I tested the OnePlus Watch 2 and Pixel Watch 2 for a week in Spain. The results were surprising

This previous week, I wrapped up a week-long journey to Barcelona, Spain, for the annual Mobile World Congress. The present is crammed to the brim with cellular tech bulletins, and what higher strategy to check out a kind of than by sporting it for the entire journey?I’m speaking concerning the OnePlus Watch 2, after all, which made its debut in Barcelona. Our resident wearables editor, Michael Hicks, already in contrast the OnePlus Watch 2 vs Google Pixel Watch 2 primarily based on our evaluations, and I needed to see which I most well-liked sporting for such a protracted journey. Nothing improper with a second opinion, proper?For the journey, I wore the OnePlus Watch 2 on my left wrist and the Google Pixel Watch 2 on the precise, each paired with the identical cellphone. I sat on planes for hours on finish, walked many blocks day and evening, spent tons of time within the Fira Barcelona Gran Via transferring between cubicles and halls, and put these watches by means of the paces to see which one I most well-liked.I got here away with combined opinions, as neither watch does every little thing nicely, however every does particular issues extraordinarily nicely. If you are trying to spend $300 on a brand new smartwatch, here is why you will wish to take into account one over the opposite.Step counting and well being monitoring(Image credit score: Nick Sutrich / Android Central)In a head-to-head health monitoring competitors, OnePlus by no means stood an opportunity. The firm talked massive about its health monitoring capabilities on the OnePlus Watch 2 throughout the unveiling in Barcelona, however my expertise does not match the corporate’s rhetoric. Conversely, the Pixel Watch 2 has the complete weight of the Fitbit app behind it.As Harish famous in our OnePlus Watch 2 evaluate — and I’ve additionally skilled within the weeks since — OnePlus’ monitoring stats are sometimes a minimum of 15% off. In my expertise, that made me wish to take the watch off and by no means hassle utilizing it for health monitoring sooner or later.On my busiest day in Barcelona, I walked 27,246 steps in keeping with the Pixel Watch 2. Meanwhile, the OnePlus Watch 2 logged simply 24,978 steps. While it is tough to gauge which one was extra correct by a single day, the remainder of my journey (and testing earlier than I left) tells me the Pixel Watch 2 is extra right.(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)On one other day, I walked rather a lot much less however nonetheless discovered the OnePlus Watch 2’s 9,217 step depend was far lower than the 11,077 counted by the Pixel Watch 2. Every day, the OnePlus Watch counted roughly 10-15% fewer steps than the Pixel Watch 2, a distinction that is greater than only a rounding error.Likewise, a exercise at my resort on the primary day delivered one more spherical of too-low numbers from the OnePlus Watch 2. The amassed whole well being information from the journey lined up with the 10-15% decrease numbers I noticed from the OnePlus Watch 2 throughout the board.Health monitoring stats on the OnePlus Watch 2 had been often 10-15% decrease than the Pixel Watch 2.The solely potential metric that OnePlus might have received is its twin GPS monitoring functionality, which is rated to offer way more correct GPS monitoring in some conditions. Unfortunately, I did not run throughout any scenario the place the Pixel Watch 2 failed to trace my walks precisely across the metropolis and I discovered no discernable distinction between the info in my 6-day check.Notably, Google’s Fitbit app supplies a considerable quantity of well being information in comparison with OnePlus’ OHealth app. In addition to this, well being information is synced to a Google Fitbit account so you possibly can view it on different units. OnePlus does not supply well being syncing or switch in any respect, however the firm is engaged on an replace so as to add it.Battery life(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)One of the worst issues about any trendy smartwatch is the truth that all of them have a novel charger. If you occur to neglect your charger on a protracted flight throughout an ocean — as a pal of mine did — you are going to be recent out of luck for those who had been sporting the Google Pixel Watch 2.On common, I received three full days out of a single cost on the OnePlus Watch 2, and a fourth if I wasn’t utilizing it a lot. That first day heading to Spain included a 10-and-a-half-hour flight, which meant my watch was in airplane mode and barely used any battery throughout that point.I needed to cost the Pixel Watch 2 4 occasions earlier than I needed to cost the OnePlus Watch 2 as soon as.This enabled me to get by means of the primary 4 days with out fear, and I might have gone longer if I had used the power-saving mode if I actually wanted it.While the Pixel Watch 2’s battery life is not dangerous compared to most different Wear OS smartwatches, the OnePlus Watch 2’s battery life makes nearly each different smartwatch look dangerous. Over the six days I used to be away from dwelling, I solely needed to cost the OnePlus Watch 2 one time.By comparability, the Pixel Watch 2 required a charge-up every evening. Otherwise, I’d be confronted with a useless battery midway by means of the subsequent day.Messaging and apps(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)Both the Pixel Watch 2 and OnePlus Watch 2 help the identical apps downloaded by means of the Google Play Store, however one watch is rather a lot nicer to make use of apps on due to its measurement.The Pixel Watch 2 might be probably the most snug smartwatch I’ve ever worn and loads of that consolation comes from the dimensions. It’s tiny, however that additionally means apps and duties like texting simply aren’t very enjoyable to make use of on it.Apps and typing had been way more pleasing on the OnePlus Watch 2 due to its bigger measurement.The OnePlus Watch 2 has a a lot bigger show that is useless simple to kind on, and I discovered myself really having fun with replying on the watch. By comparability, I hardly ever kind something on the Pixel Watch 2’s tiny show regardless of the 2 watches sustaining the identical degree of performance — and utilizing the identical Gboard keyboard!A 19% bigger show measurement does not look like a lot on paper, however on a wrist, that bigger show leaves additional room for keyboard keys and different necessary software program buttons.The massive draw back is that the OnePlus Watch 2 does not have a rotating crown, so I often needed to wipe finger marks off the display screen throughout the day. Certainly not a deal breaker for me, however it will be good to have to do this much less usually.The verdict(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)If you are not somebody who cares a lot about well being monitoring, the OnePlus Watch 2 is a terrific alternative. That’s very true for a visit to a different nation, because the multi-day battery life makes it simple to put on your watch and benefit from the sights as a substitute of worrying about battery life alongside the way in which.The bigger show on the OnePlus Watch 2 additionally made it simpler to make use of apps, navigate, and reply to messages with out having to drag my cellphone out of my pocket. That might be an enormous sport changer if you end up in a public place and really feel unsafe holding your cellphone in your hand.But, if well being monitoring information is an important smartwatch characteristic to you, the Google Pixel Watch 2 is the king. Not solely are the well being monitoring stats themselves way more correct — that features step counts, coronary heart fee monitoring, stress information, sleep monitoring, and others — however the Fitbit app is so significantly better suited to well being monitoring information than OnePlus’ OHealth app.I’ve little doubt that OnePlus will proceed to enhance and construct out its app over time, however for now, the Pixel Watch 2 is the watch to purchase for those who’re monitoring exercises and steps or simply ensuring you get a very good relaxation.