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TicWatch S2 vs. TicWatch E2
Android wearables come in all sorts of forms. There are basic fitness trackers from the likes of Huawei and Amazfit, and there are also more advanced offerings from the likes of Suunto and Garmin.
But the most popular watches for Android are the ones that utilize Google’s Wear OS platform. Their advanced functionality makes them the closest thing to a miniature Android device.
However, their advanced functionalities and hardware command a higher asking price.
Luckily, there are now budget alternatives such as the TicWatch S2 and Ticwatch E2.
And while they are not perfect, they serve as the perfect entry point for potential customers who want to gauge whether or not Wear OS is for them.
Join us as we dissect the differences between these two watches. We will go over their build quality, features, fitness, and health tracking performance, and software experience.
And by the end of our comparison, you will have a better idea of which watch will fit your lifestyle. Keep on scrolling to learn more.
Please note, we purchased the TicWatch S2 and E2 directly from mobvoi.com on 03/04/2021, click here to check their current prices.
TicWatch Brand Overview
Mobvoi Information Technology Company Limited is a tech company based in Beijing, China. They were founded in 2012 by Google AI experts, Nokia employees, and researchers from top universities such as Harvard and Cambridge. The primary goal of this company is the integration and advancement of voice AI communication.
Some of their revolutionary products include voice search engines featured on WeChat. Mobvoi has also developed its own voice search app engine called Chumenwenwen.
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 their 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.
Learn more about Mobvoi in our full TicWatch Brand Review.
Packaging and Unboxing Experience
Mobvoi always delivers when it comes to the packaging of their products.
Everything from the high-end TicWatch Pro 3 to the more budget-friendly TicWatch C2+ gave a very exciting unboxing experience. The TicWatch S2 and E2 are no exception.
Both watches have very similar packaging. Both come in a small and compact box that houses all the goods. Everything from the font used to the box art is very professional, which makes the unboxing experience feel very premium. The unboxing is rather straightforward and encourages you to try out the watches immediately.
Design and Build Quality
The TicWatch S2 and E2 are very similar watches. You might even think they are the same watches when viewed from afar. The differences only start showing when you take a closer look at these watches.
The TicWatch S2 was designed with the fitness and sports-oriented consumer in mind. The E2, on the other hand, was designed for more casual users. Thus, the design philosophies of these watches reflect their target audience.
The TicWatch S2 has a bulkier design that is very similar to competing sports watches. It has a single flat button on the side that is designed to be easy to press without interfering with the movements of your wrist.
Mobvoi has chosen to add some flair by having markings on the bezel of the watch. However, the stealthy and low profile look is still maintained.
The TicWatch E2 takes a similar approach to the E2. But this time around, the look is a lot simpler. There are no bezel markings, and the casing of the watch is completely round, meaning it is less bulky. The design is pretty simple but can potentially look bland for some.
Both watches use the exact same materials. They are mostly made of plastic, but Mobvoi has given them a US Military Standard 810G rating, meaning they can easily withstand daily use, unintentional bumps, and accidents. The materials used also make them very light watches.
The only downside is that these two watches do not feel as premium as competing watches made with more premium materials such as aluminum. The use of plastic makes these watches more of a piece of tech rather than a luxurious item. This may not be an issue for most users, but we believe that smartwatches should look as good as they perform.
Strap
The strap designs between these two watches are a bit different. They are both made of silicone, they are interchangeable, and they both have the same feel. The only difference is the design.
The TicWatch S2’s default strap has a pretty simple design with only a wave pattern to add some texture. The E2’s strap, on the other hand, has a more complex 2-layer look where the middle part is deeper than the rest of the strap. They aren’t very different when in use and should not be a deciding factor.
Display
The TicWatch S2 and E2 both use the same high-quality AMOLED display that is capable of displaying sharp and vibrant images. Throughout our testing, both screens were able to reach optimal brightness for both indoor and outdoor conditions. Also, the image quality of these watches perfectly compliments the well-designed icons of Wear OS.
Additionally, both watches utilize Corning Gorilla Glass 3 for their glass protection. This ensures that the TicWatch S2 and E2’s screen can be used without the fear of scuffs, scratches, or even shattering.
In terms of its size and resolution, the TicWatch S2 and E2 both have a 1.39” display with a screen resolution of 400×400 pixels. Both are wide enough to fit the various Google Wear OS elements. Custom watch faces also looked great on both screens, and small widgets and details could be easily seen.
Features
The Wear OS platform inherently gives the TicWatch S2 and E2 lots of features. They easily beat competing for entry-level watches when it comes to their features.
Both watches are both running the latest version of Wear OS (Wear OS 2.25). This gives them compatibility with most apps on the Play Store as well as optimizations from Google.
Noteworthy features of the TicWatch S2 and E2 include their well-implemented notification support, essential smartwatch features such as weather, reminders, alarms, the Google voice assistant, and app installations via the Google Play Store.
Notifications, in particular, are well done in both watches. Not only are they grouped well, but you also have the ability to reply to certain notifications such as messages using your voice, the onscreen keyboard, or via handwriting gestures.
In terms of app installations, most apps are supported by these two watches. The selection was pretty big, and we were able to find most apps that we were looking for.
There are great-looking watch faces with good customizability, such as A/D Watch Faces and Google Pixel Watch Face. There are also unique apps such as “Drink Water Reminder” and the “Wash Hands Reminder” that are built into these two watches.
However, there are some noteworthy features that are missing on both watches. Since both watches lack a speaker, answering phone calls is not possible. You will also have to manually read Google Assistant’s answers which kind of defeats its purpose.
Both watches also lack NFC, meaning they are incapable of doing cashless transactions via Google Pay. And lastly, both watches lack a built-in sleep tracking app.
To be fair, most Wear OS watches lack native sleep tracking since it isn’t part of the Wear OS platform. Mobvoi has addressed this via TicSleep app.
However, TicSleep is currently not supported on these two watches. There are alternatives found on the Play Store, but we did not find one that worked automatically and flawlessly.
Health and Fitness Tracking
The TicWatch S2 and E2 offer the same fitness and health tracking features. Both feature preinstalled apps from Mobvoi and Google, as well as the ability to add more from the Google Play Store.
The stock apps already feel great and have all the basic workout modes, and health tracking features found on most smartwatches. Both Google Fit and TicHealth/TicExercise have in-depth activities with fairly accurate data to help you improve and be more efficient. Additionally, the GPS was also quick to lock in my location and worked flawlessly.
There are some minor differences between the presentation of these two apps. Mobvoi has opted to use a more traditional approach when displaying health stats. TicHealth shows your active hours, steps, calories burnt, heart rate, etc., and also gives you the ability to set your goals.
Google Health, on the other hand, shows your stats as heart points. This condenses the information to help you understand your stats easier. The graphics used makes the UI very similar to a video game which can surely appeal to non-fitness enthusiasts. Additionally, Google
One thing to note is that you have to use the TicHealth App to get continuous heart rate monitoring. Google’s heart rate monitoring app requires manual activation.
Since you can alternate between Google and TicWatch apps, this normally wouldn’t be an issue. However, since these apps do not share data, this can become a bit annoying.
Additionally, both apps require separate accounts. This makes a lot of sense for the security of your personal data. However, it can become a tedious process for users who have never used TicWatch’s services.
Overall, while these two watches lack in-depth features such as a personal coach, both watches will serve casual users very well.
Software Experience – Slightly Fix
Unfortunately, the software experience is where these two watches fumble. Since they are both budget-priced watches, some compromises are to be expected. And unfortunately, those compromises were made on the spec sheet.
The TicWatch S2 and E2 are both utilizing the now outdated Qualcomm Snapdragon 2100 processor that was first introduced in 2016.
This isn’t the main problem since other TicWatch watches such as the TicWatch C2+ and TicWatch Pro 2020 also use them.
However, the real problem is that these watches are only using 512 MB of RAM. This greatly affects its performance and creates a very negative user experience.
This is quite a shame given how many features these two watches are capable of. And add the fact that Google’s Wear OS platform isn’t well optimized; you get a subpar user experience.
Both the S2 and E2 had decent performance right out of the box. Aside from slow updates and initializations, they initially worked well. However, the problems start to show once you start using these watches and populate them with apps.
Navigating the UI worked most of the time. However, there were lots of instances where the UI became laggy and unresponsive. This was very annoying, especially when trying to check the notifications or quickly trying to launch apps.
Opening both third-party and preinstalled apps were also slow. This was apparent with third-party apps such as A/D Watch Faces. Apps with lots of customization options were very demanding, and these watches simply could not keep up. Even opening Google Play Store was troublesome and often encountered crashes.
And to add up to the list of issues, key features such as the Google Assistant do not work consistently. Sometimes, the Google Assistant will not correctly register commands. And in some instances, the Google Assistant can altogether stop working.
There are 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.
Don’t get us wrong. Even with the problems with its software, these two watches are still perfectly usable. However, if you are expecting a smartphone-like performance, you will be disappointed.
Battery Life
Unfortunately, the battery life of these watches isn’t particularly good. Again, this isn’t Mobvoi’s fault since Wear OS watches aren’t particularly well-known for their battery life.
Mobvoi claims that the TicWatch S2 and E2 could last up to two days. While this is possible, we could only last up to a day while using most of the features. Using the essential mode can prolong their battery life. However, we think that defeats the purpose of these watches.
The magnetic charger of these watches isn’t great either. The chargers feature non-removable cables, which means that you have to carry the whole charger around with you if you were to go on a road trip.
If you hate having another device that needs to be recharged daily, then neither of these watches will potentially appeal to you.
Comparison Winner – Tie
Apart from some small differences, the TicWatch S2 and E2 are pretty much the same. They have the same features, the same software, and the same hardware specifications. So if you were to choose between these two, we highly advise choosing based on their aesthetics.
The TicWatch S2 has an interesting design with small details, while the TicWatch E2 keeps things simple. Either way, both are well built, but neither watch will truly impress consumers who are looking for a premium-looking smartwatch.
Still unsure and want to dive deeper? See our full detailed review of the TicWatch S2 and we reviewed the TicWatch E2 here.
But if you are looking for a more stylish alternative with better software performance, we highly advise checking out our review of the TicWatch C2+.
And if you want Mobvoi’s best offering, we recommend going straight for the flagship TicWatch Pro 3.
Specifications
| Mobvoi TicWatch E2 |
Mobvoi TicWatch S2 |
|
| Model | TicWatch E2 | TicWatch S2 |
| Screen Size | 1.39” AMOLED Display | 1.39” AMOLED Display |
| Screen Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Screen Resolution | 400 x 400 pixel | 400 x 400 pixel |
| Pixel Density | 407 PPI | 407 PPI |
| Input Type | Touch Screen | Touch Screen |
| Watch Dimensions | 46.9 x 52.2 x 12.9 mm | 46.6 x 51.8 x 12.9mm |
| Weight | 53.2 grams(with strap) 34.4g (without strap) |
53.2 grams(with strap) 34.4g (without strap) |
| Watch Case Material | Polycarbonate | Polyamide & glass fiber |
| Bezel Material | Polycarbonate | Polycarbonate |
| Watch Design | Circular | Circular, Curved |
| Strap Size | 22 mm | 22 mm |
| Watch Colors | Black | Midnight(black), Glacier(white) |
| Water Resistance | Waterproof (5ATM) | Waterproof (5ATM) |
| Swim-proof | Yes, recommended | Yes, recommended |
| NFC | Not Supported | Not Supported |
| GPS | With GLONASS | With GLONASS |
| CONNECTIVITY Wi-fi |
Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| SENSORS Accelerometer | Yes | Yes |
| Heart Rate | Yes | Yes |
| Compass | No | No |
| Gyroscope | Yes | Yes |
| Altimeter | No | No |
| SPO2 | No | No |
| Elevation | Yes | 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 | Yes | Yes |
| VO2 Max | Yes | 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 | Standby: 2 days+; Mixed usage: 1 day+ | 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 |
mp3/mp4 | mp3/mp4 |
| Music Streaming | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Music | Yes | Yes |
| Radio | No | No |
| Loud Speaker | Yes | Yes |
| Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| CLOCK FEATURES Time/Date |
Yes | Yes |
| Stopwatch | Yes | Yes |
| Alarm | Yes | Yes |
| OTHER FUNCTIONS Control camera | Yes | Yes |
| Music Control | Yes | Yes |
| Find Phone | Yes | Yes |
| Text Response | Yes(Android Only) | Yes(Android Only) |
| Answer Call | Yes | Yes |
| MISC Payment System |
No | No |
| Companion App | Mobvoi App | Mobvoi App |
| Customizable watch face | Yes | Yes |
| Interchangeable band | Yes | Yes |
| Voice command | Yes | Yes |
| Internal Storage | 4 GB | 4 GB |
| Operating system | Wear OS by Google™ | Wear OS by Google™ |
