TicWatch Pro 5 with Snapdragon W5+ and Wear OS 3 may be about to land
Mobvoi’s next Wear OS smartwatch, likely named TicWatch Pro 5, may finally be on the horizon after a lengthy wait. This will be the first Wear OS watch with the Snapdragon W5+ chip.
Mobvoi actually teased the device a few months back but they’ve been quiet ever since. It appears they are nearing release now, as they’ve added basic support for the watch to their app as well as put the renders in a few places. This is according to leaker Kuba Wojciechowski who posted a picture of TicWatch Pro 5 on Twitter. In addition to that, we not have a newly spotted FCC filing.
The watch will reportedly carry the full weight of Wear OS 3. Google previously said that select TicWatch models will receive a Wear OS 3 update, though Mobvoi did not provide a timetable. So far, none of them have.
When Qualcomm announced the Snapdragon W5+ chip for wearables in July of last year, it was confirmed that Mobvoi would be the first company, along with Oppo, to use the chip in a watch. This appears it will arrive in the form of the TicWatch Pro 5.
If you’re wondering why there isn’t a TicWatch Pro 4, here’s why. This is due to a long-held superstition in Chinese culture that considers the number four to be unlucky. So we’re going straight from TicWatch Pro 3 to version 5.
FCC certification & leaked render
As first spotted by Droid Life, the smartwatch has received FCC certification, revealing its model number as WH12088 and some of its key specifications. This includes Wi-Fi, GPS, NFC, and Bluetooth 5.2.
Notably, the device is said to have a 611mAh battery, which is slightly larger than Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 5 Pro’s 590mAh battery. This is a promising development, as Mobvoi’s previous flagship watch had a long battery life, which is unusual for Wear OS devices.
TicWatch Pro 5 sketches show a 47.8mm chassis, implying a display size of about 1.4 inches, similar to the TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra. The device also has a rotating crown, a button, and a microphone.
These images are very similar to the leaked render from a few weeks ago. Which adds to validity.
As you can see, this is a watch with only one crown as opposed to the two crowns of its predecessor. In addition, the numerals around the screen bezel are replaced with a textured rim.
Some more details about TicWatch Pro 5 revealed in Beta testing
A user on Reddit has shared an email from Mobvoi a few months ago which reveals some more details. Apparently, he was sent an email from Mobvoi asking him if he had any interest in registering as a beta tester. He replied yes and received a correspondence back saying “our new advanced product TicWatch is about to be released”. And that the company is looking for “advanced users for this model”.
The email goes on to say that the device has:
- Long duration battery
- NFC payment which is compatible with Google Pay.
- IP68 waterproof, GPS, speaker and microphone
- New IHB/AFiB detection and fatigue assessment
- Improved premium design, flagship model
None of these features are particularly new and it is difficult to see what is particularly compelling about these specs. Apart from, perhaps, long battery life.
It has been about a year since the company launched the last iteration in the series. It came in the form of the TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra. That one also has the ability to spot irregular heartbeat (atrial fibrillation) and stress levels. But it appears that Mobvoi is hinting at further improvements.
Essential reading: Top fitness trackers and health gadgets
We reviewed the TicWatch Pro 4G back in 2019. The highlight of this device is its innovative duel-layer screen. It provides an always-on experience and excellent readability in the bright summer sun. Most of our interactions with the device went without a hitch. Everything just worked well out of the box.
The next edition in the Wear OS platform is bringing renewed interest in devices that support it. Mobvoi is one of the big names on this list and it has been helping to keep Googles operating system going. Let’s hope the older Mobvoi watches also receive support for Wear OS 3, and that it is not only reserved only for new models.
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