OnePlus Watch 2 Tested: Can It Compete With Galaxy Watch or Pixel?
Let’s face it — OnePlus’s first watch wasn’t exactly a smartwatch champ. But in 2025, they’re back with the OnePlus Watch 2, and it’s no longer just “trying.” It’s competing.
I wore the Watch 2 for two weeks while rotating it against the Pixel Watch 2 and Galaxy Watch 6, putting them through the paces on fitness, battery life, interface, and overall daily usability.
🖥️ Design & Display: Classy but Familiar
- OnePlus Watch 2 uses a 1.43” AMOLED display — crisp, vibrant, and very readable in sunlight.
- It’s housed in a durable stainless-steel body that doesn’t scream “fitness tracker,” which I loved.
- Compared to the Pixel Watch’s rounder, edgier aesthetic and Galaxy’s rotating bezel, it feels sleeker but a bit more conventional.
Verdict: Solid build, high-quality display. Nothing radical, but nothing lacking either.
⚙️ Performance & OS: Fast, Finally
- The big win here is OnePlus’s dual-chip architecture using Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 for heavy lifting and BES2700 for idle tasks.
- This means buttery smooth UI navigation and smart battery saving.
- It runs Wear OS 4, so you get Google Assistant, Play Store apps, Google Fit, and full notification support.
Compared to Pixel Watch 2, it holds its own with slightly faster performance.
Against Galaxy Watch 6, it lacks Samsung’s health ecosystem depth but is smoother day-to-day.
🔋 Battery Life: OnePlus Shines Bright
- Pixel Watch 2: ~24 hours
- Galaxy Watch 6: ~36 hours
- OnePlus Watch 2: 60 to 72 hours in real use (with AOD off)
That’s a massive upgrade — and a huge selling point.
Verdict: The best battery life of any mainstream Wear OS watch right now.
💪 Health & Fitness: Great, But Not Elite
- Offers heart rate tracking, SpO2, sleep tracking, and over 100 workout modes.
- Data is accurate but slightly behind Fitbit (Pixel) and Samsung Health (Galaxy).
- No native ECG or body composition sensor like Galaxy — but the basics are here and reliable.
Verdict: Good enough for general users, maybe not fitness buffs.
🧠 Emma’s Takeaway
The OnePlus Watch 2 isn’t just redemption — it’s a true alternative for Android users who want a premium Wear OS watch without battery anxiety.
Choose it if you want:
✅ Long battery life
✅ Fast, fluid UI
✅ Google apps without bloat
✅ A balanced fitness-tracking experience
It may not dethrone Galaxy or Pixel, but it absolutely belongs in the same conversation — and might just be the most practical pick of the three.
