(Credit: Angela Moscaritolo)
The Mobvoi TicWatch series brought us some of the most exciting Wear OS smartwatches, but it appears the brand may be giving up on making future wearables.
As spotted by 9to5Google, Mobvoi's smartwatches have now become much harder to buy. The brand hasn't introduced a new product since its TicWatch Atlas in October last year, and it’s no longer possible to find that smartwatch on sale through a major retailer.
The Mobvoi website has also removed its smartwatch section, as it now focuses on treadmill and walking pad products. If you do find a TicWatch on its website, the US version reads “not available at the moment" for every model.
The TicWatch brand is also no longer available on Amazon in the US. Most listings now appear with the words “currently unavailable,” and there’s no sign of them coming back into stock.
A spokesperson for Mobvoi told 9to5Google it doesn’t have any “new information to announce about the TicWatch lineup,” and wouldn't confirm whether or not this is the end of the TicWatch brand. The spokesperson confirmed “existing devices will continue to receive essential support.”
However, there's no clarification on which devices will see further updates or what they will do. Mobvoi has been remarkably slow at updating its smartwatches in the past. There’s no sign of the latest Wear OS 6 software being released for any of its devices; many are still awaiting an upgrade to Wear OS 5.
If Mobvoi decides to abandon smartwatches, it leaves Wear OS in a significantly weaker position. Brands like Fossil and Tag Heuer recently left the platform, while other fashion brands, including Mont Blanc, haven't released new wearable tech for a few years.
The three remaining companies selling Wear OS products in the US are Google itself with its Pixel Watch series, Samsung's Galaxy Watch lineup, and OnePlus smartwatches. Some other brands continue to use Wear OS elsewhere in the world, including Oppo and Xiaomi.