A big hole in HTC’s product portfolio is an Android Wear smartwatch. Rumors have floated around about one for a while, but we now have a few indications this may getting closer to reality.
According to the typically spot-on Evan Blass, the company’s first watch will launch in June. However, that’s a bit of a delay from original expectations that it would be out earlier in the year.
FYI, this has been pushed to the week of June 6th. #htcwearablehttps://t.co/Ei1lT4aWoc
— Evan Blass (@evleaks) May 3, 2016
Other details are still on the slim side, but there has been talk of a round 360x360 display, which is right in line with recent additions to the Wear lineup like the Huawei Watch. Most Android Wear watches have opted for the round look, though there are still a few choices out there with a square face. We don’t know if there will be one model for everyone or a diversified set of men’s and women’s watches as Motorola has done.
The rumor of HTC getting involved in watchmaking goes back a ways. The company was listed as part of the original group of partners during the launch of Android Wear, but it’s only been rumors since then. A watch makes a lot of sense, so the alleged delay could be from HTC’s desire to craft a hit, or to ship the watch with Android N.
Why this matters: HTC has been trying to work its way back into the public consciousness of Android hardware, with a shiny new HTC 10 and the Vive VR headset. An Android Wear watch would complete the cycle well, though it’s a crowded field with a lot of popular models. Fortunately we may not have to wait long to see what HTC comes up with.
