At a lookKnowledgeable’s Score
Execs
- Premium, sturdy design
- Glorious OLED show
- Spectacular battery life
- Slick Put on OS software program
Cons
- Poor companion app
- No digital assistant
- No LTE choice
Our Verdict
The TicWatch Professional 5 strikes an excellent stability between appears to be like, sturdiness and health options, making it among the best Put on OS smartwatches round. Simply ensure that it’s the most suitable choice for you at this value level.
Value When Reviewed
$349.99
Greatest Costs Right this moment: Mobvoi TicWatch Professional 5
$349.99
In the event you’re on the lookout for a premium smartwatch, a couple of manufacturers come to thoughts immediately. Apple stays the market chief, however Samsung and Google each make worthwhile alternate options – particularly should you use an Android cellphone.
In contrast, Mobvoi flies below the radar in Europe and North America, regardless of the Chinese language firm releasing TicWatch branded smartwatches in each areas since 2015.
Eight years later, the TicWatch Professional 5 is its most refined, polished effort but. With a rugged but fashionable design, intensive monitoring performance and nice battery life, it’s undoubtedly among the best smartwatches round. Right here’s our full overview.
Design & construct
- Premium rugged design
- Impressively light-weight
- 5ATM water resistance
The design of the TicWatch Professional 5 is something however refined. It’s a rugged smartwatch that’s constructed to final, one thing you’ll discover as quickly as you’re taking it out of the field.
This cumbersome, imposing design received’t be for everybody, however I actually prefer it. The Professional 5 feels powerful and sturdy, but doesn’t sacrifice the premium aesthetic that’ll make you wish to present it off. It’s not that thick, both: at 12.2mm, it’s really thinner than Google’s Pixel Watch (12.3mm).
Consequently, the Professional 5 is flexible sufficient for use for each figuring out and extra formal occasions, though the latter will most likely require a change of band. The pre-applied silicone one may be swapped out for any 24mm strap, though Mobvoi doesn’t promote any on its web site.
The design of the TicWatch Professional 5 is something however refined
The watch can also be solely out there with a 48mm case, so I don’t advocate it to folks with smaller wrists. A smaller choice can be good, in addition to alternate options to the ‘Obsidian’ end – it’s your solely color choice.
Nonetheless, none of those ought to be dealbreakers for most individuals. It’s simple to disregard these small compromises when sturdiness is so good.
A mix of aluminium, nylon and glass doesn’t sound outstanding, however it means the machine meets MIL-STD-810H requirements. This certification proves that it may stand up to something the US army might encounter, together with a spread of maximum environments.
In fact, my couple of weeks of testing hasn’t come near replicating these, however I’m impressed with the way it held up. There have been no indicators of damage and tear in any respect, and I’d be assured in it surviving virtually all bumps and drops. A barely raised bezel ensures the display screen stays protected.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Including to the sturdiness is 5ATM water resistance, which means you may maintain it on within the bathe or whereas monitoring swimming. It will probably deal with as much as 50 metres of water for 10 minutes at a time.
Regardless of many of the case being manufactured from steel, the Professional 5 additionally stays comparatively light-weight. Whereas the 44.3g determine solely applies to the case, a silicon strap provides little or no to the overall.
Two bodily controls are positioned on the precise facet, though each have been seen on smartwatches earlier than. The rotating crown is a helpful different to scrolling on the display screen, whereas the button above it gives one-click entry to latest apps.
Show & audio
- 1.43in OLED show
- Glorious in all situations
- Respectable speaker and microphone
Regardless of its measurement, the show could make a giant distinction to the smartwatch expertise, and 1.43in one on the TicWatch Professional 5 is an actual asset. It’s not an exaggeration to say this among the best screens you’ll discover on any wearable.
A 466×466 decision is respectable, however it’s OLED that takes issues to the subsequent stage. It combines wonderful element with vibrant colors and deep blacks, with the darkish hues of WearOS taking full benefit of the latter. I actually can’t fault it.
Mobvoi doesn’t quote a most brightness determine, however the display screen stays clearly seen in all of the environments I used it in. That features direct daylight, the place reflections from the shiny exterior by no means grow to be distracting.
Whereas a smaller model can be good, the dimensions of the display screen additionally makes it very simple to navigate. The responsive touchscreen permits me to be exact with swipes and faucets, resulting in only a few unintended presses.
Choosing a flat reasonably than curved show definitely makes this simpler. I personally choose this, with the sting of the display screen very clearly outlined.
It’s not an exaggeration to say this among the best screens you’ll discover on any wearable
Audio isn’t practically as essential, with the loudspeaker on the Professional 5 solely actually helpful for calls. Voices come by way of loud and clear although, so I can’t have any complaints. The only mic is strong too, which means you may simply have a protracted dialog with somebody utilizing simply your watch.
I’m additionally impressed with the accuracy of its textual content dictation, which means you need to use your voice reasonably than typing on the tiny on-screen keyboard.
Software program & options
- WearOS 3.5
- Irritating companion app
- A lot of options, however not all work easily
Out of the field, the TicWatch Professional 5 runs Put on OS 3.5. That’s nonetheless the newest model of Google’s software program on the time of writing, however it’ll quickly get replaced by Put on OS 4. Mobvoi isn’t recognized for being one of many early adopters of recent variations, and it’s not clear when the replace will likely be out there.
However even in its present type, the Professional 5’s software program is slick and intuitive. Google has had a couple of years to refine and tweak the Put on OS expertise, and it now feels very polished.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Even should you’ve by no means used it earlier than, Put on OS is simple to get used to. Swiping down for fast settings and up for notifications feels very pure, as does shifting left and proper between abstract screens. An alphabetical listing of put in apps is easy to navigate, and you may obtain extra on to the watch by way of the Google Play Retailer.
Nonetheless, Mobvoi has additionally pre-installed a couple of of its personal. In complete, there are 10 further ‘Tic’ instruments, together with these for beginning an train, measuring very important indicators and doing respiration workout routines.
You is likely to be conscious that Google has its personal ‘Match’ branded variations of those, a lot of that are higher optimised for the small display screen. In the event you select to obtain the Google Match app, there are a number of situations the place you will have two apps which do the identical factor. Issues can shortly get cluttered, and there’s no strategy to take away the Mobvoi variations.
To arrange the machine, you’ll want to attach it to the Mobvoi Well being companion app in your cellphone. This can be a comparatively easy course of, together with making a Mobvoi account, connecting by way of Bluetooth and accepting permissions.
There’s a ton of performance within the Well being app, however it’s hidden behind a cluttered design and complicated menus
However the expertise after that would do with work. There’s a ton of performance within the Well being app, however it’s hidden behind a cluttered design and complicated menus. It’s additionally very troublesome to see key info at a look.
The simplest factor to regulate right here is the watch face, each by way of design and the problems which are displayed. It’s additionally price diving into Settings to decide on which of your cellphone’s apps can ship notifications to your wrist.
Except for these, it’s simpler to entry the Professional 5’s primary options by way of the watch itself. Alongside the standard well being and health ones, you’ll discover choices for making and receiving calls and texts, taking notes, listening to music and turning the face right into a torch. All are genuinely helpful and work effectively.
Navigation utilizing Google Maps is a superb function, however it’s not fairly as seamless. Being reliant on the web connection out of your cellphone means you’ll want to remain linked by way of Bluetooth always. Flip-by-turn instructions might additionally do with work, with a really refined vibration typically not sufficient to get my consideration.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Constructed-in NFC means funds utilizing Google Pay are way more profitable. However you’ll have to lock the Professional 5 utilizing a PIN or password to make use of it, which may be fiddly to enter and negates the additional comfort.
There’s additionally no digital assistant assist, a function you’ll discover on most premium smartwatches.
Health & monitoring
- Help for over 100 exercise sorts
- Spectacular information, however just for some workout routines
- Strong sleep monitoring
The TicWatch Professional 5 has three built-in sensors which are straight associated to your well being: coronary heart charge, blood oxygen and pores and skin temperature. Solely coronary heart charge may be monitored repeatedly all through the day.
However alongside an accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer and GPS, they permit a formidable vary of monitoring options.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
For most individuals, the principle one will likely be health. Over 100 completely different exercises are supported by the TicExercise app, with strolling, working and biking all particularly highlighted. I don’t have a motorcycle, however was capable of strive the opposite two.
Beginning a exercise from the watch is easy, though you typically want to attend a couple of seconds for the GPS to register your location. You’ll be able to set a objective (time, distance, energy or steps), however it’s not mandatory.
Even for one thing so simple as a stroll or run, there’s a formidable quantity of knowledge within the Mobvoi Well being app
A lot of information is accessible throughout your exercise, however you’ll should swipe as much as discover it. Mobvoi has rightly targeted on the principle particulars on the abstract display screen: period, pace and distance coated. Your present coronary heart charge can also be displayed, alongside which zone that corresponds to.
After a couple of seconds of inactivity (in any scenario), it’ll shift to the ultra-low-power (ULP) show, a monochrome LCD display screen which solely shows the necessities. Nonetheless, the color of the panel as you increase your wrist will correspond to the guts charge zone you’re in, which is a pleasant contact.
Ending a exercise requires you to bodily activate the machine, then swipe proper and hit cease. It’s a bit fiddly, however I’d a lot choose this to a watch which may by accident finish the exercise.
Even for one thing so simple as a stroll or run, there’s a formidable quantity of knowledge within the Mobvoi Well being app. You get an summary of your tempo, steps, time taken for every kilometre and modifications in elevation. A map exhibiting the place you’ve been is a pleasant contact, whereas Mobvoi even gives an estimate of restoration time.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Sadly, the data concerning my two-hour tennis session was way more restricted. Length, energy burned and coronary heart charge information is all you get, and isn’t very informative. It seems to be an analogous story for lots of the much less common workout routines, with very fundamental information. The scores of exercise sorts serve extra to make be aware of the kind of train you probably did reasonably than present any attention-grabbing information insights.
Luckily, much more thought has gone into sleep monitoring, which is trigged mechanically when in mattress. It gives an summary of how lengthy you spend in every sleep stage, plus how your coronary heart charge and blood oxygen ranges modified all through the night time.
You additionally get a sleep high quality proportion rating, plus some suggestions on how one can enhance. It thought the primary couple of hours have been a nap, reasonably than simply waking up within the night time, however this didn’t appear to have an effect on the general information. It appears to be like to be pretty correct.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Specs & efficiency
- Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 chip
- Nice efficiency
- No LTE mannequin
The TicWatch Professional 5 is powered by the Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1, Qualcomm’s strongest chip for wearables, plus 2GB of RAM.
Consequently, efficiency is about nearly as good as you’ll get from any smartwatch. The Professional 5 is quick and responsive, whereas scrolling and shifting between screens stays fluid and responsive. There are some occasional hesitations whereas opening some apps, however not sufficient to ever trigger a problem.
Crucially, this is applicable to each the touchscreen and two bodily buttons. The refined haptic suggestions whereas utilizing the digital crown is a selected spotlight.
Efficiency is about nearly as good as you’ll get from any smartwatch
Constructed-in Wi-Fi permits the Professional 5 to be self-sufficient in some conditions, however all too typically you’ll have to be linked to your cellphone by way of Bluetooth 5.2. There’s additionally no LTE mannequin, which severely limits its usability whereas out and about. In fact, you may hotspot out of your cellphone, however it’s nowhere close to as seamless.
Battery life & charging
- 628mAh battery
- True multi-day battery life
- Spectacular charging speeds
Throughout the TicWatch Professional 5, you’ll discover a 628mAh battery. That’s one of many largest you’ll discover in any smartwatch, and larger than even Apple’s rugged Watch Extremely (542mAh).
So, you may see why I had excessive hopes for battery life. Did Mobvoi ship? Sure, and emphatically so.
The corporate claims as much as 80 hours of utilization on a single cost – effectively over three full days. It is best to really be capable of get near that determine, supplied you’re not utilizing GPS or monitoring exercises on a regular basis. Even should you use it for sleep monitoring, count on true multi-day battery life.
Nonetheless, you won’t like how Mobvoi achieves this. By default, the Professional 5 shifts to its ultra-low-power (ULP) show after 10 seconds, providing solely fundamental info in black and white. You’ll be able to enhance this to 30 seconds or change it to a real always-on show, however battery life received’t be wherever close to nearly as good.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
It’s additionally price noting that standby time isn’t nice. After initially setting it up, I left the Professional 5 on a desk for a couple of days, with round half its battery left. By the point I began testing it, the machine had run out of cost. In the event you solely use a smartwatch often, it’s price being conscious of.
By default, the watch shifts to ‘Important mode’ once you hit 5%. This limits you to the ULP show till you plug it in, maximising what you will have left. You can even set Important mode to mechanically allow whereas sleeping or off your wrist for greater than half-hour.
If you do finally get spherical to charging, it’ll be utilizing the proprietary cable within the field. Robust magnets safe it to the watch, however you’ll want one thing to plug the USB-A into on the different finish.
Charging speeds are superb: I went from 32% to 92% in half-hour. That’s spectacular.
Value & availability
The TicWatch Professional 5 is a premium smartwatch, and its value definitely displays that.
For a 48mm case and silicone strap, the one model out there, you’ll pay $349.99/£329.99. You should purchase one direct from Mobvoi (US/UK) and at Amazon (US/UK)
Amongst rugged smartwatches, the Apple Watch Extremely ($799/£849) is extra succesful but in addition way more costly. The Watch Collection 8 (from $399/£419) is a extra life like choice, however neither work effectively with Android units.
Due to this fact, your finest alternate options are the similarly-priced Google Pixel Watch (from $349/£339) and Samsung’s Galaxy Watch Professional (from $449/£429), which additionally makes sturdiness a high precedence. There are different nice smartwatches, however the Professional 5 can maintain its personal.
Verdict
The TicWatch Professional 5 is Mobvoi’s finest smartwatch but, making a compelling case for anybody with an Android cellphone.
That begins with the design, which meets army requirements for sturdiness but nonetheless appears to be like fashionable and trendy. Its OLED show is arguably much more spectacular, serving to content material to return alive regardless of the dimensions of the display screen.
Battery life, a weak spot of 2022’s TicWatch Professional 3 Extremely, now turns into a significant energy, whereas Google’s Put on OS software program is optimised for each contact and use with the bodily button and rotating crown.
Nonetheless, Mobvoi’s companion app is cluttered and complicated, and there’s no digital assistant assist. A scarcity of LTE choice additionally means it’s very reliant in your cellphone when out and about.
However should you’re on the lookout for a substitute for smartwatches from cellphone corporations, the TicWatch Professional 5 is effectively price contemplating.
Specs
- WearOS 3.5 (requires Android 8 or newer)
- 1.43in, 466×460 AMOLED show, 326ppi
- Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 + Gen 1
- 2GB RAM
- 32GB storage
- 2.4GHz Wi-Fi
- Bluetooth 5.2
- GPS
- NFC (funds by way of Google Pay)
- Mic
- Speaker
- Coronary heart charge sensor
- Blood oxygen sensor
- Accelerometer, gyroscope, pores and skin temperature sensor, off-body sensor, barometer, compass
- 100 train modes
- 628mAh battery
- Waterproof to 5ATM / 50m
- MIL-STD-810H
- Aluminium, nylon and fibreglass case
- Corning Gorilla cowl glass
- Rotating crown
- Facet button
- 44.3g (physique solely)
- Obsidian end (physique)
