OnePlus Watch 2 review

What’s particularly unique about the Watch 2 is the dual chipsets that power it. The BES 2700 ultra-low-power Bluetooth chipset runs the RTOS (Real Time Operating System) and remains always on to run less intensive tasks, like background activity, calls, and notifications. Meanwhile, the Snapdragon W5 chipset handles the more intensive WearOS tasks, like running apps for games, navigation, and more, and only kicks in when needed. This allows the smartwatch to keep up with all your needs throughout the day, from fitness to scheduling and more while also extending battery life.

About the OnePlus Watch 2

After several years, OnePlus is finally back with its second smartwatch, and the OnePlus Watch 2 is worlds ahead of the previous generation model. Most notable among its features is the dual-engine chip architecture that consists of a pair of chipsets that work together, switching between two different operating systems to give you the best possible experience while also conserving battery life. Because the more powerful chip only kicks in when needed, the watch runs super efficiently.

An elegant timepiece on your wrist inspired by the design of premium wristwatches combined with vintage cars, the OnePlus Watch 2 comes in two stunning finishes, Black Stainless Steel or Silver Radiant Steel, and with a 22mm interchangeable band. The watch is ultra-durable, meeting military-grade certification as well as both IP68 and 5ATM water-resistant ratings, so you can safely shower or even swim with it (in freshwater). On the side is a main function button along with an action button that quickly pulls up workouts when you’re ready to do some exercise.

OnePlus’ OHealth app provides a comprehensive view of your daily stats and trends and can be used to swap watch faces, manage how and when you want the phone to sync, and which notifications you want to receive on your wrist. There’s a lot you can do right from the Watch 2 as well: reply to an e-mail using the on-screen keyboard, emojis, or voice assistance, control music playback, summon Google Assistant, or even play a few games like Simon and Mini Soccer. It tracks essential vitals, it’s durable in design and comes powered by the familiar WearOS 4 operating system, making this smartwatch a real contender in the premium space.

The OnePlus Watch 2 works with Android phones. We tested the wearable with the OnePlus 12 and the Google Pixel 8. It worked swimmingly with both.

OnePlus Watch 2 specs

• Price: $299.99 (save $50 with the trade-in of any watch in any condition, 30% off with the purchase of a OnePlus 12 or 12R; from March 11-31, Amazon Prime members get $50 off)
• Display: 1.43-inch AMOLED, 466 x 466, 326 ppi
• Processor: Dual processor BES 2700 ultra-low-power Bluetooth chipset; Snapdragon W5 chipset
• Operating System: Wear OS 4
• Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC for Google Pay
• Navigation: Built-in dual-frequency GPS
• Sensors: Sleep, optical pulse oximeter, optical heart rate, acceleration, gyroscope, geomagnetic, light, barometer
• Water/Dust Resistance: IP68, 5ATM (MIL-STD-810H)
• Audio: Mic and speaker
• Battery: 500mAh: Up to 100 hours in smart mode, 48 hours heavy use, up to 12 days in power saver mode (7.5W VOOC fast charging to 100% in one hour; 10-minute charge in smart mode for an extra day)
• Storage: 32GB ROM
• Warranty: Limited, covers functional defects caused by workmanship or build materials. Duration is country-dependent. Two years of full software support.

What we like

Incredible battery

We love that the OnePlus Watch 2’s 500 mAh battery offers a rated 100 hours, or about four days, with average use. Even if you’re a heavy user who runs and uses the built-in GPS, you’ll still get about two full days—worlds beyond other brands like Apple and Garmin that only promise hours of life between charges with heavy GPS use.

Unlike other smartwatches that just show the percentage battery remaining, the Watch 2 also provides an indication of how much longer the battery will likely last, allowing you to plan accordingly. During testing, after light use for almost a full five days, including tracking daily workouts, I was still at 54% with the estimation that the watch would last around another day and seven hours before I needed to recharge.

When switched to Power Saver mode, the Watch 2’s workout, health tracking functionality like sleep and heart rate monitoring, and the ability to make and receive calls, all still work. WearOS apps, the wearable’s always-on display, or more power-intensive features do not. You can set the watch to automatically enter Power Saver mode when the battery is below 10%. When the time comes to recharge the Watch 2 it does so rapidly, thanks to VOOC charging—Voltage Open Loop Multi-step Constant-Current Charging: a superfast in-house tech developed by OnePlus’ parent company, Oppo. During testing, we were able to charge up to about 40% in approximately 15 minutes. When paired with one of OnePlus’ Warp Chargers, the device will juice up even faster.

Google apps come pre-loaded and are easy to download

As a Google Wear OS 4 watch, the OnePlus 2 comes loaded with some of the most popular Google apps, including Maps, Assistant, Wallet, Calendar, and Home for controlling compatible smart home devices. During testing, it was easy to scroll through calendar updates in the morning to see what was on tap for my workday, what extracurriculars my son had, and what deadlines I needed to meet. I did notice, however, that at times, while the notification would appear on the list, I didn’t get the audible ring to tell me there was one, or there was a short delay between when an email was received and when the watch showed the notification. That said, this is something I have experienced with other smartwatches in the past. It’s also simple to download additional apps to Watch 2 using its dedicated Google Play app.

The watch comes loaded with Google Assistant so you can leverage its built-in speaker and mic to ask questions, though you need to tap the Assistant button first to trigger it. I used Assistant while making a quick dinner one night to get the proper temperature and cook time for a specific brand of frozen deep-dish pizza. The answer appeared on the screen in easy-to-read text and was also read aloud from the watch’s speaker. I used it other times for quick measurement and currency conversions.

Lots of workout options

The OnePlus Watch 2 offers more than 100 sports tracking modes (including one for badminton and tennis players). There’s also auto workout detection for running, walking, rowing, elliptical, cycling, and swimming. In the OHealth app, set this to Ask Every Time and the watch will ask you to confirm you are indeed engaged in one of these activities before it begins logging.

If you’re a runner (I’m more of a casual walker), you’ll appreciate the additional stats provided for elite runners, from ground contact time to vertical amplitude. This is combined with the high-precision dual-frequency GPS that offers better accuracy and faster signal acquisition. This is particularly important if you tend to run in dense urban areas or off the grid where capturing a signal might be otherwise challenging.

My favorite workout feature offered by the Watch 2, however, is the ability to add a custom workout in the app. After being disappointed to find that the wearable offers no cardio tracking option—a workout type I do at least twice a week—I decided to create one. With the custom workout option in the app, you can add your own workout, give it a name, assign it a category (for example, indoor workout), and set which parameters you want the watch to track. For cardio, that includes duration, heart rate, and calories, but not necessarily distance.

A wealth of watch faces

There are tons of customizable watch faces, ranging from rugged to data-rich to fun and flirty with the tap of a button in the app. In total, there are 20 built-in watch faces to choose from and, at the time this review was written, 80 additional options to download. These range from simple and classic to multifunctional and fun.

Some of the watch faces look downright cool, like the Expanding curiosity dial, the Sticky Notes Gallery with geometric figures, or the funky Hip Hop face with a dancer whose legs show the hour and arms the minutes as they bust a move. The watch face options are so creative, like nothing I have seen before in a smartwatch face gallery. OnePlus’ Animation Booster enhances some with live animations and 3D renderings, though this will impact battery life. So you might want to choose these for special occasions only, or if you’re okay recharging your Watch 2 every one or two days.

Ultra durable design

Given that you wear a smartwatch 24/7, I love the fact that this one boasts an ultra-durable design. In fact, it has some of the same specifications for durability as rival smartwatches like the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and models from Samsung and Garmin. Notably, it meets military-grade MIL-810H certification, which means it has been tested for a variety of environmental conditions, including temperature, humidity, shock, vibration, altitude, sand and dust, and rain. It’s made of stainless steel with a sturdy rubber buckle combined with a 2.5D sapphire crystal face.

The OnePlus Watch 2 also meets an IP68 water-resistance rating, which confirms it can be worn to a depth of 1.5 meters of freshwater for up to 30 minutes and is protected against dust as well. But it can’t be taken diving like the Apple Watch Ultra can. Additionally, it meets the 5ATM rating, so you can wear it for low-shallow water activities like swimming, down to 50 meters for up to 10 minutes. While I didn’t go swimming with the watch on, I did shower with it every morning and had no issues.

What we don’t like

Always on display significantly reduces battery life to 2.5 days

While 2.5 days of battery life is impressive for such a feature-rich smartwatch, it’s unfortunate that using the always-on display reduces battery life so significantly. Expect that the battery life will hover closer to two days per charge versus four if you want to get the most out of it.

This is still better than the Watch 2’s competitors like the Apple Watch Series 9 and Google Pixel Watch 2 can manage. They can only last around 18 hours and 24 hours, respectively. Thus, even though the OnePlus Watch 2 cuts the battery life in half just to use the always-on display, you can still use it longer than others in its class.

No ECG, body temperature, or menstrual cycle tracking

The OnePlus Watch 2 has tons of health and wellness features, including 24/7 heart rate tracking, stress tracking, blood oxygen, and sleep. But it’s missing an ECG app, a feature that has become expected in high-end smartwatches. Apple Watch offers ECG as does the Google Pixel Watch 2 and several models within the Fitbit line.

While you do get heart rate variability data, an ECG app is more accurate and precise in helping you detect things like atrial fibrillation (an irregular heart rhythm). For someone looking for a smartwatch they can use for tracking fitness as well as all the essential health metrics, this omission could be a big one. The same goes for body temperature, a feature you’ll find in comparable watches that isn’t available in this model.

For women specifically, the OHealth app, at the time of this writing, did not include menstrual cycle tracking, which has become an expected feature with virtually every smartwatch brand. Considering this feature is pretty simple in design, offering manual logging for estimating things like ovulation and when your next period will start, it’s puzzling that it isn’t included as a standard part of the app. Hopefully, this is something OnePlus will consider adding in the future for its female audience.

However, considering its relatively modest price point, these shortcomings are easy to overlook.

Feels bulky on smaller wrists

The large, round face of the OnePlus Watch 2 measures 47 x 46.6mm and it’s 12.1 mm thick. The smallest Apple Watch Series 9 option, comparatively is square in size and 41 x 35mm and 10.7 mm thick. I have a relatively small and bony wrist and found that the watch can sometimes press against the wrist bone if I don’t find the perfect balance of fit and tightness. It feels heavier and is slightly larger and thicker than the Apple Watch, which won’t be everyone’s cup of tea.

For someone looking for something dainty on the wrist, the OnePlus Watch 2 might not be the right design. The 22mm strap does fit well and is comfortable. But the thickness of the face along with the large, circular size and heavier feel won’t be for everyone.

Should you buy the OnePlus Watch 2?

Yes, it’s a great, long-lasting smartwatch for the money

The OnePlus Watch 2 is a fabulous partner for any Android 8.0 or later device. Its bright 1.43-inch AMOLED display is responsive and easy to read. What sets this watch apart is the dual chipsets, which handle simple background activities and more complex apps separately to ensure it feels fast while ensuring extended battery life.

While it may be missing some desirable health features, for those interested in a wearable that allows them to keep their Android phone in their pocket while still keeping on top of their notifications, messaging or controlling their music, it’s an outstanding option at a mid-ranged price.

OnePlus Watch 2

The OnePlus Watch 2, with its high-quality performance and robust list of features, is a fantastic smartwatch.

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at OnePlus

Meet the tester

Christine Persaud

Contributor

@christineTechCA

Christine Persaud is a valued contributor to the Reviewed.com family of sites.

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