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When an up-and-coming smartphone vendor like OnePlus launches its first computer watch, the feeling of a fresh rivalry with market leader Apple is in the air.

But this role is too big for the OnePlus Watch: It is nowhere near as smart as you can expect from a smartwatch in 2021.

And that is precisely because of the software.

OnePlus did not opt ​​for Google's Wear OS, which allows deeper integration with Android smartphones.

Instead, the clock runs with the in-house development Real-Time OS, which processes individual tasks as they arise.

The OnePlus Watch is economical

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The advantage of the slim operating system: the watch reacts quickly and is economical on battery power.

OnePlus promises a battery life of up to two weeks.

In the test, even with very intensive use, there were easily several days in it.

Thanks to fast charging technology, five minutes of charging time should be enough for a day.

The disadvantage, however, is a limited range of functions.

The first warning signals are given when setting up.

You don't just have to approve a lot of data releases separately, which are actually a matter of course for the operation of a smartwatch.

You also have to go to the settings separately afterwards in order to allow permanent access to the GPS position data.

No app store for the OnePlus Watch

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There is no app store for the watch.

It is therefore limited to the tasks that were integrated by OnePlus: training, measuring pulse and blood oxygen saturation, the usual combination of alarm clock, timer and stopwatch, and wellness functions such as breathing exercises.

The smartphone does not have its own app for the watch, but is connected to the OnePlus Health fitness application and managed via it.

The limits of the concept also become clear in a central usage scenario for computer clocks, the interaction with chat services.

The notifications from WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger, for example, are forwarded to the watch.

At least one can react directly to the hints from such frequently used chat apps on the watch.

The smartphone does not have its own app for the watch, it is connected to the OnePlus Health fitness application and managed via this

Source: dpa-tmn

So far, however, this only works with four ready-made answer options such as "Ok" or "I'm in a meeting".

If you clicked away a notification, it disappears from the clock.

The area reserved for hints, which can be reached by pulling up from the lower edge of the screen, then remains empty.

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OnePlus has developed several dozen watch faces, of which a maximum of 14 can be selected for on-the-fly change directly on the watch.

They range from the imitation of classic chronographs to an animated dog with googly eyes to combination displays with access to various functions of the watch.

OnePlus Watch has annoying software problems

But here too, the OnePlus Watch software often falls short.

The widget with the date display does not lead to a calendar with appointments - as one might actually expect - because it is not linked.

If you set a timer, you can only see the time running down if you have selected it as an additional function - otherwise the timer will only report at the end.

OnePlus has chosen a round display - with the result that lines of text are only completely legible in the middle of the screen and are cut off at the edges.

Instead of a rotating crown, the watch has two buttons on the side.

The top one displays a list of functions that can be scrolled through.

The lower one can be assigned a frequently used function, for example.

For training purposes, you cannot use third-party apps such as Runtastic or Strava, but have to use OnePlus' own health app.

There is just as little a function for mobile payment as there is a voice assistant.

With a diameter of 46 millimeters, the OnePlus Watch is relatively large, but with its almost eleven millimeters thick stainless steel case, it doesn't look bulky.

The price of 159 euros is one of the strengths of the watch - even if the limited range of functions is a clear minus point.

The OnePlus Watch is designed to be dust and waterproof

Source: dpa-tmn