OnePlus’ first-ever smartwatch from a few years back was the company’s rookie foray into the world of smart wearables, although it didn’t quite make that much of an impact, with users complaining about the basic functionality and somewhat limited connectivity options. With that in mind, it looks like OnePlus is set to correct its mistakes with the launch of the OnePlus Watch 2, its latest wearable device.
Announced during MWC 20204, OnePlus has made some big changes this time around such as the inclusion of Wear OS, as well as support for a wider app ecosystem. So is the OnePlus Watch 2 the new wearable to get right now?
Design Details
Perhaps one good thing about the first-generation OnePlus Watch was the device’s premium design, which featured a large display in addition to a stainless steel chassis. It’s clear that OnePlus has kept this standard design language for the sequel, which likewise comes with a premium look and feel as well. As such, the OnePlus Watch 2 comes with a 2.5D sapphire crystal cover, which should a bit of durability against scratches in addition to a MIL-STD-810H US standard rating, as well as IP68 and 5ATM water resistance. The AMOLED touch display measures 1.43 inches, and gets really bright at up to 1,000 nits.
The device also comes with stainless steel, which OnePlus says comes with added resistance against rust and corrosion. You might notice that the OnePlus Watch 2 features a design which accents the control buttons on the side – the company says that the watch was developed with the same design language as its OnePlus 12 flagship smartphone series, with the distinctive “K” shape that’s found around the camera module on the phone’s rear panel.
Internal Specs and Software
The Watch 2 runs on the Snapdragon W5 chipset with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage, which works in tandem with the BES 2700 MCU Efficiency chipset – according to OnePlus, this setup ensures that the watch will have no trouble with everyday performance and power efficiency. Speaking of power, the device packs a 500mAh battery and can last up to 100 hours of regular use in Smart Mode, or up to 48 hours with more frequent and heavy usage. For charging, the Watch does support 7.5W VOOC fast charging that fully replenishes the battery in just an hour.
With Wear OS 4 on board, the OnePlus Watch 2 gains access to a ton of features and apps not found on its predecessor. Google apps including Assistant, Maps and Calendar, as well as third-party apps are readily available, in addition to a ton of different watch faces both from OnePlus and other developers. This also means that the Watch 2 will be compatible not just with OnePlus phones, but with different Android handsets as well.
Pricing and Availability
If at this point you’re completely sold on the OnePlus Watch 2, then you’ll be happy to know that it will be sold in different markets including Europe, India and North America through OnePlus.com from 4th March, with pre-orders beginning on 26th February. The OnePlus Watch 2 will be available in Black Steel and Radiant Steel colour variants, and will be priced starting at £299 / €329/ $299.
