We’ve been tracking the rumours, leaks and teases for Mobvoi’s latest Wear OS smartwatch for a few weeks now, partly because we really like Mobvoi and where they’re headed, and because we really want there to be great Wear OS devices, and soon.
Today’s overnight announcement of the TicWatch Pro 4G/LTE is certainly a step in the right direction.
The TicWatch Pro 4G/LTE is the latest Wear OS device from Mobvoi and takes the top of the line Pro model and adds just a bit more to the package. Upfront, it’s sporting 4G/ LTE connectivity, exclusively via Verizon in the USA for now, and includes an upgraded 1GB of RAM, IP68 rating for ‘swim proof’ usage, the same Snapdragon Wear 2100 processor, 4GB of storage, Mobvoi’s unique dual-layered display and NFC for Google Pay.
One feature we have not been able to confirm is if the new textured top button doubles as a digital crown. The industrial design certainly suggests that it is both a button and a crown, but we can’t be 100% sure.
Check out the details specs below.
| Key Specifications: | TicWatch Pro LTE |
|---|---|
| Screen size | 1.39-inch |
| Screen technology | OLED |
| Resolution | 400 x 400 |
| PPI | 287 |
| Chipset | Snapdragon Wear 2100 |
| Core config | 1.1GHz |
| RAM | 1GB |
| Storage | 4GB |
| MicroSD | — |
| Battery | 415 mAh |
| Charging method | Magnetic connecting pin charging |
| WIFI standards | 802.11 b/g/n |
| Bluetooth standards |
|
| Cellular | 4G/LTE |
| NFC | Yes |
| Location | Yes |
| Speaker | — |
| Android OS | Wear OS 2.0 |
| Dimensions | 45.15 x 52.8 x 12.6 |
| Colours | Black |
| Build materials |
|
| Band colours | Various |
| Band materials | Silicon |
| Band swappable | Yes |
For buyers in the USA it’s important to note that while the watch goes on sale today for $279 USD Verizon won’t be activating the LTE connectivity option until a month later, at which time the price will go up to $299 USD, so if you’re interested you might as well jump in early! For those hoping for a physical SIM tray, the TicWatch Pro 4G/LTE seems to come with a built-in eSIM, so sorry for those wanting to put it on a low-cost carrier.
While this may not be the unicorn hair powered smartwatch processor many of us have been hoping for, it does represent an overall improvement in the package from Mobvoi and as a daily user of a TicWatch Pro, I’d be very interested to see what doubling the RAM does for the device’s overall performance. With this next generation of Mobvoi’s Smartwatch platform, they have also brought a fitness-focused feature along.
The TicWatch Pro 4G/LTE now supports TicPulse for 24/7 continuous background monitoring of your heart rate. As someone who forgets that my watch can even record my heart rate, getting a consistent log of that data would be something I’m interested in, if not actually helpful at times.
With TicMotion, Mobvoi’s fitness tracker will now automatically log any detected Excercise without you having to initiate a workout session.
Being a Wear OS device, the TicWatch Pro 4G/LTE comes with Assistant out of the box, unfortunately, Google has left the Assistant on Wear OS significantly underpowered with many basic features simply missing, like smart home control. That’s common to all Wear OS devices but certainly one way Google could make Assistant on Wear OS actually useful for more than showing you a tiny version of your calendar.
Overall the TicWatch Pro 4G/LTE is an iterative update not a generational change, but in a market that is just a little more than stagnant for those of us wanting a gear Wear OS device, it’s still very welcome.
We will be following up with Mobvoi about a potential Australian future release and will let you know if we get any positive news.
