Oppo launches 'signature design' smart watch

Chinese electronics company Oppo has launched its new "signature design" wearable, the Oppo Watch - and the first images have raised eyebrows.

Despite its "signature design" consumers seem to think it looks awfully similar to the Apple Watch, both in its design and also the features the wearable includes.

Much like the Apple Watch, Oppo's offering also has an electrocardiogram sensor but is available for a greatly reduced price - £220 for the larger version compared to at least £499 for the full version from Apple.

One user joked in response to Oppo's president of global sales, Alen Wu, teasing the release of the device that they could get a preview look at it by visiting Apple's website.

Sales of the Apple Watch rose 36% and

outsold the entire Swiss watch industry

last year.

The Oppo watch is initially being released in China but is expected to reach other markets in due course.

Its phones are currently available through most of the UK's regular smartphone retailers and retail phone companies.

The company claims that a 75-minute charge would provide users with 40 hours of regular usage, while on power-saving mode it could last for three weeks with notifications enabled.

Meanwhile, the supply-chain disruption caused by the coronavirus outbreak has

hit Apple's iPhone production and profits

, with the company warning that its revenues will be down when they are reported at the end of March.

It isn't just Oppo's smart watch which bears resemblance to Apple's products, as the company's release of wireless headphones shows.

A member of Oppo's customer services representatives told Sky News that the company did not have any media spokespeople in the UK and was unable to explain the inspiration behind the watch's design.

Apple did not respond to Sky News' request for comment.