OnePlus Watch 2R review: Less is more

The OnePlus Watch 2R seems like a shrewd transfer by OnePlus to capitalise on the introduction of the OnePlus Watch 2. A smartwatch that whereas we bemoaned its heft, did make nice battery life beneficial properties for Put on OS and total provided an awesome smartwatch expertise.

The Watch 2R primarily takes the entire similar smarts and wraps it up in a glance that loses a few of the Watch 2’s larger high quality supplies. it’ll nonetheless be a smartwatch that can allow you to use Google apps like Maps to get round, makes use of the identical twin engine structure to energy efficiency, and guarantees the form of battery that betters a lot of the Put on OS competitors.

Making these design modifications has allowed OnePlus to drop the worth, making the Watch 2R a less expensive Put on OS different to the most affordable Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 mannequin, the TicWatch Professional 5 and the brand new Google Pixel Watch 3.

Sure, you do lose a few of the added attract of the dearer OnePlus Watch 2, however the result’s maybe a greater smartwatch total.

Design & Construct

• Black or inexperienced colors
• Aluminium as an alternative of chrome steel
• Lighter than Watch 2

Design actually is the massive story right here with the Watch 2R once you examine it with the Watch 2.

It sticks to a 47mm-sized case, which continues to be going to be too massive for some, although I discovered sporting it completely positive and my wrists are on the small aspect.

It measures in with the identical 12.1mm thickness because the Watch 2 and carries the identical waterproof ranking, which makes it protected to being submerged in water as much as 50 metres depth. 

Mike Sawh

Mike Sawh

Mike Sawh

The place issues have modified is OnePlus swapping the chrome steel case for a lighter aluminium alloy. It’s additionally changed the sapphire crystal masking the display screen for a 2D glass one, so that you’re getting a downgrade in safety towards scratches.

The draw back is that you just’re lacking out on these nicer supplies, the upside is it’s now a lighter (and cheaper) watch which makes that bigger case a extra manageable one to put on. Nonetheless, a smaller measurement could be a welcome addition as is actually business commonplace now Apple, Samsung, Google and Huawei all supply two sizes for core smartwatches.

We proceed to want however the total weight has gone from 80g to 59g in comparison with the Watch 2, in order that’s an enormous distinction for a watch (over 26%). Whereas I didn’t discover that the Watch 2 was a hefty smartwatch to strap on, some will choose the noticeable drop in weight.

Mike Sawh

Mike Sawh

Mike Sawh

The fluororubber strap stays the identical and is available in forest inexperienced and gunmetal gray colors. You don’t get the choice of the nicer leather-based band obtainable on the Nordic Blue version of the Watch 2 (pictured above). There are two crown-style bodily buttons on the precise aspect of the case, which implies OnePlus has opted to not use a flatter one prefer it has on the Watch 2.

Is the Watch 2R a nice-looking smartwatch? It largely is with out stirring us in the way in which that another smartwatch designs too. I believe the downgrade in case materials means it makes much less of an announcement, significantly sat alongside that Nordic Blue version.

It may need been a chance for OnePlus to play with issues a little bit extra on the seems entrance however as an alternative, it’s opted to easily match the Watch 2 whereas dropping the steel and sapphire crystal. 

Display screen & Audio 

• Identical 1.43-inch AMOLED show as Watch 2
• Makes use of 2D glass
• Consists of microphone and speaker

Scratch safety downgrade apart, the display screen on the Watch 2R is identical one used on the Watch 2.

In order that’s a 1.43-inch, 466 x 466 decision AMOLED with a most brightness of 600 nits that additionally consists of the identical excessive brightness mode because the Watch 2 that manages to push that to 1,000 nits.

That’s activated mechanically when in brilliant environments and when the adaptive brightness mode is on.

Mike Sawh

Mike Sawh

Mike Sawh

In essence, you’re getting a really high-quality AMOLED panel in an inexpensive watch that’s brilliant, vibrant, vibrant and sharp as nicely too. It’s a pleasant step up in total high quality from the primary OnePlus Watch and could be set to make use of in always-on mode.

A microphone and speaker stay right here and when you gained’t get a LTE flavour of the Watch 2R, you do have the power to deal with calls over Bluetooth.

That additionally means you possibly can have chats with Google Assistant and whereas responses and calls aren’t exceptionally crisp or clear, they’re nonetheless becoming to make use of these voice-based options if you happen to want them.

Software program & Options 

• Not the most recent Put on OS software program
• 32GB of storage
• Over 100 watch faces

OnePlus makes use of a mixture of software program and chipsets, which fortunately works harmoniously.

It runs on Put on OS 4, so not the most recent Put on OS 5 included on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 and the Google Pixel Watch 3. That’s matched up with an RTOS working system, which is software program you’d usually affiliate with extra inexpensive smartwatches that sit under the Watch 2R.

It stays a smartwatch that’s additionally just for Android telephone customers.

Mike Sawh

Mike Sawh

Mike Sawh

Powering that software program duo is a BES2700BP processor and one in all Qualcomm’s Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 processors. The concept is that Qualcomm’s processor takes care of richer smartwatch options like working apps or displaying maps whereas the opposite is reserved for options like displaying notifications. You’ve additionally received 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage to allow you to pile apps and audio onto it as nicely.

Utilizing the Watch 2R as a smartwatch is pleasingly easy. Like different Put on OS watches, your information and modes are only a swipe away from the primary watch display screen. Google’s Tiles (widgets) are nicely optimised to the spherical display screen, you possibly can modify the view for the app display screen and swiping and launching options is good and swift.

Mike Sawh

Mike Sawh

Mike Sawh

I discovered viewing and performing on notifications slick, you’ve received a great mixture of watch faces to select from, whereas Google’s apps like Maps, Pockets and YouTube Music are very a lot welcomed alongside the smaller assortment of native apps for options like music controls and climate forecasts.

The companion OHealth app isn’t what I’d think about the perfect of the companion smartwatch apps. It’s a hub as anticipated in your well being and wellness metrics and can allow you to entry extra watch faces and delve into the Google Play Retailer from a bigger display screen, although it’s a comparatively good expertise doing the identical on the watch itself.

If the purpose was to copy the slick efficiency of the OnePlus Watch 2, that’s actually achieved right here.

Health & Monitoring 

• Consists of new dual-frequency GPS
• New superior working metrics for runners
• Tracks coronary heart charge and blood oxygen ranges

It’s good to see that OnePlus has managed to retain the identical health, sports activities and wellness monitoring options because the pricier OnePlus Watch 2. That features entry to over 100 sports activities modes, coronary heart charge and SpO2 monitoring, wealthy sleep information and it’ll in fact monitor your each day steps.

Mike Sawh

Mike Sawh

Mike Sawh

I used to be intrigued to see whether or not the spotty coronary heart charge efficiency I skilled on the Watch 2 was as dangerous on the 2R. Resting coronary heart charge and coronary heart charge monitoring throughout sleep was properly in line and when it got here to train it appeared to carry out higher towards a coronary heart charge monitor chest strap.

Common coronary heart charge readings usually matched and whereas most coronary heart charge readings had been typically a contact larger, it was 3-4 BPM larger. That’s a large enchancment from the double-figure variations on the Watch 2.

The twin-frequency GPS mode, which is now turning into extra commonplace on smartwatches, seeks to faucet into a number of satellite tv for pc frequency bands to enhance accuracy when monitoring close to tall buildings or closely wooded areas.

On outside runs, once more, I used to be impressed by the development in efficiency. Distance monitoring, whereas not equivalent to a Garmin watch with nice dual-band help, wasn’t far off both, and the GPS tracks regarded good too.

Mike Sawh

Mike Sawh

Mike Sawh

The devoted health monitoring display screen on the watch is one other that appears like a riff off of Apple’s rings, however as an alternative, it consists of 4 separate rings to characterize steps, energy, exercise minutes with the power to regulate your each day objectives. I discovered each day step counts had been usually round 1,000 steps under one other health tracker, so not fairly pretty much as good because the Watch 2 on this explicit division.

When it’s time for mattress, the next day you’ll get a pleasant breakdown of your sleep stats on the watch after which you possibly can dig deeper on the OHealth app. That’s the place you possibly can delve into metrics like respiratory charge, coronary heart charge and entry options like assessing respiratory issues.

The core sleep information has regarded fairly good to me on most nights. Sleep length information in comparison with different sleep trackers was inside 20-Half-hour or simply minutes off from them. Sleep stage breakdowns and sleep scores had been fairly comparable too.

OnePlus doesn’t supply an enormous quantity in the way in which of insights, however if you happen to care about these core sleep stats, it does a fairly good job of it.

Battery Life & Charging

• Identical 100 hour-battery as Watch 2
• As much as 2 days in heavy utilization mode
• Totally fees in 1 hour

On condition that nothing has actually modified on the within of the 2R in comparison with the two, you possibly can count on to take pleasure in the identical degree of battery life. There’s a 500mAh capability battery that OnePlus says can go for 100 hours (4 days).

While you swap the display screen to always-on, it’s going to be nearer to 2 days. There’s additionally an influence saving mode that may give you as much as 12 days and that’s all whereas nonetheless letting you do issues like keep related to your telephone over Bluetooth.

Mike Sawh

Mike Sawh

Mike Sawh

I’d say that the Watch 2R is completely able to lasting for 4 days, if you happen to select to not have the display screen on 24/7 and also you’re not often utilizing options like mapping, music streaming and monitoring GPS-based exercises. Utilizing the GPS as an illustration sees the drop by 6% for an hour’s use.

What has stunned me is that when switching to the facility saving mode, you possibly can really nonetheless do a good bit with the watch. I may nonetheless monitor GPS exercises for a few days, view notifications, learn messages and nonetheless use it as a smartwatch, which is spectacular.

So, even if you happen to do use it in that heavy utilization situation, that energy saving mode can actually assist to ensure you get a major quantity of additional watch time.

On high of that, you’ve received a quickly charging watch as nicely, particularly once you issue within the VOOC quick charging help.

It should give a day’s play from 10 minutes of charging and absolutely fees in simply an hour, making it one of many quickest-charging smartwatches on the market.

Value & Availability

The OnePlus Watch 2R was formally introduced in July 2024 with a £249/$229 launch value, which has since dropped considerably. That makes it a really inexpensive different to the OnePlus Watch 2, which at the moment sits at £279/$299.

You should purchase it from OnePlus, Amazon,

To place that into context with different Put on OS smartwatches, the brand new Google Pixel Watch 3 is priced at £349/$349, the TicWatch Professional 5 is £329/$349 and the most affordable Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 sits at £289/$299.

Examine our rankings of the perfect smartwatches for all the highest choices.

Do you have to purchase the OnePlus Watch 2R?

The OnePlus Watch 2R has carried out nicely for me and in lots of was it higher than the Watch 2.

It won’t have that very same alluring look because the Watch 2 Nordic Blue version, however the software program and energy inside it are the identical and that provides you a similar nice all-round smartwatch with some good health options that I believe make it the higher possibility.

Different Put on OS smartwatches will give you extra in the way in which of well being monitoring and mobile connectivity, which will probably be fascinating to some, however these watches exterior of the TicWatch Professional 5, can’t do what OnePlus manages to do for Put on OS and battery efficiency.

The look is simply good sufficient, it’s at a a lot nicer value than most different Put on OS choices and crucially, is simply pretty much as good a smartwatch that can have you ever considering barely much less about charging it in comparison with dearer Put on OS smartwatches.

It could simply be good if there was a smaller measurement.

Specs

• Put on OS 4.0
• Snapdragon  W5+ Gen 1
• 2GB RAM and 32GB ROM
• 1.43-inch AMOLED
• Constructed-in dual-frequency GPS
• NFC with Google Pockets
• PPG coronary heart charge sensor
• Waterproof as much as 50 metres 
• Works with Android solely