The OnePlus Watch 2 is one of the first smartwatches to use Google’s new hybrid Wear OS, which promises to deliver a premium user experience without compromising on battery life. The watch uses a dual-chipset architecture that intelligently switches between a powerful main processor and a low-power co-processor, depending on the task at hand. This allows the watch to offer more than two days of heavy use, with all functionalities accessible in Smart Mode. Here’s how it works.

The dual-chipset architecture of the OnePlus Watch 2

The OnePlus Watch 2 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 chip, which is a high-performance processor that can handle complex operations such as running apps, streaming music, and making calls. The watch also has a BES2700 co-processor, which is an ultra-low-power microcontroller unit that can handle more routine tasks such as processing health sensor data, displaying notifications, and updating watch faces.

The watch can seamlessly switch between these two processors, thanks to the new hybrid interface of Wear OS. The hybrid interface enables the main processor to be suspended when not needed and allows the co-processor to take over some of the functions that would otherwise require the main processor to be awake. This reduces the power consumption and extends the battery life of the watch.

The hybrid interface of Wear OS

The hybrid interface of Wear OS is a new feature that Google has introduced in collaboration with its hardware partners, such as OnePlus. The hybrid interface allows for more efficient use of the dual-chipset architecture by enabling the co-processor to handle tasks that do not require a lot of processing power or user interaction.

For example, the co-processor can process notifications and phone calls without waking up the main processor. Users can read and dismiss notifications or reply with quick actions while the watch is still powered by the co-processor. The main processor is only woken up when the user needs to perform more complex actions, such as opening an app or using voice commands.

The co-processor can also handle fitness-tracking functions, such as counting steps, measuring heart rate, and detecting activities. The main processor is only woken up periodically to update the apps and sync the data with the phone. Even the watch faces can be offloaded to the co-processor, as long as they are built with the new Watch Face Format of Wear OS 4.

The hybrid interface of Wear OS provides a seamless transition between the power modes, providing a rich and premium user experience without jarring interruptions. Users can enjoy the full functionality of the watch while also benefiting from the extended battery life.

The battery life of the OnePlus Watch 2

The OnePlus Watch 2 claims to offer up to 100 hours of regular use, with all functionalities accessible in Smart Mode. This means that users can use the watch for more than two days without needing to charge it, even with heavy usage such as streaming music, making calls, and using apps.

The watch also has a Power Saver Mode, which can extend the battery life to up to 14 days. In this mode, the watch only shows the time and date and tracks basic health data such as steps and heart rate. Users can switch to this mode manually or set it to activate automatically when the battery level drops below a certain threshold.

The watch also supports fast charging, which can provide a full day of use with just 10 minutes of charging or a week of use with 20 minutes of charging. The watch comes with a magnetic charger that can be easily attached to the back of the watch.

The OnePlus Watch 2 is a smartwatch that combines the best of both worlds: a powerful and versatile Wear OS experience and a long-lasting and efficient battery life. The watch showcases the potential of the new hybrid interface of Wear OS and sets a new standard for smartwatch performance.