The OnePlus Watch 2R just made Wear OS with fantastic battery life more accessible

It’s been less than six months since the OnePlus Watch 2 arrived, and yet here we are already with a new model from the seemingly eager brand. The all-new OnePlus Watch 2R officially hit (virtual) shelves on July 16, joining its twin as a viable Wear OS option for interested smartwatch buyers. Internally, the device offers an identical user experience to its more expensive counterpart, but a new look and a cheaper $229 price tag make this new model an attractive buy.

To say I was dismayed when the original OnePlus Watch 2 landed on my wrist would be an understatement, but the design of the device was definitely not my favorite. The asymmetrical, automotive-inspired case just wasn’t my thing, no pun intended. Call me old-fashioned, but I like round watches to be round. Thankfully, the OnePlus Watch 2R reverts to a classic circle. The device also ditches its predecessor’s useless rotating crown and button combo in favor of two identical pushers. The new two-tone buttons look a lot like the ones you’d find on traditional watches, and while I wish I could spin one to scroll through menus and apps, I’m glad they don’t spin endlessly like the Watch 2.

What remains unchanged is the size of the device. The massive Watch 2 entered the Wear OS scene at 47mm with no secondary size options. Unfortunately (unless you have large wrists), the OnePlus Watch 2R follows suit with an equally large display and no smaller alternatives. Both generations also feature notably wide bezels, reducing the actual screen real estate relative to the case diameter. Adding to the 2R’s design are permanent indices that, while they amply cover up the dead space of a blank bezel, look cheesy and repetitive with some watch faces. I would have liked to see OnePlus go in the opposite direction and extend the device’s usable screen all the way to the edge of the sapphire crystal.

The company’s most touted design change might go unnoticed unless you get a chance to try both generations. The OnePlus Watch 2R’s body is made of lightweight aluminum, which effectively reduces the weight of the device as well as the production cost. This change could make the device more appealing to users who don’t care about size but don’t want to be bulky during workouts or sleep tracking.

The watch comes with a silicone strap secured by a stainless steel buckle that is comfortable and washable, which is really all I ask for in a watch strap. A close look at where the strap attaches to the watch case shows that the strap design on the new model is slightly different than the previous generation. The strap maintains a clean line all the way to the case rather than flaring out to meet the case lugs. I like this simplification, but unfortunately it doesn’t solve the spacing issue caused by the lug design.

The OnePlus Watch 2R also comes in two colorways: Forest Green and Gunmetal Gray. OnePlus absolutely nailed my favorite color on the OnePlus Watch 2 (a nondescript mix of blue and green that people almost never get right), but I’ll happily settle for a nice, calm green this generation. Those who prefer a neutral accessory can opt for the Gunmetal Gray watch case with its black silicone strap. Aside from the aforementioned bezel issue, both are attractive, if somewhat large, devices.

Beyond its design, the user experience on the OnePlus Watch 2R should feel extremely familiar. The watch packs the same specs as its sister device, including a dual-engine architecture powered by Snapdragon W5 gen 1 and BES2700 chipsets. That means the same fantastic battery-saving capabilities I loved on the original and a fast, efficient presentation of the best of Wear OS 4.

Unlike the recently launched Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 and Ultra, the OnePlus Watch 2 doesn’t yet run Wear OS 5 (though I hope to see the software made available to OnePlus users later this year). Still, the previous generation has a lot to offer users, including all the highlights like Maps, Calendar, Gmail, Google Play Store, and Google Assistant. The 2R also brings back NFT support to continue offering Google Wallet. All of these apps worked flawlessly on the new device in my testing.

More importantly, the watch boasts the same exceptional battery life as its predecessor thanks to its intelligent dual-chip internals and colossal 500mAh battery. This should provide up to 100 hours of use in smart mode or up to 48 hours with heavy use. After wearing the watch for two and a half days with the always-on display enabled, two nights of sleep tracking, and two one-hour GPS workouts, the device still has some juice in the tank. I plugged it in to make sure I would still record sleep stats tonight, and that process remains just as quick as on the last model. This is no surprise since the charger is also the same for both watches.

If you’re looking for innovative features or even incremental improvements, you won’t find either here. The smartwatch, fitness tracking, and companion app experience are all the same as what users find on the slightly older OnePlus Watch 2. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, though there are some slight sensor shortcomings that I would have liked to see addressed. Overall, it’s a solid fitness companion as long as you’re not a dedicated athlete who needs pinpoint accuracy.

Aside from the aesthetic differences and internal similarities, the biggest detail separating the Watch 2 and Watch 2R is the price. The new device hit stores for just $229, which is about $70 less than the OG’s launch price. That takes the watch out of flagship Apple Watch or Galaxy Watch territory and into the budget watch category. My gut tells me the move is the company’s attempt to compete with Samsung’s Galaxy Watch FE, which launched before the company’s latest Galaxy Watch 7 and Ultra devices.

I like broad markets with options for different wallet sizes. If I weren’t a wearables reviewer, I’d be hard-pressed not to stick with an Apple Watch SE or Garmin Venu SQ 2. (Now that I’ve swum through models like the Ultra 2 and Fenix ​​7, I have to admit I’m a lost cause.) Smartwatches are powerful tools not only for convenience, but also for monitoring health and encouraging active lifestyles. I’m excited to see OnePlus and other companies dedicating resources to making the experience more accessible.

After years without a new flagship, OnePlus released two smartwatches in a single year with very little differentiation beyond build materials and price. The OnePlus Watch 2R offers the same highlights as its more expensive counterpart, including unparalleled processing power, fantastic battery life, and Wear OS. Sure, there’s nothing revolutionary to be found on the new model, but I certainly wouldn’t complain about an equally powerful device at an affordable price. In my opinion, it also looks better.

That said, the device does carry over some of its sibling’s flaws, making it a less appealing purchase for some buyers. For those who can’t imagine carrying around such a large device, I recommend checking out Samsung’s latest model, the Galaxy Watch 7 ($299.99 at Amazon), which comes in two case sizes. Alternatively, the cheaper Galaxy Watch FE (on the product’s website) mentioned above comes in a 40mm case. Both watches offer powerful Wear OS experiences, especially for Samsung phone users, and can now be used in tandem with Samsung’s new Galaxy Ring ($399.99 at Amazon) if you’re also interested in finger-based tracking.

If you need a device with particularly reliable fitness tracking and comprehensive workout insights, the best smartwatch is the Garmin Venu 3 ($449.99 at Amazon), or for those on a budget, the Venu Sq 2 ($249.99 at Amazon), its square-shaped twin. Of course, the OnePlus Watch 2R is only compatible with Android phones. If you’re in the iOS camp, I recommend the Apple Watch SE ($269.99 at Amazon) for the best price and the Apple Watch Series 9 ($392.67 at Amazon) for the best experience.