OnePlus Deliberated for Three Years Before Boosting Smartwatch Battery Capacity
- It’s 2024, and the expectation for smartwatches is clear: they need to offer multiple days of battery life, period. However, the reality is far from uniform, with an astonishingly broad spectrum of battery performances across different devices. Arguably, the Achilles’ heel of the Apple Watch has been, and remains, its limited battery life. The Series 9, for instance, manages 18 hours in standard mode and 36 in Low Power Mode.
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On the horizon is OnePlus’ Watch 2, boasting an impressive claim of 100 hours “in full Smart Mode.” Yet, prudent skepticism is warranted until its official unveiling at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona next week. Potential buyers would be wise to withhold judgment until the device undergoes thorough reviews.
According to a recent blog post, OnePlus took a three-year hiatus and engaged in introspection following the release of the OnePlus Watch 1.
Battery life is an arena where OnePlus must excel. The first-generation product promised up to two weeks of battery life thanks to a 3,402mAh battery, or 25 hours with GPS disabled. Despite this, it failed to make a significant impact. Standing out in the realm of Wear OS devices requires going above and beyond, especially with heavyweights like Google and Samsung in the fray.
OnePlus has demonstrated its capacity to impress even without being the first to market, a trait reminiscent of its early smartphone releases and exemplified by the OnePlus Open. As a reviewer, I was pleasantly surprised by the product’s quality. This underscores a broader trend in consumer electronics.
Returning to its roots, OnePlus claims it “went back to the drawing board, driven by community feedback, to ensure the OnePlus Watch 2 delivers an exceptional user experience.” Community engagement was pivotal during OnePlus’ inception, although maintaining such a direct line becomes challenging with growth. Additionally, OnePlus has been formally integrated into Oppo, a Chinese hardware conglomerate.
Nevertheless, extensive conversations with users aren’t necessary to recognize the paramount importance of battery life in smartwatches. These devices are meant to be worn continuously, leaving little time for charging. Prolonged battery life enhances both user experience and the accuracy of fitness and sleep tracking.
Three years is an eternity in the fast-paced world of consumer electronics. The original OnePlus Watch failed to make a significant impact. However, a renewed focus on battery life might reshape its fortunes in the market. While competition in the smartwatch arena is fierce, any effort to prioritize battery longevity is likely beneficial for the industry as a whole.
