OnePlus’s new generation smart watch OnePlus Watch 3 finally appeared in front of users. However, the price of the device on the shelves is not at the level that the company has officially announced. 329 dollars announced during the presentation period announced that the time, was offered for sale at $ 499. The difference of 170 dollars in between technology caused question marks in the public opinion.
The company did not share any information about this sudden and high price increase. However, in similar cases, brands prefer to make short explanations to the press or to loyal user communities. But this time OnePlus remained completely silent.
Speaking on behalf of OnePlus, company spokesman Speneser Blank said in a short statement to The Verge, saying, “We have no additional explanation to share right now,” he said. In such major price changes, informing the public can often be described as a habit. In addition, the fact that users have to predict the reason for this change on their own may cause question marks in the trust relationship. Most users have difficulty understanding such a serious price difference.
Despite all this, it is not difficult to predict the factors behind the price increase. At this point, the first reason is the new US tariffs applied to products imported from China. Import taxes applied to such products have increased to 145 percent. Many manufacturers in the technology sector are concerned that these cost increases will affect sales prices.
However, some companies have managed to take precautions in advance to reduce the impact of such tax increases. In particular, they preferred not to be affected by new prices by drawing a high amount of stock to the USA. Thanks to the companies that prefer this method, consumers were not affected in the short term. On the other hand, the fact that OnePlus could not make such a planning is seen as the main reason for the price difference.
Why is OnePlus Watch 3 shipments delayed?
The previously planned launch date of OnePlus Watch 3 was February. However, the device was late for a unfortunate error during production. The fact that “MEDA in China ği was written on the back cover of the clock instead of“ Made in China, caused the production to stop completely. Since this spelling error could not be corrected, the devices were withdrawn and the process was restarted.
This postponement eliminated the company’s chances of stock in the USA. Therefore, the opportunity to introduce the devices into the country before the new tariff rates came into play. Although there is no direct explanation, this delay is estimated to indirectly cause price increase. This disruption of the company’s planning directly affected the cost of the product.
In addition to all these, it is not yet clear how users will react to this price change. The mass following the product with a price of $ 329, is disappointed when he sees $ 499. A pricing at this level can weaken OnePlus’s hand in smart watch competition. Compared to the models of competing brands with similar features, the price/performance balance has been started to be discussed again.
However, the technical features and software improvements of the OnePlus Watch 3 have different opinions as to whether it is at a level to balance the price. Some users find positive software integration and hardware compliance, while others do not see this price increase in any way acceptable. It remains unclear whether the company will review this price policy in the coming period. The lack of transparency damages the trust in the brand.