Important points of ZDNET
- of Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro Obsidian Black is available for $349.99.
- This Google Wear OS smartwatch features long battery life, dual display technology, and a sapphire glass display.
- The watch is currently running Wear OS 3.5 and is also available in a larger size.
In my opinion, Google’s Wear OS is the best wearable experience, so for the past two years I’ve been switching between different models of Google and Samsung’s Galaxy Watch to pair with Android. One of the features I have come to appreciate in smartwatches is their long battery life. One of the best in that category is Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro.
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I’ve been using my new TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro smartwatch to run, boat, cycle, and sleep for the past few weeks, and its long battery life has solved my biggest problem with Wear OS smartwatches. Ta.
The high capacity 628mAh battery features a unique dual display design for low power standby applications. This translates to an advertised 90 hours (almost 4 days) of battery life in Smart mode and up to 45 days in Essential mode. Even better, you get up to 2 days of battery life with just 30 minutes of fast charging.
When running outdoors, enable GPS tracking and use outdoor running mode. According to consumption calculations, the Pro 5 Enduro should offer up to 15 hours of GPS tracking. I typically run twice a week (30-45 minutes each time) and paddle a few times on the Hydro while wearing a watch to track my activity and sleep 24/7. With this usage pattern, I charge the watch once a week, so the typical usage time of 4 days and 90 hours seems accurate.
For comparison, the Google Pixel Watch 2 died after the second day, while the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro died by the third day. The TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro is the clear winner in terms of battery life, and if a long-lasting battery is your primary need, we can’t recommend this $349.99 watch more.
The Snapdragon W5 Plus Gen 1 wearable platform contributes to excellent battery life and currently runs on Wear OS 3.5, but supports future upgrades to Wear OS 4. Unfortunately, Mobvoi doesn’t have a track record of timely updates, so this is one thing to keep in mind. Wear OS was released in the fall of 2023, so this new model was supposed to launch with Wear OS 4 out of the box.
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Beyond battery life, dual display technology with interactive and customizable ultra-low power display options is extremely useful. You can choose from 18 background colors to highlight the always-on display, which is located on the top layer of the watch and shows important metrics such as steps, heart rate, battery life, time, and date. Turn the large rotating crown button and this dual display mode provides a complete view of heart rate readings, blood oxygen levels, and compass heading.
During your workout, this ultra-low power display layer lights up in six colors to reflect your current heart rate zone. This feature is very useful for seeing at a glance what zone you’re in without having to focus on small numbers mid-workout. This mode works with third parties like Strava and Nike Run Club to show data like heart rate, pace, and elevation on an ultra-low power display.
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The TicExercise app offers over 100 workout types with various metrics such as recovery time, GPS tracking, speed, VO2 Max, and more. Unfortunately, you cannot customize the data screens for different workouts. This may be fine for casual athletes, but I’d like some basic customization to prioritize the most important data. Thankfully, since this is a Wear OS watch, you can download third-party services like Strava to optimize your experience.
Once you complete your workout, the TicHealth application provides thorough data on your performance and health metrics, including daily and weekly goals, sleep details, heart rate history, and more. TicHealth is one of the watch’s key updates to the TicWatch Pro 5 model released in late 2023.
Other improvements found in the Enduro model compared to the Pro 5 model include a redesigned rotary knob, the use of sapphire crystal glass on the display instead of Gorilla Glass, a larger and clearer user interface display, and an ultra-low power display.
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Additionally, TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro comes with over 7,000 watch faces, and you can change the faces daily using the TimeShow app. The large 1.43-inch display supports all Wear OS apps, including Google Maps, Messages, Wallet, Keep Notes, and more. Calls and messaging work well through the connected phone, and the voice-to-text feature also works perfectly.
The Pro 5 Enduro measures 50.15 x 48 x 11.95 mm and the 7000 series aluminum and fiberglass nylon case weighs just 44.7 grams. The sapphire crystal display is scratch-resistant, and the 24mm watch band is extremely comfortable with convenient quick-release pins. This watch is extremely durable with a 5 ATM rating and MIL-STD-810H certification.
The device incorporates Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) for precise tracking, and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.2 enable easy connectivity to mobile phones and networks. However, the watch itself does not have mobile phone functionality.
ZDNET purchase advice
Looking for a Google Wear OS smartwatch with long battery life? Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro is the best option. The dual displays provide an interesting use case for ultra-low power modes, and the watch app provides comprehensive data.
It has a more traditional watch form factor than the smaller, sleeker Google Pixel Watch 2, and appears to be built for a more robust experience. However, it’s a nice looking watch with plenty of customizable options.
It mainly depends on the type of phone you’re pairing your watch with. Please note that Android smartwatches work better with Android smartphones (including app support). And because of the sheer number of brands that make Android watches, there are more styles and finishes available than what Apple offers. However, if you’re most comfortable using iOS, the Apple Watch may be your best bet.
