OnePlus is not the first company to come up with a unique solution to extend the battery life of smartwatches. Mobvoi's TicWatch Pro series has also used dual-display technology for a similar purpose. However, the TicWatch Pro is bulkier, has clunkier software, and its update policy is inconsistent.
OnePlus promises to provide two updates for Wear OS and three years of security updates. This offering is similar to what Google provides for its Pixel Watch series, but falls short compared to Samsung, who guarantees four Wear OS updates and five years of security updates for its Galaxy Watch6 lineup. While OnePlus' offering is decent, it would be beneficial if they matched Samsung's support to ensure users can enjoy their smartwatch with the latest features, security enhancements, and bug fixes for an extended period.
I especially like the OnePlus Watch 2 because it only requires the use of a single app. Unlike its competitors that often need separate apps for different functions and health data access, everything can be managed through OnePlus Health (OHealth). However, there are some compromises in terms of health and fitness features.
Title: Intriguing Health
<p> The image credit belongs to Julian Chokkattu. </p>
I appreciate how OHealth organizes information in easy-to-access tiles, allowing users to click for more details. However, the app does have some drawbacks. For example, there are design issues like words overlapping in certain areas, as shown in the image above. Additionally, crucial health features such as electrocardiogram, skin temperature monitoring, menstruation tracking, and fall detection are missing in OHealth but available in similar-priced competitors. This highlights the importance of the quality of information provided by the app.
The differences mainly arise from the number of steps taken and the distance covered. When I wore the Pixel Watch 2 on one wrist and the OnePlus Watch 2 on the other, I noticed a significant gap in these measurements. The OnePlus Watch 2 tended to underestimate the step count, sometimes by as much as 2,000 or 3,000 steps. For instance, on a day when I explored Barcelona, the Pixel Watch 2 recorded 12.35 miles walked and 25,000 steps, while the OnePlus Watch 2 only showed 5.82 miles and 24,000 steps. Based on a basic calculation, 25,000 steps roughly equate to 12 miles, indicating a clear discrepancy in the OnePlus Watch's tracking accuracy.
