Mobvoi’s $350 TicWatch Pro 5 made an enormous impression on me. For the same worth as smaller WearOS watches just like the $350 Google Pixel Watch 2 or the $330 Samsung Galaxy Watch 6, the 50mm TicWatch Pro 5’s 1.43-inch AMOLED show gives a bigger canvas for its watch faces. Pros
Big show
Great battery life
Fast charging
Cons
Questionable software program assist
Confusing monitoring apps
Android solely
While I would not think about the TicWatch to be delicate, it permits more room for apps and WearOS 3 notifications. Mobvoi features a few watch-face choices that allow you to cram in numerous issues if that is your jam. While I desire extra minimalistic watch faces, the massive show was nonetheless useful, with even sufficient room for an on-screen keyboard for textual content replies. The TicWatch Pro 5’s AMOLED show. Mike Sorrentino/CNETEven although the TicWatch Pro 5 was launched final spring, it is nonetheless one of many few WearOS watches to incorporate Qualcomm’s newer Snapdragon W5 Plus chip. I discovered the chip helped favorably with the watch’s battery life and charging speeds. During my month of testing, the battery simply lasted two days on a cost. With much less intensive use and Mobvoi’s ultralow-power show mode enabled, which I’ll element extra later, the TicWatch Pro 5 impressively lasted 4 days between prices. Compare that to current WearOS watches that final roughly two days on a cost. Charging can also be quick, with the TicWatch’s magnetic charger bringing it from 0% to 49% in 30 minutes.Charging pace check 30 minutes TicWatch 5 Pro 49%Fitbit Sense 2 37%Pixel Watch 2 50% On the entire, the TicWatch Pro 5 is a superb alternative for its huge design and beneficiant battery life. But Mobvoi’s hasn’t up to date the TicWatch Pro 5 to WearOS 4, nor has it dedicated to a roadmap for future OS and safety assist. It’s regarding as a result of Mobvoi promised a WearOS 3 replace for its TicWatch 3 lineup again in 2021 that took till December 2023 to roll out.If you just like the TicWatch Pro 5’s bigger look, WearOS 3 and skill to final for days on a single cost, then this can be a nice watch to think about. But if you happen to’re the form of individual that will get FOMO seeing new options land for Google’s Pixel Watch or Samsung’s Galaxy Watch, then Mobvoi’s lack of assured software program enhancements is an efficient sufficient cause to skip the watch.Read extra: Best Smartwatch of 2024TicWatch Pro 5 design: Always-on showThe TicWatch Pro 5 is available in two colours: Obsidian (the unit I reviewed) and a lighter Sandstone possibility. The watch has a crown for scrolling by way of menus and accessing apps with a button that brings up a recent-app checklist or Google Wallet for contactless funds. Its 44.3-gram weight is noticeable however lighter than the comparably sized 59-gram Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic.Around again are well being sensors for coronary heart price, blood oxygen and pores and skin temperature. The TicWatch Pro 5 doesn’t embrace an ECG function just like the Pixel Watch and Galaxy Watch. The watch’s charging cable magnetically attaches to the again left aspect which provides it a slight hump.The TicWatch Pro 5 follows different smartwatches with an always-on display possibility to cut back battery drain. By default, its “ultralow-power display” is ready as its always-on show, which is a secondary display that has been supplied on prior TicWatch fashions. This display solely seems whereas the AMOLED is off, and it has an old-school monochrome look with a backlight which you can color-customize. It reveals primary info together with the time and your coronary heart price. When you need to return to WearOS, faucet the display to change on the AMOLED show, or just rotate your wrist when receiving a notification. The ultralow-power show on the TicWatch Pro 5. Mike Sorrentino/CNETThe low-power show gives a tangible increase in battery life. But I most popular to maintain it off and nonetheless had the watch make it by way of a day of use together with monitoring a exercise and utilizing Google Wallet for the subway. However, on a current California trip, the low-power mode was useful and meant I did not have to cost it every single day. During my week-long journey, I solely charged the watch twice, even after utilizing it to trace exercises and a hike. The again of the TicWatch 5 Pro contains sensors and a magnetic clip for the charger. Mike Sorrentino/CNETTicWatch Pro 5 software programThe TicWatch Pro 5 runs on WearOS 3, however syncs with the Mobvoi Health app on Android telephones as a substitute of Google’s WearOS app. The Mobvoi Health app is essentially succesful. It contains the outcomes of any tracked exercises, sleep or well being measurements. I particularly preferred that after a exercise it estimated how a lot restoration time I wanted. The Mobvoi Health app syncs information with Google Fit, and from there you may sync that information to different providers, like MyFitnessPal. It additionally permits for sending new watch faces to the TicWatch utilizing the TimeShow service, which requires organising a second app in your cellphone. The Mobvoi Health app syncs with the TicWatch Pro 5. Mike Sorrentino/CNETThe TicWatch’s onboard suite of well being functions, nevertheless, is complicated. TicExercise is the first health monitoring app, but it surely sometimes kicked in proactively to trace my walks or runs. The app is crammed with choices, whether or not you need to monitor particular workouts in a exercise like reverse crunches or sit-ups, or set a basic “freestyle” possibility for a blended exercise. Most choices monitor your well being stats together with a timer. When utilized in tandem with the low-power show, the TicWatch’s backlight modifications colours to mirror your coronary heart price. I discovered this function particularly useful in train courses the place I used to be monitoring my heart-rate ranges to ensure I’m exerting sufficient effort with out operating out of power. Other TicWatch apps really feel duplicative or are junk software program, nevertheless. For occasion, Mobvoi Treadmill is supposed for pairing with the corporate’s house treadmill. It was largely ineffective for me. TicPulse, TicOxygen, TicHealth and One-tap measurement are all apps that show your well being information in several methods whereas measuring your coronary heart price or blood oxygen ranges. I discovered all of it too overwhelming. I’d a lot somewhat have a streamlined strategy that mixes every little thing right into a single app. The TicExercise app can monitor particular actions or blended exercises. Mike Sorrentino/CNETIf you do not like Mobvoi’s suite of monitoring apps, there’s the Google’s Play Store for putting in alternates like Google Fit. However, regardless that the TicWatch Pro 5 is operating WearOS 3, it lacks entry to the Google Assistant. And Mobvoi hasn’t made it public when such assist will arrive on the watch. Other non-Google WearOS smartwatch makers have had points getting Google Assistant to work on their gadgets. For occasion, Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 4 and Fossil’s Gen 6 watches every added the Assistant months after launch. Prior TicWatch fashions have even misplaced Google Assistant entry when Google discontinued Assistant assist on WearOS 2 in August.Since WearOS is predicated on Android, you could find assist within the TicWatch’s Reddit neighborhood which presents some assist towards putting in these lacking providers, however doing so will rely in your consolation stage with side-loading software program as a substitute of utilizing Google’s official Play Store. For me (and most watch consumers, I think about) I’m not excited about that a lot mucking round, however a profit to Android is that the choice is on the market.Amazon’s Alexa app may be put in as a substitute of Google Assistant, and it might probably fulfill most of the identical features, but it surely’s a notable concern alongside Mobvoi’s incapability to decide to a software program and safety replace timeline. The TicWatch Pro 5 can also be solely suitable with Android telephones, which is not stunning, however is disappointing when put next with Fossil’s Gen 6 smartwatch. And regardless that Garmin and Fitbit additionally make wearables which are suitable with iOS and Android, the smartwatch market remains to be usually led by corporations which are iOS-only or Android-only. The Alexa app may be put in on the TicWatch Pro 5 in lieu of Google Assistant. Mike Sorrentino/CNETTicWatch Pro 5 backside lineThe TicWatch Pro 5 gives lots of worth for $350, however requires an intensive understanding of its compromises. You do get an enormous show that is cheaper than what Samsung presents. You additionally get one of many latest watch processors available on the market, which is able to offering nice battery life that may be additional prolonged by TicWatch’s ultralow-power show. And the TicWatch Pro 5’s WearOS 3 software program permits for downloading apps, watch faces, and it syncs together with your cellphone for notifications alongside media controls.But competing smartwatches include ensures for brand new options and working system updates. Google’s $350 Pixel Watch 2 will get related Feature Drops and early entry to the subsequent model of WearOS, similar to the Pixel cellphone line. Samsung additionally makes a degree to announce new options for its present watches. For occasion, the $450 Galaxy Watch 5 Pro obtained new climbing options final summer season. Mobvoi makes no such guarantees, and has a monitor document of getting problem updating its prior smartwatches to newer software program.Those software program points do not imply the TicWatch Pro 5 ought to be prevented. If you need a larger-screened Android smartwatch that appears nice with options that may enable you hold charging to a minimal, it greater than suits the invoice. But if you’d like a smartwatch that may develop and achieve new options over time, it’s best to think about different choices.TicWatch Pro 5 vs. different Android smartwatches TicWatch Pro 5Google Pixel Watch 2Samsung Galaxy Watch 6Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic Shape RoundRoundRoundRoundWatch dimension 50mm41mm40mm, 44mm43mm, 47mmMaterials, finishes Metal, aluminumAluminumAluminumStainless metalDisplay dimension, decision 1.43-inch 466 x 466 AMOLED1.2-inch, 450 x 450 pixels (320 ppi)40mm: 1.3-inch, 432 x 432-pixel Super AMOLED; 44mm: 1.5-inch, 480 x 480-pixel Super AMOLED43mm: 1.3-inch, 432 x 432-pixel Super AMOLED; 47mm: 1.5-inch, 480 x 480-pixel Super AMOLEDDimensions 50.1 x 48.0 x 12.2mm41mm x 12.3mm40mm: 38.8 x 40.4 x 9.0 mm; 44mm: 42.8 x 44.4 x 9.0 mm43mm: 42.5 x 42.5 x 10.9 mm; 47mm: 46.5 x 46.5 x 10.9 mmWeight 44.3g31g40mm: 28.7g; 44mm: 33.3g43mm: 52g; 47mm: 59gColors Obsidian, sandstoneMatte black, polished silver, champagne gold40mm: graphite, gold; 44mm: graphite, silverBlack, silverAlways On YesYesYesYesInterchangable bands YesYesYesYesGPS YesYesYesYesAutomated exercise detection YesYesYes (operating, strolling, rowing)YesCompass YesYesYesYesAltimeter YesYesYesYesWater resistance 5ATM5ATM, IP685ATM, IP685ATM, IP68Calls YesYesYesYesMicrophone YesYesYesYesSpeaker YesYesYesYesVoice assistant No (Alexa app obtain required)Yes (Google Assistant)Yes (Google Assistant, Bixby)Yes (Google Assistant, Bixby)Mobile Payments Yes (Google Pay)Yes (Google Wallet)Yes (Samsung Wallet)Yes (Samsung Wallet)Sleep monitoring YesYesYesYesInterval monitoring NoYesYesYesSensors Accelerometer, gyro, HD PPG coronary heart price sensor, SpO2 sensor, pores and skin temperature sensor, low-latency off-body sensor, barometerSpO2, ECG, accelerometer, gyro, ambient mild sensor, pores and skin temperature sensor, barometer, magnetometerOptical coronary heart price + electrical coronary heart sign + bioelectrical impedance evaluation, temperature sensor, accelerometer, barometer, gyro sensor, geomagnetic sensor, mild sensor Optical coronary heart price + electrical coronary heart sign + bioelectrical impedance evaluation, temperature sensor, accelerometer, barometer, gyro sensor, geomagnetic sensor, mild sensor Emergency options Irregular heartbeat detectionSafety Signal, Safety TestEmergency SOS, fall detectionEmergency SOS, fall detectionCompatibility Android 8 and aboveAndroid 9 and aboveAndroid 10 and aboveAndroid 10 and aboveSoftware WearOS 3WearOS 4WearOS 4WearOS 4Processor Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1Qualcomm SW5100Exynos W930 dual-core 1.4GHzExynos W930 dual-core 1.4GHzConnectivity Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, GPS+Beidou+Glonass+Galileo+QZSSBluetooth 5.0LTE6, Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 2.4+5GHz, NFC, GPS/Glonass/Beidou/GalileoLTE6, Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 2.4+5GHz, NFC, GPS/Glonass/Beidou/GalileoReminiscence and storage 2GB reminiscence + 32GB storage2GB reminiscence + 32GB storage2GB reminiscence + 16GB storage2GB reminiscence + 16GB storagePower USB-A quick charging cableUSB-C quick charging cableFast charging (WPC-based wi-fi charging)Fast charging (WPC-based wi-fi charging)Battery life Up to 80 hours24 hours with always-on showUp to 40 hours (Always On Display off); as much as 30 hours (Always On Display on) Up to 40 hours (Always On Display off); as much as 30 hours (Always On Display on) Battery capability 628 mAh306 mAh440mm: 300 mAh; 44mm: 425 mAh 43mm: 300 mAh; 47mm: 425 mAh Price (USD) $350$350 (Wi-FI), $400 (Wi-Fi + LTE)40mm: $300 (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth); 44mm: $330 (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth) 43mm: $400 (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth); 47mm: $430 (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth) Price (GBP) £330£349 (Wi-FI), £400 (Wi-Fi + LTE)From £289From £369Price (AUD) AU$520AU$549 (Wi-FI), $649 (Wi-Fi + LTE)From AU$549From AU$699