First it was Redmi that pushed established smartphone brands in India to the corner with pricing strategies and now it’s facing stiff competition from Realme, which has been aggressive in marketing its products — from smartphones to smartwatches, from TVs to wireless audio solutions. And make no mistake, the hardware that’s being offered is good. We have been using Realme Watch 2 Pro for more than a week, and it does a few things very well. It has in the crosshairs, Redmi and Amazfit smartwatches.

Smack in the middle of the most competitive price bracket — budget offerings — this one makes no compromises in terms of design. Though it sports a 1.75-inch LCD display, the quality of the panel is of high quality, and can be easily mistaken for AMOLED. The 30fps refresh rate ensures scrolling and swiping is smooth while 300nits of peak brightness is sufficient for outdoor usage. Besides, the size is big enough to read long notifications without having to scroll.

Instead of promising too many things, the focus is on getting a few features right. For example, the heart rate monitor is spot on while sleep tracking points in the right direction. The watch is light and comfortable enough to wear to bed while the strap is of good quality, ensuring no rashes. There is also SpO2 monitoring, which takes a few seconds to register and the reading should be left to the doctor’s interpretation.

There are 90 activities that can be tracked and we are sure, you will be using only a handful. The built-in GPS quickly latches on if you are in an open space but it may take a few seconds in crowded surroundings but having that on a watch that costs Rs 4,999 makes it a competitive device.

There are two things that could have been better. It’s IP68 rated, meaning it’s good enough to handle sweat and some light rain but that’s a no-no for swimming or bathing. Also, the words ‘Dare to Leap’ on the wrist band looks out of place. Also, you can’t load any new apps on the device.

But with a smartwatch that offers most in-demand features and runs for 10-11 days on a single charge (the company says a single charge will last 14 days but with screen rate turned up, it’s rarely the case), this is sensible purchase. With competition heating up in the budget smartwatch category, it’s time for the big names to bring in new premium features to make the category interesting. Meanwhile, check out Realme Watch 2 Pro, which is a compelling purchase.

More about the smartwatch

IP68 rating means it’s good enough for splashes

Device: Realme Watch 2 Pro

Price: Rs 4,999

High notes

• Good GPS tracking

• The screen is bright and big

• All the in-demand features are present

Muffled notes

• No new apps can be installed

• Only two colour options — Space Grey and Metallic Silver