The OnePlus Watch 2 offers Android users the best battery life from a smartwatch.
However, it only comes in one size and lacks key wellness tracking features, including period tracking.
$300
Pros
Cons
I did it.
The OnePlus Watch 2.Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
I wore theOnePlus Watch 2for two weeks to write this review.
It was tough at times, and I have to be honest, I hated some of it.
(Though not as much as my former coworker hated thefirst version of this watch.)
The OnePlus Watch 2 has two side buttons.Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
The OnePlus Watch 2 does not vibe with my style.
The 47mm watch is more prominent than I usually wear with the 41mmPixel Watch 2.
At the very least, it can withstand a relatively long-haul flight.
I often wear the OnePlus Watch 2 loosely to wear it comfortably.Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
The Watch 2 offers the best battery life Ive seen in a while in aWear OS-based smartwatch.
It may be the best in the decade since wearables debuted on the platform.
Thats the one upside of sporting a large watch: theres room for enough battery to last a while.
OnePlus sends off this little alert if you install a watch face that utilizes the always-on display.Screenshot: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
The OnePlus Watch 2 is not for the fitness-mindednot yet, anyway.
OnePlus (or is it its parent company, Oppo?)
has to figure out how it plans to integrate health data with third-party services.
I didn’t wear the watch for a few days and regret it. My stats are awful! However, this would be filled out entirely on a normal day, save for the SpO2 data.Screenshot: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
One big giant watch
The OnePlus Watch 2is big.
I appreciate that OnePlus sent me the second version because the black one would have caused convulsions.
Its hard to enjoy wearing accessories meant for the masculine subset.
The OnePlus Watch 2 with another one of its default watch faces.Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
I prefer a design aesthetics thats much more neutral.
The Watch 2s display is 1.43 inches.
With great heft comes great durability, or at least thats the case for the OnePlus Watch 2. kindly dont quote me on that last part because Ive never been around a volcano.
It lasts 48 hours and has features like AOD and GPS turned on.
OnePlus also promises up to 12 days with only the power-saving mode.
But you might use any cable you want with the watch charger.
It is a separate piece you could plug into any compatible USB-C cable.
The OnePlus Watch 2s stellar battery life is due to its dual-processor setup.
The secondary chip, the BES2700, is strictly for efficiency tasks.
It runs RTOS and handles simpler background tasks and processing touches on the display.
I like this dual-processor setup, but it has its caveats.
TheOHealth app, which syncs the watch with the smartphone, can even track short napsanything over 20 minutes.
Regardless, the OnePlus Watch 2 shouldnt be your first choice if youre planning on training.
OHealth is compatible with GooglesHealth Connect, but data sharing remains wonky with everything else.
At the very least, I could use the OnePlus Watch 2 as a heart-rate monitor with myPeloton Bike+.
OnePlus told me that apps like Strava and Nike Run Club will become compatible with future updates.
But its annoying that Health Connect still hasnt solved these problems between Android devices.
The point of the API was to help health and wellness devices in the ecosystem sync up.
Fortunately, theresa fixfor that coming this month.
But until then, Id hold off on doing anything significant with your health data.
Should you buythe OnePlus Watch 2?
Folks with smaller wrists might not find the OnePlus Watch 2 the most comfortable daily accessory.
Thats not a way to live.
Period tracking is now an essential feature of all the major wearable health apps.
It seems egregious and slightly regressive for the brand not to consider it.
I also rely on sleep-aggregated body temperature tracking, and I missed having those readouts delivered each morning.
Its too bad its catered to one jot down of user.
Hopefully, a third generation will be more inclusive with the design options.
Want more of Gizmodos consumer electronics picks?
Check out our guides to thebest phonesbest laptops,best TVs, andbest headphones.
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