## Garmin Epix Pro Gen 2 vs. ONEPLUS Watch 2: Detailed Comparison
Choosing between the Garmin Epix Pro Gen 2 and ONEPLUS Watch 2 can be tricky, as they fulfill different needs and preferences. The Garmin Epix Pro Gen 2 is a premium, feature-rich smartwatch designed for serious athletes and outdoor enthusiasts, while the ONEPLUS Watch 2 offers a more balanced approach, emphasizing battery life and ease of everyday use. Let’s do a detailed comparison to see which one is right for you.
Design and Build Quality
The Garmin Epix Pro Gen 2 features a rugged design with premium materials like titanium and sapphire crystal. The watch is incredibly durable and designed to withstand harsh environments. The AMOLED display is bright and easy to read even in direct sunlight. The watch comes in several sizes, allowing users to choose the size that best fits their wrist.
The ONEPLUS Watch 2 features a sleek design, stainless steel case and sapphire crystal. They also feature a high-quality AMOLED display, IP68 dust and water resistance, and are US military certified, making them both stylish and durable. The ONEPLUS Watch 2 has a slightly more subdued design, making it suitable for both workouts and everyday use.
Display
The Garmin Epix Pro Gen 2 features a stunningly clear and bright AMOLED display. It’s a pleasure to look at, especially when you’re checking stats during a run or navigating maps. The always-on display is a great feature, although it does affect battery life.
The ONEPLUS Watch 2 also features a bright and crisp AMOLED display that is easy to read in any light. Touch response is excellent and the interface is smooth and easy to use. Both watches offer excellent image quality, but Garmin’s AMOLED screen is especially good for outdoor visibility.
Features
The Garmin Epix Pro Gen 2 watches are packed with plenty of features for serious athletes. They offer comprehensive tracking for a wide range of sports and activities, customizable metrics, and advanced navigation with topographic maps. GPS tracking is incredibly accurate, and the new Elevate Gen 5 heart rate sensor is the most accurate of any Garmin wristwatch. The Elevate Gen 5 heart rate sensor is the most accurate of any Garmin wrist sensor ever produced by Garmin. They also include features such as endurance and hill assessment, though these are still being finalized.
The ONEPLUS Watch 2 utilizes a dual OS and processor system, with a Snapdragon W5 chip and BES 2700 in the Wear OS and RTOS. This hybrid system delivers efficient performance and battery savings. The watch offers enhanced workout modes, dual-frequency GPS and an organized companion app. However, it lacks some of the advanced metrics and navigation tools found on the Garmin.
Battery Life
Battery life is where the two watches differ significantly. The Garmin Epix Pro Gen 2 has an impressive battery life, especially when you consider the AMOLED display. With the display on all the time and 2-3 hours of GPS per day, you can expect about 5-6 days, or nearly 11 days for the 51mm version.
Fast charging is also a breakthrough: the ONEPLUS Watch 2 have an excellent battery life of around 100 hours (four days) in Smart mode and up to 12 days in Power Saver mode. This makes it an ideal choice for those who don’t like to charge their watch every day; the ONEPLUS Watch 2 is a clear winner when it comes to battery life.
User Experience
The Garmin Epix Pro Generation 2 user experience has a complex interface and a difficult learning curve. The sheer amount of data and available options can be overwhelming for first-time users. However, once you get the hang of it, it’s a powerful tool for tracking and analyzing sports performance.
The ONEPLUS Watch 2 has a more user-friendly interface that is easier to navigate. However, there is a noticeable delay when lifting your wrist to view notifications, which can be a bit annoying. Tactile feedback is not as advanced as other smartwatches.
Pros and Cons of Garmin Epix Pro Gen 2
- Pros:
- Sturdy construction: Premium materials like titanium and sapphire crystal.
- Bright AMOLED display: Excellent clarity and outdoor visibility.
- Comprehensive tracking: Wide range of sports and activities.
- Accurate GPS: Advanced navigation aids with topographical maps.
- Especially when you consider the AMOLED display.
- Cons:
- High price tag: Especially for the Sapphire Edition.
- Complex interface: Fast learning curve for new users.
- No voice assistant or speaker.
- Step counter may over-count: due to hand gestures.
Pros and Cons of ONEPLUS Watch 2
- Benefits:
- Excellent battery life: Provides about 100 hours in smart mode.
- Dual OS and processor: Efficient performance and battery saving.
- Premium Design: Elegant design with stainless steel case and sapphire crystal glass.
- Durable: IP68 dust and water protection.
- Competitively priced: Offers many features for its price.
- Cons:
- Delayed notification: Noticeable delay when lifting your wrist.
- Tactile feel: Not very advanced or comfortable.
- Not compatible with iPhone.
- Unstable step tracking.
Final Thoughts
The Garmin Epix Pro Gen 2 is a high-end smartwatch for serious athletes and outdoor enthusiasts who want the best data, navigation, and tracking. The ONEPLUS Watch 2 is a more balanced option, offering great battery life, premium design and a competitive price. It’s a great choice for those who need a reliable and durable smartwatch for everyday use and basic fitness tracking. If battery life and price are important to you, the ONEPLUS Watch 2 is a great choice. If you want advanced features and are willing to pay more, the Garmin Epix Pro Gen 2 is a good choice.