31/7/24
1:21 PM
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| OnePlus Watch 2R Review: A Better Watch 2? |
The OnePlus Watch 2R offers the same performance as the Watch 2, sans the premium bits of the Watch 2R model. As the last character of the product name aptly describes, the OnePlus Watch 2R is an affordable version of the Watch 2 . This is similar to the OnePlus 12R , a smartphone which offers similar performance as the premium OnePlus 12 , minus its premium bits (latest processor, better cameras). However, the Chinese brand has made some bold decisions with its first 'R'-branded smartwatch. It's available at a rather competitive Rs. 17,999 asking price and packs identical hardware, which helped the OnePlus Watch 2 offer some class-leading features. And these may strangely end up making the affordable Watch 2R the more attractive model for some.
OnePlus Watch 2R Review Design and Specifications: Top notch stuff
- Case size - 46mm
- Case material - Aluminum
- Durability - IP68 (up to 5ATM)
If you have read about the Watch 2 in our review or just checked out one in person, one of the obvious changes with the new Watch 2R is its design. OnePlus has switched gears from a modern design to a vintage one with its Watch 2R. I find the new brushed aluminum design appealing as it's not as confusing as the Watch 2's design which seemed like an odd mix of a classic watch design blended with a modern appearance.
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| OnePlus Watch 2R Review: A Better Watch 2? |
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| OnePlus Watch 2R Review: A Better Watch 2? |
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| OnePlus Watch 2R Review: A Better Watch 2? |
Despite losing its stainless steel case, the Watch 2R still packs a sufficiently good IP68 rating for dust and water and can withstand up to 5 ATM of water pressure. What it lacks versus the Watch 2 is the MIL-STD-810H certification, which makes it able to withstand freezing cold or extremely hot weather conditions.
OnePlus Watch 2R Review Display: Large and clear
- Display type - AMOLED
- Resolution - 466 x 466 pixels
- Protection - 2D Panda glass
Despite packing the exact same round 1.43-inch AMOLED display as the Watch 2, OnePlus went with a flat Panda display glass, which now has numbers imprinted near its edge. While the numbers don't do much in terms of functionality, they do make the bezel (which did appear a bit chunky on the Watch 2) appear a lot slimmer. While the thickness of this bezel remains the same as on the Watch 2, it is still a lot thicker than the one on the older Galaxy Watch 6 .
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| OnePlus Watch 2R Review: A Better Watch 2? |
In terms of brightness, the display performs well in direct sunlight and also appears sufficiently sharp while displaying text and icons. The always-on display feature now seems to be calibrated to be a wee bit brighter, making it more useful for reading glanceable information on supported native watch faces.
OnePlus Watch 2R Review Software and Companion App: Easy peasy
- Companion app platforms - Android
- Watch Software - Wear OS 4 (Android 13) + RTOS
OnePlus will need you to download Oppo's OHealth companion app to use the OnePlus Watch 2R. The companion app is only available for Android devices and can be downloaded from the Google Play Store. It comes with a well-designed interface (now works with foldables) with all the necessary information and customizations laid out in a clean and easy-to-understand format under various tabs.
What I like about this interface, compared to other companion apps from competing wearables at this price point, is that the settings aren't buried too deep. Another important detail is the setup process, which I found very easy and quick (provided you already have a OnePlus/Oppo account). Your data collected by the app can also be synced with other services like Google Fit, Google Health Connect and Strava. This means you can take your health data with you if you decide to jump ecosystems or switch to another smartwatch brand. The Watch's mixed self-switching interface remains the same as on the Watch 2. OnePlus' Dual-Engine architecture seamlessly switches between RTOS when using basic features and fitness tracking and switches to Wear OS 4 when accessing any third-party apps or advanced features. You can manually switch between the two as well by choosing the Smart mode (which uses 2 operating systems) and Power saver (only RTOS). OnePlus' reasoning for using two operating systems makes plenty of sense as the Wear OS 4 is a power-hungry operating system, while the RTOS interface sips on power and requires minimal resources to run.
One problem that arises from using two operating systems is consistency. You will notice various fonts (I found 3 in all) being used across the watch interface. There's one that can be found deep inside Settings (Roboto), there's OnePlus' own font (used in its Weather, Clock apps, etc.) and a third one from Google's apps (Maps, Gmail, etc.), which comes from the Pixel Watch-side of things. Thankfully, the user interface has a common theme and iconography across both operating systems.
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| OnePlus Watch 2R Review: A Better Watch 2? |
Another detail that still seems to lack creativity is the watch faces. The OnePlus Watch 2R packs in 2 new extra ones over the existing ones already available via the app. The ones available in the companion app are customizable (to an extent) but are quite boring and seem dated when compared to what's available on a Galaxy Watch or an Apple Watch.
OnePlus Watch 2R Review Performance: Great for its price
- Processors - Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 + BES2700
- RAM – 2GB
- Storage – 32GB ROM
For the most part, I usually ended up using the wearable in Smart mode, which automatically switches between Wear OS 4 and RTOS. Both software interfaces run smoothly without any major hiccups. Some software bugs pointed out in my Watch 2 review have also been fixed with the Watch 2R.
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| OnePlus Watch 2R Review: A Better Watch 2? |
Bluetooth calling worked well when tested, and the caller could hear me clearly despite some breeze blowing into the watch. But the speaker sounds a bit too soft, even at maximum volume. So, I had to hold the watch up to my ear to hear the caller clearly. One can also remedy this by pairing a set of TWS earphones with the watch.
We confirmed with OnePlus that its Watch 2R comes with the same set of health sensors as the Watch 2. With that said, performance is on par with the latter, providing close to accurate SpO2 readings compared to a stand-alone pulse oximeter and the same goes for heart rate monitoring as well. GPS tracking during a brisk walk was accurate even when walking under trees and with plenty of tall buildings in the vicinity.
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| OnePlus Watch 2R Review: A Better Watch 2? |
Just like the Watch 2, the OnePlus Watch 2R can also track short naps and it does so quite well, with good accuracy. The sleep reports statistics also provide data about sleep stages but the companion app also provides suggestions (dietary changes and more) on how to improve sleep as well. Stress readings could not be tested but they did match my current state of mind whenever I checked it.
OnePlus Watch 2R Review Battery: Easily the best
- Battery capacity - 500mAh
- Charging rate - 7.5W
- Charging adapter - Magnetic (4-pin)
OnePlus' unique Dual-Engine architecture lets the watch easily last a good 7 days with no workouts (AOD OFF, SpO2 OFF) and the daily sleep tracking with all notifications switched on. Turning on the AOD and SpO2 monitoring and including one 5kms (GPS-connected) walk every day, the watch's battery life lasted 2.5 days, which is pretty much the same as the Watch 2 and still better than the results I got from Samsung's Galaxy Watch. . 6 when I tested it last year. If you don't use a lot of apps on a daily basis (or only when working out), OnePlus claims you can get up to 12 days of battery life in its Power saver mode. Unlike most smartwatches will also let you use all health and fitness tracking features.
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| OnePlus Watch 2R Review: A Better Watch 2? |
Charging using a 100W SuperVOOC charger (not available in the box), saw the battery charge quickly to 87 percent in just 30 minutes and complete the charge in 46 minutes. I still love OnePlus' approach with the magnetic charging dock, which has a strong hold on the watch when connected.
The tiny charging dock has a Type-C charging port and comes with a regular USB Type-C to Type-A cable in the box. This also means that you can plug any Type-C cable into the dock for charging the wearable, which is very practical. Indeed, this is an area that no other smartwatch brand has been able to match up with OnePlus, and you can now avail this super fast charging tech in a watch that costs just Rs. 17,999.
OnePlus Watch 2R Verdict
The OnePlus Watch 2R is a very interesting wearable from OnePlus indeed. It has been designed for the urban commuter, unlike the tougher Watch 2, which can also handle extreme weather. Unlike previous R-series products from the brand, the Watch 2R maintains the performance standards set by the premium model (Watch 2), which makes it a very attractive Wear OS-powered wearable at Rs. 17,999 in India.
Despite trimming off a few hardware features (stainless steel case, sapphire glass face), OnePlus has managed to come up with a smart wearable that performs and lasts just as well as the higher-priced model. The aluminum case has even worked in its favor (reducing weight) and, in my opinion, looks a lot better compared to the Watch 2 as well.
The OnePlus Watch 2 ( Review ), despite its stellar battery life at Rs. 24,999, did not offer advanced features like cellular connectivity, blood-pressure monitoring, and BMI measurements that are available on Samsung's Galaxy Watches at a higher price-point. But the OnePlus Watch 2R's lower price, Wear OS software and excellent battery life make the lack of the above features easy to ignore, making it better than the OnePlus Watch 2 for some.
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| OnePlus Watch 2R Review: A Better Watch 2? |
- ★ The OnePlus Watch 2R is an affordable model to the Watch 2
- ★ It looks very different compared to the mid-range Watch 2
- ★ Performance remains the same as the Watch 2
