With a twist, HMD Global, the company behind Nokia-branded phones, has entered the smartwatch market. According to leaks, HMD will launch not one but two Wear OS-powered smartwatches, the Rubber 1 and Rubber 1S, and one might even have a camera.
HMD_MEME (@smashx_60) on X reports that the HMD Rubber 1 sports a 1.85-inch OLED display, a 400mAh battery, and supports USB-C and Qi wireless charging. The device has a water resistance rating of 5 ATM, Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi, and NFC and health tracking for heart rate, blood oxygen, and steps. What makes it stand out? The smartwatch has a 2MP camera, a rarity. According to Notebookcheck, the new hardware could be placed above the screen like the JrTrack 4 Kids Smartwatch.
Rubber 1S has a smaller 1.05-inch OLED display and a 290mAh battery. NFC has been replaced by Bluetooth 5.0 and Wi-Fi, but health tracking remains in place. Google’s Wear OS powers both watches and is likely to feature a kid-friendly interface, similar to the Galaxy Watch for Kids.
HMD partnered with Xplora Technologies, a children’s smartwatch maker, back in October 2024, so these watches could be aimed at kids. With the Rubber 1 and 1S, HMD could use the Family Link ecosystem for parental controls and teacher-approved apps. The launch date and price have not yet been announced.
