Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 4G LTE review

Hardware

This smartwatch has a similar aesthetic to its predecessor with some notable changes. One of the complaints about the original TIcWatch Pro was the Hybrid leather/silicone band but the new TicWatch Pro 4G comes with an all-silicone band which feels soft and comfortable while also being durable.

The watch is made of a few different materials including a stainless steel bezel, strap hardware and buttons, and an aluminum back cover. The watchbody itself is made of polyamide and glass fiber construction that keeps it light and durable.

Curiously, the rounded buttons turn as if they were dials on a real watch. They are fun to play with, but turning them doesn't actually do anything.

Even though the new TicWatch Pro variant has an updated watchbody and added a 4G modem, it actually weighs less than its predecessor at just 47.4g without the watch strap. The TicWatch Pro is 12.6mm in thickness so not quite as thin as the Apple Watch Series 4 (10.7mm).

The new TicWatch Pro is rated for IP68 water resistance and is suitable for tracking your swim session, as long as its a swimming pool. The watchbody is also built to be durable - it is compliant with the MIL-STD-810G standard.

Display

The TicWatch Pro 4G has identical displays to its predecessor. There's a 1.39-inch AMOLED display with a 400x400px resolution, which works out to about 407 ppi. Directly atop this AOMLED screen is the secondary FSTN LCD display. Its similar to a display you'd find on a digital alarm clock.

This display comes on when the main AMOLED display times out so you can always glance at the time no matter what you're doing. This secondary display is also transflective so you'll have no problems viewing it while you're outside running or strolling through the park.

Of course, actually using the AMOLED display in direct sunlight is a bit of a challenge. You have to squint a bit to see what's on the screen but it isn't entirely useless outside. The transflective FSTN display does offer a bit of glare between the main AMOLED display and the top glass layer so it does inhibit the display's visibility a bit.

Battery Life

The TicWatch Pro 4G has the same 415mAh battery as found on its predecessor. Of course, LTE connectivity will certainly draw more power from the battery than using it in a Bluetooth-only scenario.

The TicWatch Pro's display is certainly an advantage for its battery endurance. We like that the display will turn itself off after quickly glancing at the watch and then turning it back away. Otherwise, the screen will automatically time out in six seconds.

There's a magnetic charger with a four-pin connector via exposed metal contacts on the aluminum backplate. This can also be used to interface with the watch on a PC via USB if you wish to experiment with ADB and Fastboot commands.

Regularly connected to Bluetooth, battery life was generally around 2 days without wearing it to sleep. You could definitely stretch battery life if you frequently used Wear OS's built-in theater mode or disabled lift to wake.