OnePlus Watch 2R Review: A Budget-Friendly Smartwatch
OnePlus Watch 2R Review: Discover the budget-friendly smartwatch with excellent battery life, stylish design and solid fitness tracking.
OnePlus surprised everyone with OnePlus Watch 2 earlier this year offering a Wear OS smartwatch with a 100-hour battery life that outshined its competitors. Now, they’ve done it again with OnePlus Watch 2R a more affordable and lighter version that costs $70 less. Despite its lower price, OnePlus Watch 2R keeps much of what made Watch 2 great and I actually prefer some of the changes.
To cut costs- OnePlus switched from the stainless steel body of Watch 2 to a simpler aluminum design for Watch 2R. They also added numbers to glass display to cleverly hide the larger bezel and give it a classic chronometer look. Inside, Watch 2R still features the same dual-chip and dual-OS setup, running both Wear OS 4 and OnePlus’s real-time OS (RTOS), offering excellent app support and fantastic battery life.
While I haven’t used OnePlus Watch 2 myself, I find Watch 2R to be even more appealing, thanks to its design, improved fitness tracking and impressive battery life. There are a few downsides such as the lack of easy data migration to a new phone. However, overall, OnePlus Watch 2R is a fantastic smartwatch that offers great value for its price.
Table of Contents
OnePlus Watch 2R Specification
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| 💓 Heart Rate Monitor | Included |
| 🌈 Screen Type | AMOLED |
| 🔋 Battery Life | Up to 100 hours |
| 🛠️ Operating System | Wear OS 4 combined with RTOS |
| 🎨 Strap Customization | Yes, comes with a silicone strap and stainless steel buckle |
| 🏗️ Case Material | Aluminum Alloy |
| 📡 GPS Connectivity | Yes; Supports Dual Frequency L1+L5, Beidou, GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, QZSS |
| 📏 Case Size | 46mm |
| 🎨 Available Colors | Forest Green, Gunmetal Gray |
| 📱 Display Size | 1.43-inch AMOLED |
| 🧠 Processor | Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 paired with BES2700BP |
| 💾 Memory | 2GB RAM, 32GB ROM, plus 4GB EMMC for RTOS |
| 🔋 Battery Capacity | 500mAh |
| 📶 Connectivity Options | Bluetooth 5.0, BLE, WiFi (supports 2.4G and 5G, 802.11 a/b/g/n) |
| ⚙️ Health Sensors | Includes accelerometer, gyroscope, optical heart rate sensor, geomagnetic sensor, light sensor, and barometer |
| 💰 Price | $230 |
| 📐 Dimensions | 47.6 x 46.6 x 12.1mm |
| ⚖️ Weight | 59g |
| 🏃 Automatic Workout Detection | Available |
| 🌞 Screen Brightness | 600 nits (normal), 1000 nits (high brightness mode) |
| 🛡️ Screen Material | 2D Glass |
OnePlus Watch 2R Price and availability
Earlier this year, OnePlus launched Watch 2, marking three years since release of the original OnePlus Watch. Building on that success, company has now introduced a more budget-friendly version called OnePlus Watch 2R. This new smartwatch was officially announced on July 16 and is currently available for purchase on OnePlus website.
OnePlus Watch 2R offers great value for those looking for a feature-packed smartwatch without breaking bank. Priced at $230, it’s already been discounted to $200, making it an even more attractive option for buyers. Watch is available in a single 46mm size which is a versatile option for most wrist sizes. OnePlus has also made sure to offer some stylish choices by releasing Watch 2R in two distinct colors: Forest Green and Gunmetal Gray.
This budget version still carries the essence of what made Watch 2 popular ensuring that users get a good mix of functionality, style and affordability. Whether you’re new to smartwatches or looking for an upgrade without spending too much, OnePlus Watch 2R is definitely worth considering.
OnePlus Watch 2R Design and Hardware
OnePlus Watch 2R offers a simpler and more minimalist design compared to OnePlus Watch 2. While Watch 2 has a curvier and more distinguished look with a polished stainless steel finish, Watch 2R features a flatter design with a brushed aluminum finish. Aluminum chassis not only gives Watch 2R a more basic appearance but also makes it lighter, weighing 21 grams less than Watch 2, despite both watches having same 46mm size.
Watch 2R’s design is straightforward with a two-button layout that resembles a stopwatch which some might find appealing for its simplicity. Watch also has a white-and-green faux chronometer adding a touch of character even when display is off. This element makes it more visually interesting than a plain bezel giving it a bit of flair.
Though aluminum chassis is less premium than stainless steel of Watch 2 it has its advantages. The lighter weight makes Watch 2R more comfortable to wear especially for long periods. Forest Green colorway, in particular, stands out and when paired with athletic-style silicone strap in a matching green shade, watch presents a complete and stylish package.
Internally, OnePlus Watch 2R uses a dual-engine architecture. It runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 platform for Wear OS tasks and a secondary BES2700BP chip for the real-time operating system (RTOS). This combination allows the watch to manage tasks efficiently, preserving battery life. Watch is also equipped with a variety of sensors including an accelerometer, gyroscope, optical heart rate sensor, geomagnetic sensor, light sensor and barometer, providing a comprehensive fitness and health tracking experience.
Display of OnePlus Watch 2R is impressive for its price range. It features a 1.43-inch AMOLED panel with vibrant colors and high brightness levels. Display’s normal brightness mode reaches up to 600 nits while high brightness mode can go up to 1,000 nits ensuring visibility even in bright sunlight. This high-quality display, combined with watch’s lightweight design and useful features, makes OnePlus Watch 2R a strong contender in budget smartwatch market.
OnePlus Watch 2R Software and Battery Life
OnePlus Watch 2R runs on Wear OS 4 which is a solid choice despite Wear OS 5 being available. Wear OS 4, combined with OnePlus’s RTOS, offers efficient performance and good app support from Google Play Store. However, there are a few hiccups like Nike Run Club app freezing during use which can affect your experience. Additionally, apps not available on Wear OS like Apple Music, can’t be used directly on watch.
Battery life is one of the standout features of OnePlus Watch 2R. It typically lasts about three days on a single charge but depending on usage, it can last anywhere between 48 hours and 100 hours. The “smart mode” helps extend battery life by turning off some features at night which works well without being noticeable.
OnePlus Watch 2R’s battery life is impressive and can sometimes surpass that of more expensive models like Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Galaxy Watch Ultra depending on how you use it.
OnePlus Watch 2R Health and Fitness
OnePlus Watch 2R introduces the OHealth app where you can view health and fitness data. While app provides a colorful and engaging display of your health metrics, there are some issues. For instance: there’s no easy way to save or transfer your data to the cloud which could lead to potential data loss if you switch phones.
Despite this, health and fitness tracking on OnePlus Watch 2R is quite good. Data on your pace, distance, and heart rate is reliable and comparable to other devices like Garmin Instinct 2 Solar. However, some metrics, like stress levels, may be less accurate or questionable.
Overall, OnePlus Watch 2R offers solid health and fitness features, with intuitive and visually appealing data presentation. While not perfect, it competes well with other fitness-focused smartwatches especially in terms of value and ease of use.
Is the OnePlus Watch 2R Worth Buying?
Buy the OnePlus Watch 2R if:
- You want a good Wear OS smartwatch for around $200.
- Long battery life and reliability are important to you.
- You like the design of the Watch 2R.
Don’t buy the OnePlus Watch 2R if:
- You’re okay with spending more for better features.
- You need cloud storage for your fitness data.
- You want a watch with more advanced health tracking.
OnePlus Watch 2R is a solid choice for its price offering many of features of pricier Watch 2. It has great battery life and a sleek design but it doesn’t support cloud backups. If you want a dependable smartwatch with long battery life at an affordable price, OnePlus Watch 2R is a great pick.
Pros and Cons OnePlus Watch 2R
| 👍Pros | 👎Cons |
|---|---|
| 🏷️ Lightweight and comfortable. | 🚫 No LTE option. |
| 🎨 Stylish design and color. | 🔄 Hard to transfer data between phones. |
| 🔋 Great battery life. | 👎 |
| 📈 Better fitness tracking. | 👎 |
Conclusion
OnePlus Watch 2R is a cheaper version of OnePlus Watch 2. It offers great battery life and runs on Wear OS 4 with basic fitness tracking. It has a different design with two side buttons but still provides many features of more expensive model.
