As a dominant force in the smartwatch industry for Android devices, Samsung is about to experience some formidable competition. Xiaomi, a Chinese tech corporation, has recently declared the introduction of its debut smartwatch based on Wear OS, intending to make it globally accessible. Named the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro, this device presents direct competition towards the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic by Samsung.

The Watch 2 Pro marks Xiaomi's initial venture into Wear OS enabled smartwatches. Set in a 46mm stainless steel case, this high-end device is outfitted with a 1.43-inch OLED display, protected by an IP68 rating, demonstrating its durability. It also possesses a digital crown, emulating the designs of the Apple Watch and Pixel Watch.

In this realm, Samsung has crafted its unique image through its signature smartwatch rotating bezel. However, the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro integrates a dedicated shortcut button and offers 20 pre-configured watch faces. Ensuring powerful performance, the device operates on Qualcomm's 4nm and promises a 65-hour battery life. Although this is superior to the 40-hour allegation, it falls short compared to the 80-hour estimation presented by its competitors.

Additionally, the Watch 2 Pro is outfitted with a 2GB RAM and accommodates 32GB of storage, surpassing the 16GB offered in Galaxy Watch 6. The Xiaomi smartwatch has features previously seen only on Galaxy Watches, such as heart rate tracking with notifications for irregular heart rate, sleep monitoring, stress levels measurements, and blood oxygen level readings.

The device also incorporates something unique – dual-frequency GPS technology, not yet available on any Galaxy Watch. This feature significantly enhances the accuracy of location tracking.

As for its cost, the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro has been attractively priced for the European market. The Wi-Fi model is priced at £229.99, while the Wi-Fi + Cellular variant costs £279.99. Xiaomi has not provided precise details on when and where they aim to introduce their new Wear OS smartwatch, but a launch in the major European markets seems likely, given the company's significant presence there.

Despite its lack of an ECG feature, the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro’s considerably lower price point compared to the Galaxy Watch (£449.99 for the Wi-Fi variant and £499.99 for the Wi-Fi + Cellular), and the non-exclusivity of its health features to Xiaomi smartphones only, may attract potential customers towards opting for the Xiaomi device over Samsung's smartwatches.