Chinese technology company Oppo launched a new health-monitoring brand and revealed upgraded augmented reality glasses at an online event on Wednesday and Thursday, as it seeks to reduce reliance on smartphones amid falling demand.
The first product under the new OHealth brand is a device that reads such vital signs as body temperature and heart rate. When placed nearby, the H1 hand-held device can also track sleep and record breathing and subtle movements. The monitor, resembling the size and shape of a computer mouse, syncs with an app for use in remote consultation with medical professionals.
Oppo also unveiled its latest AR glasses at the Inno Day 2022 event. Dubbed Air Glass 2, the company says the eyewear is the world’s lightest of its kind at 38 grams. The new model is able to provide information such as navigation and translation in real time by using micro LED projectors that display images onto the lens, the company said.
There were no details on when the items would be available.
Meanwhile, Oppo sees a bright future in foldable smartphones, expanding the Find N series, which hit the market in December 2021, with two follow-ups. The Find N2 opens like a book to provide a larger screen, while the Find N2 Flip clamshell offers greater portability. They will be available in stages in various markets, starting on December 23.
Oppo was tied for fourth in global smartphone shipments in the July-September quarter with an 8.6% market share, according to U.S. research company IDC. Worldwide demand for smartphones has been declining since the second half of 2021, making business diversification urgent for manufacturers.
This article first appeared on Nikkei Asia. It has been republished here as part of 36Kr’s ongoing partnership with Nikkei.