Mobvoi has unveiled the TicWatch C2, a classic-looking Wear smartwatch designed for both men and women.
The second-gen smartwatch follows on from the original TicWatch Classic, joining the recent influx of fellow devices from the company, including the TicWatch Pro and the recently leaked TicWatch E2. And like those pieces of wristwear, the C2 arrives with more features than its predecessor.
Hands on: TicWatch C2 review
Google Pay is now supported through the smartwatch, which is powered by the updated version of Wear OS, meaning thousands of standalone apps are available from the wrist.
In terms of design, the C2 will come in two variants - a rose gold option that comes with an 18mm strap and a 20mm version only available in black and silver. The former is no doubt TicWatch's attempt to appeal more to women, though the actual bezel is fairly consistent throughout both C2 models.
The stainless steel, circular face clocks in at 42.83 x 42.83 x 13.1mm for the 20mm C2, with the 18mm device slimming the bezel down to 12.1mm thickness. The screen on both is a 1.3-inch AMOLED display that pumps out a pixel resolution of 360 x 360 - identical to the likes of the Samsung Galaxy Watch.
Under the hood, the watch is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon Wear 2100 (note: that's not the newest version of the company's chipset, as seen in the Montblanc Summit 2), while GPS and NFC are also packed inside to aid activity and contactless payments, respectively. The design also fits in a heart rate monitor, and an IP68 rating means it's able to tolerate splashes and dust. However, unfortunately, Mobvoi indicates that the C2 will only muster a fairly average two-day battery life.
The latest watch from the company also wasn't the only device unveiled, with the TicPods Free (the same wireless earbuds that raised $2.8m through crowdfunding earlier this year) also set for a wider release. The buds come with compatibility with Google Assistant and Siri, while boasting in-ear detection and noise-cancelling, too.
As for pricing and availability, Mobvoi says it's now taking pre-orders for the TicWatch C2, with its official release date sitting at some point in the first week of December. We've already had the chance to strap the new smartwatch to our wrists, but stay tuned for our extended review over the coming weeks.
How we test
Conor moved to Wareable Media Group in 2017, initially covering all the latest developments in smartwatches, fitness trackers, and VR. He made a name for himself writing about trying out translation earbuds on a first date and cycling with a wearable airbag, as well as covering the industry’s latest releases.
Following a stint as Reviews Editor at Pocket-lint, Conor returned to Wareable Media Group in 2022 as Editor-at-Large. Conor has become a wearables expert, and helps people get more from their wearable tech, via Wareable's considerable how-to-based guides.
He has also contributed to British GQ, Wired, Metro, The Independent, and The Mirror.