Another WearOS device announced...without the new 3100 series chip

Earlier this year, Qualcomm announced the long-awaited successor to the 2100 series smartwatch chip: the 3100. With a new co-processing unit for low-power state, the 3100 series was designed to drastically improve the battery life of WearOS. It, unfortunately, had little to offer in terms of performance increases and stuck with an older 28nm design, but it still could be considered an upgrade nonetheless.

So where is it?

Misfit has just announced the successor to the Vaper which will add a GPS and heart rate monitor (for $50 more), but retains the 2100 chipset. The LG Watch W7, also announced this year with a very interesting watch face (and steep price-tag), decided to stick with the 2100 series chipset despite the availability of the 3100 series.

Even though the 3100 series was announced publicly just last month, it is reasonable to assume that manufacturers have had access to the chip for quite some time. With the co-processor able to pick up tasks in a low-power state, the battery life could have been a major selling point for new WearOS devices as they struggle to maintain relevance in the wearable market. Despite Apple's runaway success in the smartwatch department, WearOS is a solid wearable OS for Android and iOS users; as a daily Huawei Watch wearer, I can confidently say it does everything I need it to do.

At this rate, who knows when we will see a true standard-bearer for WearOS and the 3100 series chip. Maybe manufacturers are unsatisfied with the price versus functionality improvements, or maybe every one is waiting for the fabled Pixel Watch. However, it is certainly worth asking, "Why is no one using the new smartwatch chip?"; no, I would not consider the new Mont-Blanc Summit 2, with the 3100 chip, exactly a consumer-friendly device at $995.