Chinese manufacturer Oppo, known for also producing the OnePlus range of Android devices, teases the launch of a new watch anticipated to be the OnePlus Watch 3. OPPO product manager Zhou Yibao shared a promotional image on Weibo, revealing a new feature – blood pressure monitoring for assessing hypertension risk. Accurate blood pressure monitoring via LEDs has been a sought-after health feature, with Huawei Watch D2 being the current leader due to its innovative technology involving inflatable bladders in the strap acting as a portable blood pressure cuff.

Excitement rises as Apple is also expected to debut this technology, possibly with the Apple Watch Series 11 in September; however, Oppo might unveil this feature first if the promotional image is any indication. According to Neowin.net, the OnePlus Watch 3 (or Oppo Watch X2) is likely to launch in China next month, followed by an international release.

In a departure from the usual regulatory path, Oppo is expected to follow Apple’s strategy of using blood pressure readings as a prompt for users to seek medical advice, rather than waiting for approval from regulatory bodies like the US FDA. This approach mirrors Apple’s successful implementation of features like sleep apnea detection, which also recommend consulting a medical professional. The upcoming wave of smartwatch features, including blood pressure monitoring, promises to revolutionize health tracking, albeit with comparisons to traditional medical devices needed to establish accuracy.