OnePlus seems to have cooked up another interesting smartwatch with the launch of its new
Oppo’s OHealth app is well-designed and can also sync data to other platforms
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 does arise 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.
The app drawer has three layouts when using Wear OS 4 on the OnePlus Watch 2R
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 customisable (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:
- 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 also have been fixed with the Watch 2R.
The OnePlus Watch 2R has plenty of workout modes with auto-detection for a few of them
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.
OnePlus really needs to offer more animated and trendy watch faces with its wearables
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:
- 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.
OnePlus lets you choose between Smart mode and Power Saver mode when using the smartwatch
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 aluminium case has even worked in its favour (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.
