TicWatch Pro
The TicWatch Pro was a tank I expected to wear for a month and send back, but that hybrid display and seemingly endless battery were too wonderful to give up. Yes, it's a huge watch, but it's a huge watch that can do more and do it better than most of the competition.
TicWatch C2
The TicWatch C2 can't fit quite as many sensors or features into its smaller frame, but the two sizing options and beautiful metal housing make it a more flexible watch. This is a watch you can wear to formal events or nights out with friends just as much as to the gym.
I'm going to say more about these watches, but at the end of the day, your choice here is going to come down to one simple question: How big of a watch are you willing to put up with? We can talk about the battery, we can talk about screen sizes and navigation and fitness, but none of it is going to matter if you can't stand a big watch.
It's OK if you can't. Neither of these TicWatches are bad products, but your size tolerance and your feature dedication are going to count for a lot when deciding between them.
Is battery worth the bulk?
The TicWatch Pro's quirky hybrid display and the black magic it weaves with the battery is lovely, and I am genuinely hoping that it becomes the standard for Wear OS because it is just that good. Using an old-fashioned LCD to display the time and step count instead of some minimalist AMOLED always-on display is brilliant and does wonders not only for battery life but the overall glanceability of the watch. This retro watch face is easy to read in hard sunlight and dim classrooms, and at far more angles.
The benefits to the battery from this hybrid display are immense, and the larger 1.39-inch screen makes it easier to read and especially to navigate Wear OS on the TicWatch Pro. It's also got just about every fitness and tracking sensor you could imagine inside this tank of a watch, and you feel that bulk with the Pro far, far more than you do with the C2. The C2 is still a thick smartwatch, but it sculpts itself in ways that hide watch's pudgy plastic underbelly against your wrist.
| Header Cell - Column 0 | Mobvoi TicWatch Pro | Mobvoi TicWatch C2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $241 | $200 |
| Dimensions | 45mm x 12.6mm | 42.8mm, 12.7mm |
| Colors | Black/Black, Silver/Black | Onyx, Platinum, Rose Gold |
| Watch housing | Stainless steel bezel and backplate Plastic frame | Stainless steel front and frame Plastic backplate |
| Display | 1.39" OLED 400x400px FSTN display | 1.3" AMOLED 360x360px |
| Chipset | Snapdragon Wear 2100 | Snapdragon Wear 2100 |
| Memory | RAM: 512MB Storage: 4GB | RAM: 512MB Storage: 4GB |
| GPS | GPS + GLONASS + Beidou + Galileo | GPS + GLONASS + Beidou |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth v4.2 Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n 2.4 Ghz NFC | Bluetooth v4.1 Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n NFC |
| Battery | 415mAh Regular Wear OS: 2 days Essential Mode: 30 days | 400mAh 1-2 days |
| Water resistance | IP68 dustproof, waterproof Not recommended for swimming | IP68 dustproof, waterproof Not recommended for swimming |
| Sensors | Accelerometer Gyroscope PPG Heart Rate sensor Magnetic Sensor Ambient Light Sensor Low Latency Off-Body Sensor | Accelerometer Gyroscope Heart Rate sensor |
The TicWatch C2 is a testament to how far we've come with "cute" smartwatches.
Before the TicWatch Pro came into my life, I was flip-flopping between an aging, but prettier LG Watch Style and a cheap but health-tracking TicWatch E. The TicWatch C2 is a testament to how far we've come with "cute" smartwatches. When I bought my LG Watch Style in early 2017, I had to make a compromising choice between a watch that worked well and a watch that looked good. The C2 may not be the perfect smartwatch by any means, and yeah, its battery life isn't going to beat the Pro's hybrid evolution. But the C2 works perfectly fine, has GPS, Gyroscopic, and HR fitness tracking — and NFC payments, which I really wish I used more — and it looks good doing it.
The TicWatch Pro is a bigger, better watch. The hybrid screen is impressive, and I'm going to be hard-pressed to give it up anytime soon, but I've put up with brutish, shackle-sized smartwatches for years. And if you don't want to do that, then don't think twice about buying the C2 instead. It's an adequate, affordable, and potentially adorable smartwatch that should serve you well for years to come.
While the Snapdragon Wear 2100 in both the C2 and the Pro work fine, the 3100 is the first significant processor bump in a while. Therefore, it'd be wise to see what manufacturers can turn out with it before dropping this much on a watch running on the old processor. If you really want to take your smartwatch game to the next level, we suggest checking out our review of the new TicWatch Pro 4G/LTE.
This unique watch is highly capable, but it's massive
The TicWatch Pro is one of the most capable smartwatches on the market today, and it's great for those who want a fitness watch that can track even the most extended workouts or for enthusiasts that want a smartwatch that won't die through a long, long day of constant notifications and watch-checking.
This stylish watch can almost do it all.
About the only thing the TicWatch C2 is really missing is an ambient light sensor. It's got GPS, NFC, HR tracking, and a profile that can fit a lot more wrists without looking like a prop from some 80's spy movie.
TicWatch Pro 4G/LTE ($279 at Amazon)
Eager to level up your smartwatch game? The new TicWatch Pro 4G/LTE is the answer (for Verizon customers). Leave your phone at home while still having the ability to use data and get notifications, calls, and texts.
