The smartwatch I recommend to first-timers is not by Apple or Samsung (And it's only $229)

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• The OnePlus Watch 2R is a Wear OS-powered smartwatch available now for $229.
• It aces all the fundamentals of a great smartwatch: multi-day battery life, fitness tracking features, and a functional display.

• However, it lacks some key fitness metrics, isn’t as durable as I’d like, and doesn’t offer an LTE option.

If there’s one area of consumer tech that’s never boring, it’s smartwatches. Everyone wants a piece of the market, from Apple to Samsung, and they’ll go to great lengths to get it. Lately, however, OnePlus has asserted itself as a brand that’s capable of making a solid product, thanks to the impressive OnePlus Watch 2 we reviewed last year.

Also: The best smartwatches you can buy: Expert tested

The company just added a second wearable to its lineup, the OnePlus Watch 2R, which costs $229 ($70 less than the Watch 2), and offers a nearly identical experience to OnePlus’ flagship watch, with a few features left on the chopping block to lower the price.

Those features include EKG support and menstrual cycle tracking, and if they’re important to you, you’ll want to opt for the standard Watch 2. But if all you need is a solid smartwatch to pair with your Android phone, you can’t go wrong with the Watch 2R.

View at Oneplus

From the outside, the two watches are almost identical, minus the glossy finish and “flat tire” on the right side of the 2R. The watch comes in a single case size: 46mm, the same size as the Watch 2. It’s also made of a lighter-weight aluminum alloy, opposed to stainless steel.

Overall, it’s a slim, good-looking watch, and its lightweight body makes it easy to forget after you strap it on. The only issue some might have is the case size, since it’s quite big for those with smaller wrists. You also only get two color choices: matte black/gray (with a black band) or silver (with a green band). There’s no gold or blue options here, so you’ll have to settle for subtlety.

The 2R features a 1.43-inch AMOLED display that’s not the most impressive smartwatch screen I’ve ever seen, but is perfectly adequate given the price point. Thanks to the 466×466 resolution, it can get up to 1,000 nits bright, and everything from colors to contrast are on point. 

Also: I tested the ‘100-hour battery life’ smartwatch from OnePlus, and it blew me away

Once you’ve paired the Watch 2R with your Android phone of choice (no iOS support here, by the way), you’ll be in the world of Wear OS 4.0. OnePlus hasn’t made a ton of changes to the system like Samsung did with its line of Galaxy watches, but they did load it with a bunch of custom watch faces, some UI elements, and a few first-party apps.

Every time I come back to check out Wear OS, I’m happy to report that it’s in a really good state. It may not be as silky smooth as Apple’s WatchOS, but functionally speaking, it’s just as capable. You can quickly glance at fitness trends and calendar appointments with the Tiles interface, and there’s a ton of different apps available through the Play Store. It’s the best version of Wear OS yet.

It also performs well. The Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 chip inside is fast and efficient, and I haven’t experienced any significant slow-downs during my time testing the Watch 2R. It’s been able to handle everything from switching between apps to managing notifications without a hiccup. 

Also: 10 settings I changed on my WearOS smartwatch to improve battery life

We noted that the OnePlus Watch 2 set a new standard for Wear OS watches with its battery life, which could easily last two to three days thanks to its unique approach to processing power, combining a traditional Snapdragon chip with a co-processor for handling smaller tasks that drew far less power. The Watch 2R takes the same approach and, together with a 500mAh cell, manages to last up to three days on a single charge. 

I’m impressed that OnePlus has pulled off such incredible battery life on a second smartwatch. Plus, when it’s time to recharge, it only takes about an hour to go from zero to 100 percent with the included charging puck.

With any smartwatch, you’ll probably want to track your fitness progress. Unfortunately, if you’re a serious fitness buff or someone who pays close attention to health metrics, you might find the Watch 2R lacking. 

Also: I bought Samsung’s $649 Galaxy Watch Ultra: What I learned after weeks of testing

The Watch 2R doesn’t have EKG support, menstrual cycle tracking, a skin temperature sensor, or a fleshed-out health tracking app. OHealth is good for basic stats, but its charts and graphs are basic and don’t proactively give you insights into whether you’re progressing in your long-term goals.

Granted, OnePlus has improved the accuracy of other sensors like the heart rate sensor, GPS, and Sp02 sensor for blood oxygen monitoring, which is great, but the experience feels a bit underwhelming compared to the Galaxy Watch 7 or Pixel Watch 2. Instead, the Watch 2R is much friendlier to those who are just starting their fitness journey. 

While we’re talking about the phone’s downsides, another thing I’ve noticed is the dip in durability. The 2R doesn’t come with the same military-grade drop protection, and it’s lacking the same sapphire glass atop the display. Luckily, it still has 5ATM water resistance, which means it’ll be fine at depths of up to 50 meters. Just don’t go deep-sea diving with it.

Also: The best blood pressure watches you can buy, according to medical research

Lastly, the fact that you can’t add an LTE plan to the watch is a little disappointing. I understand this might not matter to a lot of folks, but I tend to do a lot of stuff without my phone, and I appreciate the ability to get notifications and calls right on my wrist. 

ZDNET’s buying advice

If you’re looking for a fast smartwatch with impressive battery life, but don’t need a long list of advanced fitness metrics, the OnePlus Watch 2R is one of your best options. 

Unless you require a classier design, something smaller, or LTE, the Watch 2R will likely cover all of your bases. Because of its clear set of use cases, however, it’s one of the easiest Wear OS watches to recommend.