A stronger push on materials and durability

OnePlus is clearly trying to make this feel like a proper premium watch, not just another standard smartwatch with a round screen. The Watch 4 comes with a titanium alloy body, sapphire crystal glass on top and a fiberglass-reinforced bottom case. It measures 47.4 x 47.4 x 11.0 mm, weighs about 43g for the main body and around 68g once you add the strap.

You get two versions, Midnight Titanium and Evergreen Titanium. Midnight Titanium uses a fluororubber strap, while Evergreen Titanium gets a mixed fluororubber strap. Both are aimed more at the premium end of the market rather than the usual lightweight sports watch look.

It is also built to handle a bit more abuse. There is 5 ATM water resistance, IP68 and IP69 protection, plus MIL-STD-810H military-grade certification. That gives it a much tougher profile than the average Wear OS watch.

Display gets a serious brightness boost

The Watch 4 uses an LTPO OLED flexible display with 466 x 466 resolution and 310 PPI. The default maximum brightness is rated at 600 nits, rising to 1500 nits in strong sunlight.

The standout figure is the claimed 3000 nits peak brightness, which activates in OnePlus’s own sports modes under strong sunlight. That is a high number for a smartwatch and should make outdoor workouts much easier to follow, especially for runners and cyclists training in direct sun.

The hardware underneath also stays in flagship territory. OnePlus uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 processor alongside the BES 2800 co-processor, with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage.

Battery life and software look stronger than expected

Battery life is rated at up to 16 days in power saver mode, five days in smart mode and three days under heavy use. Charging takes around 75 minutes, with support for up to 7.5W charging.

That battery setup should help the Watch 4 stand apart from many Wear OS rivals, where endurance is often the weakest point. It is still a full smartwatch, but OnePlus is clearly trying to reduce the usual charging fatigue.

Another detail worth noting is the software. The watch runs OxygenOS Watch 8 with Wear OS 6.0, which is more important than some earlier leaks suggested. Some reports expected Wear OS 5, so shipping with version 6 gives it a stronger launch position.

There is Bluetooth 5.2, dual-band L1 and L5 GPS support, Wi-Fi on both 2.4GHz and 5GHz, NFC and Google Wallet support. eSIM is missing, though, which will disappoint some buyers expecting full standalone connectivity.

Health tracking gets the usual OnePlus package

OnePlus includes optical heart rate tracking, blood oxygen monitoring, wrist temperature tracking, sleep analysis and the 60-second Wellness Overview feature. There is also ECG support, although availability depends on local certification.

Fall detection and Emergency Rescue are included, along with health trend insights, relaxation tools, cycle tracking and sedentary reminders. The watch also tracks high and low heart rate alerts, resting heart rate and sleep benchmark heart rate.

Fitness support covers more than 100 sports modes, with deeper metrics for activities like running, skiing, tennis, badminton and swimming. There is also track running mode, aerobic training effect, cardiopulmonary capacity, recovery time and heart rate recovery rate.

Our takeaway

Taken as a whole, the OnePlus Watch 4 does not bring major new features or a big redesign. It sticks closely to the same formula, but improves the overall package with better materials, stronger durability, a brighter display and solid battery life.

Titanium, sapphire crystal, dual-band GPS and Wear OS 6 help it feel more polished and more premium, even if the overall experience will be familiar to anyone coming from the previous generation. OnePlus has not shared pricing details yet, but the watch is already listed on the company’s website.

In our review, the OnePlus Watch 3 stood out for getting the basics right. Battery life is one of the strongest points, easily lasting longer than most Wear OS rivals, while the dual-chip setup helping keep performance smooth without constant charging stress. The display is bright, health tracking was reliable and the overall build felt properly premium. It was not perfect, especially with some software quirks and the usual Wear OS limitations, but it felt like one of the more balanced Android smartwatches available.

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It has been around three years since the first Huawei Watch Buds appeared, and the concept still stands out. Instead of carrying a separate charging case, the smartwatch doubles as one. Open the display and the earbuds are sitting inside, charging and ready to go.

The hidden earbuds concept returns

The core design remains the same. The circular watch face lifts upward to reveal two built-in true wireless earbuds stored inside the watch body. They attach magnetically and charge while docked, turning the watch into both wearable and earbud case.

The earbuds keep Huawei’s compact cylindrical shape and continue with the interchangeable design from the original model. There is no fixed left or right earbud. They automatically recognise which ear they are placed in and switch audio channels accordingly.

Huawei has refined the outer design with a cleaner case shape and a more premium finish. One of the most obvious visual changes is the rotating crown, which now features a red accent ring. The textured release button near the lower part of the case is still there, used to open the top section.

The company is offering multiple finishes, including titanium alloy versions with leather and metal strap options. Promotional images show a brown leather strap with visible stitching, giving the device a much more polished look than the first generation.

As before, the biggest compromise is battery space. Since the watch has to make room for the earbuds inside, there is less internal space available for a larger battery compared to a standard smartwatch.

Better charging and connectivity expected

Huawei says the new model improves connection stability and audio performance, while also refining the charging experience. Faster wireless charging is expected to be part of the upgrade, which matters more here than on a regular smartwatch because the system is powering both the watch and the earbuds.

The original Watch Buds already included over 80 sports modes, health tracking features and AI noise cancellation for calls. Watch Buds 2 builds on that same formula rather than changing direction.

The first-generation version launched at 2,988 yuan, which works out to roughly $435 at current exchange rates, and Huawei is positioning this new model as a premium product rather than a mass-market fitness watch. International availability has not yet been fully detailed, so it remains to be seen whether it will get a wider global release.

Watch Ultimate gets the diamond treatment

Huawei also used the launch event to unveil the Watch Ultimate Design Diamond Edition. This one sits at the opposite end of the smartwatch spectrum.

The version takes the already high-end Watch Ultimate and adds diamond-set details along with a much more jewellery-focused presentation. It is clearly aimed at buyers looking for a luxury statement watch rather than a rugged sports device.

This luxury version comes with an equally premium price tag. In China, the Huawei Watch Ultimate Design Diamond Edition starts at 23,999 yuan, which works out to roughly $3,500 at current exchange rates and places it far beyond the usual smartwatch category and firmly into luxury watch territory.

That makes for an interesting contrast. Watch Buds 2 focuses on convenience and practicality by combining two devices into one. The Watch Ultimate Design Diamond Edition goes in the other direction, pushing materials and presentation as far as possible.

Source: Huawei

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That adds a much clearer picture of what Google is building here. This is not shaping up to be another traditional fitness tracker with a display, but something much closer to a Whoop-style recovery band focused on all-day health monitoring and app-based insights.

Fitbit Air could be the final name

According to the latest report, the wearable will be marketed as Fitbit Air, with the fuller branding said to be Google Fitbit Air. The “Air” name is reportedly tied to the thinner and lighter design, with the idea being that it should feel comfortable enough to wear continuously without the bulk of a smartwatch.

That lines up with what we have already seen. The device looks compact, screenless and built around passive tracking rather than wrist-based interaction. Instead of checking stats directly on the wearable, the experience seems designed around collecting data in the background and reviewing it later in the app.

Stephen Curry has reportedly been wearing the device publicly since at least January, which makes this look far beyond an early prototype. Between press appearances and behind-the-scenes content, it seems clear Google has been testing this in plain sight for months.

A bigger shift may be happening in software

The more interesting part of this story may actually be the software strategy around it. It seems the subscription service that currently unlocks deeper insights and AI-powered features, is expected to be rebranded as Google Health. Fitbit’s AI-powered personal health coach, which is currently in public preview, would reportedly become Google Health Coach.

Fitbit hardware would still keep the Fitbit name, but the services around it would move more directly under the Google brand. It suggests Google wants health and wellness features to feel like part of its wider ecosystem rather than a separate Fitbit experience.

It also helps explain why earlier teaser content linked to the band ended with the colourful Google “G” logo rather than Fitbit branding. At the time that stood out, and now it makes much more sense.

The Fitbit app already hinted at it

There were already signs of this approach in the Fitbit app itself. Screens shown on a Pixel phone included a “Live data” page displaying Cardio Load, heart rate, calories burned and elapsed time. That screen does not currently exist in the public Fitbit app, which strongly suggests dedicated support for this new wearable is already being prepared behind the scenes.

This fits the wider idea of the product. Instead of acting like a smartwatch replacement, Fitbit Air looks like it is being positioned as a dedicated recovery and health tracker. It sits somewhere between a fitness band and a subscription-based coaching platform. So you will probably be able to use it alongside the Pixel Watch.

That is also why comparisons with Whoop keep coming up. The focus is less on notifications, apps and on-device features, and more on readiness, recovery and long-term health trends.

For now, Google still has not officially announced the device. But with clearer hardware images, months of public testing on Steph Curry’s wrist and now a likely product name and subscription strategy, Fitbit Air looks like it could land in the next few weeks.

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One minute review

The isinwheel U4 feels particularly well suited to city life, and living in London that comes through quite clearly. For quick commutes, runs to the shops or getting across town without dealing with public transport, it makes a lot of sense. The folding design is especially handy when space is tight, whether that means storing it in a flat, taking it into the office or keeping it tucked away at home.

It is not trying to be a premium e-bike, and that is perfectly fine. What it does offer is an affordable and practical way to get around. The motor has enough power for daily riding, and the battery is more than adequate for the sort of distances most city trips involve.

There are compromises, of course. It is heavier than you might expect for a folding bike, and rougher roads definitely remind you of the smaller wheels. But those trade-offs feel reasonable once you factor in the price.

What I like most is that it gets the basics right. It is easy to ride, simple to live with and genuinely useful for everyday use. For city-use in particular, where convenience and storage matter just as much as performance, the U4 fits in nicely.

View on isinwheel (currently £439, down from £629).

isinwheel U4 Ebike review: Design and build

Living in London, I am surrounded by bikes. There are rental bikes on what feels like every other street corner, but the costs add up surprisingly quickly, and in many cases it is actually cheaper to just take the bus or jump on the Tube. I already have a regular bicycle, but I have never owned an e-bike before, so coming into the isinwheel U4 I was curious to see whether having one of my own would make life easier.

Right out of the box, it is clear the U4 is beautiful in a minimalistic sort of way. It goes for a clean, understated look that really works, a simple design that suits its urban character perfectly.

Putting the bike together is pretty straightforward. That said, it still took me the best part of an hour. I started off following the instruction booklet, but there were a couple of points where I got a bit stuck, so I switched to a YouTube video, which made things much clearer. If I had to do it again, I could probably get it done in under half an hour. Live and learn.

Once I had everything put together and ready to ride, the first thing that stood out was just how solid the bike felt. There is some weight here, more than I expected, but on the plus side that weight gives the bike a reassuring sturdiness when you ride it. Once everything is locked in place, the structure feels stable with very little flex, and nothing feels poorly put together.

I would say the build quality is excellent, especially when you take the price into consideration. On isinwheel’s website it typically retails for around £600, but it often drops closer to £400, so it is definitely worth keeping an eye on sales.

In London, that price starts to look even more reasonable when you compare it to rental e-bikes. A typical hire ride can easily cost around £3 to £4 for a short journey, so if you use one regularly for commuting, the cost adds up surprisingly quickly. Over time, owning something like the U4 can work out far more economical. In fact, I was stopped at traffic lights by someone asking about the bike, and they genuinely did not believe me when I told them the price. Most e-bikes are far more expensive.

The components follow the same basic essentials theme. There is a front light powered by the e-bike battery and handlebar reflector, along with a rear light that runs on its own small third-party battery. You also get a bell to attach to the handlebar, while the display panel comes pre-installed. There is even an optional throttle that you can add to the handlebar in under a minute, just connect the cables and tighten the clamp.

Nothing feels overly premium, but nothing feels cheap either. The brakes, drivetrain and controls all feel in line with what you would expect at this level. Cable routing is exposed and a bit messy in places, which adds to the utilitarian look. It is not a dealbreaker, but it does remind you this is a budget build.

Worth noting is that both the handlebar height and seat height are adjustable, which helps the bike fit a wider range of riders than the specs might suggest. Officially, it is said to be designed for people up to 5ft 7in, but I am 5ft 9in and felt perfectly comfortable riding it. I have also watched a few YouTube reviews from people over 6 feet tall who seemed to get on with it just fine.

Overall, the design of the U4 leans heavily towards usability. It feels like a bike that is meant to be used daily without fuss. For the price, the balance between sturdiness and simplicity is about right, exactly what you want from an urban bike.

Folding and portability

Folding and portability is a big part of the appeal, and the U4 mostly gets it right. The folding process is simple and does not take long once you have done it a couple of times. There are no complicated steps or awkward sequences to figure out, which makes a difference if you are doing this regularly.

The bike folds down into a fairly compact shape and the process is very straightforward. You simply flip two latches. One folds the handlebars down roughly halfway, while the other lets the main frame fold in the middle.

Once folded, it ends up at about half its original size. It is not tiny, but it is compact enough to fit in a car boot, under a desk or in the corner of a flat without much hassle. That alone makes it far more practical than a full-size e-bike.

Where things get a bit more mixed is the weight. At around the mid 50 pounds mark, this is not something you will want to carry for long. Lifting it up stairs or onto public transport is doable, but it is not effortless. You feel the weight straight away.

Because of that, portability here is more about storage than carrying. It works well if you need to fold it and tuck it away, less so if you plan to carry it around often. But it is doable.

Overall, the folding aspect adds real convenience, as long as your expectations are in the right place. It is practical, not ultra portable.

Tech specs

isinwheel U4 Ebike review: Ride experience

On the road is where the isinwheel U4 really comes into its own. Once you start riding it, the whole simple and practical approach comes through quite clearly, and for urban trips it feels very easy to get along with.

The motor has enough power for everyday use. It is not punchy or aggressive, but it pulls you along smoothly and takes the effort out of getting up to speed. In stop-start traffic, that works particularly well. You are not fighting the bike, and it feels predictable rather than jumpy.

You can ride it without any motor assistance, or choose from one of the three assist levels. The first is barely noticeable and takes you up to around 10 km/h. The second is more useful when moving through busy streets, lifting you to around 15 km/h. The third is where the e-bike really shines, taking you up to 25 km/h, or 30 km/h if you tweak the settings. In the UK, the default is 25 km/h as that is the legal limit. This was the level I found myself using the most.

Hills are manageable, but you do notice the limits. On moderate inclines, the assist helps a lot and keeps things moving without too much strain. On steeper climbs, you will need to put in a bit more effort. It gets the job done, just do not expect it to breeze up everything.

Handling is quite nimble, especially at lower speeds. The smaller wheels make it easy to move around tight spaces, which is useful in city environments. At higher speeds, it feels a bit less planted than a full-size bike, but still stable enough for everyday riding.

Comfort depends a lot on the road surface. On smoother streets, it rides just fine and feels controlled. Once you hit rougher patches, you start to feel the bumps more than you would on a bigger bike. It is not harsh, but it is noticeable and reminds you of the smaller wheels and basic setup.

Braking is decent and does what you need it to do. It feels reliable in normal conditions, which is really what matters for a bike like this.

As mentioned, the bike also comes with an optional thumb throttle. It is genuinely useful in stop-start traffic, when pulling away from lights or if you just want a quick boost without pedalling. But UK riders should note that full throttle-only riding on public roads is only legal if the bike has the required manufacturer approval. Otherwise, it should be treated as a walk-assist feature only.

Battery and real world range

On paper, the isinwheel U4 is rated for up to around 88 km on a single charge. That number looks great, but it is very much a best case scenario based on ideal conditions and lighter use. How far the 36V 10.4Ah gets you depends heavily on how you use the bike.

In everyday riding, the range is more grounded. If you stick mostly to pedal assist on flatter routes, you can get somewhere in the region of 40 to 60 km without too much trouble. That feels realistic for commuting and general city use.

Push things a bit harder and the numbers drop. Using higher assist levels, tackling hills or relying more on the throttle will bring the range closer to 30 to 40 km. That is still usable, but it is worth keeping expectations in check.

The battery itself feels well matched to what this bike is designed for. It handles short trips, daily commutes and quick errands without any stress. You are not constantly thinking about charging, as long as you are not trying to stretch it too far. And hey, if you do run out of battery – you can always pedal your way back home.

Charging is straightforward and fits easily into a routine. It can take up to four few hours, but that is when the battery is entirely empty. Typically it will take you less, do just do a top up.

Display and controls

The bike comes with a preinstalled LCD screen. It shows the essentials, speed, battery level and assist mode, without trying to do anything more than that.

The display is clear enough for quick glances while riding. It is not particularly detailed, but it gives you the information you need without distraction. There is no menu diving to deal with. But if you click to +/- buttons at the same time, you can tweak some of the settings.

Controls are also straightforward. A basic button layout lets you switch assist levels and power the bike on or off. It is easy to get used to, and after a short time you are not really thinking about it.

You do not get any smart features here. There is no app, no ride tracking and no deeper data. Everything is kept at a very basic level. Which I like as I have too many apps on my smartphone as it is.

isinwheel U4 Ebike review: Who it is for

The isinwheel U4 is really aimed at people who just want an easy way into e-bikes without overthinking it. If this is your first e-bike, it makes a lot of sense. You get the basics, it is simple to use and you do not need to spend a lot to get started.

It works best for urban commutes. Maybe up to 10 or slightly more kilometres to work and back, quick trips to the shops or just getting around the city without relying on public transport. In that kind of use, it feels right at home.

It is also a good fit if you are tight on space. Flats, small homes or shared spaces all benefit from something that folds down and stays out of the way. You are not dealing with a full size bike taking over your hallway.

Casual riders will probably enjoy it too. If you are not chasing performance and just want something that makes riding easier, this ticks that box. The motor takes the edge off hills and longer rides, which makes it more approachable.

Where it starts to make less sense is if you already have experience with higher end bikes. If you care about lighter weight, smoother ride quality or longer range, you will notice the limits fairly quickly. So it really comes down to expectations. If you want something simple, practical and easy to live with, the U4 fits nicely into that role.

isinwheel U4 Ebike review: What could be better

The isinwheel U4 does a lot right for the price, but there are a few areas where the compromises are clear.

The first thing you notice is the weight. For a miniature folding bike, it is fairly heavy. You can carry it when needed, but it is not something you will want to lift regularly. That limits how “portable” it really feels in day to day use.

Ride comfort is another point to consider. The smaller wheels and basic setup mean you feel bumps more than you would on a larger or more refined bike. It is fine on smoother roads, but rougher surfaces highlight the limitations.

The components are also quite basic. Everything works, but it lacks that sharper, more precise feel you get from higher-end bikes. Braking, shifting and general responsiveness are all just average.

Range is decent, but the advertised figures are optimistic. In real use, especially with higher assist levels or hills, you will see it drop quite a bit. It is not a problem, but it is something to be aware of.

Put together, these are the trade-offs that come with the price. The U4 keeps things simple and affordable, but you do give up some refinement along the way.

View on isinwheel (currently £439, down from £629).

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