Winner: TicWatch E2
The TicWatch E2 may not be the best Wear OS smartwatch in the market. But between these two entry-level watches, the E2 provides the better value.
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TicWatch GTX vs. TicWatch E2
When it comes to budget-priced smartwatches, you have two options from Mobvoi’s TicWatch product line. You either go for the most affordable but basic TicWatch GTX, or you can go with their budget Wear OS watches, the S2 and E2.
However, one problem is that the price gap between the S2/E2 and the GTX is pretty big. And this will eventually confuse first-time consumers on which model is more worth it. If you have the same dilemma, then you have come to the right place.
In this article, we will be comparing TicWatch GTX against the TicWatch E2. We will go through the aesthetics, build quality, display, features, and software experience. And by the end, we will crown our pick.
We will also list down some alternatives for you to check out in case you are willing to extend your budget. If you are interested in learning more about these watches, make sure to check out their respective full reviews.
TicWatch Brand Overview
Mobvoi is a tech company based in Beijing, China. The primary goal of this company is the integration and advancement of voice AI communication.
It was in 2014 when Mobvoi started venturing into the consumer electronics market. They developed an Android-based smartwatch operating system called TicWear OS. And soon after, they worked together with Frog Design to release the TicWatch.
The TicWatch brand differentiated itself from other smartwatches by having a strong integration with their AI technology. Its launch was very successful and only trails behind the Apple Watch in the domestic Chinese market.
Today, Mobvoi continues to bring its expertise to the smartwatch market with the newer versions of the TicWatch. And with each new iteration, TicWatch gets one step closer to fulfilling its dream of ushering in the next generation of human and computer interaction.
Packaging and Unboxing Experience
Winner: TicWatch E2
It is very apparent that Mobvoi spends a lot of time and effort when it comes to the packaging of their products. Even the boxes of budget options such as the E2 and the GTX will surely attract potential customers.
The box that the GTX comes in sports an all-black finish with a relatively clean design. The interior part of the packaging is less impressive but still gets the job done. It does not come with too many fancy accessories but has all the essentials.
The TicWatch E2 does a slightly better job with its presentation. It also comes in a professional-looking all-black box that looks more premium than its asking price. But this time around, the interior is just as good-looking as the exterior portion of the box.
We’ll give a slight edge to the TicWatch E2, but both watches impressed us in terms of their packaging.
Design and Build Quality
Overall Winner: TicWatch E2
Right off the bat, the TicWatch GTX shows how competitive it is with its design. Its aesthetics are very reminiscent of more expensive watches such as the Huawei Watch GT 2. Its looks are inspired by classic wristwatches and even have some engraving on the watch face.
Of course, the overall quality isn’t up to par with the likes of the GT 2, but we highly appreciate more daring aesthetic choices such as these. Another great design choice is the use of metal. Mobvoi doesn’t reveal what exact materials are used but based on the feel, and we think the watch is made of a combination of metal and plastic. There is no official certification on the watch but based on its feel, we believe the watch will get through daily use just fine.
Another great addition to the GTX’s design is the two side buttons. And despite not having the ability to customize the second button, having a shortcut for workouts is always handy.
The Ticwatch E2, on the other hand, is quite disappointing in terms of its design, especially when compared to the TicWatch GTX. Mobvoi took a very safe approach by making the E2 look as minimalistic as possible.
There aren’t any engravings or crazy design elements on the watch. All you get is an all-black design that doesn’t have too many complex parts. Part of the reason why the watch doesn’t feel too premium is because of the materials used.
The entire watch is made of polycarbonate plastic which doesn’t look as great as watches made of aluminum. It does have a US Military Standard 810G rating, which makes it a very reliable watch. However, we would argue that the design is just as important as the reliability of the watch.
Another issue that we have with the TicWatch E2 is its single-side button design. Having a second button would greatly help with navigating Wear OS. Not having it on this watch feels like a massive misstep from Mobvoi.
We would still give this round to the TicWatch E2 simply because it is the better-built smartwatch. However, the GTX could certainly surpass the E2 if it were to be upgraded to match the E2’s specs and price.
Display Quality
Winner: TicWatch E2
Despite its daring and fresh take on the design, the TicWatch GTX could not outrun its limitations. And those limitations are very apparent when it comes to the display.
The TicWatch GTX only uses a TFT LCD display which is nowhere near as good as AMOLED displays. It does not get as bright, as detailed, or as vibrant as the E2’s display. In fact, the GTX only has three brightness levels.
This is a big issue for users who wish to use the GTX in bright and sunny areas. Of course, the GTX’s display is still usable. However, it will surely not satisfy most users.
The TicWatch E2, on the other hand, is the complete opposite. It is rocking an AMOLED display, which is far superior to the GTX. Its implementation is also very good. We have even praised the E2’s display as its best aspect during our review.
Additionally, the TicWatch E2 utilizes Corning Gorilla Glass 3 to protect its screen. This means that minor bumps and drops shouldn’t damage the watch and thus gives you the confidence to use it outdoors.
Features
Winner: TicWatch E2
When it comes to the features, the TicWatch E2 completely beats the basic TicWatch GTX. With the use of Wear OS, the TicWatch E2 is basically a pocket-friendly Android device.
Just like with modern Android smartphones, the E2 gives you the option to respond to notifications via text input, voice, or on-screen gestures. Additionally, the TicWatch E2 has access to the Google Play Store, giving it the ability to install apps.
The GTX covers most of the basic features. It has limited notification support that is only capable of showing notifications from allowed apps. It also has an optical heart rate sensor as well as a built-in accelerometer.
The GTX also has basic features such as a stopwatch, timer, weather, flashlight, and find my phone. It also has music control which is nice to have but a feature that I often do not find useful. However, it has no internal storage and cannot connect to Bluetooth headphones.
The only possible edge that the GTX has over the E2 is the built-in sleep tracking feature. However, the results that you get aren’t very in-depth and are not up to par with watches such as the Huawei Watch GT 2 and GT 2e.
Health and Fitness Tracking
Winner: TicWatch E2
Another area where the GTX lacks is health and fitness tracking. It does have some basic features but is limited due to only having an optical heart rate scanner and accelerometer. Additionally, it only has 14 workout modes which are considerably less than most fitness trackers.
The TicWatch E2, on the other hand, is also not the most impressive watch when it comes to health and fitness tracking. However, both the stock Google and Mobvoi apps do a far better job than the GTX.
Additionally, the TicWatch E2 also gives you the ability to install third-party fitness apps that offer even more workout routines. Some of the workouts found on apps such as Fitify are not available on competing watches.
Watch Software Performance
Overall Winner: TicWatch E2
One area where the TicWatch GTX almost beats the E2 is in the software performance. Despite utilizing the Wear OS platform, the software experience is quite disappointing on the E2.
The TicWatch utilizes the older Snapdragon 2100 processor and only pairs it with 500 MB of RAM. These produce a sluggish and laggy experience that isn’t very impressive even at its budget price point.
Opening apps are slow and essential apps such as the Play Store often crash. The watch is still usable. And there are even some ways to potentially speed up the Wear OS experience.
You can go to developer options to adjust animations. However, we believe that a good product should be ready to go out of the box and should not need user modifications to make it usable.
The TicWatch GTX, on the other hand, is way smoother compared to the E2. It utilizes proprietary software that is meant to take advantage of the GTX’s lower specs.
Some of the icons even take inspiration from the E2’s software which helps solidify the GTX’s identity as a member of the TicWatch family.
Unfortunately, those aren’t enough to beat the E2 since the E2 still has more customizability and functionality. However, this easily proves that Mobvoi made a massive error with optimizing the E2’s software.
Watch Faces
Winner: TicWatch E2
Despite having a great software experience, the TicWatch GTX’s watch faces are fairly lackluster. You get a limited selection from the Mobvoi app with no option to import custom watch faces. You also cannot download third-party watch face apps for the GTX.
But the worst part about the GTX’s watch face experience is the very slow syncing. Adding a new watch face could take several minutes. This has discouraged us from checking out the other watch faces.
The E2, on the other hand, handles watch faces much better. There are already great options right out of the box. But through third-party apps found on the Play Store, you can truly customize the watch to fit your aesthetics.
Lots of apps such as A/D Watch Faces, Facer, and the Pixel Watch Face offer plenty of options. Facer, in particular, has a wide variety of options, including simple and elegant watch faces to flashy and futuristic-looking watch faces.
Of course, we don’t recommend watch faces that have too many on-screen elements since it can slow down the watch. But again, simply having the option beats out any of the GTX’s watch faces.
Battery Life
Winner: TicWatch GTX
The TicWatch GTX has better battery life compared to the E2. However, this is to be expected given that Wear OS watches do not have great battery life.
The GTX can easily last up to a week, even when using most of its features. This means that you won’t be carrying another device that has to be constantly recharged.
The Ticwatch E2, on the other hand, only lasts for a maximum of two days. And while we would have preferred a slightly longer battery life, this is the tax that you have to pay with Wear OS watches.
In terms of their chargers, both the GTX and E2’s chargers aren’t great. They both feature non-removable cables, which makes them a pain to carry around.
Another thing to take note of is that the magnets on the GTX aren’t very strong. However, this isn’t an issue for the GTX, considering that you only ever see it once a week.
Comparison Winner: TicWatch E2
Out of these two budget watches, we would choose the TicWatch E2. Its advanced functionality and overall value simply cannot be beaten by the TicWatch GTX. However, with the E2’s issues in its software, it also won’t be our first choice when it comes to Wear OS watches.
If you can further extend your budget, we highly suggest going straight to the TicWatch C2+ since it provides a better Wear OS experience. And if you want a more budget-friendly watch that has a similar software experience to the TicWatch GTX, we highly recommend the Huawei Watch GT 2e.
Specifications
Mobvoi TicWatch GTX |
Mobvoi TicWatch E2 |
|
| Brand | Mobvoi | Mobvoi |
| Model | TicWatch GTX | TicWatch E2 |
| Screen Size | 1.28” TFT LCD | 1.39” AMOLED Display |
| Screen Protection | No Official Certification | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Screen Resolution | 240 x 240 pixel | 400 x 400 pixel |
| Pixel Density | – | 407 PPI |
| Input Type | 2 Physical Buttons | 1 physical button/Touch Screen |
| Watch Dimensions | 48.7 x 48.7 x 11mm | 46.6 x 51.8 x 12.9mm |
| Weight | 57.6 grams | 53.2 grams |
| Watch Case Material | Stainless Steel | Polyamide & glass fiber |
| Bezel Material | Stainless Steel | Polycarbonate |
| Watch Design | Circular, Curved | Circular, Curved |
| Strap Size | 20 mm | 22 mm |
| Watch Colors | Black | Midnight(black), Glacier(white) |
| Water Resistance | IP68 | Waterproof (5ATM) |
| Swim-proof | Not recommended | Yes, recommended |
| NFC | Not Supported | Not Supported |
| GPS | No | With GLONASS |
| CONNECTIVITY Wi-fi |
No | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| SENSORS Accelerometer | Yes | Yes |
| Heart Rate | Yes | Yes |
| Compass | No | No |
| Gyroscope | No | Yes |
| Altimeter | No | No |
| SPO2 | No | No |
| Elevation | No | Yes |
| Ambient Light | No | No |
| Barometer | No | No |
| FITNESS TRACKING Sleep tracking |
Yes | Yes |
| Steps | Yes | Yes |
| Floors Climbed | No | No |
| Heart Rate Monitoring | Yes | Yes |
| Calories | Yes | Yes |
| Distance | Yes | Yes |
| Stress | No | Yes |
| VO2 Max | – | Yes |
| Blood Oxygen | No | No |
| Blood Pressure | No | No |
| Menstrual cycle tracking | No | No |
| Swim tracking | No | No |
| Underwater heart rate tracking |
No | No |
| On-screen workout modes | No | No |
| Triathlon mode | No | No |
| ECG tracking | No | No |
| Preloaded sport modes | Yes | Yes |
| Safety tracking | No | No |
| Battery Life | Regular: up to 7 days Battery Saver Mode: 10 days |
Standby: 2 days+; Mixed usage: 1 day+ |
| Battery Technology | Li-Ion | Li-Ion |
| Charging Time | About 1-2 Hours | About 1-2 Hours |
| Charging Type | USB based charging dock | USB based charging dock |
| Compatible OS | Android iOS |
Android iOS |
| NOTIFICATIONS Email Alert |
Yes | Yes |
| SMS Alert | Yes | Yes |
| Calls Alert | Yes | Yes |
| Event Reminder | Yes | Yes |
| Weather | Yes | Yes |
| Third-party Apps | Yes | Yes |
| MEDIA Audio |
No | mp3/mp4 |
| Music Streaming | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth Music | No | Yes |
| Radio | No | No |
| Loud Speaker | No | Yes |
| Microphone | No | Yes |
| CLOCK FEATURES Time/Date |
Yes | Yes |
| Stopwatch | Yes | Yes |
| Alarm | Yes | Yes |
| OTHER FUNCTIONS Control camera | No | Yes |
| Music Control | Yes | Yes |
| Find Phone | Yes | Yes |
| Text Response | No | Yes(Android Only) |
| Answer Call | No | Yes |
| MISC Payment System |
No | No |
| Companion App | Mobvoi App | Mobvoi App |
| Customizable watch face | Yes | Yes |
| Interchangeable band | Yes | Yes |
| Voice command | No | Yes |
| Internal Storage | 16 MB | 4 GB |
| Operating system | Proprietary OS | Wear OS by Google™ |
