Smartwatches are one of the most interesting subcategories of consumer technology. From Apple to Samsung, everyone is vying for market share, and they will stop at nothing to achieve it. But as of late, OnePlus has proven that it can produce high-quality goods, as evidenced by the remarkable OnePlus Watch 2, which we examined earlier this year.
The OnePlus Watch 2R, a second wearable that the firm just launched to its inventory, is typically priced at $229 ($70 less than the Watch 2) and provides a virtually identical experience to OnePlus’ flagship watch, with a few functions being removed to reduce the price.
Menstrual cycle tracking and EKG support are two of those capabilities; if these are important to you, get the regular Watch 2. But the Watch 2R is a great option if all you need is a reliable timepiece to pair with your Android phone.
With the exception of the glossy finish and the “flat tire” on the right side of the 2R, the two watches are nearly identical from the exterior. The watch is identical in size to the Watch 2 and has a single case size of 46mm. Additionally, aluminum alloy—rather than stainless steel—is used in its construction.
All things considered, it is a stylish, thin watch that is easy to forget about once you put it on thanks to its light construction. The case size is the sole possible complaint from some people, as it is somewhat large for people with smaller wrists. Additionally, there are just two color options available: silver with a green band or matte black/gray with a black band. You will have to make due with subtlety as there are no options for blue or gold.
Although it is not the most stunning wristwatch screen I have ever seen, the 2R’s 1.43-inch AMOLED display is more than sufficient for the price. It can go up to 1,000 nits bright thanks to the 466×466 resolution, and everything is accurate in terms of contrast and colors.
You may access Wear OS 4.0 after pairing the Watch 2R with your preferred Android phone (iOS is not supported here, incidentally). Though OnePlus has not tweaked the system as much as Samsung with its Galaxy watch lineup, they have added a number of first-party apps, a few UI components, and a ton of custom watch faces.
I am pleased to report that Wear OS is in excellent condition every time I visit it. Though it does not operate quite as smoothly as Apple WatchOS, it nevertheless has comparable functionality. The Tiles interface allows you to swiftly peek at fitness trends and calendar appointments, and the Play Store offers an enormous selection of apps. This is Wear OS’s greatest iteration to yet.
It functions well as well. The Watch 2R’s internal Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 chip is quick and effective, and I have not noticed any noticeable slowdowns when using it. It has performed well in handling everything from managing notifications to navigating between apps.
We pointed out that the OnePlus Watch 2‘s battery life, which could easily last two to three days due to its novel approach to processing power—combining a conventional Snapdragon chip with a co-processor for handling smaller tasks that drew far less power—set a new standard for Wear OS watches. Using the same methodology, the Watch 2R can go up to three days between charges thanks to a 500mAh battery.
The fact that OnePlus managed to get such amazing battery life on a second smartwatch impresses me. Furthermore, with the provided charging puck, you can recharge it from zero to 100 percent in about an hour.
You will undoubtedly want to monitor your fitness progress with any smartwatch. Unfortunately, the Watch 2R may not meet your needs if you are a die-hard fitness enthusiast or someone who closely monitors health parameters.
The Watch 2R lacks a skin temperature sensor, an advanced health tracking app, menstrual cycle tracking, and EKG functionality. OHealth is useful for basic statistics, but its simple charts and graphs do not actively show you how you are doing in terms of achieving your long-term objectives.
While it is true that OnePlus has made improvements to the accuracy of other sensors, such as the heart rate sensor, GPS, and Sp02 sensor for blood oxygen monitoring, the overall experience still seems a little lackluster when compared to the Galaxy Watch 7 or Pixel Watch 2. Rather, the Watch 2R is far more accommodating to individuals who are just beginning their fitness adventure.
While we are discussing the drawbacks of the phone, I should also mention that I have seen a decrease in durability. The 2R lacks the same sapphire glass covering the display and does not have the same military-grade drop protection. Fortunately, it still possesses 5ATM water resistance, so it will function well down to 50 meters. However, avoid using it for deep-sea diving.
Lastly, it is a little unfortunate that the watch cannot have an LTE plan added to it. Though I know many people may not care, I frequently do things without my phone and I value being able to receive calls and notifications directly on my wrist.
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Robert Haba is the founder and editor-in-chief of Droid Tools. A lifelong gadget enthusiast with over a decade following the Android ecosystem, he built this publication to cut through the noise and give readers honest, real-world coverage of the tech they actually use.
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