(Credit: OnePlus)
UPDATE 4/28: Good news for OnePlus fans. Citing "recent adjustments in our supply chain," the company has dropped the price of the Watch 3 down to $349.99. Those who paid $499 will get a refund for the difference.
Original Story:
In a scary sign for US consumers, OnePlus has raised the price of its latest smartwatch by $170.
The Chinese vendor previously priced the OnePlus Watch 3 at $329. But the company’s US site is now selling the wearable for a hefty $499, a 51% increase first spotted by Android Police.
So far, OnePlus has declined to comment. But Trump's tariffs are the likely culprit. Outside the US, including in Canada, OnePlus is still offering the watch for its original price.
(Credit: OnePlus)OnePlus manufactures its products in a factory in Shenzhen, China. In March, Trump raised US tariffs on Chinese imports to 20%, before adding another 125% tariff.
Many vendors have been shipping more goods from China to the US in anticipation of the tariffs. But OnePlus may have fallen behind. It had to refresh stock in February after units were found with a typo that said “Meda in China” on the back panel. Sales only restarted on Thursday.
The $499 price tag for the Watch 3 certainly diminishes its appeal; it's now more expensive than the Apple Watch Series 10. In our review, we found the Watch 3 to have excellent battery life, accurate health monitoring, and an attractive design. But the $199.99 Samsung Galaxy Watch FE is our Editors’ Choice for Android smartwatches, in part because of its affordable price.
The good news is that OnePlus' smartphones remain at their original price, but we'll see how long that lasts. If OnePlus is forced to significantly raise prices, then higher costs could ruin one of the vendor's advantages.
The issue also hints at potential price increases US consumers may face in the coming weeks, given that much of the world’s electronics manufacturing is based in China. Then again, Trump has signaled he’ll explore offering exemptions to US companies hit hard by the tariffs.