This upcoming smartwatch lets you store your earbuds inside (Updated: Delayed)

Update: December 1, 2022 (1:46 AM ET): HUAWEI has postponed the event where the Watch Buds was expected to launch. The company posted the announcement on its Weibo channel. There’s no word on a new launch date.

Original article: November 30, 2022 (02:49 AM ET): We previously saw HMD Global launch a Nokia feature phone that included slots to store your true wireless earbuds. Now, it looks like Huawei has the same idea in mind for a smartwatch.

HUAWEI confirmed the existence of the HUAWEI Watch Buds on Weibo, complete with a teaser video and December 2 launch date. The clip, seen below, suggests that the dial can open up to reveal an area to store your true wireless earbuds.

YouTube channel QSQ Technology has indeed posted a hands-on video with the new smartwatch, confirming that the dial can be opened up to reveal a place for your earbuds. Check out the clip below.

The earbuds shown off here are very small though, so we won’t be surprised if battery life suffers as a result. But we can also make out what appears to be charging contacts in the recesses, suggesting that the watch is able to top up the earbuds too.

As for the watch itself, QSQ Technology reports that it has a similar design as the HUAWEI Watch 3 and runs Harmony OS. For what it’s worth, we thought the Harmony-toting Watch 3 Pro offered great battery life, intuitive design, and brisk performance. However, we also lamented the inconsistent tracking, lack of apps, and features exclusive to HUAWEI phones or specific regions.

In any event, this seems like a really cool solution for storing your true wireless earbuds. This could be particularly handy for athletes (e.g. runners and cyclists) or those without pockets. We’ve asked HUAWEI about global availability and will update the article if/when the company gets back to us.