OnePlus Watch 2 Review: Durable yet Hefty

Value When Reviewed

$299

Greatest Costs In the present day: OnePlus Watch 2

$299

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 a number of 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 newest wearable sporting the newest 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 could not go well with everybody – it definitely wasn’t for me.  

Design & Construct 

• Black and Inexperienced strap choices
• Cumbersome stainless-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 when you’re within the OnePlus ecosystem.  

The chassis is constituted of silver stainless-steel, giving the watch a premium appear and feel. Nonetheless, be sure you wipe down the machine on occasion, as this shiny materials is vulnerable 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), this can be a chunky and heavy smartwatch that appears comically massive on my puny wrist. It’s not as comfy to put on as different fashions, and the strap shouldn’t be a fantastic 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

When you’ve got massive wrists (notably when you’re a person) then you definitely may not have these points, however if you’d like one thing slim and light-weight that you simply’ll overlook 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 measurement.

Whereas the crown does rotate, it’s purely for present relatively than controlling navigation. That’s an enormous disgrace, as it could show helpful when the display screen is locked, similar to throughout a swimming exercise. 9to5Google experiences 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 bought MIL-STD-810H normal certification, so it ought to be capable 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 charge
• Google Assistant assist

The advantage of the dimensions 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 measurement.

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

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

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

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

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

The speaker itself is kind of tinny, and never essentially the most spectacular or loud. I additionally had a number of teething issues getting audio to play instantly on the Watch 2’s audio system by way of 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 components 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 a protracted battery life. That is paired with 2GB RAM, and 32GB of storage which is greater than sufficient for downloading songs onto the machine.

Day-to-day efficiency is speedy and responsive. The one time the Watch 2 is barely gradual 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 possibly can’t use the OnePlus Watch 2 for calls and texts as a standalone machine. If having that freedom is vital 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 easy, easy and intuitive.

As normal, the Watch comes with an Apple-style tile format, however you possibly can swap issues up by having issues in a listing format (helpful when you’re a numpty like me who can’t bear in mind all the varied app icons). 

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

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

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

At first, I had hassle connecting WhatsApp, however an replace to the watch solved the difficulty. For those who favor health monitoring by way of different apps similar to Strava and Google Match, then you may also add these to the Watch 2 by way of the Play Retailer. 

Connecting the Watch 2 to my cellphone was one of the seamless experiences I’ve had. All you want to do is obtain the OHealth app, seek for the wearable and pair it. As soon as that’s performed, simply be sure you allow permissions for exact monitoring, similar to your location and so on.  

OnePlus has dedicated to 2 Put on OS updates and three years of safety updates, which means it must be supported by means of 2027.

Health & Monitoring 

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

For train, the OnePlus Watch 2 has over 100 modes out there. These embrace staples similar to operating, strolling and biking, to extra area of interest modes similar to pilates, golf even the Tango – ideally suited when 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 charge. Nonetheless, others embrace extra measurements. Throughout a swim exercise, it appropriately recorded the precise variety of laps, and which strokes I did once I modified them up, one thing cheaper wearables from the likes of Amazfit typically get unsuitable.  

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

There’s dual-frequency GPS included on the smartwatch for improved monitoring in dense areas, similar 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 file. I used it to trace a stroll robotically, and it was fairly responsive.

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

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

Sleep monitoring consists of a variety of info. There are the standard zones similar to REM, gentle sleep, deep sleep and REM. My awake time appeared in keeping with my expertise. OnePlus additionally consists of an ‘assess respiratory issues’ characteristic, which logs your SpO2 ranges throughout sleep. You can too allow mic entry when you’re apprehensive about loud night breathing.  

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

Some key options are missing from the Watch 2, the most important of which is an ECG monitor (electrocardiogram). Cycle monitoring can be not out there. While not all smartwatches cowl these items, at this worth 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 keeping with what I recorded on the Pixel Watch, and the step counter on my cellphone.  

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

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

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

OnePlus may 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 normal 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 relation to battery life.  

OnePlus claims that it has a formidable 100-hour battery life in Good Mode, and after testing for a number of weeks I can again up that quantity. If that’s nonetheless not sufficient, then you possibly can swap to Energy Saving Mode, which might provide as much as 12 days. 

In fact, you can be buying and selling in some options right here, similar to GPS. You’ll solely be restricted to core exercise modes, relatively than the massive checklist that’s out there as regular.  

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

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

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

Value & Availability 

The OnePlus Watch 2 prices £299/$299. It’s that can be purchased instantly from OnePlus within the UK and OnePlus and Amazon within the US.  

That worth undercuts its greatest 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’d like one thing slimmer, although the Watch 2 is streets forward of each in relation to battery life. 

Alternatively, if the larger construct isn’t a priority to you however you need a standalone LTE machine, then you may take into account the Xiaomi Watch 2 Professional.

For extra choices, try our full chart of one of the best smartwatches.  

Must you purchase the OnePlus Watch 2? 

There’s so much 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 essentially the most comfy, particularly when you have slimmer wrists like me. For those who additionally need an LTE model of the Watch, then that’s not attainable. Some rivals additionally pack in additional sensors and monitoring choices. 

Nonetheless, OnePlus has confirmed it’s right here to remain within the smartwatch house. Now, what I’d actually prefer to see is a slimmer and lighter model. Or higher but, measurement 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 charge sensor 
• Optical pulse oximeter sensor
• Barometer 
• Accelerometer 
• Gyroscope 
• Google Assistant 
• Google Pay 
• Assist 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 greater