TicWatch C2+ is out, but is it worth upgrading from the original C2?

A worthy bump

TicWatch C2 +

$210 at Amazon

Pros

• 1GB RAM
• Two watch straps with purchase
• Comfortable to wear
• Three color choices

Cons

• Costs more

By doubling the RAM of the C2, Mobvoi made the C2+ one of the best smartwatches on the market today. The performance boost from the increased RAM also brings added stability. It's got a classic minimal look with exceptional finishes to choose from, and with two watch bands in the box, it's ready for even more situations.

Style on a budget

TicWatch C2

$150 at Amazon

Pros

• Great design
• Affordable price
• Up to two days of battery life
• Three color choices

Cons

• Only 512MB RAM

With the same look as the upgraded C2+, the C2 is still a great looking watch for those looking to save some cash. It brings style and smarts to folks who want to dip their toes into the smartwatch world without breaking the bank. With only 512MB RAM, the performance expectations will need to be tempered though.

Mobvoi has been updating some fan favorites by increasing the amount of RAM built-in, and the TicWatch C2 is the latest to get the bump. It's becoming very apparent that Wear OS smartwatches greatly benefit from a minimum of 1GB RAM, but is it worth the added cost to upgrade?

Is the TicWatch C2+ upgrade worth it?

If you put these two watches side by side, you won't be able to see any physical differences. That's because they truly are identical in every way. That is except for one significant change that can't be seen until you use the device. The TicWatch C2+ got the much-needed increase in RAM to a full 1GB.

	TicWatch C2+	TicWatch C2
Price	$210	$150
Dimensions	42.8 x 12.7	42.8 x 12.7
Colors	Onyx, Platinum, Rose Gold	Onyx, Platinum, Rose Gold
Display	1.3" AMOLED (360 x 360 px)	1.3" AMOLED (360 x 360 px)
Chipset	Snapdragon Wear 2100	Snapdragon Wear 2100
Memory	RAM: 1GB Storage: 4GB	RAM: 512MB Storage: 4GB
GPS	Yes	Yes
NFC Payments	Yes	Yes
Operating System	Wear OS	Wear OS
Connectivity	Bluetooth smart v4.1 Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n NFC	Bluetooth smart v4.1 Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n NFC
Battery	400mAh Up to 2 days	400mAh Up to 2 days
Water resistance	IP68	IP68
Sensors	Accelerometer Gyroscope Heart Rate Monitor	Accelerometer Gyroscope Heart Rate Monitor

As you can see above, there's actually nothing different between the two watches except for the RAM. In case you're unaware, RAM (Random Access Memory) is a very fast temporary storage area for computers. It allows the processor to send and receive the info it needs immediately back and forth extremely fast. If there isn't enough space, then info has to be dropped and then rewritten to memory when needed again. In other words, more is better.

The additional RAM on the C2+ means that taps and swipes on the display result in instant actions as you expect.

You might think that this isn't enough of a change to warrant the additional cost to upgrade, and it might not be — until you use the C2+. After the first time I used a Wear OS smartwatch that had 1GB RAM, I decided I could not use a watch that didn't have it. The experience of moving around the interface is so much better. Changing between screens glides along the way many of us are used to on our phones. The jittery interactions that most watches have with less memory is a big reason why many people give up on their smartwatch.

Since technology has become such a major part of our lives now, we know how we expect interactions to go. When you tap or swipe on the display you want it to be recognized and acted upon, and the C2+ does that. It's not to say that the TicWatch C2 is a bad smartwatch. In fact, it is a good watch, which is why it got the upgrade.

The design of the TicWatch C2 line-up is minimal and classic. The size of the watch is large enough to view the information on the screen easily but small enough to be comfortable in any situation. With its clean lines and dual-buttons on the side, the C2 watches look great for work or play in each of the finishes. So then it all comes down to how the watch performs.

Should you upgrade to the TicWatch C2+?

If you enjoy your original C2 and want to continue to use that watch for the next couple of years, you can likely do that. However, your experience will only degrade more and more as the Wear OS platform expands. Moving to the C2+ will improve using the watch now as well as ensure the longevity of your favorite smartwatch going forward.

The TicWatch C2 and C2+ watches are both great-looking devices that bring a wide array of smarts to your wrist. Each of them run the same software and offer the same apps. They both offer automatic workout detection using Mobvoi's TicMotion. However, the experience of using them is very different. For the best and smoothest experience, the TicWatch C2+ is worth the upgrade.

Beautiful performance

TicWatch C2+

Here for the long run

$210 at Amazon

With the increased RAM, the TicWatch C2+ is one of the best performing Wear OS watches, while continuing its run of being one of the best-looking smartwatches.

Classic look

TicWatch C2

With intelligence in tow

$150 at Amazon $150 at Walmart

As one of the best looking Wear OS smartwatches around, the TicWatch C2 is ready to accompany you to a night out as well as in the office. Its performance may not match the C2+, but if you can get past that, the cost savings may make this the watch for you.