New info has revealed that the OnePlus Nord Watch and Nord Buds CE are set to launch in the second half of 2022. OnePlus is expanding the Nord line beyond just smartphones which is an interesting but familiar strategy. By offering a range of affordable products, it can retain users who can't afford its more expensive products, rather than lose them to the competition.
This strategy began in 2020 with the launch of the first Nord smartphone. There are now ten Nord phones, and more are expected to launch this year including the Nord N300 which should be exclusive to the US. In May 2022, the company announced its Nord Buds, the first non-smartphone product to carry the Nord name. Now it is set to add a smartwatch to the lineup. It is only a matter of time before it also announces a Nord Power Bank.
The Nord Watch will be the first wearable to launch under the Nord brand. Little is known about the smartwatch but tipster Mukul Sharma (@stufflistings) said the smartwatch has already gone into production in multiple European and Eurasian regions. The Nord Watch is expected to be a more affordable alternative to the OnePlus Watch, so Wear OS is ruled out. Instead, it should run a proprietary RTOS-based operating system. It should also be priced much lower than the $159 launch price of the OnePlus Watch.
Even Cheaper Nord Earbuds
In addition to the Nord Watch, OnePlus will also announce the Nord Buds CE, and from the name, it should be priced lower than the already super-affordable Nord Buds. This is because OnePlus uses the “CE” suffix, which stands for Core Edition, to denote it is a cheaper version of an existing product. The Nord CE and Nord CE 2 are perfect examples, as they are affordable versions of the original Nord smartphone and the Nord 2, respectively.
The Nord Buds CE have already been certified by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group but the certification page doesn't reveal much save for that they have Bluetooth 5.2 and that the model number is E506A. However, a report by MySmartPrice says the earbuds will be available in two colors — Moonlight White and Misty Gray. Additional details provided to the publication by Mukul Sharma say the Nord Buds CE will be priced between ₹1500 (~$19) and ₹2000 (~$25). That's dirt cheap for a pair of earbuds, albeit not unheard of. The JLab Go Air Tones which come in skin-matching colors retail for $20.
It is not known which Nord Buds features OnePlus will strip away to arrive at the Nord Buds CE, but a few guesses can be made. The upcoming earbuds may feature smaller drivers, a lower IP rating (if any at all), and maybe shorter battery life. The company may also drop support for Dolby Atmos and swap the touch controls for buttons. More details should surface before the OnePlus launch which is said to be scheduled for Q3 2022.
Source: Mukul Sharma/Twitter, MySmartPrice