The smartwatch universe has a new member: The Kospet Optimus 2

At first glance, the new smartwatch from the young Chinese company has everything a smartwatch needs – but it can’t shoot mini poison darts. James Bond says hello. We found out what a second glance says and put it in a nutshell in our review.

The Optimus 2 from Kospet is supposed to score with a 13 megapixel camera, a long-lasting battery, decent storage space, a fast processor and 4G technology. On the software side, the company with the crown in its logo also offers one or the other delicacy.

One thing we will say in advance: The Kospet Optimus 2 is not a classic smartwatch that is connected to a smartphone, but rather a smartphone in its own right. Of course, there is also an app for the watch and both can be connected this way, but the application only processes data that the Chinese smartwatch collects.

Either way, we were very curious and put the Kospet Optimus 2 through its paces. Better said, it put us through our paces – but read for yourself.

Specifications

Kospet Optimus 2

Kospet Optimus 2

€ 152.91

N/A

Buy now* Kospet

Packaging & Contents: A lot inside, some behind

Nobly packaged, the Chinese smartwatch comes along. A black outer box nestles around the actual packaging and presents the logo along with the original slogan “Watch You Want” stamped in shiny silver. The white main packaging is just as elegant, with the logo emblazoned on it once again. The watch and an accessory box are initially hidden inside. Eventually, however, a few parts come to light.

Accordingly, Kospet provides the following things:

• The smartwatch
• A powerbank
• A charging cable for the smartwatch (multi-contact plug to USB type A)
• A charging cable for the powerbank (micro USB to USB type A)
• Protective film for the display
• A small screwdriver
• Instruction booklet

So in terms of content, a lot comes delivered when you order the Optimus 2. More importantly, though, is what it can do, how rugged it is, and what the little screwdriver is for.

Design & Material: chunky, but high-end look and well-made

The Chinese company Kospet is still very young, considering that it was only founded in mid-2018. Nevertheless, it has already launched numerous smartwatch models on the market, most of which have little in common with dainty cases. The Optimus 2 is no exception and even surpasses its peers. With a frame diameter of 52.5 millimeters, it accommodates a fairly large display, but together with a thickness of 17 millimeters, it looks very clunky on the arm.

However, those who don’t mind that can be happy about the good build quality, a relatively elegant exterior and high-quality materials. But first things first.

There are exactly three materials: robust plastic, ceramic and TPU, i.e. thermoplastic polyurethane. This provides elasticity in the wristband and ensures that the watch doesn’t constantly slip on the wrist without being properly tightened. After all, blood is still supposed to get through. Speaking of blood: In order to regularly measure the oxygen content in it and the pulse, two corresponding sensors are attached to the back, which virtually “read” from the back of the forearm. Whether and how this works is noted further down in this review (see section “App: Acceptable support for the Optimus 2“).

Next to it, also underneath the clock, are the four contact pads for the charging cable and powerbank. Beyond that, a switch is placed on the top and bottom right, respectively – whereby the upper one is colored blue. This is used to turn the display on and off during operation and the watch itself. The sim card slot is also found on the left side. All in all, the case, physical controls and wristband are well-made and make a sturdy impression.

The smartwatch probably got the name Optimus 2 from Kospet due to the premise that the camera swivels 90 degrees. It is the only element on the China watch that can “transform” in this way. We can’t say exactly, though. It’s probably irrelevant; all that counts is the usability of the camera. And it is precisely this that we have particularly scrutinized, as Kospet peddles this USP above all else.

Photo & Video: Timing not up to snuff

And we can start right away by saying that the Optimus 2 is good proof that a high megapixel count is just not everything when it comes to snapping snappy pictures. In terms of smartphone cameras, 13 megapixels is obviously not much, but it is for smartwatches. It is a challenge to fit a decent recording device into such a small space. There is a reason why manufacturers like Apple advertise the watches as health supporters and not as all-rounders. Why would you need smartphones then.

The number of smartwatches with cameras is manageable and mainly comes from China. Here, single-digit megapixel numbers used to be considered regular. However, the double-digit 13 megapixels could only hardly convince in the test, not to say not at all. If the camera was the reason to build the watch so thick and clunky, Kospet should have better done without it.

Anyway, the camera is on and the pictures look more like the camera generation after Nokia 3310. We couldn’t detect any image optimization software or anything else that would make the pictures knock the socks off at least 10-year-olds. The same fate unfortunately befell the video recordings. Despite HDR and 1080 pixel resolution, these were also not convincing in any way. At this point, it is exclusively fancy features on paper.

And the fact that the camera can be swiveled up and down at a 90-degree angle to take better selfies did not add anything to the whole story. Because not only is it merely a gimmick than a useful feature, the flip is also quite impractical. Most of the time, you get your finger on the lens and involuntarily leave prints.

The only thing we found useful was the flash, but in its function as a flashlight. Village kids now know well what we mean.

Display & functions: No wild stuff

Ok, having said a few good and a few bad words about the Kospet Optimus 2 so far, we now move on to the display and the functions that can be operated underneath it.

In general, the performance looks reasonably good. The two CPUs and the 4 GB working memory do their job. However, touch operation is sometimes sluggish and the graphical display looks as if it was not tuned to the watch itself at all. Simple functions like deleting photos often did not work in our test, which corresponds to the 1×1 of smartwatch functions and is thus annoying.

Swiping up, down, left and right takes the user to the individual menu sections or to the most frequently used app. You can also turn on the display light with a flick of the wrist to check the time. However, this must first be activated in the corresponding app from Kospet.

What we find pleasant is the fact that there are several surface designs, so there is something for everyone. From the Transformers look to the minimalistic Modern look, almost every style is represented.

The basic set of apps includes the usual suspects that are also found on Android smartphones. Exceptions are smartwatch-typical apps like respiratory training as well as the heart rate and blood oxygen monitors. All three work flawlessly. We cannot confirm to what extent they display correct data. Our editorial doctor is on vacation – has been since forever.

To use all the functions of the Kospet Optimus 2 properly, it should be paired with the associated app. It is called GaoFit and can be downloaded from the Google Play Store. A QR code to it can also be found in the manual, which is purely in English, by the way.

App: Acceptable support for the Optimus 2

As sorry as we are, we are not really convinced by the Chinese company’s Optimus 2 so far. After inspecting the app in more detail, we can say in advance that it doesn’t necessarily get any better. However, we might also be technically spoiled, so that some products simply cannot reach the standard in our case. This has nothing to do with the fact that the technology comes from China – after all, we have already had one or two highlights from the Far Eastern country.

First, you have to log in or register with an account or as a guest in the GaoFit app. After that, the app asks for some personal data like height, weight and age. Then you have the option of viewing steps, sleep times, heart rate and blood oxygen in detailed diagrams in order to initiate possible optimization measures – or to visit the doctor.

What we have to criticize about both the watch and the app is the poor translation into German. Other Chinese manufacturers have already managed this better.

Calling & sound: Absolutely average

We also ran a few tests in this regard. The phone calls were of average quality, which is completely sufficient for a smartwatch of this class. Accordingly, we can state that the sound is absolutely okay, which is, however, not a great added value for a smartwatch, since it is rarely used via speaker in our experience, but rather in combination with a headset. Nothing stands in the way of connectivity in this regard thanks to Bluetooth 5.0 support.

Lite or full power: The difference between the two modes

The Kospet Optimus 2 can be used in two modes: Lite and Android mode. On the one hand, the difference can be seen in the different battery life – which we will get to in a moment – and on the other hand, it is noticeable in the differentiated usability. That means concretely:

• The Android mode gives the user the option to use the watch like a smartphone on the wrist. As we already explained in the introduction, the Optimus is just not a typical smartwatch, but offers everything that a cell phone can do. The app mentioned before is only used to display the collected data of heart, blood oxygen and GPS. So if you have forgotten your cell phone at home, but not the smartwatch, everything is fine: It can make phone calls, send text messages, surf the Internet and everything else you do on a cell phone. The prerequisite is, of course, a SIM card or a hotspot connection.
• The Lite mode is – as the name suggests – the opposite of this. Here, the smartwatch becomes an actual smartwatch, as only simple services like making calls, sending SMS, processing fitness data and other local applications that do not require the Android environment can be used. Accordingly, the battery also has longer juice.

So, using two examples, the Kospet Optimus 2 in Lite mode can be used well when you’re out jogging, and Android mode gives you the option of not having to reach for your smartphone all the time. The hand gesture mentioned in “Display & Functions” also makes the whole thing relatively practical.

Battery & Powerbank: A powerhouse in this respect

Now, it is clear that a smartwatch does not draw a particularly large amount of power – unlike a smartphone in continuous use. The manufacturer states that the 1260 mAh battery of the Optimus 2 lasts 2 to 5 days in Lite mode. In our test, it was almost 4.5 days, which is absolutely fine.

According to Kospet, it should only be 1 to 2 days in the more demanding Android mode. We can confirm that as well. We also received a power bank, which adds another 1,000 mAh and extends the battery life a bit on the road. The fact that two charging cables are included is advantageous, and thus both the watch and the powerbank can be charged at the same time. It takes a bit more than two hours until the Optimus 2 is fully charged. Of course, this is nothing earth-shattering in today’s times, but absolutely acceptable.

The bottom line is that we can only say positive things about the battery situation.

Extras & Notes: Not much, but worth mentioning

As is now almost common for smartwatches and smartphones, a protective film was also included with the Kospet Optimus 2. This has to be stuck on accordingly by the user, which results in a well-known war against air bubbles. With a lot of rest and detail work, this can also be won, otherwise you’ll have a few troublemakers in the picture when you use the watch.

Among all the connectivity options (Bluetooth, WLAN, LTE), we only missed NFC. Kospet should upgrade here again or consider it for future watches.

If you do not like the black wristband and want something more sophisticated, you can also order the Optimus with a brown strap. Another option is to order this separately so you can switch between black and brown. Removing the straps is made easy

Price: You get what you pay for

If we consider the price of almost 153 euros, we are of course in the low-budget range. However, since parts of the Optimus 2’s implementation also fall into the low range, you get what you pay for in our opinion. If you decide to buy the device, we recommend paying a few Euros more and ordering the matching 1,000 mAh powerbank for just under 161 Euros.

Those who value details and the functions of a smartwatch are less well served with the new one from Kospet. And with this sentence, we appropriately go straight into the conclusion.

Conclusion

As expected, this doesn’t turn out particularly well. Yes, the Optimus 2 is a smartwatch and yes it can do everything that one should be able to do. But the implementation of the software and hardware leaves a lot to be desired. Only the good workmanship, the choice of materials and the scope of the included accessories should be emphasized. We also liked the battery and the powerbank.

However, the clunky appearance of Kospet’s Optimus 2 also put a spoke in our wheel. You have to have a very wide wrist or a fetish for flashy technology on the body to become friends with this smartwatch. Unfortunately, we can only garnish our review with a bronze medal in this case.

PS: We were not able to find out what the screwdriver is for when we published this review. The only screws that are visible on the Optimus 2 cannot be unscrewed with it. The assumption of one of our editors: The screwdriver (slot) serves as an aid to open the sim card slot. However, you can also open it with bare fingers, as long as you don’t have completely chewed fingernails.

Kospet Optimus 2

Kospet Optimus 2

€ 152.91

N/A

Buy now* Kospet