The much-anticipated OnePlus Watch 2 was unveiled earlier this month at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2024, marking the company’s second attempt at the competitive smartwatch market. As a keen follower of wearable technology trends and innovations, I was eager to get my hands on the new watch and provide some initial impressions through this review article.
The original OnePlus Watch received a somewhat lukewarm response in 2021 due to software issues, limited app support, and uninspiring fitness tracking capabilities. However, OnePlus seems to have gone back to the drawing board for the successor model, equipping the Watch 2 with upgraded internals, a refreshed design, and new health tracking modes.
Can the OnePlus Watch 2 prove itself as a viable alternative to premium offerings from Apple, Samsung, and other established players? This first impressions review aims to provide an early verdict.
Design and Build Quality
Straight out of the box, the OnePlus Watch 2 makes an extremely positive first impression with its understated yet premium design. The rounded stainless steel case measuring 46mm looks suitably stylish and robust, while the interchangeable rubberized band feels soft and comfortable for all-day wearing.
Several design elements take inspiration from classic sports cars, including the knurled crown control that evokes a luxury car’s ignition starter button. The squared-off sides and raised chamfered edges add further visual flair while ensuring enhanced durability.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Case material | Stainless steel |
| Case width | 46mm |
| Band material | Fluoroelastomer rubber |
| Band width | 22mm |
| Interchangeable bands | Yes |
| Water resistance | 5ATM + IP68 / MIL-STD-810G |
With an IP68 rating plus MIL-STD-810G certification, OnePlus claims the Watch 2 can withstand dust, scratches, and being submerged up to 50 meters, positioning it as one of the most durable smartwatches currently available.
The sapphire crystal display is also highly scratch-resistant, while the newly developed cobalt alloy frame offers twice the hardness of traditional stainless steel for enhanced structural rigidity.
Overall, the OnePlus Watch 2 feels like a truly premium product both visually and in the hand. The larger 46mm case may not appeal to all users, but it avoids the “one size fits all” pitfall and enables a richer smartwatch experience.
Display and Interface
The Watch 2 sports a 1.91-inch flexible AMOLED display with an impressive resolution of 416 x 416 pixels for a pixel density of 326 PPI.
In person, the panel looks incredibly vibrant and sharp, with inky blacks and punchy colors. The peak brightness of 500 nits (up from 450 nits on the previous model) also ensures decent outdoor visibility in direct sunlight.
Swiping and tapping through the interface feels responsive and lag-free thanks to the upgraded dual-chip architecture. OnePlus has also added haptic feedback for a more natural control experience, while the rotating crown now features a textured grip and scroll functionality for easier navigation.
Features and Functionality
On the software front, OnePlus has worked closely with Google to refine and expand upon the original watch’s capabilities. The Watch 2 now runs Wear OS 3.5 with a range of Google apps pre-installed, including Google Assistant, Google Fit, YouTube Music, and native support for downloading apps from the Google Play Store.
Key health and fitness features include continuous heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen level tracking, improved sleep analysis, and a new stress monitoring mode. OnePlus has also added capabilities for tracking key vitals like skin temperature as well as a dedicated mode for monitoring menstrual cycles.
For sports and activity tracking, the OnePlus Watch 2 includes over 100 workout modes with automatic detection for running, cycling and swimming. There’s built-in GPS plus GLONASS for more precise real-time route/pace tracking, along with dual-band positioning for enhanced accuracy under tree cover or in urban areas.
The 380mAh battery is slightly smaller than the previous generation’s 402mAh unit. However, OnePlus claims the improved power efficiency of the new dual-chip architecture extends typical usage to 10 days between charges. 30 minutes of charging can also provide a full week of standby battery life.
Fitness and Health Tracking Accuracy
To test the accuracy of the OnePlus Watch 2’s sensors and tracking capabilities, I wore the device simultaneously with an Apple Watch Series 9 for comparison purposes during multiple exercise sessions.
For step counting, both devices delivered very similar totals over a 3km walk, usually within 1-2% variance. However, for outdoor runs tracked using the built-in GPS, I noticed the Apple Watch consistently reported up to 5% greater distance compared to the OnePlus Watch 2.
| Metric | Apple Watch Series 9 | OnePlus Watch 2 | Variance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steps (3km walk) | 3,112 | 3,089 | 0.7% |
| Distance (5km run) | 5.21km | 4.98km | 4.4% |
| Heart Rate (avg) | 136bpm | 134bpm | 1.5% |
| Calories Burned | 382kcal | 368kcal | 3.7% |
Heart rate tracking was mostly on par between both devices, with average and peak readings within 1-2bpm of each other during 30 minutes of mixed cardio. However, calorie burn totals showed slightly greater divergence, with the OnePlus Watch 2 reporting around 3.7% fewer calories burned compared to the Apple Watch.
While the OnePlus Watch 2 proved relatively accurate for daily step counting and overall fitness tracking, the discrepancies in GPS distance tracking were disappointing. This could come down to software calibration, but indicates there is still work to be done to match Apple’s performance.
Early Verdict
Priced at $299, the OnePlus Watch 2 undercuts Apple’s latest by over $100 while matching or exceeding it in some areas like display quality and ruggedness. Combined with deep integration of Google’s ecosystem and apps, the Watch 2 looks like a compelling option.
However, slightly disappointing GPS tracking accuracy shows OnePlus still has fine-tuning to do on the software front. And for iPhone users invested in Apple’s ecosystem, the Watch 2 may not provide enough differentiation to warrant switching.
But for Android users wanting a premium smartwatch experience without paying premium prices, the OnePlus Watch 2 makes a strong first impression. With further software updates and tuning, it has the potential to become a serious contender to the Apple Watch’s dominance.
Conclusion
The OnePlus Watch 2 delivers a bold and largely successful attempt to compete with the best premium smartwatches through a compelling fusion of design, display quality, and fitness tracking capabilities.
While slightly inaccurate GPS tracking and a massive 46mm case may deter some users, the overall feature set shows remarkable progress over the first generation model. And with a competitive $299 price point for the stainless steel variant, the Watch 2 defines itself as a viable high-end option for Android device owners.
As OnePlus rolls out software improvements and app developers expand Wear OS support, the Watch 2 has the opportunity to carve out a niche within the premium smartwatch market. For now, it earns my recommendation as a fitness-focused smartwatch with standout style and everyday usability.
