The New OnePlus Watch 2
Mondo Admin / 10-06-2024 / Tech
The New OnePlus Watch 2: Stylish Innovation or One Less Thing You Need?
Launched in February 2024, the OnePlus Watch 2 is the latest offering from OnePlus and is particularly appealing to fitness enthusiasts and those who value a large, clear screen that blends style and substance, a long battery life, a vibrant display, and customisable buttons. However, there are several shortcomings, which may not make it the right fit for everyone.
Here are the pros and cons to help you decide if it's a must-have addition to your tech collection.
The Four Pros
Long Battery Life:
The biggest plus of The OnePlus Watch 2 is its battery life, making it the perfect companion for those always on the go, and who don't want the hassle of frequent charging. The battery life of a One Plus Watch 2 can last for days on a single charge - up to 100 hours in smart mode, 48 hours with heavy usage, and an astonishing 12 days in power-saving mode. It also is a breeze to charge, going from 29% to 85% in just 20 minutes with a standard 5-watt power adapter.
Customisable buttons:
The OnePlus Watch 2 also offers great flexibility, with two customisable buttons on the side of the watch: a top button that functions as a home key, and a bottom button that be programmed for shortcuts, like the Apple Watch Ultra's Action key, making navigation easy and intuitive.
Stunning Display:
The OnePlus Watch 2 features a stainless-steel casing that exudes elegance, especially when paired with the grey band. The colourful AMOLED sapphire crystal display is not only vibrant and sharp but also large enough to comfortably view health graphs and workout maps. This is great for fitness enthusiasts who need clear and detailed displays of their activity whilst having a sleek device that stands out stylishly on the wrist.
Wear OS 4 Platform:
Running on Google's Wear OS 4 and the integration with the Google Play Store ensures you have a wide selection of third-party apps at your fingertips, including Google Wallet, Google Maps, YouTube Music, and Google Assistant.
The Three Cons:
Limited Size Options:
Unlike other smartwatches, the OnePlus Watch 2 comes in only one size, which might not suit everyone. While the watch has a premium look, it is on the thicker side and occupies almost the entire width of the wrist. This larger-than-average size could be cumbersome and uncomfortable for those with smaller wrists, especially when worn during the night for sleep tracking.
Missing Health Features:
Despite its many strengths, the OnePlus Watch 2 lacks some essential health-tracking features such as fall detection, ECG monitoring, and period tracking. These omissions could be a deal-breaker for users seeking a comprehensive health monitoring offering. It also lacks the big-picture analysis that ties together various health metrics to provide a holistic view of your wellness. Competitors like Garmin and Fitbit offer more detailed insights that could be missed here.
Shorter Software Support:
The OnePlus only guarantees two years of software support, which is shorter than the timelines offered by competitors like Apple, Google, and Samsung. This could impact the long-term usability of the watch.
So, is it worth it?
Opting for the OnePlus Watch 2 will depend on your specific needs and priorities. If long battery life is essential and you enjoy the Google ecosystem, this could be a great option, especially given its affordable price.
However, if comprehensive health tracking and longer software support are more important to you, consider boosting your budget and investing in alternatives like a Garmin or Galaxy smartwatch.