The State of Android Wearables: A Review of Mobvoi's TicWatch Pro 4G

When it comes to Android wearables, there are three platforms to consider: watchOS from Apple, Tizen, which is primarily used in Samsung devices, and finally, Wear OS, what Mobvoi is using here. By using Wear OS, Mobvoi gets leverage in already expansive app store, as well as Wear OS specific features, like the integrated Google Assistant.

Starting with the outside, the watch features an aluminum back cover, a large stainless steel bezel, and Gorilla Glass 3 to protect the screen from incidental scuffs and scratches. Underneath, you'll find not one but two displays: One is a 400 by 400 pixel AMOLED and the second is an ultra-low power LCD. This layered display technology is what gives the TicWatch Pro up to two days of full-featured battery life or up to 30 days of juice in what they call essential mode. So, even if you, like me, sometimes forget to top up overnight, you won't end up with a useless wrist weight the next day.

There's a nice screen, quality construction, but what about the features? While typing on the face of the watch is a bit awkward, it's manageable, but the easier route is just to use Google Assistant to do the heavy lifting. Setting timers for washing your hands, for instance, or starting a workout hands-free are both super easy. Just toggle the assistant and speak away. Navigation through Wear OS is swipe-based: You can swipe up to view your notifications, left and right to navigate through your open apps, and swipe down to access your quick access menu.

You can use the integrated Google Assistant to make phone calls hands-free, and if you already have third-party apps that you enjoy, you won't have any problems. Spotify worked just fine for us as well as other apps available on Wear OS. The Pro 4G delivers here, too, with Google's familiar Wear OS and Google Assistant integration, NFC payment capability, sleep tracking, and 24-hour heart rate monitoring all making an appearance.

As the name implies, there's 4G cellular connectivity alongside GPS, GLONASS, and BeiDou positioning systems for use in your fitness endeavors. The combination of heart rate monitoring and GPS tracking ended up working great. In our testing, we were able to accurately track a bike ride through its ups and downs, and the 4G means that going phoneless is actually possible with the right software combo.

Now Spotify couldn't do this for us on Wear OS but streaming directly from Google Play Music on the watch to wireless earbuds was no problem. On the inside, the RAM has been doubled from the last generation of TicWatch devices to a full gig, and with four gigs of storage onboard, you've got plenty of room for all the apps and watch faces that you could ever need.

In use, the hardware performed admirably, with navigation feeling snappy and lag-free. While I do wish that bezel rotation was an input option here and that's something I'd like to see in the future, I also understand why they left it out in favor of excellent Ingress Protection. When you need to recharge, the included charging puck snaps securely into place.

As far as function is concerned, the sharing of health data between the integrated TicWatch apps and third-party ones, like Strava and Google Fit, ended up working seamlessly. By navigating through TicHealth, you can find all your sleep and fitness data tracked nicely in easy-to-read graphs. The IP68 rating combined with the MIL-STD-810G certification means the watch should hold up under a huge range of conditions.

From the pool to the desert and to the ground, for example, so yeah. In summary, the TicWatch Pro 4G is a serious piece of kit with all the features you'd expect from a flagship Android Wear device, and at $300, the price isn't cheap but I would say that it is sane compared to other cellular-connected wearables.

Being able to leave the phone at home once in a while intentionally or otherwise is a nice comfort. Big thanks to Mobvoi for sponsoring this video. You guys can check out the TicWatch 4G Pro and save a few bucks with our offer code, LinusMobvoi. You're gonna get 25% off and we're gonna have that linked below.

And if you're interested in smartwatches and you're looking for another video to watch, why not check out our video on the Nubia Alpha for something that's neat, if a little bit less sensible than this one? Catch you in the next one, guys.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: en- The state of Androidwearables in the pasthas been, well, rocky, to say the least,so when Mobvoi reached out to sponsorthis video featuringtheir new flagship watch,the TicWatch Pro 4G, we were very curiousto see what they felt made it worthyof the Pro title.(upbeat electronic music)When it comes to Android wearables,for the most part there arethree platforms to consider,watchOS from Apple, Tizen,which is primarily usedin Samsung devices, and finally,Wear OS, what Mobvoi is using here.By using Wear OS, Mobvoi gets leveragein already expansive app store,as well as Wear OS specific features,like the integrated Google Assistant.Starting with the outside,the watch features an aluminum back cover,a large stainless steel bezel,and Gorilla Glass 3 to protect the screenfrom incidental scuffs and scratches.Underneath, you'll findnot one but two displays.One is a 400 by 400 pixel Amoledand the second is an ultra-low power LCD,so this layered display technologyis what gives the TicWatchPro up to two daysof full-featured battery lifeor up to 30 days of juicein what they call essential mode.So even if you, like me, sometimes forgetto top up overnight, you won't end upwith a useless wrist weight the next day.So, great.There's a nice screen,quality construction,but what about the features?While typing on the face of the watchis a bit awkward, it's manageable,but the easier route isjust to use Google Assistantto do the heavy lifting.Setting timers for washingyour hands, for instance,or starting a workout hands-freeare both super easy.Just toggle the assistant and speak away.Navigation through Wear OS is swipe-based.You can swipe up toview your notifications,left and right to navigatethrough your open apps,and swipe down to accessyour quick access menu.You can use the integratedGoogle Assistantto make phone calls hands-freeand, if you already have third party appsthat you enjoy, youwon't have any problems.Spotify worked just fine for usas well as other appsavailable on Wear OS.The Pro 4G delivers here, too,with Google's familiar Wear OSand Google Assistant integration,NFC payment capability, sleep tracking,and 24-hour heart rate monitoringall making an appearance.As the name implies, there's4G cellular connectivityalongside GPS, GLONASS, andBeiDou positioning systemsfor use in your fitness endeavors,and the combination ofheart rate monitoringand GPS tracking ended up working great.In our testing, we wereable to accurately tracka bike ride through its ups and downsand the 4G means that going phonelessis actually possible withthe right software combo.Now Spotify couldn't dothis for us on Wear OSbut streaming directlyfrom Google Play Musicon the watch to wirelessearbuds was no problem.On the inside, the RAM has been doubledfrom the last generationof TicWatch devicesto a full gig, and with fourgigs of storage onboard,you've got plenty of room for all the appsand watch faces that you could ever need.In use, the hardware performed admirably,with navigation feelingsnappy and lag-free,and while I do wish that bezel rotationwas an input option hereand that's somethingI'd like to see in the future,I also understand why they left it outin favor of excellent Ingress Protection.When you need to recharge,the included charging pucksnaps securely into placeand my only preferred update herewould have been to havesome angle built into itfor improved readability on my nightstand.I'm probably not the only one who charges,well, everything on their nightstandwhen they go to sleep.Now as far as function is concerned,the sharing of health databetween the integratedTicWatch apps and third party ones,like Strava and Google Fit,ended up working seamlessly.By navigating through TicHealth,you can find all yoursleep and fitness datais tracked nicely in easy-to-read graphs,and the IP68 rating combinedwith the MIL-STD-810Gcertification means thewatch should hold upunder a huge range of conditions,from the pool to the desert and to the(watch smashes)ground, for example.So, yeah.(children cheering)In summary, the TicWatch Pro 4Gis a serious piece ofkit with all the featuresyou'd expect from aflagship Android Wear deviceand at $300, the price isn't cheap,but I would say that it is sane,compared to othercellular-connected wearables,which really is a premiumfeature right now.So it's a competent, everyday carry watchwith all the fitness integrationsand connectivity we expect,and while I personallyam not gonna be goingfull phoneless any time soon,being able to leave the phoneat home once in a while,intentionally or otherwise,is a nice comfort.Big thanks to Mobvoi forsponsoring this video.You guys can check out the TicWatch 4G Proand save a few bucks withour offer code, LinusMobvoi.You're gonna get 25% off and we'regonna have that linked below,and if you're interested in smart watchesand you're looking foranother video to watch,why not check out ourvideo on the Nubia Alphafor something that's neat,if a little bit lesssensible than this one?(laughing) Catch youin the next one, guys.\n"