If I were to categorize smartwatches, I would likely divide them into two categories: fitness-focused and design-focused with convenient smart features. The new realme Watch S2 fits perfectly into the latter, offering a premium look and feel at an affordable price.
This watch is available at two price points: PhP 3,999 for the silicone strap and PhP 4,499 for the steel variant. At these prices, the smartwatch seems to provide an impressive blend of style and functionality, with a range of smart features.
Premium looks
The realme Watch S2 comes in a stainless steel body that right away already looks way better than most smartwatches in a similar form factor. Place it side by side to a plastic one and you can really notice the distinction in quality.
It’s round shaped that at a glance, this watch may seem large, but I’d say it’s at the largest acceptable size for someone with a slim wrist like mine. I even manage to wear it to more formal events without feeling underdressed, thanks to its premium appearance. It’s also IP68 Dust and water resistant making it an ideal all-purpose device for doing fitness activities.
However, the premium feel doesn’t extend to the straps. This aspect resembles those found on other entry-level smartwatches. Thankfully, realme also offers a stainless steel strap variant, which will cost a bit more if you prefer that style, but it may not be as comfortable for fitness activities as the standard strap. Your choice will ultimately depend on your lifestyle.
The realme Watch S2 has two buttons for navigation, with the top one resembling a crown. I must admit I felt misled by this, as I initially thought it would function as a scroll wheel; however, it only operates as a menu/back button.
The button underneath it is a dedicated workout button which I also had hoped could be reassignable for something else which isn’t the case.
Curved AMOLED Display
The display on the realme Watch S2 is easy on the eyes. It features a relatively large 1.43-inch curved AMOLED display that is sharp and is bright enough to be seen under most lighting conditions.
There are five levels of brightness, which can be quickly accessed by sliding down the quick settings panel. I mention this because some smartwatches require you to dig through the settings just to adjust brightness levels, which can be frustrating. With this watch, I typically set it to the third level, which is bright enough for most of the day.
The display can be set to always-on display (AOD) or activated through wake gestures, but there is no option for double-tapping to turn it on.
While the display isn’t anything extravagant, I’d say that, as an affordable option, the combination of its overall appearance, including the display quality, makes this one of my favorite budget smartwatches.
User Interface and Tools
Navigating the realme Watch S2 is similar to most smartwatches in this segment. Swiping right scrolls through tiles that can be selected based on your preferences in the realme Link app. Swiping left provides a glance at essential data and recent apps, while swiping up displays recent notifications and swiping down reveals your quick settings.
Most of the cards you find here show only partial information and provide quick access to some apps. One standout feature is the Activity data, where you can easily see your calories burned. Scrolling through this section reveals more of your activities and their implications for your overall health, making it very useful for those who enjoy monitoring their well-being.
You can access different menus by pressing the menu button, which defaults to a Gypsophila bubble layout. I found this layout visually appealing, but it felt a bit inefficient, as I often had to guess where to find a certain app without labels. I eventually switched to a list view.
In this section, you’ll find tools such as the weather, timer, stopwatch, alarm, event reminder, and health monitoring apps, including sleep and stress tracking, SpO2, heart rate monitoring, workout records, and more.
Furthermore, the realme Watch S2 also features Bluetooth call capability and quick replies for messaging. For calls, it delivers clear audio on both ends, while for quick replies, you can choose between default options or add your own through the realme Link app.
Speaking of the realme Link app, this is where you can access additional settings for each of the functions on the Watch S2. You can also load watch faces into your smartwatch, which you can download online through the app.
Monitor your health
Trying out each of the sensors, I noticed that the heart rate monitor on the realme Watch S2 was observably easier to get accurate readings compared to previous smartwatches and other affordable models.
Most of the other sensors are standard, but I feel significantly more confident in the readings from this device, likely due to realme's reputation as a reliable brand.
Probably the most unique feature among these is the Body Energy tracker, which provides a reading of how much energy it thinks you have left after assessing your daily patterns. This tracker uses your heart rate, sleep duration and quality, and other factors to deliver an easy-to-understand reading. It’s pretty nifty!
Excellent Battery Life
realme claims that the Watch S2 offers a battery life of 20 days, and based on my experience, I believe this is an understatement. Upon receiving the device, the watch lasted more than 23 days from its initial 75 percent charge, suggesting it could last even longer when fully charged. During this testing period, I primarily used the realme Watch S2 for most of my daily activities, with only some downtime.
For the record, the realme Watch 2 Pro, which we've had since 2021, has the longest battery life we've experienced, lasting almost 300 days (mostly on standby). Therefore, we can confidently say that this one lives up to the reputation.
Final thoughts
In conclusion, the realme Watch S2 stands out as a great option in the realm of design-focused smartwatches. With its premium stainless steel body, vibrant AMOLED display, and user-friendly interface, it effectively combines style and functionality at an affordable price point.
While there are some trade-offs—such as the basic straps and somewhat limited button functionality—the overall package is compelling. The heart rate monitor and unique Body Energy tracker add value for health enthusiasts, while the excellent battery life ensures you won't be tethered to a charger every few days.
Whether you’re looking for a fashionable accessory or a reliable smartwatch to support your daily activities, the realme Watch S2 delivers.