smartwatch, which you can check out below:
Credit: Suomimobiili
The device was originally rumoured to feature a 1.5-inch touchscreen, which sounds about right based on the images. We were also supposed to enjoy 6GB of built-in storage, removeable bands, and even 4G LTE connectivity.
Prototypes of the device were also supposedly set to feature a magnetic Surface connector, which you can see in the leaked images.
Credit: Suomimobiili
Microsoft did eventually release a wearable in the form of the Microsoft Band, but there was certainly no Xbox focus for that device. Also, the Microsoft Band looks a fair bit different from the prototype gadget we’ve seen pictured here.
It’s also worth noting that we can’t confirm that this is actually an official Microsoft product, so take this leak with a pinch of salt.
In any case, it’s not unusual for companies to scrap projects like this; OnePlus made a very similar move when it scrapped its own wearable device. Still, it’s nice to get a rare glimpse into products that could have been.
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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.
