TicWatch C2 review: a stylish smartwatch at a competitive price
The TicWatch C2, presented by Mobvoi at the end of October 2018, arrived equipped with Wear OS. The brand's new wearable doesn't try to impress with new features, but rather focuses on offering a competitive price. Is it worth buying? Let's find out in our review.
Good
- Good autonomy
- Affordable price
- Integrated GPS and NFC
Bad
- Processor not updated
- Not suitable for swimming
- Strap available only in leather
Mobvoi TicWatch C2 release date and price
The TicWatch C2 can be purchased from the official Mobvoi website for $199.99. The price is very attractive compared to the competition and this is one of the main advantages offered by this smartwatch.
A smartwatch that looks like an actual watch
The TicWatch C2 looks pretty much like a regular watch. Which is a point in its favor! The stainless steel front of the smartwatch and the genuine leather strap give it a touch of elegance. The back, however, is made of plastic.
Compared to its predecessors, the TicWatch C2 offers, in my opinion, a more refined look that easily adapts to different styles, even if it cannot match the TicWatch Pro.
On the right side of the round dial there are two physical buttons: the Home button (the one at the top that is distinguished by a touch of orange), which helps you to navigate the system and access the apps installed on the device, and one on the bottom, which allows you to monitor sports activity. You can customize and re-assign the function associated with this key according to your needs.
It is a shame that there is no rotating crown for navigation. It's a function that makes the user experience more intuitive and which, in my opinion, all smartwatches should offer.
On the back are the contact pins for charging, a heart rate monitor and a microphone, but there is no speaker. This means that you can only use the smartwatch for calls when paired with a Bluetooth headset. The TicWatch C2 is IP68 certified and is thus resistant to dust, rain and sweat, making it suitable for physical activity, but not for swimming.
Replacing the strap only takes a moment and personally I would opt for a rubber one, when using the device for sports activities.
The TicWatch C2 is available in three colors: Onyx, Platinum and Rose Gold. The first two colors are available for the model with a 20mm (42.83x42.83x13.10 mm) and thicker (13.10mm) strap, while the Rose Gold model comes in the smaller 18mm (42.83x42.83x12.80 mm) format, in effort to appeal to female customers. It's honestly too bad the smallest model was not released in the other colors.
During my test I used the largest model that, although it does not go unnoticed on my wrist, is less showy and bulky than others. It is very comfortable to wear on a daily basis and can be easily combined with different styles of clothing.
A pleasant AMOLED display
The TicWatch C2 has a large 1.3-inch display. AMOLED panel technology, 360x360 pixels and 392 ppi resolution ensure deep blacks and vibrant color reproduction . There's also the convenient presence of Always on.
As mentioned above, the C2 doesn't offer any special features: the dual screen of the TicWatch Pro is not integrated, which guarantees the wearer a slimmer watch body. Besides that, you can adjust the brightness from the settings (from 1 to 5).
Wear OS: for better or for worse
The TicWatch C2 is running the latest version of WearOS , which has a slightly different look from the original version. Anyone familiar the operating system made by Google knows that, despite the new name, not much has changed since its previous iteration. Swipe navigation is smooth and intuitive, allowing you to access your settings quickly and easily.
Notification management is also practical: displayed in chronological order, they can be deleted individually or all together with a single tap.
On the TicWatch C2 you can customize the watch dials to your taste by using the pre-installed ones or downloading new ones from the Play Store. Google Assistant is integrated and you can interact with it vocally, which is a lot more practical than typing. The TicWatch C2 can also be paired with iOS.
Snapdragon 2100... again
The new TicWatch C2 is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon Wear™ 2100 processor, which can also be found on the TicWatch Pro. As on the latter, the chip helps the smartwatch run without any problems, but it is a shame not to find the latest processor (3100) made specifically for smartwatches. There are 512 MB of RAM on offer and 4 GB of internal memory. Unsurprising numbers, but enough to make everything run smoothly.
The TicWatch C2 also integrates NFC technology that allows you to pay via Google Pay™, GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, a heart rate monitor, an accelerometer and a gyroscope. In short, the Mobvoi smartwatch is well equipped considering the price and has kept a series of features designed for health and fitness (as well as most smartwatches in circulation). You can choose between Google Fit or dedicated brand apps (TicHealth, TicExercise, TicPulse).
Good autonomy
What is the autonomy offered by TicWatch C2? A crucial question in the smartwatch world. Inside, there is a 400mAh battery, which according to the brand, should guarantee two days of autonomy. During my test, the TicWatch C2 performed quite well: just over a day under intensive use , which includes monitoring of sports activity and a day and a half with more moderate use, but with notifications always active, even during the night.
Mobvoi had already set a good example with the TicWatch Pro, which was able to pass the two days of autonomy test, by keeping the main 1.39 inch AMOLED display and the secondary FSTN monochrome alive with its 415mAh battery.
To charge the smartwatch you need to use the provided charger (so you must remember to take it with you) which offers a 50% charge in 30 minutes.
Final verdict
Smartwatches aren't dead and several brands want to prove that to us this year. Mobvoi is one of them - perhaps not the most popular, but the Chinese manufacturer is solidifying its position on the wearable market. The TicWatch C2 is the classic smartwatch of the brand. The new generation takes inspiration from the successful TicWatch Pro, while refining the look, offering a new color, and even aiming to please female users by cutting off a few millimeters where needed.
It offers no wow-factor features, such as a dual display, or particularly advanced options for sports enthusiasts. Overall, however, considering the price, it does a good job and will meet the needs of those who want to enter the world of smartwatches without wanting to spend a fortune.
There is no speaker. Only a mic.
Does it have a speaker and microphone?
The watch looks pretty thick compared to my fitibit. Really want a classic looking watch
Suprb review
I want one!