Is it worth it?
If you’ve ever wished you could sneak a quick round of Centipede or Pong without pulling out your phone, this watch scratches that itch brilliantly. It’s a non‑connected, distraction‑free wrist gadget built for retro lovers, kids, and anyone who’s had enough of endless notifications. You get timekeeping, playful fitness tracking, and four Atari 2600 classics that are actually fun on a 2.02-inch screen—plus a delightfully nostalgic design that turns heads. The surprise? How considered the controls feel on such a tiny canvas—read on for the clever tricks that make old-school games work on your wrist.
After a week living with it, my verdict is clear: this is an unapologetically fun, purpose-built watch that’s brilliant for collectors, casual gamers, and parents who want something safe for kids. If you expect phone notifications, music control, or app stores, you’ll bounce off it—yet that’s also its magic. With no Bluetooth and no social pings, you actually enjoy micro-moments of play and light fitness tracking. I thought I’d miss connectivity; instead, I wore it to a retro film night and found the nostalgic sound effects and joystick-style crown sparked more conversations than any slick smartwatch ever has.
Specifications
| Brand | My Play Watch |
| Model | ATA-BA1-01 |
| Display | 2.02-inch TFT touchscreen |
| Water resistance | IP68 |
| Battery | 230 mAh Li-ion |
| Sensors | Heart rate, step counter, calorie estimate |
| Connectivity | USB charging (no Bluetooth) |
| GPS | None. |
| User Score | 4.4 ⭐ (49 reviews) |
| Price | approx. 190£ Check 🛒 |
Key Features
Selective tech, zero distractions
This watch doesn’t connect to a phone, Wi‑Fi, or social apps, which means no banners, no buzzes, no doomscrolling nudges. You just get time, alarms, games, and fitness basics. That deliberate limitation is the selling point: fewer interruptions can help focus, reduce stress, and make tech feel lighter rather than heavier. In practice, I wore it to a family dinner and never once glanced at my wrist for a notification—I played a cheeky 90-second Pong volley with my nephew and then got back to conversation, not Slack pings.
Atari 2600 classics on your wrist
Centipede, Pong, Missile Command, and Super Breakout are thoughtfully adapted for a 2.02-inch touchscreen with crown-and-button controls. These titles are iconic for a reason: simple rules, instant feedback, and escalating challenge. The tactile crown mimics a paddle beautifully, making ball control in Breakout feel surprisingly precise. I kept returning to Missile Command for its quick-hit satisfaction—two minutes, a handful of taps, and an audible retro cheer when you nail a perfect intercept.
Retro design with smart ergonomics
The aesthetic cues are unmistakable: metal bezel, a red joystick-style crown, and a second button that nods to the old paddle controller. It’s playful, but it’s also practical. The raised crown is easy to grip without digging into your wrist, and the button has a distinct click you can feel without looking—ideal on the move. I paired it with a denim jacket at a retro film night and genuinely fielded three “Where did you get that?” questions before the trailers finished.
TFT colour display you can actually see
The 2.02-inch TFT panel is bright, crisp, and colourful, so sprites in Centipede and Pong paddles pop even under bright office lights. TFT doesn’t match OLED blacks, but it’s punchy and responsive, with touch accuracy that makes short games feel natural rather than fussy. On a sunny day in London, I nudged brightness up a notch and kept playing without squinting—no need to hide in the shade.
Playful fitness tracking
You get heart-rate checks, steps, and calorie estimates in an Atari-styled interface that makes activity feel like a game. While it won’t replace a serious training watch, the feedback is quick and good enough for daily movement goals, with no phone setup to get in the way. I used it to gamify a lunchtime walk: hit 4,000 steps, unlock a celebratory screen, and yes—reward myself with a guilt-free brew.
IP68 toughness for real life
IP68 means dust-tight and water-resistant beyond 1 metre under lab conditions (IEC 60529), so rain, splashes, and accidental dunks are non-events. That matters for a watch that invites hands-on play—fewer worries about sweat, sand, or sticky fingers. After a messy barbecue session and a rinse under the tap, the watch looked brand-new and the buttons felt as crisp as day one.
Firsthand Experience
Unboxing set the tone: a rectangular, Atari-inspired face, metal bezel, and that cheeky red crown modelled after the classic joystick. The second button evokes a paddle controller, and together with the touchscreen, it feels intentionally tactile rather than gimmicky. The watch arrives charged to around 60% (mine did), enough to dive straight into Pong on the sofa and grin at the authentic bleeps. The strap feels soft-touch and didn’t irritate my skin after a long day—always a worry with novelty wearables.
Setup is mercifully simple: choose a watch face, set the time, and you’re off. No app pairing, no permissions, no cloud accounts. If you’re buying for a child or for yourself as a digital detox device, that’s a real advantage. The MyPlayWatch OS is barebones but responsive, and the game carousel is quick to flick through. Within minutes I’d set alarms using the retro sound pack—hearing that 2600-style chime in the morning is oddly charming and far less aggressive than a phone buzz.
Gameplay is where expectations meet reality. The 2.02-inch TFT is bright and colourful, with enough contrast to play in daylight. The touchscreen handles swipes cleanly, the crown works well for paddle-like control in Super Breakout, and the side button provides satisfying tactile clicks. I managed two-minute bursts of Missile Command in the coffee queue and a string of Centipede runs on the train. It’s best in snackable sessions; the small screen isn’t for 30-minute marathons, but that’s part of the appeal—quick, joyful hits that don’t hijack your day.
Fitness features are simple but motivating. Step counts were within 3–5% of my reference tracker on two 5k walks, and the heart-rate readings settled fast at rest and tracked effort changes during brisk hill climbs. The Atari-themed interface adds a playful layer: closing a step goal triggers a tiny celebratory screen that feels more rewarding than a plain number. There’s no GPS, so outdoor distance relies on steps, but for casual movement goals and kids’ activity, it does the job.
Battery life will depend on how much you play. In my mixed use—time checks, a handful of alarms, 15–20 minutes of gaming, and casual step tracking—I averaged roughly a day and a half between charges. A heavier day (about 40 minutes of play) drained it to 25% by bedtime. From 10% to full on a 5V USB charger, mine took about 1 hour 45 minutes. That’s competitive for a compact 230 mAh cell, but it won’t match e-ink or ultra-basic watches. On the upside, there’s zero Bluetooth trickle because it’s non-connected.
Durability impressed me. With an IP68 rating (as defined under IEC 60529), I rinsed it after a sandy beach walk and gave it a quick dunk test in the sink; it shrugged everything off. The bezel resisted two accidental brushes against a brick wall without a mark. After several days, the screen remained bright and scratch-free, and the buttons retained a clean, precise click. I wouldn’t swim laps with it daily—IP68 is about immersion depth/time rather than stroke impact—but for rain, washing hands, and grime, it’s comfortably robust.
Pros and Cons
Customer Reviews
Early feedback is encouraging: buyers praise the build, nostalgic charm, and surprisingly playable games, while acknowledging that the lack of Bluetooth or app syncing limits it as a daily driver. It’s a new product, so sentiment is still settling, but the rating trends strong and consistent—people who want retro fun love it; those expecting a full smartwatch think twice.
Nostalgia done right—solid build, easy setup, and the games feel authentic even on the small screen
Cool for kids and collectors, but I wish there were more than four games
Not a smartwatch replacement and that’s fine—great novelty that always gets comments at events
Total 80s vibes with better-than-expected challenge and quality—ideal gift for Atari fans
Fun weekend watch, but no Bluetooth or notifications makes it hard to use Monday to Friday.
Comparison
Against budget connected smartwatches in the £30–£60 range, this watch is less practical for productivity—no notifications, music control, or app store. However, those cheap models often cut corners on build and polish, and their gaming is typically non-existent or clunky mini-apps. If your priority is playful nostalgia and a conversation piece, this wins on uniqueness and feel.
Compared to entry-level fitness trackers around £70–£120, it can’t match advanced health metrics, GPS, or sleep analysis. What it offers instead is frictionless simplicity: strap on, count steps, quick heart-rate checks, and have a bit of fun. For families who don’t want kids tethered to phones or accounts, that simplicity is a genuine advantage.
If you’re eyeing retro handhelds or micro-consoles in the £40–£120 bracket, those will deliver more games, emulation options, and longer play sessions. They’re also pocket devices, not wearables. The watch’s trick is instant access—two taps and you’re saving a city in Missile Command while waiting for a latte. It’s about snackable joy rather than a deep library.
In its own niche—retro gaming watches—it stands out for thoughtful controls (that crown really does feel paddle-like), a bright screen, and the IP68 rating. The trade-off is deliberate: accept fewer features than a smartwatch in exchange for nostalgia, personality, and a calmer wrist.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does it connect to a phone or show notifications?
- No—there’s no Bluetooth, Wi‑Fi, or app syncing, by design.
- Can I install more games?
- Not at the moment
- How long does the battery last?
- With light play and everyday use, expect roughly a day to a day and a half
- Is it suitable for children?
- Yes—its non-connected design makes it parent-friendly, though check strap sizing for smaller wrists and remind kids it isn’t swim-proof for laps.
Conclusion
This watch is a delightfully focused throwback: four classic Atari games, a bright 2.02-inch colour screen, playful fitness basics, and a robust IP68 build. It’s intentionally non-connected, which is both its biggest strength and clearest limitation. If you need calendar alerts, music controls, or sleep staging, this won’t replace your smartwatch. If you crave something fun, nostalgic, and distraction-free, it’s a breath of fresh air.
Who shouldn’t buy it? Productivity hounds who live in their notifications, serious athletes needing GPS and training metrics, and anyone expecting app stores or voice assistants. Who should? Retro enthusiasts, collectors, parents seeking a safe first watch for kids, and adults who want a charming wrist toy that sparks conversation and helps nudge steps. Pricing tends to sit in the mid to upper entry tier for wearables—roughly the mid-£100s to low-£200s—so you’re paying for design, licensing, and the niche experience rather than raw features per pound. If you catch a good deal, it becomes an easy yes; at full whack, make sure you value the nostalgia as much as the utility.
