The $230 OnePlus Watch 2R is an appealing option for Android fans looking for a budget-friendly smartwatch. It offers many of the features found in the $300 OnePlus Watch 2 but comes at a lower price and with a lighter build. However, the bulkiness of its design may not be suitable for those with smaller wrists.

Key Features and Differences

Battery Life: The OnePlus Watch 2R stands out with its impressive battery life, comfortably lasting for days on a single charge. This is particularly advantageous for those who don’t want to worry about frequent charging.

Display: The screen is sharp and includes a high brightness mode that boosts the display up to 1,000 nits, ensuring visibility even in bright sunlight.

Dedicated Button: The watch features a handy, dedicated button for quickly accessing workouts or launching apps, enhancing user convenience.

Design: The primary difference between the OnePlus Watch 2 and the Watch 2R lies in their design. The OnePlus Watch 2R has a more sporty aesthetic, with an aluminum alloy chassis and a silicone strap, compared to the Watch 2’s stainless steel build and fluororubber band.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Affordable Price: At $230, the OnePlus Watch 2R is more budget-friendly than many competitors, making it an attractive option for cost-conscious buyers.
• Long Battery Life: The watch can last more than two days on a single charge, even with power-draining features like always-on display and sleep tracking activated.
• Quick Charging: It charges rapidly, going from 10% to 56% in just 20 minutes, which is convenient for users who need to top up quickly.
• Accurate Sensors: Improvements in heart rate readings make the sensors more reliable compared to the OnePlus Watch 2, closely aligning with chest strap monitors.
• Auto-Pause Functionality: The watch’s auto-pause feature is very responsive, pausing workouts almost immediately when you stop moving.

Cons:

• Bulky Design: The watch’s large size may not be comfortable for those with small wrists, which can make it feel cumbersome.
• Lack of High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) Option: Despite having numerous workout modes, the absence of a HIIT option is notable.
• Basic Health App: The OHealth app lacks comprehensive data analysis and insights compared to other health apps like Samsung Health and Apple Health.
• Short Software Support: The watch is only guaranteed to receive software updates for two years, which may be a drawback for some users.

Comparison with Other Smartwatches

• Samsung Galaxy Watch 7: The Galaxy Watch 7 is lighter and smaller, making it a better fit for those with petite wrists. However, it comes at a higher price point.
• TicWatch Pro 5: While the TicWatch Pro 5 is slightly larger, it is currently on sale for $262, offering a comparable alternative with its own set of features.

Detailed Review

Design and Comfort

The OnePlus Watch 2R, while lighter than the OnePlus Watch 2, still retains a bulky design. Weighing 37 grams without its strap, it’s not as heavy as its predecessor but still significant compared to other smartwatches. This weight, combined with its dimensions, makes it less ideal for users with small wrists. For reference, the Watch 2R is nearly the same size as the OnePlus Watch 2 and fits wrist circumferences of 140 to 210mm. My wrist circumference is 139mm, just below the lower threshold, making the watch feel oversized and uncomfortable at times.

Battery Life

One of the standout features of the OnePlus Watch 2R is its battery life. Over two days of use included having the always-on display turned on and utilizing the sleep-tracking feature, which assesses breathing problems by examining blood oxygen readings and breathing patterns. Despite these power-draining features, the watch maintained a solid battery life, showcasing its efficiency. Additionally, the quick charging capability is impressive, allowing users to rapidly power up their watch, which is especially useful for those with busy schedules.

Fitness and Health Tracking

The OnePlus Watch 2R comes equipped with various fitness and health tracking features. It offers a wide range of workouts, including traditional exercises and some unusual options like dog walking and different types of yoga. However, the absence of a HIIT workout mode is surprising, given its popularity. The OHealth app provides basic health tracking features, including sleep scores and daily progress summaries. However, it lacks the in-depth data analysis and insights found in other health apps like Samsung Health or Apple Health.

Performance and Usability

In terms of performance, the OnePlus Watch 2R excels with its accurate sensors. Heart rate readings during workouts were consistent and closely aligned with those from a Polar chest strap monitor. The auto-pause functionality during workouts is also highly responsive, pausing activities almost immediately when movement stops. This feature is particularly useful for runners who may need to stop briefly during their exercise routine.

Additional Features

The OnePlus Watch 2R offers a high brightness mode that enhances visibility in bright conditions, a feature that the more expensive OnePlus Watch 2 lacks. Despite sharing many components with the OnePlus Watch 2, including the same sensors, battery, processor, and display size, the Watch 2R manages to provide a high-quality experience at a lower price point.

Final Thoughts

The OnePlus Watch 2R offers excellent features at an affordable price but may not be the best choice for those with smaller wrists. It provides long battery life, quick charging, and accurate sensors but lacks some workout options and comprehensive health insights. If you prefer a more petite smartwatch, options like the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 or Google Pixel Watch 2 may be more suitable.