At the MWC 2024, OnePlus unveiled its latest smartwatch, the OnePlus Watch 2, aiming to compete with Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 6 and the Apple Watch. A significant shift in this wearable compared to its predecessor was the adoption of the Wear OS, providing access to a wide range of apps on the Play Store. The device introduces the Hybrid OS mode, designed to optimize battery life, offering an impressive usage time of up to 100 hours.
OnePlus debuted in the smartwatch market in 2021, and although it offered robust features and a premium build, its use of the RTOS limited app variety, leading to less attention; The OnePlus Watch 2, on the other hand, seeks redemption by adopting the latest Google system, Wear OS 4. It is the first to feature the Hybrid OS, incorporating optimizations from Google to enhance battery autonomy intelligently.
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Most modern smartwatches operate with two processors and operating systems – in this case, we have the Wear OS for heavy tasks and the RTOS for sensors, notifications, and Always-On Display. The transition between the two chips is expected to be smarter with Google’s optimizations, with more functions delegated to the low-power microcontroller (MCU). The OnePlus Watch 2 uses the Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 as the main component and the BES 2700 as the MCU, promising efficient processing.
With a sizable 500mAh battery, it rivals the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, offering up to 100 hours of usage; This achievement, if confirmed, is significant, as premium smartwatches typically last a maximum of two days. The device serves as a precursor for future releases, as the Wear OS’s hybrid interface optimizations are likely to be implemented by competitors.
Other specifications include 2GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, and a stainless steel case with MIL-STD-810H, IP68, and 5ATM military-grade protection against impacts, water, dust, and dives up to 50 meters. The 1.43-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 466 x 466 pixels and 326 PPI is covered with sapphire glass for durability.
Health features include heart rate sensors, blood oxygen levels (SpO2), maximum oxygen during exercise (VO2 Max), sleep tracking with snore detection, and dual-frequency GPS. Connectivity is limited to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth (excluding 4G LTE).
Availability and Price
The OnePlus Watch 2 is available for pre-order in black and green at $299.99, with expected availability on March 4th.