Technology

OnePlus Watch 2 Nordic Blue Edition: hands-on in Finland

Published

2 months ago

April 29, 2024

Living in London limits what I can do when it comes to testing wearables. After all, there are only so many pilates classes and lido swimming where I can take a piece of equipment to test its endurance and capabilities.

However, OnePlus’ most recent launch of the Watch 2 Nordic Blue Edition in Helsinki, Finland, gave me the chance to really push a device to its limits. The watch I tested is a more lifestyle-oriented version of its flagship, which launched in February 2024.

To test this smartwatch, I did the following: a fat bike ride (fat tire bikes, if you’re as confused as I am), a walk in the woods, a visit to a Finnish sauna, a gentle yoga session, and a very short but icy dip in the Baltic Sea.

These are the most important lessons I learned during testing…

Comfort is king

The biggest difference I noticed between the Nordic Blue Edition and the standard OnePlus Watch 2 I reviewed is the upgraded band. OnePlus initially launched its smartwatch with a pure flurorubber one, but this version has retained that material on the inside and opted for a royal blue leather finish on the outside.

Over the past few days I’ve noticed that it feels sturdier in the hand than the Watch 2. Therefore, it doesn’t have the annoying habit of sliding up and down my arm. It stays firmly in place even as you push around on the bike or spin around like a pretzel during yoga.

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

If you have small wrists like mine, it’s still heavy at about 80 grams. I would have preferred if OnePlus made a smaller case for people like me, but it’s definitely an improvement if you just change the strap.

That weight is partly because OnePlus has kept that dual-chip design that gives it a great 100 hours of battery life. I wasn’t able to fully test that feature during my trip, but I can say that the juice used over the past few days is in line with my experience with the Watch 2.

In other words, I didn’t have to grab my charger even though the device started at just over 60% and I tracked three separate workouts, as well as my sleep. If you do need to charge it, it supports fast charging, which can take it from empty to 100% in less than an hour (with a suitable charging brick, that is).

You’re hot, then you’re cold…

Having a smartwatch that can withstand extreme temperatures is also a key advantage of the OnePlus Watch 2 Nordic Blue Edition.

I could tap and tap on the 1.43-inch sapphire crystal screen both in the dry heat of the sauna with sweaty palms and in the icy waters of the ocean, where I plunged myself into it for two minutes straight after my hot experience with the help of of a timer on the watch (it felt much longer, let me tell you).

Some of my fellow journalists let the watch know when it was overheating. Those who did spent longer in the sauna than I did, which was about 80°C, specifically above the recommended high temperature range of 55°C for the device.

Nevertheless, it’s safer that the Watch 2 has that capability, rather than accidentally igniting it while strapped to your skin. The IP68 rating also held up well in the icy sea, even though the watch didn’t lock its screen as it usually does during swim training.

Location, location, location

One of the crowning achievements of the OnePlus Watch 2 line is its dual-frequency GPS, which allows it to pinpoint your location more accurately in challenging environments. When I first tested the Watch 2, I found it reliable among the towering skyscrapers of central London.

Now I can also confirm that this wearable works just as well in the Finnish countryside. As Fat cycles through a dense forest, it can quickly pinpoint my location, while also detecting when I stopped for a short break, quickly interrupting my workout.

It would then restart as soon as I started pedaling, meaning I didn’t have to take off my much-needed gloves and fiddle with the settings. Automatic detection on wearables often produces mixed results, but this technology was impressive to see firsthand.

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Suitable from day to night

While many people may enjoy the sportier finish of the regular Watch 2, I’d prefer to take it off if I was headed for a cocktail or two after I’d finished my workout for the day.

This is not the case with the OnePlus Watch 2 Nordic Blue Edition. Equipped with a new two-tone outer dial, it is more of a statement fashion piece and seemed like a purposeful accessory to my evening outfit for a dinner party in Helsinki.

That said, I stand by my opinion that both versions of the Watch 2 could use a slimmer version for women and users with smaller wrists.

Hannah Cownton / Foundry

Is it worth paying more for it?

OnePlus has confirmed that the Watch 2 is its fastest-selling device, so there may be demand for the Nordic Blue Edition goes on sale on May 7 in the UK and Europe for £329, which is £30 more than the regular model.

If you’re struggling to choose between the Watch 2 (which comes in green and black) and the Watch 2 Nordic Blue Edition, the main things to consider are your preferred construction and aesthetics.

I found wearing this version of the watch less of a hassle than the regular version due to the combination of leather and rubber. I also liked the bolder finish, as I hate boring tech that comes in black as standard.

However, if you want something more subdued and have larger arms, then the vanilla Watch 2 might suit you just fine.

The good news is that there are no differences under the hood. All wearables in the OnePlus Watch 2 line track more than 100 workouts, can monitor sleep and stress and of course run on Google’s seamless Wear OS software. So there is support for all your favorite Android apps such as Maps, Spotify and WhatsApp.

However, you should only get the OnePlus Watch 2 if you have an Android phone, as the app isn’t supported on iOS. If you don’t, there are many more smartwatches on the market.