Following on from the TicWatch Pro 3, Mobvoi has announced the TicWatch Pro S, a smartwatch that carries some of the distinctive TicWatch features, such as a “Dual Display” featuring an always-on LCD screen on an AMOLED screen lies for longer battery life, and some personal health programs, for a slightly more affordable price of $ 259.99. But the older legs of the device may not make it that nice.
The TicWatch Pro S costs $ 40 less than the Pro 3, but the price comes with fairly large compromises. In the first place an old processor. As we highlight in our review, the more expensive TicWatch Pro 3 has a new Snapdragon 4100 that offers more processing power and battery efficiency to address a long-standing issue with Wear OS. But the TicWatch Pro S instead finishes with an old Snapdragon 2100, a processor that has been kicking on Wear OS devices since at least 2016.
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And although the TicWatch Pro S is actually slightly thicker than the Pro 3 (12.6 mm by 12.2 mm) and only slightly narrower (45 mm wide versus 47 mm), it is also saddled with a smaller battery. Compared to the Pro 3’s 577mAh battery, the Pro S has only 415mAh left. In another case, it may be an insignificant difference, but if battery life was an area that needed to be improved for most Wear OS watches, it should not be ignored.
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The slight change in size also does not seem to make a big difference for anyone who would find the TicWatch Pro 3 too large.
The TicWatch Pro S’s always-on-screen option is neat and can offer longer battery life than your average Wear OS device, but if it’s on the inside of a Wear OS watch five years ahead, it’s worth it worth pausing and reconsidering how much that extra $ 40 is worth to you.
The TicWatch Pro S is available today in the US, UK and Europe for $ 259.99 from Mobvoi’s website and Amazon.