Report: HUAWEI Watch 2 will offer LTE connectivity, sportier look

We’ve been talking about Android Wear 2.0 for a very long time. Google announced the big OS refresh back at Google I/O 2016, and we’re still waiting on an official launch. While recent rumors point to a February 9 release date, we’re also expecting two new Android Wear 2.0-powered devices from LG and Google, dubbed the LG Watch Sport and LG Watch Style.

We might be getting new LG watches soon, but a few other former key players in the Android Wear space still have yet to reaffirm their future smartwatch plans. Moto recently said that it was putting smartwatch development on the back burner until major changes took place on the Android Wear platform, while other companies haven’t made much movement in the space since 2015.

One Android Wear vet is slated to come back soon, though, with a followup to one of the best Android Wear devices on the market. According to a report from VentureBeat, HUAWEI is in the process of developing a HUAWEI Watch 2, which will feature cellular connectivity. Apparently this will be an optional feature, which means we can expect a version with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth only, while the other (likely pricier) model will come with a built-in SIM card. Of course, cellular connectivity on a smartwatch enables a user to achieve a data connection when out of range of Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, and can also allow for the ability to make and receive calls.

Additionally, the report states that the HUAWEI Watch 2 will likely come with a “sportier” look than the original. While other details on the watch’s aesthetics are scarce, we really hope the non-cellular-enabled model retains the classy look of the original HUAWEI Watch. It looks like that’s the route LG is taking with its upcoming devices, so here’s hoping HUAWEI does something similar.

As for a release date? The report claims HUAWEI is hoping to show off the new watch at MWC 2017 in Barcelona (where the OG HUAWEI Watch made its debut), though VentureBeat’s sources cautioned that an MWC launch is still not set in stone.

In any case, it sure sounds like a new HUAWEI Watch is in the works, which is great news for anyone holding out for a new, non-LG Android Wear watch.

What say you? Excited for a HUAWEI Watch 2, or are you done with wearables for now?

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