OnePlus Watch 2 Review: Durable yet Hefty

OnePlus made a rocky debut within the smartwatch world in 2021 with its first mannequin, which was chock-full of bugs and lacked many options that rivals boasted.  

After just a few years away from the scene, the ‘By no means Settle’ model is again with the follow-up mannequin, the OnePlus Watch 2. Fortunately, there’s been a serious shake-up within the software program, with the most recent wearable sporting the most recent version of Google’s Put on OS as an alternative of the agency’s personal effort.  

Although it’s an enormous step ahead from the OnePlus Watch, the construct might not swimsuit everybody – it definitely wasn’t for me.  

Design & Construct 

• Black and Inexperienced strap choices
• Cumbersome chrome steel construct
• 5ATM water resistance

The Fluororubber strap is available in both Black Metal or Radiant Metal, which matches the color choices that the OnePlus 12 is available in, a pleasant contact in case you’re within the OnePlus ecosystem.  

The chassis is made out of silver chrome steel, giving the watch a premium appear and feel. Nevertheless, be sure you wipe down the system every so often, as this shiny materials is liable to choosing up fingerprints… and that’s not the one draw back to a stainless-steel construct.  

At 12mm thick and a weight of 49g (sans strap), it is a chunky and heavy smartwatch that appears comically massive on my puny wrist. It’s not as snug to put on as different fashions, and the strap is just not an amazing match for me.

Both it’s too tight, inflicting the physique to dig into my wrist bone, or it’s too unfastened and so the wearable slides up and down my arm. 

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

You probably have massive wrists (notably in case you’re a person) you then may not have these points, however if you would like one thing slim and light-weight that you just’ll neglect you’re sporting, this isn’t the smartwatch for you. It’s the other of the Google Pixel Watch 2 the place many individuals are craving a bigger dimension.

Whereas the crown does rotate, it’s purely for present somewhat than controlling navigation. That’s an enormous disgrace, as it could show helpful when the display is locked, equivalent to throughout a swimming exercise. 9to5Google stories that OnePlus selected a spinning crown as a result of it’s extra sturdy than a inflexible one, therefore the design alternative. Nonetheless, it’s actually annoying.  

Clicking the crown takes you to the app drawer, and lengthy urgent prompts Google Assistant. The button beneath provides fast entry to exercises, whereas long-pressing controls the ability.  

The OnePlus Watch 2 is each 5ATM (50 meters) and IP68 rated, and it’s obtained MIL-STD-810H customary certification, so it ought to have the ability to stand up to harsh temperatures, knocks and bumps. It managed to outlive a dip within the pool and a visit to my insane 40-degree sizzling pilates class.

Display screen & Audio

• 1.43 AMOLED face
• 60Hz refresh fee
• Google Assistant assist

The good thing about the scale of the watch is the gloriously daring 1.43-inch AMOLED face. The black bezel is on the bigger facet, however that doesn’t matter an excessive amount of with a face this dimension.

With a decision of 466 x 466 and a max brightness of 1000 nits, I had no bother viewing the show, even below brilliant daylight. Colors are sharp and vivid, and also you get these inky blacks that you just wouldn’t discover on a non-OLED panel.

The OnePlus Watch 2 has a typical 60Hz refresh fee, that means swipes and faucets are responsive, although the display is liable to choosing up some fingerprint marks. 

Taking calls on the OnePlus Watch 2 is feasible in case your telephone is close by, and my family and friends might hear me clearly.

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Google Assistant voice recognition is strong, even with my northern twang that some tech firms appear to have a problem understanding.

The speaker itself is sort of tinny, and never probably the most spectacular or loud. I additionally had just a few teething issues getting audio to play immediately on the Watch 2’s audio system through Spotify. I solved this by connecting a pair of earbuds to the watch, taking part in audio, then disconnecting the earbuds and hitting play once more.

Specs & Efficiency

• Twin processors
• 2GB RAM
• 32GB storage
• No LTE model

One of many distinctive parts of the OnePlus Watch 2 is the truth that it runs on two chips, which the corporate calls a ‘Twin-Engine Structure’.

The Snapdragon W5 processor (with Put on OS 4) is for efficiency, while the BES2700 (with RTOS) permits the watch to get an extended battery life. That is paired with 2GB RAM, and 32GB of storage which is greater than sufficient for downloading songs onto the system.

Day-to-day efficiency is fast and responsive. The one time the Watch 2 is barely sluggish is after restarting, however that’s the case throughout most tech merchandise anyway.

Though there’s Bluetooth 5.0 and NFC assist for contactless funds, there’s no LTE possibility. Subsequently, you may’t use the OnePlus Watch 2 for calls and texts as a standalone system. If having that freedom is necessary to you, look elsewhere.

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Software program & Options 

• Put on OS 4.0 (lastly!)
• Three years of software program updates

The adoption of Google’s wearable working system (the unique had OnePlus Watch OS) makes navigating the OnePlus Watch 2 clean, easy and intuitive.

As customary, the Watch comes with an Apple-style tile structure, however you may change issues up by having issues in an inventory format (helpful in case you’re a numpty like me who can’t bear in mind all the assorted app icons). 

You’ll discover all the usual Google apps right here, together with Maps, Calendar and Pockets, and all of them work simply fantastic. There’s additionally broadly used third-party app assist equivalent to Spotify and WhatsApp.

Notifications out of your telephone can even sync onto your wrist, and you may reply on the look ahead to some apps.

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

At first, I had bother connecting WhatsApp, however an replace to the watch solved the difficulty. Should you favor health monitoring through different apps equivalent to Strava and Google Match, then it’s also possible to add these to the Watch 2 through the Play Retailer. 

Connecting the Watch 2 to my telephone was one of the seamless experiences I’ve had. All it is advisable to do is obtain the OHealth app, seek for the wearable and pair it. As soon as that’s finished, simply be sure you allow permissions for exact monitoring, equivalent to your location and many others.  

OnePlus has dedicated to 2 Put on OS updates and three years of safety updates, that means it ought to be supported via 2027.

Health & Monitoring 

• 100+ exercise modes
• Twin-frequency GPS
• No ECG

For train, the OnePlus Watch 2 has over 100 modes obtainable. These embrace staples equivalent to operating, strolling and biking, to extra area of interest modes equivalent to pilates, golf even the Tango – perfect in case you occur to be coaching for Strictly Come Dancing.  

Modes that aren’t core to the Watch 2 have generic monitoring, solely recording the energy and coronary heart fee. Nevertheless, others embrace further measurements. Throughout a swim exercise, it accurately recorded the proper variety of laps, and which strokes I did after I modified them up, one thing cheaper wearables from the likes of Amazfit typically get unsuitable.  

Should you’re a runner (Godspeed to you) or a eager walker, then the OnePlus Watch 2 has devoted exercise modes through the app that immediate you to maintain jogging till you attain a selected purpose. For instance; burning 200 energy.  

There’s dual-frequency GPS included on the smartwatch for improved monitoring in dense areas, equivalent to cities and forests. Throughout a stroll round Soho, the Watch 2 was correct in logging my path.

Auto-detect exercises can be found for operating, strolling, rowing, elliptical, biking and swimming, with the choice for the watch to ask permission to document. I used it to trace a stroll routinely, and it was fairly responsive.

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

For well being monitoring, there’s a devoted coronary heart fee monitor, a SpO2 monitor, and stress stage monitoring. All these recorded comparable figures to what I obtained on different wearables. I did have one event the place the Watch had bother recording my SpO2 ranges and stress, however this was instantly after updating it. A fast restart solved the difficulty.  

Sleep monitoring consists of a number of data. There are the standard zones equivalent to REM, mild sleep, deep sleep and REM. My awake time appeared in step with my expertise. OnePlus additionally consists of an ‘assess respiratory issues’ characteristic, which logs your SpO2 ranges throughout sleep. It’s also possible to allow mic entry in case you’re frightened about loud night breathing.  

Whereas the app consists of quite a lot of evaluation and suggestions in your sleep rating, there aren’t any hyperlinks to accredited sources as rivals equivalent to Withings do. This could add extra reliability and belief to the wearable.

Some key options are missing from the Watch 2, the largest of which is an ECG monitor (electrocardiogram). Cycle monitoring can be not obtainable. While not all smartwatches cowl this stuff, at this value level it’s a shock.

Some reviewers have famous that they discovered train monitoring to be inconsistent on the Watch 2, however personally, it was in step with what I recorded on the Pixel Watch, and the step counter on my telephone.  

The accompanying OHealth app within reason clear. All the essential data is there, such because the energy burnt in a exercise, your common steps in per week, your sleep knowledge and extra.  

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

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Having a complete web page devoted to the operating/strolling modes looks like a waste, because it takes up a number of area, and the built-in map on the telephone doesn’t appear to work correctly.

OnePlus might add extra pre-built exercises into this part like Fitbit or Huawei does to make it extra helpful.

Battery Life & Charging 

• 100-hour battery life in customary mode
• As much as 12 days in energy saving mode
• Quick charging assist

The twin chipset on the OnePlus Watch 2 actually proves its value in the case of battery life.  

OnePlus claims that it has a formidable 100-hour battery life in Sensible Mode, and after testing for just a few weeks I can again up that quantity. If that’s nonetheless not sufficient, then you may change to Energy Saving Mode, which may supply as much as 12 days. 

After all, you may be buying and selling in some options right here, equivalent to GPS. You’ll solely be restricted to core exercise modes, somewhat than the massive listing that’s obtainable as regular.  

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

That battery life is de facto spectacular when you think about that the majority smartwatches from Google, Samsung and Xiaomi can solely final a few days max. OnePlus has confirmed {that a} dual-chipset is essential to higher energy effectivity.

OnePlus has additionally kitted this smartwatch with fast-charging assist. Utilizing my 100W SuperVooc charger I needed to hand, I obtained it from flat to 100% in lower than an hour. Most smartwatches with large batteries don’t assist charging this fast, so that is definitely spectacular.  

Worth & Availability 

The OnePlus Watch 2 prices £299/$299. It’s in the stores immediately from OnePlus within the UK and OnePlus and Amazon within the US.  

That value undercuts its largest Put on OS rival, the Pixel Watch 2, by £50/$50. It’s solely only a fraction costlier than the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Basic. Each are nice alternate options if you would like one thing slimmer, although the Watch 2 is streets forward of each in the case of battery life. 

Alternatively, if the larger construct isn’t a priority to you however you desire a standalone LTE system, then you might think about the Xiaomi Watch 2 Professional.

For extra choices, try our full chart of the most effective smartwatches.  

Must you purchase the OnePlus Watch 2? 

There’s loads to like in regards to the OnePlus Watch 2. It has a sturdy and premium construct, a killer battery life in comparison with different flagship wearables and most significantly, software program that really works (in comparison with its predecessor).

In some ways, it’s the smartwatch that OnePlus followers have been ready for however does that make it excellent? Not precisely.

The heavy supplies used imply it’s not probably the most snug, particularly when you have slimmer wrists like me. Should you additionally need an LTE model of the Watch, then that’s not potential. Some rivals additionally pack in additional sensors and monitoring choices. 

Nonetheless, OnePlus has confirmed it’s right here to remain within the smartwatch area. Now, what I’d actually wish to see is a slimmer and lighter model. Or higher but, dimension choices for various kinds of customers.  

Specs

• 1.43-inch, 466×466 (46mm) round AMOLED always-on show  
• Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 processor & BES 2700 effectivity processor
• 2GB RAM  
• 32GB storage  
• Put on OS 4 
• Bluetooth 5.0 
• NFC  
• GPS  
• Wi-Fi  
• Microphone  
• Speaker  
• Optical coronary heart fee sensor 
• Optical pulse oximeter sensor
• Barometer 
• Accelerometer 
• Gyroscope 
• Google Assistant 
• Google Pay 
• Help for 100+ exercises 
• Sleep monitoring 
• 5ATM water resistance 
• Quick charging  
• 500mAh battery 
• 47.0mm × 46.6mm ×12.1 mm
• Colors: Black, Inexperienced 
• Appropriate with Android 8.0 or increased