Last Updated:
The Watch 2R has some features missing but the essentials are still there
OnePlus Watch 2R is the first of a kind version from the brand that has some changes but most of the essential features are there.
OnePlus started its wearable journey in an understated fashion and we had to wait a long time for a OnePlus smartwatch in the market. The early impressions weren’t good because of its limited use case, no support for third-party apps and the OS not intuitive.
The Watch 2 was seen as a major upgrade on all these fronts and also giving people a closer look at its dual-OS strategy. Now, the brand is on to the Watch 2R model which sits below the second-gen OnePlus Watch but still looks to give you most of the bells and whistles of a smartwatch, and deliver it without disrupting its claimed 100-hour battery life.
So, does the Rs 17,999 price tag for the OnePlus Watch 2R give it the right value to attract more buyers to its ecosystem? Let’s find out.
Toned Down Design Still Light On The Wrist
OnePlus has realised that removing some premium materials like sapphire glass can cut down the cost of the gadget and the Watch 2R is a living proof of its thought process. Having said that the aluminium alloy brings its own level of durability that gives you comfort in knowing that the Watch 2R won’t break up easily.
The wearable weighs 59 grams with the strap on which is extremely convenient to wear for long hours and even when you are asleep through the night. You get them in grey and green colours that add a touch of class to the overall package and there are two dials on the right side, one of which helps you activate various fitness modes.
Bright And Useful AMOLED Display
Smartwatches with a big screen are a turn on mostly because of their functional use case and making apps relevant in more than one ways. The 1.43-inch AMOLED screen gets a 2D glass finish which produces bright and crisp colours, and viewing messages or opening maps on the Watch 2R is a pleasing experience.
You have a wide array of apps accessible through the wearable and the big screen is bright enough to give you ample visibility outdoors. The big watches can be annoying for some but you cannot deny the functional purpose of the size if they can deliver that with comfort.
Features Galore
When it comes to fitness and health, the Watch 2R covers most bases that people would seek from a premium smartwatch in the market. You have the sleep monitoring, heart rate monitor, blood oxygen monitor and the daily step counts, stress levels etc.
The Watch 2R also supports 100+ sports modes, and automatic tracking when you walk, swim, or even go cycling. The wearable only works with Android 8.0 or higher smartphones, and iPhone users cannot consider this as an option, at least for the time being.
All these features can be tracked via the OHealth app which is the default app for OnePlus wearables devices. The interface is intuitive and you can easily browse through the fitness data and more by swiping across different tabs. The sleep tracking works quite well and we noticed the data was spot on in terms of the time we slept and woke up in the morning. The granular details give you a better reading of your sleep quality and where you can improve.
The Dual-OS Impact
OnePlus introduced the Wear OS-RTOS duo on the Watch 2 earlier this year and we are getting a closer look at this combo on the Watch 2R during our tests. The brand says this approach will help with better efficiency of the chipset which means longer battery life (more on that later).
The OS lets the Watch 2R operate smartly and only use the Snapdragon chip when the heavy operations are taking place. Having WearOS means you get a suite of apps that can be downloaded from the Play Store, just like it works on an Android phone.
The wearable works through the OHealth app which is the default platform that OnePlus uses for its wearable products. The app is informative, the details are granular for sleep, running and other daily activities. You get a host of watch faces and you can add some new ones. We like how the dualOS strategy works out in real time and we prefer to see more Android watch brands adopt this model.
How It Performs
OnePlus Watch 2R has a host of features but still the brand has claimed 100 hours of battery life with moderate use. So, we decided to push the levels of its performance and see if that takes a toll on its efficiency. The good news is that the Watch 2R offers similar battery life to its premium version and you can easily make it run for around 3 days with all the features enabled and still have 10 percent juice in the tank for the power-saving mode to turn on and make it last a little longer.
During our tests it became evident that smartwatches can be reliable if they don’t need to be charged every day and they support fast charging out of the box, which the Watch 2R does with distinction.
The OnePlus Watch 2R cuts down on some features which makes it more accessible for buyers at Rs 17,999 but doesn’t take a hit on the dual-OS combo which helps you use the wearable for over 2 days and more. Worthy premium option if you are in the Android-verse.
