Note: This review was first published on 10 May 2024.
The Oppo Watch X was launched at the tail end of February 2024. It is the latest contender to arrive in Singapore in the ever-increasing space of modern Wear OS smartwatches. I say modern Wear OS because back in 2020, I reviewed the first Oppo Watch and remember saying that it was a very decent attempt at hardware that was completely letdown by software.
Google’s wearable ecosystem back then was abysmal. Only when Samsung ditched Tizen and embraced Wear OS from the Galaxy Watch4 onward, we’ve finally reached a stage where Android smartwatches are properly functional. If you’re just catching up, you can watch and read more of my thoughts on the latest Wear OS 4.0 in recent reviews of the Samsung Galaxy Watch6 series, Google Pixel Watch 2 and Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro.
As for the Oppo Watch X, first check out our in-depth hands-on with the device, which covers everything you need to know about its specs, features, and design. For this review, I will focus only on usage experience and performance aspects to keep things concise.
The TL;DR version:
The Oppo Watch X is a solid Wear OS smartwatch, but it needs to have its own unique X-factor to compete at the same level with Samsung and Google’s (Fitbit) offerings.”
Note: You can get the Oppo Watch X from the official Oppo store, Shopee, and Lazada.
The Experience
Other than Samsung using their own chipset, every other flagship Wear OS smartwatch I’ve tested this year uses the Qualcomm W5 Gen 1 chipset. Theoretically, they should all have very similar base performance and user experiences. Access to standard Play Store apps like WhatsApp, and how Google’s default apps—Maps, Gmail, Wallet—work on Wear OS are practically the same.
Oppo Watch X on-device app menu.
Every app you can use and install on any Wear OS watch, you can use on the Oppo Watch X as well.
Like Android smartphones then, Wear OS smartwatches are thus differentiated by brand customisation. And what Oppo brings to the table, unfortunately, isn’t enough to make the Watch X truly stand out. Let me explain. If you’ve read our hands-on (which you really should by now), the Watch X is deserving of its flagship-class status, with competent specifications that match well with the Galaxy Watches and Pixel Watches out there.
Sapphire crystal glass, speedy dual-band GPS, 1,000 nits high brightness mode, and advanced multi-path optical heart rate sensors are great to have, don’t get me wrong, but the Watch X lacks its very own X-factor.
For one, it doesn’t have any unique features like the bioelectric impedance sensor on the Samsung Galaxy Watch6 and Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro, the electrodermal activity sensor on the Google Pixel Watch 2, or other health capabilities like an ECG sensor. It also lacks some common features like a skin temperature sensor for advanced sleep and female menstrual health tracking. I was also surprised that there were almost no emergency safety features on the Watch X other than an SOS Mode. Maybe it's hidden in some sub-menu that I missed, but I wasn't able to find features like fall detection, medical ID, emergency contact, or safety check that's increasingly common for smartwatches and wearables.
The Oppo Watch X comes with their most advanced 8-channel optical heart rate sensor and 16-channel blood oxygen sensor.
Emergency SOS button is the only safety feature on the Watch X.
Oppo’s OHealth app is also the weakest link with barebone features outside of standard data reporting. There’s no gamification to make things easier to digest like Fitbit’s Daily Readiness Score; no sleep avatars; no community features like badges or activity sharing; no additional fitness-based options like in-app coaching or training courses. In fact, the Fitness menu only has two choices: Running and Walking. To this end, we need not compare it with Samsung and Google/Fitbit's apps. Even among other Chinese brands, Xiaomi’s Mi Fitness app is also quite bare, but still more fleshed out than Oppo’s offering, and Huawei's Health app is leagues ahead in terms of design and usability.
Oppo OHealth is as barebones as you can get with limited interactivity, community, or additional training features other than data display.
By comparison, the Huawei Health app is so feature-filled with activities.
Performance
Now, I mentioned that the Oppo Watch X is a competent smartwatch specs-wise, and I have no complaints here. The Watch X is speedy, responsive, and has an incredible battery life for a Wear OS device. With a 500mAh battery, Oppo has somehow managed to engineer it to last an entire work week with all its smart features, health sensors, and always-on display enabled. I've managed a 5-day average battery life, a feat only possible in other watches running in battery saver mode. It was so good at sipping battery that I’ve gone to sleep with 15% and woken up with a live watch. The Watch X even outlasted the Samsung Galaxy Watch5 Pro, which has a 590mAh battery and a smaller display. Now that’s impressive.
There are two main modes to choose from. Smart mode with everything turned on, and Power Saver mode which turns off most of the connectivity and smart features.
Dig deeper into the menus and you'd actually find a few more power saving features such as this Auto Hibernation mode, which is different from Sleep mode, to help to Watch X extend its battery life.
Workout tracking has also been smooth, and I did not encounter any hiccups like I did with the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro. Heart rate reporting is responsive in both outdoor running and indoor gym-based workouts. Heart rate zones and trends on the Watch X closely matched the Pixel Watch 2 when I wore them together for the same workout.
My only gripe is that Oppo does the same auto-countdown that Samsung defaults to when starting a outdoor run, which causes GPS tracking data to be erratic on every run as it isn’t always properly connected yet when the countdown ends. Unlike Samsung however, Oppo doesn’t seem to offer any option to disable this behaviour and switch back to a manual start. Do note that this only affects the beginning of a run, or any activity that's GPS-tracked. Once the GPS locks on, it is stable and reliable.
While heart rate data is comparable on the Watch X (dark screen) and Pixel Watch 2 (light screen), the forced auto-start countdown means that distance will be under-reported most of the time.
What I’ve noticed over the years is a vast improvement in run tracking analysis, and the Watch X doesn’t disappoint. If you’re into this sort of thing, the Watch X provides a host of running data including ground contact time and GCT balance and running power generation. Oppo also takes a page out of Huawei’s book by offering some unique custom exercise tracking on the Watch X such as Badminton mode that’s able to track your strokes and swing speed. Of course, you’ll need to be active in said sports to take advantage of the tracking offered. The most extreme activity I remember was on the Huawei Watch GT 3 Pro, which came with 30m free diving tracking. Now, that’s not something you see every day.
Runners will love the comprehensive running metrics on the Oppo Watch X.
Speaking of Huawei, the Oppo Watch X does give me Huawei Watch GT 4 vibes, from its size, shape, button configuration, to even the UI at a glance. I bring this up because I actually really like the Watch GT 4 design, and by proxy, the Oppo Watch X too. The difference of course is that the Huawei Watch GT 4 isn’t a full-fledged smartwatch, while the Oppo Watch X is.
The Oppo Watch X on the left look surprisingly similar to the Huawei Watch GT 4 on the right.
Conclusion
And here comes the kicker. The Oppo Watch X has a sticker price of S$499, though it is often found on discount. At the moment of writing, it’s S$449. At this price point, the Watch X is competitive against the Google Pixel Watch 2 (S$525) and Samsung Galaxy Watch6 Bluetooth 44mm (S$503).
Oppo clearly wants to put itself in a price advantage position where consumers may be willing to overlook the lack of additional unique features for a core Wear OS experience and better battery life. In essence, the Oppo Watch X feels more of a pure Wear OS device than the Pixel Watch 2.
However, once you factor in the greater Android smartwatch market, then it’s not so clear cut. The Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro features similar flagship-class specs and comparable Wear OS experience at a massively affordable S$300. And if you aren’t too fussed about having apps on your watch and just need essential notifications, the Huawei Watch GT 4 currently offers a more complete health and fitness package with almost two weeks of battery life starting at just S$250.
If you're interested in the Oppo Watch X, you can buy it from the official Oppo store, Shopee, and Lazada.
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