Movado Connect 2.0 Review
The smartwatch is available in over 20 colours and designs!
Smartwatches – the next best thing to buy after you buy a smartphone. There are numerous options available in the market. You get to choose from different sizes, different OS and different specs. There is always confusion over which one you should go for. Though Google’s Wear OS has been criticised for the features it offers and the limited functionalities, there are several manufacturers who are sticking with Google wear OS. One of them is Movado. Let’s take a look at the latest version of Movado’s smartwatch – the Movado Connect 2.0. This was released almost 2 years after the first one. This watch aims to bring in more features than its predecessor.
Specs
The Movado connect has a very simple and minimalistic design that is designed to attract users. This is something that it succeeds in doing quite easily. The watch is designed just like any other watch – round and flat. It is powered with a 1.39-inch AMOLED screen which, in the long term, will help with the longevity of the battery life. The watch is tightly packed leaving no space between the strap and the head of the watch. This is something that you do not get to see in most of the smartwatches that are manufactured these days. It is more than likely that you will get compliments about the watch.
For the price tag that the watch is sold, users would expect that the material used to build the watch is sturdy and reliable. Thankfully, it is so. Unfortunately, the glass can easily pick up scratches. On the other hand, it has also been rated as IPX8 water-resistant, which means that the watch can withstand the pressure of water when submerged in up to 3 ft.
Design
There is just one button on the side which helps in activating the Google Assistant when pressed. Though you will have to miss out on other buttons that are available in other smartwatches. The least Movado could have done was to have a rotating crown to ensure that users are able to scroll through the menu using the crown, but they have decided to give this a miss. You will have to swipe through the menu when you want to scroll through.
Though the watch looks huge when put on, this is just an impression of the large straps. One of the biggest downsides of the watch is that you will not be able to change the bands of the strap. You will be stuck with the same band that you purchase. While there are more than 20 varieties to choose from, this could turn out to be a costly event depending on the one you choose. Though there are multiple options, there are five versions that you can choose from – the silicone strap, the dark grey ion-plated stainless steel case, the gold version of the ion-plated stainless steel case and the ion-plated stainless steel bracelet that come in the normal variant and the silver variant.
Performance
With a high-resolution AMOLED 1.39-inch display, it is surprising that Movado has managed to get a high-resolution display of 400 x 400x pixels. The display is quite sharp, and you will not notice any grainy pixels that have been observed in other smartwatches. There are tons of watch faces to choose from and the best part of all is that Movado has pre-installed their own choices of watch faces. These are fantastic and a highlight of the model.
Another advantage of having this Movado watch is that it automatically goes into the monochrome ambient mode which helps in saving the battery. When you try to see the dial in the direct sunlight, it automatically adjusts its brightness so that you can have a clear look at the screen. One of their best pre-installed watch faces is the Day to Night watch face – something that transforms from light mode to dark mode as the day progresses from morning to night. Since this watch runs on Wear OS, you will get multiple options in-store.
The watch is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear 2100 processor that has been coupled with 512 MB of RAM. The user experience in terms of transition is smooth. The apps that have been packed on the watch load without much of a lag. The notifications instantly pop-up on the smartwatch when it is connected with the phone. You will also be able to respond to WhatsApp messages or normal text messages.
Battery Life
The battery of the smartwatch will naturally depend on the functions you are using. If you have enabled GPS and always have the brightness on high instead of Auto, then the watch will last about a day or so. If you have only the basic fitness tracking and notifications enabled, you can use it for quite a bit longer. In this case, you will be able to enjoy about three days before you need to charge it.
The Movado 2.0 has a battery saver mode that comes to the rescue when you are in desperate need of a charge. In this mode, only the analogue watch face will be available, and most features will be disabled. You can return to normal functions by rebooting the watch.
Final verdict
The Movado Connect 2.0 smartwatch looks spectacular, albeit a bit large. It is light in weight, has an impressive battery, and offers a whole lot of features. If you are using it for fitness, it can track most workout routines quite perfectly. Unfortunately, the WatchOS doesn’t offer a fluid experience. However, it is expected to improve with the updates. If you are okay with the occasional slow working, this is a great option to consider as it has tons of other features to offer you. Despite the thick bezels, it is quite stylish. The buttons of the side can be customized, allowing you more freedom to use it the way you want to.
