TicWatch 2024 Lineup: Model Comparison Guide
| Feature | TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro | TicWatch E3 | TicWatch S3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Target Audience | Outdoor Enthusiasts, Athletes, Power Users | Budget-Conscious, First-Time Smartwatch Users | Fitness-Focused, Value-Seekers |
| Display | 1.43″ AMOLED + FSTN Always-On Secondary | 1.3″ IPS LCD | 1.3″ IPS LCD |
| Processor | Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 Platform (4nm) | Snapdragon Wear 4100 Platform (12nm) | Snapdragon Wear 4100 Platform (12nm) |
| RAM & Storage | 2GB RAM, 32GB Storage | 1GB RAM, 8GB Storage | 1GB RAM, 8GB Storage |
| Battery Life | Up to 90 days in Essential Mode, 4-5 days typical use | Up to 3 days typical use | Up to 3 days typical use |
| Durability | MIL-STD-810H, 5 ATM + IP68 | IP68 & Swim-Proof | IP68 & Swim-Proof |
| Key Differentiator | Ultimate Endurance & Dual-Layer Display | Affordability with High-End Chipset | Rugged Design & Core Fitness Tracking |
| Price Point | Premium | Budget | Budget |
TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro: The Ultimate Endurance Powerhouse
The TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro sits at the apex of Mobvoi’s 2024 offerings, designed explicitly for users who refuse to compromise on battery life or performance. It builds upon the acclaimed Pro 5 foundation with enhancements tailored for extreme conditions and long-haul adventures.
Design and Durability: The Pro 5 Enduro features a robust 50.1mm case crafted from aerospace-grade titanium alloy and reinforced with a sapphire crystal lens, making it exceptionally lightweight for its size yet incredibly tough. It meets the MIL-STD-810H standard for resistance to shocks, temperature extremes, and humidity, and carries a 5 ATM + IP68 rating, meaning it’s built to withstand deep-water immersion and dusty environments. The fluoroelastomer strap is hypoallergenic and designed for secure, comfortable wear during intense physical activity.
Display Technology – The Crown Jewel: The signature feature is the innovative Dual-Layer Display 2.0 system. The top layer is a power-efficient FSTN (Film Super Twisted Nematic) screen, which shows essential data like time, date, battery level, and heart rate in a high-contrast, always-on format that is perfectly visible in direct sunlight. This is the key to its phenomenal battery life. With a single button press or wrist-rotation gesture, the vibrant, high-resolution 1.43-inch AMOLED display activates for full-color interactions, apps, and detailed data visualization.
Performance and Battery: At its core is the most advanced smartwatch chipset available: the Qualcomm Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 platform. Built on a 4nm process, it delivers blistering performance while being remarkably power-efficient. Coupled with a generous 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, the experience is fluid, with swift app launches and ample space for music, apps, and data. The 628mAh battery is the largest in the TicWatch lineup. In smart mode, with typical use including always-on heart rate and sleep tracking, workouts, and notifications, it easily lasts 4-5 days. Engaging Essential Mode, which relies solely on the FSTN display, can extend this to an industry-leading 90 days, making it ideal for multi-day expeditions.
Health and Fitness Tracking: Mobvoi’s proprietary health algorithms are in full force here. It offers 24/7 heart rate monitoring, continuous SpO2 tracking, and advanced sleep staging analysis with a Sleep Score. The TicMotion AI automatically detects workouts like running, walking, and swimming. For athletes, it boasts over 100 built-in sport modes, with dual-frequency GPS for highly accurate location and route tracking, even in challenging environments with dense tree cover or urban canyons.
TicWatch E3: The Unbeatable Value Champion
The TicWatch E3 represents the sweet spot for budget-conscious consumers who do not want to sacrifice core performance. It retains a critical component from higher-end models—the Snapdragon Wear 4100 platform—making it one of the most responsive watches in its price category.
Design and Build: The E3 opts for a lightweight and comfortable fiberglass polymer case. Its design is minimalist and functional, weighing only 32 grams without the strap. While it forgoes the premium materials of the Pro series, it maintains a strong IP68 and swim-proof rating, making it safe for submersion in water up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes and resilient against dust and sweat. It’s a practical choice for everyday wear and gym sessions.
Display and Interface: It features a 1.3-inch IPS LCD display. While it lacks the deep blacks and always-on capability of an AMOLED screen without impacting battery, it is bright, colorful, and perfectly serviceable for viewing notifications, tracking workouts, and navigating the interface. The responsiveness, driven by the capable Wear 4100 chipset, is a key advantage over competitors using older silicon.
Performance and Daily Use: The Snapdragon Wear 4100, paired with 1GB of RAM, ensures smooth navigation through Wear OS, lag-free app switching, and reliable voice assistant support via Google Assistant. With 8GB of storage, there is sufficient space for a substantial music library and essential apps. The battery life is consistent, typically reaching up to three days on a single charge with standard use, or a full day with always-on display enabled and GPS active during a long workout. It supports essential health tracking, including 24/7 heart rate, sleep monitoring, and SpO2 measurements, alongside built-in GPS for outdoor activity mapping.
TicWatch S3: The Rugged Fitness Specialist
The TicWatch S3 is positioned as a durable, fitness-first smartwatch. It shares its core internal architecture with the E3 but is housed in a more robust chassis aimed at users with an active, and sometimes rough, lifestyle.
Ruggedized Design Philosophy: The primary distinction from the E3 is its construction. The S3 features a reinforced polymer case with a fortified steel frame underneath, enhancing its impact resistance. It feels more substantial on the wrist and is designed to handle the rigors of CrossFit, trail running, and construction sites. Like the E3, it carries an IP68 and swim-proof rating, ensuring it can survive intense workouts and swimming sessions. The included strap is often a more heavy-duty silicone, emphasizing its sporty pedigree.
Display and Core Specs: It utilizes the same 1.3-inch IPS LCD as the E3, providing a clear and functional interface. The core performance is identical, driven by the reliable Snapdragon Wear 4100 chipset and 1GB of RAM. This parity means users choosing the S3 over the E3 are doing so purely for the enhanced durability and sport-oriented aesthetic, not for a performance upgrade. The 8GB of storage is again adequate for most users’ needs.
Battery and Fitness Focus: Battery performance mirrors the E3, offering up to three days of standard use. Its value proposition is centered on providing a resilient body for the powerful Wear 4100 internals. It includes the full suite of Mobvoi’s TicExercise, TicPulse, and TicOxygen features, supporting multiple sport modes and providing detailed post-workout analytics. The built-in GPS allows for accurate tracking of runs, cycles, and hikes without requiring a connected phone.
Key Decision Factors: Choosing Your 2024 TicWatch
- Budget: The E3 and S3 are closely priced, offering the best value. The Pro 5 Enduro commands a significant premium for its advanced technology and materials.
- Battery Life Needs: If recharging your watch more than once a week is a deal-breaker, the Pro 5 Enduro is the only choice. Its dual-layer system and massive battery are in a class of their own.
- Durability Requirements: For daily wear, gym sessions, and swimming, the E3 and S3 are sufficient. For extreme sports, outdoor adventures, or hazardous work environments, the Pro 5 Enduro’s MIL-STD-810H rating and sapphire crystal, or the S3’s reinforced frame, are significant advantages.
- Performance: The Pro 5 Enduro, with the Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1, is the performance king. However, the E3 and S3, with the Wear 4100, still offer a superior experience to many other budget watches using older chipsets.
- Ecosystem: All three models run on Wear OS 3 or later, providing access to the Google Play Store, Google Wallet for NFC payments, Google Assistant, and third-party apps like Spotify and Strava. The user experience is consistent, differentiated primarily by hardware capabilities and battery optimization.