Deserves higher than outdated Put on OS

The TicWatch Professional 5 Enduro is a brand new addition to Mobvoi’s ever-growing smartwatch lineup. As a fan of the earlier mannequin, the TicWatch Professional 5, I used to be keen to check the brand new gadget and see what enhancements Mobvoi had in retailer. Sadly, by way of advancing the TicWatch household, the gadget represents extra of a half-step than a brand new technology (hinted at by the gadget’s naming construction).

Slightly than an entire overhaul, the Professional 5 Enduro brings key refinements to the consumer expertise whereas leaving some shortcomings unresolved. Most importantly, it’s nonetheless operating an outdated model of Put on OS.

At first look, the TicWatch Professional 5 Enduro appears so much just like the common TicWatch Professional 5. It presents glossy strains undisrupted by extreme pushers and an impactful, outsized impression with out being too cumbersome. The brand new mannequin has an arrowed sample to its barely raised bezel that’s stated to enhance sturdiness and in addition simply appears cool. It’s additionally barely thinner than its predecessor by about 0.3 mm (a distinction I did really feel on my wrist).

Mobvoi swapped out the Professional 5’s flat matte band for a textured design that’s delicate but elegant wanting and many snug. I discovered the ridging on the again helped airflow throughout exercises moderately than trapping sweat like different flat bands. It stood up effectively throughout gymnasium classes and yard work, and whereas I helped construct units for kids’s play, fortuitously, washing clear of the paint it acquired.

Extra importantly, the strap isn’t the one sturdy function of the Enduro. Whereas Mobvoi didn’t improve water resistance from 50ATM, it did add Sapphire Crystal glass to guard the dual-layered show I am keen on, with one OLED panel for the smartwatch half, and an Extremely Low Energy LCD for the fundamentals when not in lively use. Although not revolutionary by any means, Sapphire glass is all the time a welcome addition to any watch line as a result of arms are an uncovered appendage. That is the kind of sturdiness enchancment I count on to see on a tool with a moniker like “Enduro.”

In the meantime, the Enduro additionally upgrades the digital crown initially added to the road simply final 12 months. The brand new mannequin’s rotating crown is barely bigger and stronger, making it simpler to make use of throughout exercises (or whereas carrying gardening gloves). I used to be thrilled about this addition to the earlier mannequin, because it improved on-device navigation drastically. Seeing Mobvoi additional refine the design tells me the corporate isn’t simply checking containers; they really care about customers’ expertise. As earlier than, the crown makes exploring menus and information screens a breeze, however now the enter and onscreen scrolling are even smoother.

Over on the again of the gadget, the watch is basically unchanged from the TicWatch Professional 5. Customers will discover the identical sensors and charging pins in addition to the flexibility to quick-release straps for mixing up your look. I might have liked to see wi-fi charging added to the lineup to boost Mobvoi to Samsung’s stage, however that’s largely as a result of my pipe dream is for all smartwatches to standardize charging. Some day!

Regardless of my dashed hopes for wi-fi charging, battery life remains to be one of many greatest highlights of the Enduro. The identical 628mAh battery cell powers this mannequin because the final, with the identical Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 working system and the identical 1.43-inch show. Just like the Professional 5, the Enduro additionally makes use of Mobvoi’s distinctive Extremely Low Energy show to mitigate battery consumption and provide customers extra hands-on use between expenses. This translated to simply over 4 days of use earlier than I wanted to plug in, together with GPS exercises, senseless information scrolling, and common notifications.

These battery specs alone make the watch value contemplating. Mobvoi’s twin show continues to impress me, leaving me questioning why different manufacturers don’t go for inventive technique of stretching energy. The one different Put on OS gadget providing comparable battery life is the OnePlus Watch 2 with its distinctive dual-chip structure. Perhaps the reply is solely, “two is healthier than one.”

Whenever you open the TicWatch 5 Professional Enduro’s App library, you’ll nonetheless discover an unruly variety of preinstalled apps, together with a handful of Tic-titled choices. Of the superfluous apps, I’ll say I’ve come round to the treadmill one after reviewing a Mobvoi at-home strolling treadmill. If you wish to improve your step depend within the laziest means potential, I extremely advocate wanting into one your self. I now watch so much much less TV in a stationary place. In the meantime, the watch brings extra sports activities to the Tic Train app, which you’ll reorder in response to your priorities. I like this sort of easy customization which helps the gadget really feel tailor-made to my wants.

The Enduro additionally introduces a consolidated TicHealth app, which does job of organizing all of your tracked information on gadget. Customers received’t discover as a lot superior information as you’ll on a platform like Garmin, however there may be greater than sufficient for fundamental well being exercise monitoring. I discovered my stats largely agreed with my Apple Watch, although sometimes the step depend wasn’t all the time synced instantly. 

Even the gadget’s GPS saved up pretty effectively with my Apple Watch Extremely 2, recording almost equivalent complete distances and routes. The map above represents one exception recorded throughout a run on a cloudy night. The Enduro’s route deviated from the Extremely 2’s greater than on different runs, although not by very a lot, sometimes dipping into yards.

Lastly, should you go for third-party health monitoring apps, the Enduro now helps these apps on its low-power display, permitting you to view information with out draining additional battery mid-workout. As I discussed above, I like Mobvoi’s intelligent secondary screens. Similar to on the Professional 5, I can view my color-coded coronary heart price zones at a look in addition to a handful of different key metrics with out totally unlocking.

With an extremely highly effective processor, a sturdy design, and a handful of correct sensors, the TicWatch Professional 5 Enduro is a beautiful Put on OS gadget. What holds it again is outdated software program. The watch launched operating Put on OS 3.5 although Put on OS 4 has been out there to different manufacturers for the reason that finish of 2023. What’s worse, Mobvoi customers have a historical past of endlessly ready on anticipated software program, solely to get caught in beta applications. In the meantime, any Put on OS fan can flip their calendar and acknowledge that Put on OS 5 is headed our means very quickly (taking a look at you, Samsung), which is able to go away the Enduro even additional behind.

That isn’t to say that Put on OS 3.5 doesn’t provide an excellent consumer expertise. Due to its Qualcomm processor, the watch presents one of many smoothest experiences out there. I can entry the Google Play Retailer to load up on third-party apps or make the most of turn-by-turn instructions through Google Maps. I can even arrange a pin and use Google Pockets to make fast purchases (like fuel station snacks to reward myself for stopping for gas). Nonetheless, customers received’t discover Google Assistant on board like you’ll on different main Put on OS gadgets, nor every other instruments or options launched within the newest replace. When Put on OS 5 lands this summer time, it’s extraordinarily unlikely this gadget will leapfrog the present platform, leaving customers ready for an improve to software program that’s already been changed.

As a lot as this smartwatch presents a lot to love, it’s onerous to look previous the Put on OS elephant within the room. In the event you already personal the TicWatch Professional 5, I can’t see anybody needing to put out the money for a brand new mannequin. Most of the new gadget’s greatest strengths — its twin show, unbelievable battery life, and digital crown navigation — can already be discovered on the older watch, and the beauty upgrades don’t outweigh the shortage of recent software program.

In the event you don’t already personal a current Put on OS watch, the Enduro is a extra engaging purchase, particularly if the thought of charging up each day makes you cringe. Neither the Pixel Watch 2 nor Samsung’s prime fashions provide as a lot battery life. Plus, the twin show doesn’t simply save juice; it additionally features very well throughout exercises.

You may need to try the unique TicWatch Professional 5 ($349 at Amazon) earlier than you look to the Enduro, because it typically goes on sale for an excellent value. That stated, the TicWatch Professional 5 Enduro prices $349.99, which is a reasonably common value level for a Put on OS gadget. It’s out there in a single colorway, Obsidian, and a single 48mm case dimension. In the event you don’t fancy giant wristwear, it may not be for you, however I discovered it actually snug even on my small arm. If you’re an iOS consumer, it’s positively not for you, because it’s solely appropriate with Android telephones.

Assuming neither of these issues apply, the true query is whether or not your precedence is to entry the perfect software program out there or faucet into the perfect battery life. For Mobvoi’s sake, I hope buyers don’t all the time have to decide on. The TicWatch household deserves a improbable platform to match the nice {hardware}.