Seriously — let OnePlus cook. Especially, in the smartwatch department. It’s barely been four months since the company launched its OnePlus Watch 2 — a classic ‘Remontada’ product for them after a disappointing start in this segment. And now, with the OnePlus Watch 2R, they are basically just flexing.
OnePlus Watch 2R
Rs 17,999
What Is Good?
- Long battery life
- Good and bright display
- Fluid UI, smooth performance
- Accurate GPS tracking
- Consistent sleep and health tracking
- Lightweight design
- IP68 rating
What Is Bad?
- Comes in a single-size
- No LTE option
- No rotating crown or touch bezel
I ended my OnePlus Watch 2 review by saying that the pricing could have been more aggressive. With the Watch 2R, they’ve just gone out and done that. Just like its smartphone ‘R’ series, the watch is also a somewhat inferior version of the flagship. But, after using it for over three weeks — it honestly does not feel like one. And this time, it’s priced right. Allow me to share more details in my OnePlus Watch 2R review.
OnePlus Watch 2R Pricing and Availability in India
The OnePlus Watch 2R is a stripped-down version of its flagship version, so the price difference is also considerable. It comes in a single size and single connectivity variant. You can buy it from Amazon with a price tag of Rs 17,999.
OnePlus Watch 2R Review: Design and Comfort
OnePlus does enough to differentiate the Watch 2 and the Watch 2R from each other. It still has the premium appeal, but there are some changes in the materials used. The OnePlus Watch 2 uses stainless steel, while the Watch 2R uses aluminium. While the difference is easily felt, this also cuts down on the weight of the watch, massively.
The second trade-off on the Watch 2R is the MIL-STD-810H durability rating. The last place where OnePlus had to change stuff just to keep the prices in check is the strap quality — it’s now changed from fluor rubber to a silicone strap. The former was slightly better at dealing with sweat. These are quick-release straps, so if you ever want to switch them for a third-party pair, look for the 22mm size.
| Design | Specifications |
| Size | 47mm |
| Watch body material | Aluminum chassis |
| Strap quality | Silicone strap and stainless steel buckle |
| Colours | Forest Green and Gunmetal Gray |
| Protection | 5ATM and IP68 |
| Weight | 37 grams (without strap), 59 grams (with strap) |
| Connectivity | NFC, Bluetooth, WiFi |
That said, the Watch 2R does not cheap out on important certifications such as an IP68 and 5ATM rating. This means you can still swim in a pool with the watch on your wrists.
Sadly, they still sell this in a single 47mm size. If you have a slender wrist, this might take some time getting used to. However, with the weight significantly cut down, you won’t feel like you are carrying ‘Mjolnir’ on your wrist.
The button and sensor placements are the same, the only difference is the serrated edges on the Watch 2’s home button. It still does not have a functional rotating crown, which is something I did not expect from this version. Hopefully, the next iterations come with this useful feature.
OnePlus Watch 2R Review: Display
OnePlus is passing on its learning from the Watch 2 to the 2R. The watch still comes with the same 1.43-inch AMOLED display. However, it cunningly hides the huge bezels around the display with a chronograph.
| Display | Specifications |
| Size | 1.43-inch |
| Type | AMOLED, 2D Glass |
| Resolution | 466×466 pixels |
| Pixel density | 326ppi |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz |
| Peak brightness | 1000 nits (HBM) |
The display is still gorgeous and colourful. Text and images appear sharp on the panel, which is always good. The screen gets bright enough to fight the powerful rays of the sun, so you won’t have to squint at your fitness data on the watch. It can go all the way up to 1000 nits with the high brightness mode enabled.
The responsiveness is still there like before, so you won’t feel any lags or stutters upon swiping your fingers on the display. Always-on display is still here, and it’s slightly brighter, so again, it helps in an outdoor environment.
OnePlus Watch 2R Review: Software and Performance
I know I have been comparing the 2R with the Watch 2 quite often throughout this review, but that’s because they are very much alike. This can be seen in their dual-engine architecture system as well which houses two individual chipsets. This gives the watch the flexibility to run two different operating systems: WearOS 4.0 and RTOS.
You can switch between both operating systems with a simple tap. The smart mode engages the more powerful chipset, while the power saver mode uses the more efficient chip. This way you get raw power when you want, and a reliable battery life when you need it. You cannot reply to text messages when in the power saver mode, but the rest of the things are mostly the same. So, you are not missing out on much. Most days, I manually set the watch to this mode just so that it lasts longer.
| Hardware | Specifications |
| Chipsets | Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 + BES2700 |
| Operating systems | WearOS 4.0 and RTOS (Real Time Operating System) |
| GPS | Dual-frequency L1+L5 |
| Storage and RAM | 32GB + 2GB |
| Companion app | OHealth |
Since it’s a WearOS smartwatch, you get to download apps from the Play Store. It also lets you use the Google Assistant, Google Maps, and more. It’s essentially a smartphone on your wrist. Speaking of which, Bluetooth calling also works amazingly well. The caller commended the microphone quality despite being in a noisy environment. The speaker volume is fine, but you’ll have to get it slightly closer to your face for a more crisp output.
For pairing, you’ll need the OHealth app. The process is very straightforward and the watch also supports Google Fast Pair, So, as soon as you set it to pairing mode, your phone will show a pop-up to connect.
OnePlus Watch 2R Review: Fitness and Health Tracking
The OnePlus Watch 2R comes with a plethora of workout modes. You get the likes of outdoor walks, track runs, fat-burn runs, cycling, badminton, tennis, swimming, and more. It also focuses on indoor activities such as jogging on the treadmill, jumping rope, etc. So, if you are a gym freak, this watch should help you track your exercises.
| Health Tracking | Yes/No |
| Heart rate monitoring | Yes |
| SpO2 | Yes |
| Sleep tracking | Yes |
| Activity tracking | Yes |
| Stress tracking | Yes |
The fitness tracking has been improved over the Watch 2. The Watch 2R was barely short by two steps after manually counting a casual walk around my society. It also shows beneficial data such as the distance covered, calories burned, your average pace and the fastest, etc.
The Watch 2R also neatly tracks the elevation points along with the ascent data, which is commendable. Live tracking of your daily activity is also noted by the watch, with brief insights on the calories burnt and steps taken throughout the day. You can also use the watch to track a quick and humbling session with a football on the turf. The Watch 2R also tracks your location accurately, which is another plus point. It’s also IP68-rated, so if you want to log your swimming sessions, that can also be done.
The Watch 2R’s sleep tracking has been excellent. It’s on par with that of the Watch 2 and more importantly, gets the timings right consistently. You can also track your SpO2, heart rate, stress levels, and more.
OnePlus Watch 2R Review: Battery life and charging
This is where both the OnePlus watches have made headlines. The Watch 2R offers exceptional battery life. It managed to last about three days with always-on-display enabled. With these battery-intensive processes turned off, you can even get a week’s worth of battery, which was previously unknown in the world of WearOS watches.
The Watch 2R also comes with the same pocketable puck charger. The watch magnetically attaches to the charger and takes about 45 minutes to charge fully from the dead.
OnePlus Watch 2R Review: Verdict
At Rs 17,999, the OnePlus Watch 2R is a steal for anyone looking for a solid smartwatch. It sticks to OnePlus’ mantra of being a flagship killer. In fact, at its price, it might even outshine its more expensive flagship model.
Considering the few extra features the Watch 2 offers, it’s hard to justify picking it over the 2R. And, that’s honestly an excellent problem to have. It’s like having Ronaldo and Messi on your team and trying to decide who gets to play
Let me help you with that decision. If you want the fancy, high-end version with a more premium appeal and military standard certifications, go with the OnePlus Watch 2. If you’re looking to save some cash while still getting almost everything the flagship provides, the OnePlus Watch 2R is the way to go. As for alternatives, you’ll find the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 roaming around the same price range. You can go for that if you want a bit more screen estate and the touch bezel. But, you’ll have to compromise on the battery life.
