What’s new in OnePlus Watch 2?

Three years is indeed a long time in consumer technology. OnePlus launched its first smartwatch in 2021, and while it wasn’t exactly a success story, it finally launched a wearable device from the brand. In fact, the OnePlus Watch feels like a clumsy attempt to close the circle on the ecosystem while also laying the groundwork to properly compete with Samsung. It doesn’t offer a full-fledged operating system, can’t run third-party apps, and functions more like a fitness band than a smartwatch. In early 2023, OnePlus launched a budget smartwatch called the Nord Watch. It’s positioned as a budget fitness tracker and clearly lacks some features that would make it a smartwatch; reducing its usefulness to a fitness band. It runs an RTOS version as the operating system (just like the previous model) and offers basic features for fitness tracking, making it a good choice for Nord sub-brand buyers.

Recently, OnePlus has been seriously delving into the premium product category. We’ve seen the brand launch its first tablet, called the OnePlus Pad, which was launched as a high-end offering (as well as an optional accessory), and more recently the OnePlus Open, the company’s first book-style foldable . As OnePlus makes its foray into the premium smartphone category in India, the brand is in dire need of a smartwatch, and three years later, we see OnePlus’ latest attempt at designing a smartwatch.

Looking purely at specs, there’s a lot to brag about in terms of hardware (like OnePlus’s smartphones), but the Chinese brand (now owned by Oppo) is now trying to ride the wave started by Samsung and its long-running Galaxy smartwatch range. , just like the OnePlus Open foldable phone that popped up to compete with the Galaxy Z Fold 5. So, what exactly is OnePlus’ new competitor? Does it have what it takes (either software or hardware) to compete with the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 series? Let’s take a closer look at the top 5 details of OnePlus Watch 2.

OnePlus Watch 2 comes with a 47mm stainless steel case

Sturdy design looks elegant

While its strange but elegant design is certainly eye-catching, with two odd buttons on the left side of the stainless steel case, this watch also excels in terms of durability. According to OnePlus, the Watch 2 can withstand a pressure of 5 ATM underwater and is suitable for about 50 meters. It’s also IP68 certified for dust and water resistance, and OnePlus also claims that the Watch 2 meets MIL-STD-810H US military standards, which means you can take it swimming, up mountains, and expose it to the sun. The same goes for extreme weather. The watch is equipped with a 1.43-inch AMOLED round display with a standard refresh rate of 60Hz and a resolution of 466 x 466. The display effect is quite clear. The circular display sits beneath a 2.5D sapphire crystal surface, making the overall design quite sturdy.

it has two processors

One of the unique features of the OnePlus Watch 2 is its dual-engine architecture. The watch has two separate chipsets that work together to seamlessly switch between the two operating systems. According to OnePlus, this switch will not affect the user experience and will happen automatically. The wearable is powered by the BES2700 chipset to run the RTOS portion of the software experience, while the Wear OS portion of the software is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 platform. OnePlus claims this is done to extend battery life.

OnePlus Watch 2 runs Google Wear OS 4 and RTOS, and supports third-party apps

There are two operating systems

OnePlus claims its RTOS software (used in cheaper budget wearables, including the now-discontinued Nord Watch) handles daily tasks and background activities like fitness tracking. Smarter Wear OS 4 only wakes up when it needs to run an app, saving power in the process. This is similar to the converged software experience available on the Oppo Watch circa 2020, and offers a combination of Color OS and Wear OS.

The OHealth companion app (Android only) also syncs with Google’s Health Connect service, which means your data can be shared or accessed elsewhere and isn’t locked into the OnePlus ecosystem. Despite building a dual-OS smartwatch running RTOS, OnePlus chose to avoid building an iOS app for it, which is a bit of a shame.

Designed for above-average battery life

The biggest highlight of the OnePlus Watch 2 is indeed its advertised “market-leading” battery life. OnePlus claims its dual-engine architecture uses two chipsets and seamless software switching to allow users to use the watch in power-saving mode for up to 12 days without charging. While other smartwatches offer power saving modes, they do reduce fitness tracking functionality. OnePlus claims its unique hardware and software setup will do the above with health tracking, which is something we couldn’t wait to test out in our review. The wearable also comes with a larger battery, measuring in at 500mAh, which, as we’ve seen from previous leaks, is larger than the average battery powering most Wear OS wearables today.

OnePlus Watch 2 is 5ATM water-resistant and passes MIL-STD-810H durability certification

OnePlus Watch 2 connection

From what we’ve seen so far, the OnePlus Watch 2 seems to have plenty to brag about. In terms of connectivity, there are dual-frequency GPS positioning, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi. However, the watch lacks any kind of cellular connectivity or eSIM. Therefore, when one is out in the wild and there is no Wi-Fi connection around, a compatible Android smartphone will be needed. In short, it’s still not a standalone device like the Galaxy Watch 6 or Apple Watch Series 9, both of which feature cellular connectivity. According to the OnePlus team, user and community feedback is said to indicate that this is not necessary, which is why it has not been included. Indian users also lack the NFC payment feature of Google Pay.

We will put the OnePlus 2 through a rigorous testing process. So stay tuned for our detailed review, which will be released soon, to find out if this smartwatch lives up to its high claims and hopefully brings OnePlus closer to closing its ecosystem circle.