I jumped in the freezing Finnish sea to test OnePlus's new smartwatch

Living in London restricts what I can do when it comes to testing wearables. After all, there are only so many pilates classes and lido swims I can take a device on to test its endurance and capabilities.

However, OnePlus’ most recent launch of the Watch 2 Nordic Blue Edition in Helsinki, Finland, gave me the opportunity to truly push a device to its limits. The watch I tested is a more lifestyle-focused version of its flagship wearable, which launched back in February 2024.

To test this smartwatch, I went on the following: a fat bike ride (bike riding with fat tires, if you’re confused like I was), a hike in the forest, a stint in a Finnish sauna, a gentle yoga session, and a very brief but ice cold dip in the Baltic Sea.

Here are the key takeaways I’ve learned from my time during testing…

Comfort is King

The biggest difference I noticed between the Nordic Blue Edition and the standard OnePlus Watch 2 which I reviewed is the upgraded strap. OnePlus initially launched its smartwatch with a pure flurorubber one, but this version has kept that material on the outside and opted for a royal blue leather finish on the inside.

Over the last few days, I’ve noticed that this has a sturdier grip than the Watch 2. Therefore, it doesn’t have that annoying habit of sliding up and down my arm. It stays securely in place, even when jostling about on a bike, or twisting around like a pretzel during yoga.

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

If you have small wrists like mine, then it’s still heavy at around 80g. I’d rather OnePlus did a smaller case size for people like me but it’s certainly an improvement with just the change of strap.

That weight is partly because OnePlus has kept that dual-chip design that gives it that killer 100-hour battery life. I couldn’t test that feature out fully during my trip, but I can say that the juice used over the last few days falls in line with my experience with the Watch 2.

In other words, I didn’t need to reach for my charger, even though the device started at just above 60% and I tracked three separate workouts, as well as my sleep. When you do need to charge it, it supports fast-charging that can get it from flat to 100% in under an hour (with a suitable charging brick, that is).

You’re hot, then you’re cold…

Having a smartwatch that can withstand extreme temperatures is also a key benefit of the OnePlus Watch 2 Nordic Blue Edition.

I could swipe and tap the 1.43-inch sapphire crystal display both in the dry heat of the sauna with sweaty palms and in the freezing cold water of the ocean, which I plunged myself into straight after my hot experience for two minutes using a timer on the watch (it felt a lot longer, let me tell you).

Some of my fellow journalists had the watch notify them when it was overheating. Those that did were in the sauna for longer than I was, which was about 80°C, notably above the recommended high-temperature range of 55°C for the device.

Nonetheless, it’s safer that the Watch 2 has that ability, rather than you accidentally making it combust while strapped to your skin. The IP68 rating also held up well in the frigid sea, even though the watch didn’t lock its screen as it typically does for swimming workouts.

Location, location, location

One of the crowning glory features of the OnePlus Watch 2 line is its dual-frequency GPS, which allows it to pinpoint your location more accurately in challenging environments. When I first tested the Watch 2, I found it reliable amongst the towering skyscrapers of central London.

Now, I can also confirm that this wearable works just as well in rural Finland. While fat biking through a dense forest, it could quickly lock on to my location, while also detecting when I stopped for a quick respite, pausing my workout quickly.

It would then restart as soon as I began pedalling, meaning I didn’t need to take my much-needed gloves off and fiddle around with the settings. Auto-detection on wearables often produces mixed results, but this technology was impressive to witness first-hand.

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Suitable from day to night

While many people may enjoy the sportier finish of the regular Watch 2, I’d prefer to take it off if I was heading out for a cocktail or two after finishing my exercise for the day.

That’s not the case with the OnePlus Watch 2 Nordic Blue Edition. Equipped with a new two-tone outer dial, it’s more of a statement fashion piece and looked like a purposeful accessory to my evening outfit for a meal out in Helsinki.

That said, I still stand by my thoughts that the both versions of the Watch 2 could do with a slimmer version for women and users with smaller wrists.

Hannah Cownton / Foundry

Is it worth paying more for?

OnePlus confirmed that the Watch 2 is its fastest-selling device, so there may be demand for the Nordic Blue Edition when it goes on sale on 7 May in the UK and Europe for £329, which is £30 more than the regular model.

If you’re struggling to choose between the Watch 2 (which comes in green and black), and the Watch 2 Nordic Blue Edition, the main things you should consider are the build and your preferred aesthetics.

I found wearing this version of the watch less of a hassle than the regular version due to the leather and rubber combo strap. I also loved the bolder finish, as I hate boring tech that comes in bog standard black.

However, if you want something more understated, and you have larger arms, then the vanilla Watch 2 may suit you just fine.

The good news is that under the hood, there are no differences. All wearables in the OnePlus Watch 2 line track over 100 workouts, can monitor sleep and stress and of course, run on Google’s seamless Wear OS software. Therefore, there’s support for all your favourite Android apps such as Maps, Spotify, and WhatsApp.

However, you should only get the OnePlus Watch 2 if you have an Android phone, as the app isn’t supported on iOS. If you don’t, then there are plenty more smartwatches out there.

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