One of the best Android watches I’ve tested is not made by Samsung or Google

Matthew Miller/ZDNET

ZDNET’s key takeaways

  • The Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro is obtainable in Obsidian black for $349.99.
  • This Google Put on OS smartwatch gives lengthy battery life, dual-display expertise, and a sapphire glass show.
  • The watch at the moment runs Put on OS 3.5 and is obtainable in a single bigger dimension.

For the previous couple of years, I have been switching between varied Google and Samsung Galaxy Watch fashions to pair with my Android, as Google’s Put on OS is the most effective wearable expertise, for my part. One function I’ve come to essentially respect in a smartwatch is a long-lasting battery, and top-of-the-line in that class is the Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro

Additionally: One of the best Android smartwatches I’ve tested made me consider switching to the Pixel

I have been working, rowing, biking, and sleeping with the brand new TicWatch Professional 5 Enduro smartwatch for the previous couple of weeks, and its marathon battery life solves my largest problem with Put on OS smartwatches. 

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Its large 628mAh battery has a novel twin show design for low-power standby use. That equates to an marketed 90 hours — almost 4 days — of battery life in good mode and as much as 45 days in Important Mode. Even higher but, simply half-hour of quick charging supplies as much as two days of battery life.

Once I run outdoors, I take advantage of the out of doors working mode with GPS monitoring enabled, and my consumption calculations point out that the Professional 5 Enduro ought to present as much as 15 hours of GPS monitoring. I usually run a few occasions per week (for 30-45 minutes every time) and row on the Hydrow a few occasions whereas carrying the watch to trace my 24/7 exercise and sleep. With this utilization sample, I have been charging the watch as soon as per week, so the 4 days and 90 hours of typical utilization appears correct.

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Matthew Miller/ZDNET

For comparability, the Google Pixel Watch 2 dies on me throughout the second day, whereas the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro will get me into the third day earlier than working out of juice. The TicWatch Professional 5 Enduro is the clear winner for battery life, and if a long-lasting battery is your major want, I could not suggest this $349.99 watch extra.

The Snapdragon W5 Plus Gen 1 Wearable Platform contributes to the spectacular battery life and can assist a future improve to Put on OS 4, regardless of at the moment working on Put on OS 3.5. This caveat is one factor to notice, as, sadly, Mobvoi hasn’t displayed a monitor report of well timed updates. Since Put on OS was launched within the fall of 2023, this new mannequin ought to have launched with Put on OS 4 out of the field.

Additionally: The best smartwatch for kids that I’ve tested is not an Apple Watch or Garmin

Past battery life, the dual-display expertise with interactive and customizable ultra-low energy show choices is exceedingly helpful. You may select from 18 background colours to focus on the always-on show, and that show on the highest layer of the watch will present you key metrics corresponding to variety of steps taken, coronary heart charge, battery life, time, and date. Spinning the massive rotating crown button brings up a full show coronary heart charge studying, blood oxygen stage, and compass heading on this twin show mode.

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Matthew Miller/ZDNET

Whereas understanding, this ultra-low energy show layer will mild up in six colours that replicate your present coronary heart charge zone. This function is tremendous helpful for checking which zone you are in at a fast look with out having to concentrate on small numbers in the midst of a exercise. This mode additionally pairs with third events, corresponding to Strava and Nike Run Membership, with information like coronary heart charge, tempo, and elevation with the ultra-low energy show.

Additionally: Google Pixel Watch 2 review: In one key area, it surpasses every other smartwatch

The TicExercise app gives over 100 exercise sorts with varied metrics corresponding to restoration time, GPS monitoring, pace, and VO2 Max. Sadly, you possibly can’t customise the info screens for the assorted exercises. This can be superb for informal athletes, however I would like to see some fundamental customization to prioritize an important information. Fortunately, since this can be a Put on OS watch, you possibly can obtain third-party companies like Strava to optimize your expertise.

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Matthew Miller/ZDNET

As soon as your exercise is full, the TicHealth software supplies exhaustive information about your efficiency and well being metrics, corresponding to each day and weekly objectives, sleep particulars, coronary heart charge historical past, and way more. TicHealth is likely one of the vital updates on this watch over the TicWatch Professional 5 mannequin launched in late 2023.

Different enhancements discovered within the Enduro mannequin over the Professional 5 mannequin are the redesigned rotary knob, using sapphire crystal glass on the show as a substitute of Gorilla Glass, a bigger and clearer consumer interface show, and additional third-party integration with the ultra-low energy show.

Additionally: The Galaxy Watch Ultra convinced me to replace my Apple Watch in less than a week. Here’s why

As well as, the TicWatch Professional 5 Enduro has greater than 7,000 watch faces obtainable, and in case you use the TimeShow app, the face might be modified each day. The big 1.43-inch show helps all the Put on OS apps, together with Google Maps, Messages, Pockets, Preserve Notes, and way more. Telephone calls and messaging work effectively by a linked telephone, and the voice-to-text perform performs flawlessly, too.

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Matthew Miller/ZDNET

The Pro 5 Enduro measures 50.15 x 48 x 11.95 mm and weighs simply 44.7 grams with its 7000 collection aluminum and fiberglass nylon case. The sapphire crystal show is proof against scratches and the 24mm watch band could be very comfy with useful quick-release pins. The watch can also be fairly sturdy with a 5 ATM score and MIL-STD-810H certification.

The machine’s international navigation satellite tv for pc system (GNSS) is included for correct monitoring, and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.2 present simple connectivity to your telephone and community. Nonetheless, the watch itself doesn’t have mobile functionality.

ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation

In the event you’re on the lookout for a Google Put on OS smartwatch with lengthy battery life, the Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro is your best choice. The twin show supplies some attention-grabbing use circumstances for the ultra-low energy mode, and the watch’s app supplies complete information.

It has a extra conventional watch kind issue than the small and modern Google Pixel Watch 2, seemingly constructed for extra rugged experiences. Nonetheless, it’s a handsome watch with tons of customizable choices. 

That largely relies on what sort of telephone you are pairing your watch with. Take into account that Android smartwatches work higher with Android telephones (together with app assist). And as a result of sheer variety of manufacturers that make Android watches, they’re obtainable in additional kinds and finishes than what Apple has to supply. Nonetheless, in case you’re most comfy with utilizing iOS, going with an Apple Watch could also be greatest for you.

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