ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The OnePlus Watch 2R is presently promoting for $170 on the corporate’s digital storefront throughout the previous couple of hours of Cyber Monday.
- It has just about every thing you search for in a smartwatch: multi-day battery life, health monitoring options, and a vivid show.
- Nonetheless, the gadget is lacking necessary key health metrics, it is not as sturdy as I might like, and OnePlus would not supply an LTE possibility.
If there’s one space of shopper tech that is by no means boring, it is smartwatches. Everybody desires a bit of the market, from Apple to Samsung, they usually’ll go to nice lengths to get it. Currently, nonetheless, OnePlus has asserted itself as a model that is able to making a stable product, because of the spectacular OnePlus Watch 2 we reviewed earlier this yr.
Additionally: I’ve examined dozens of smartwatches, however I am sporting the Galaxy Extremely Watch long-term
The corporate lately added a second wearable to its lineup, the OnePlus Watch 2R, which usually prices $229 ($70 lower than the Watch 2), and affords an almost equivalent expertise to OnePlus’ flagship watch, with a number of options left on the chopping block to decrease the value.
These options embody EKG help and menstrual cycle monitoring, and in the event that they’re necessary to you, you may need to go for the usual Watch 2. However if you happen to solely want a stable smartwatch to pair together with your Android cellphone, you may’t go mistaken with the Watch 2R.
From the surface, the 2 watches are nearly equivalent, minus the shiny end and “flat tire” on the appropriate facet of the 2R. The watch has a single case dimension: 46mm, the identical dimension because the Watch 2. It is also manufactured from lighter aluminum alloy relatively than chrome steel.
General, it is a slim, handsome watch, and its light-weight physique makes it simple to neglect after you strap it on. The one challenge some may need is the case dimension because it’s fairly large for these with smaller wrists. You additionally solely get two shade selections: matte black/grey (with a black band) or silver (with a inexperienced band). There isn’t any gold or blue choices right here, so you may must accept subtlety.
The 2R encompasses a 1.43-inch AMOLED show that is not essentially the most spectacular smartwatch display I’ve ever seen however is completely sufficient given the value level. Because of the 466×466 decision, it might probably stand up to 1,000 nits vivid, and every thing from colours to distinction is on level.
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As soon as you’ve got paired the Watch 2R together with your Android cellphone of alternative (no iOS help right here, by the best way), you may be on this planet of Put on OS 4.0. OnePlus hasn’t made a ton of adjustments to the system as Samsung did with its line of Galaxy watches, however they did load it with a bunch of customized watch faces, some UI components, and some first-party apps.
Each time I come again to take a look at Put on OS, I am joyful to report that it is in a extremely good state. It might not be as silky easy as Apple’s WatchOS, however functionally talking, it is simply as succesful. You’ll be able to rapidly look at health traits and calendar appointments with the Tiles interface, and there is a ton of various apps accessible by way of the Play Retailer. It is the most effective model of Put on OS but.
It additionally performs nicely. The Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 chip inside is quick and environment friendly, and I have never skilled any vital slow-downs throughout my time testing the Watch 2R. It has been capable of deal with every thing from switching between apps to managing notifications with no hiccup.
Additionally: 10 settings I modified on my Put on OS smartwatch to enhance battery life
We famous that the OnePlus Watch 2 set a brand new normal for Put on OS watches with its battery life, which might simply final two to a few days because of its distinctive strategy to processing energy, combining a conventional Snapdragon chip with a co-processor for dealing with smaller duties that drew far much less energy. The Watch 2R takes the identical strategy and, along with a 500mAh cell, manages to last as long as three days on a single cost.
I am impressed that OnePlus has pulled off such unimaginable battery life on a second smartwatch. Plus, when it is time to recharge, it solely takes about an hour to go from zero to one hundred pc with the included charging puck.
With any smartwatch, you may in all probability need to observe your health progress. Sadly, if you happen to’re a severe health buff or somebody who pays shut consideration to well being metrics, you would possibly discover the Watch 2R missing.
Additionally: I purchased Samsung’s $649 Galaxy Watch Extremely: What I realized after weeks of testing
The Watch 2R would not have EKG help, menstrual cycle monitoring, a pores and skin temperature sensor, or a fleshed-out well being monitoring app. OHealth is sweet for fundamental stats, however its charts and graphs are fundamental and do not proactively provide you with insights into whether or not you are progressing in your long-term targets.
Granted, OnePlus has improved the accuracy of different sensors like the center fee sensor, GPS, and Sp02 sensor for blood oxygen monitoring, which is nice, however the expertise feels a bit underwhelming in comparison with the Galaxy Watch 7 or Pixel Watch 2. As a substitute, the Watch 2R is way friendlier to those that are simply beginning their health journey.
Whereas we’re speaking in regards to the cellphone’s downsides, one other factor I’ve seen is the dip in sturdiness. The 2R would not include the identical military-grade drop safety, and it is missing the identical sapphire glass atop the show. Fortunately, it nonetheless has 5ATM water resistance, which suggests it will be fantastic at depths of as much as 50 meters. Simply do not go deep-sea diving with it.
Additionally: The very best blood strain watches you should purchase, based on medical analysis
Lastly, the truth that you may’t add an LTE plan to the watch is just a little disappointing. I perceive this won’t matter to plenty of people, however I are likely to do plenty of stuff with out my cellphone, and I recognize the power to get notifications and calls proper on my wrist.
ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation
Should you’re on the lookout for a quick smartwatch with spectacular battery life, however do not want a protracted listing of superior health metrics, the OnePlus Watch 2R is one in all your greatest choices.
Until you require a classier design, one thing smaller, or LTE, the Watch 2R will doubtless cowl your entire bases. Due to its clear set of use instances, nonetheless, it is one of many best Put on OS watches to suggest.
This text was initially printed on August 1, 2024, and was up to date on October 27, 2024.
