As OnePlus’ first foray into smart devices, the OnePlus Watch set a high standard by pioneering the “high refresh rate” concept in smartwatches, delivering a smooth and natural display and touch experience. Additionally, it boasted IP68-level waterproof capability, a rare feature among its price competitors.
Fast forward to 2024, and OnePlus has made another significant leap in the smart wearables market. This time, they introduced gesture control—previously reserved for flagship watches—into their sub-2,000 yuan product line for the first time.
With gesture control, users can perform tasks like answering and making calls with a simple fist gesture, offering a convenient solution when their hands are occupied or busy. This makes communication more seamless and natural.
Moreover, the OnePlus Watch 2 is the first in its price range to feature real-time navigation technology. Instead of cumbersome text-based directions, it offers a panoramic map display similar to a smartphone. It provides accurate, intuitive, and safe navigation right on your wrist—ushering in a truly smart lifestyle.
Additionally, the OnePlus Watch 2 includes an independent eSIM function. Paired with the WeChat watch version, it can operate as a backup phone in full smart mode, allowing you to leave your phone behind and rely solely on the watch. It’s like having a mini-phone on your wrist.
Imagine answering calls with just a fist gesture! The OnePlus Watch 2 review: the most versatile smartwatch under 1,000 yuan.
To support its plethora of functions, the OnePlus Watch 2 is equipped with top-tier hardware. It features a 4nm Snapdragon W5 Gen1 processor and a 12nm Hengxuan 2700 coprocessor, creating a powerhouse combination. The 1.7GHz processing power, coupled with 2GB of RAM, ensures that the watch outperforms all others in its class.
Consequently, the OnePlus Watch 2 is not only the most versatile smartwatch at its price point but also the fastest and smoothest one available.
Design
The packaging of the OnePlus Watch 2 features a classic white and red color scheme, with a realistic rendering of the watch on the front. The overall design is minimalist.
The watch boasts a 1.43-inch AMOLED screen on the front. Compared to its predecessor, the OnePlus Watch 2 shows more refined details. The most noticeable update is the addition of a delicate scale bar around the edge of the dial. This design not only enhances the visual depth of the watch but also adds a touch of sophistication.
The function and sports buttons on the side have been redesigned to a circular press-type style. This change is subtle when worn and minimizes accidental touches during normal use.
The watch’s underside houses an 8-channel heart rate sensor and a 16-channel blood oxygen sensor, ensuring high accuracy in measurement data thanks to these top-tier sensors.
Above the sensors, there are four magnetic charging contacts. The standard strap is made of fluororubber, bringing the watch’s weight to about 37g without and approximately 59g with the strap.
Additionally, the OnePlus Watch 2 is 5ATM waterproof and has IP68 dust and water resistance.
Sports and Health
The OnePlus Watch 2 boasts a flagship-level 8-channel heart rate sensor and a 16-channel blood oxygen sensor, providing a solid foundation for precise health monitoring. However, advanced hardware is just the beginning—accuracy is key.
To enhance measurement accuracy across various skin tones and wrist conditions, the OnePlus Watch 2 employs a proprietary algorithm and the industry’s first digital wrist data model library. It leverages extensive data samples and collaborates with over ten leading domestic medical institutions to ensure the reliability and authority of its health data.
Health Monitoring
Modern smartwatches typically offer continuous monitoring of heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, and stress levels, and the OnePlus Watch 2 is no exception.
Heart Rate Monitoring
The OnePlus Watch 2’s heart rate monitoring is on par with professional-grade heart rate monitors. It tracks your heart rate in real-time during both exercise and everyday activities, providing accurate data to help you better understand your physical condition. The watch’s all-day heart rate monitoring feature allows users to view real-time heart rate changes via the HuanTian Health APP. It records resting, average, maximum, and minimum heart rates and alerts users when their heart rate is unusually high or low.
Blood Oxygen Saturation Monitoring
The watch calculates the daily average blood oxygen saturation. If levels fall outside the normal range, it sends vibration and sound alerts, helping you stay informed about your oxygen levels and take necessary actions promptly.
Stress Monitoring
The OnePlus Watch 2 continuously tracks your physical and mental state, recording the highest and lowest stress levels and calculating the daily average. This feature provides a comprehensive stress assessment, helping you recognize high-stress levels and take appropriate relaxation measures when needed.
Exercise Monitoring
In sports and health, innovation signifies corporate strength and consumer responsibility. The OnePlus Watch 2, developed in collaboration with authoritative institutions and leveraging two exclusive health laboratories in China, uses top-tier sensors, dual-frequency GPS, and proprietary algorithms to ensure precise health monitoring.
Walking Test
In urban environments, the OnePlus Watch 2 demonstrated stable performance without satellite signal interruptions or positioning loss. It records detailed walking data, including trajectory, total mileage, duration, pace, heart rate, and calories burned. The dual-frequency GPS ensures higher positioning accuracy and less drift, precisely capturing every turn and pause.
Sleep Monitoring
The OnePlus Watch 2 excels in assessing snoring risk with medical-grade accuracy, boasting a data accuracy rate of 93.9%, comparable to the polysomnography gold standard.
Sleep Test
The watch monitors sleep quality, assesses snoring risk, and records health indicators like breathing rate and heart rate during sleep. It generates monthly summary reports to help users understand their sleep patterns and promote healthier sleeping habits.
Battery
The OnePlus Watch 2 is equipped with a 500mAh battery and features UDDE Hybrid Technology 3.0, allowing it to efficiently switch between high-performance and low-power modes to maximize battery life. With light usage, the watch can last up to 12 days. In full smart mode, it can maintain battery life for up to 4 days.
Additionally, the OnePlus Watch 2 supports VOOC flash charging. According to official specifications, a 10-minute charge provides up to 24 hours of use, and the watch can be fully charged in just one hour.
Charging Test
During our charging test, the watch’s battery level was at 63% at 18:00. We connected it to the charger, and after 5 minutes, the battery reached 75%. After 10 minutes, it reached 87%, gaining 24% in 10 minutes. Based on this, the watch can be fully charged in approximately 42 minutes, consistent with the claim of being fully charged in less than an hour.
Battery Life Test
To test battery life, we activated the watch’s full smart mode, enabling 24-hour heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen tracking, and sleep analysis. We recorded the battery level every 6 hours over 24 hours, used GPS for a 20-minute walk, tracked sleep quality, and activated the 24-hour wrist-raising function to check the time every 3 to 4 hours (excluding sleep time).
The results showed that the battery dropped from 100% to 88% in the first 6 hours, consuming 12%. After 24 hours, the battery level was at 68%, with a total consumption of 32%. This suggests that with similar usage—daily 20-minute walks and all monitoring functions active—the OnePlus Watch 2 can sustain a battery life of approximately 3.1 days.
Conclusion
Examining the domestic smartwatch market over the past two years, it’s challenging to find a standout model within the 2,000 yuan price range—until the OnePlus Watch 2 came along.
With features like eSIM independent calling, a rich array of applications, long battery life, panoramic navigation, and seamless operation, the OnePlus Watch 2 stands out as a highly competitive option.
Compared to the OnePlus Watch 1, the OnePlus Watch 2 represents a significant leap forward. The combination of a 4nm Snapdragon W5 Gen1 and Hengxuan 2700 dual-core processor ensures both high performance and low energy consumption, maintaining smooth and power-efficient operation even during multitasking. This is particularly beneficial for business professionals who need to switch between applications quickly and efficiently.
For health-conscious users, the OnePlus Watch 2 introduces a snoring risk assessment feature, acting like a personal doctor that provides timely reminders and helps users take preventive measures.
The addition of the eSIM calling function allows the OnePlus Watch 2 to operate independently of a mobile phone. Moreover, it is the first in its price range to feature gesture control. Whether driving, attending meetings, or holding an umbrella on a rainy day, users can answer calls with a simple handshake, revolutionizing smartwatch usage.
OnePlus has disrupted the market by pricing this feature-packed smartwatch at 1,799 yuan. The OnePlus Watch 2 fulfills all the expectations users have for a smartwatch and is the most comprehensive option in its price range.
In essence, the OnePlus Watch 2 addresses user needs, democratizes the flagship experience, and lowers the entry barrier for smartwatches. It allows users to enjoy the best and most enjoyable smartwatch experience at an affordable price, giving young people access to a high-quality smart life.
If you’re looking for an all-around smartwatch with excellent cost-effectiveness, the OnePlus Watch 2 is likely your best choice within the 2,000 yuan range.
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