The smartwatch market has evolved significantly in recent years, with major players like Apple, Samsung, and Google constantly pushing the boundaries of innovation. Amidst this fierce competition, OnePlus has steadily carved its niche, refining its smartwatch offerings with each iteration. The OnePlus Watch 3, the latest addition to their wearable lineup, arrives with a compelling suite of features, a refined design, and the promise of enhanced performance. But does it truly live up to the hype and establish itself as a frontrunner in the Android smartwatch arena? Let’s delve into a comprehensive review to uncover the strengths and weaknesses of the OnePlus Watch 3.

Design and Build: A Fusion of Style and Durability

OnePlus has consistently prioritized design in its products, and the Watch 3 is no exception. It exudes a sense of understated elegance, featuring a circular 47mm stainless steel case that strikes a balance between boldness and sophistication. The watch is available in two color options: Emerald Titanium and Obsidian Titanium, both offering a premium look and feel.

While the single size option may not cater to all wrist sizes, particularly those with smaller wrists, the Watch 3’s design is undeniably appealing. The smooth curves of the case, the subtle chamfers along the edges, and the high-quality materials contribute to a watch that feels comfortable and substantial on the wrist.

The rotating crown, a notable addition absent in the previous model, enhances user interaction, allowing for effortless navigation through menus and settings. The tactile feedback provided by the crown adds a layer of refinement, reminiscent of the experience offered by the Apple Watch.

Durability is another key aspect of the Watch 3’s design. It boasts an IP68 rating, ensuring resistance to dust and water immersion up to a certain depth. Additionally, the watch has undergone MIL-STD-810 testing, signifying its ability to withstand various environmental stresses, including shocks, vibrations, and temperature extremes. The use of sapphire crystal glass for the display further enhances its resistance to scratches and everyday wear and tear.

Display: A Vibrant Canvas for Information

The OnePlus Watch 3 features a 1.5-inch LTPO AMOLED display with a resolution of 466 x 466 pixels. This translates to a pixel density of 311 pixels per inch, ensuring sharp visuals and detailed information presentation. The AMOLED technology delivers vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent contrast, making the display a joy to interact with.

One of the standout features of the display is its LTPO technology, which enables a variable refresh rate ranging from 1Hz to 60Hz. This dynamic adjustment optimizes battery life by lowering the refresh rate during periods of inactivity while ramping it up for smoother animations and transitions when needed.

Brightness is another area where the Watch 3 excels. With a peak brightness of 2,200 nits, the display remains easily visible even under direct sunlight. This is a significant improvement over its predecessor and ensures that users can comfortably view information regardless of the ambient lighting conditions.

The always-on display functionality, while impacting battery life, provides a convenient way to glance at the time and other essential information without having to wake the watch. The implementation is well-executed, with customizable watch faces and dimmable brightness levels to cater to individual preferences.

Health and Fitness Tracking: A Comprehensive Suite of Metrics

OnePlus has made significant strides in enhancing the health and fitness tracking capabilities of its smartwatches, and the Watch 3 is a testament to this commitment. It offers a comprehensive suite of sensors and features designed to monitor various aspects of health and well-being.

Heart Rate Monitoring: The Watch 3 employs an 8-channel optical heart rate sensor, providing continuous heart rate tracking throughout the day. The sensor’s accuracy has been improved compared to previous models, offering more reliable data for fitness enthusiasts and those seeking to monitor their cardiovascular health.

Blood Oxygen Monitoring: The inclusion of an SpO2 sensor allows the Watch 3 to measure blood oxygen saturation levels, a crucial metric for assessing overall health and fitness. This feature can be particularly useful for individuals with respiratory conditions or those engaging in high-altitude activities.

Sleep Tracking: The Watch 3 offers detailed sleep analysis, tracking sleep stages, sleep duration, and heart rate variability during sleep. The revamped sleep tracking system also provides insights into snoring patterns and sleep disturbances, offering a more holistic view of sleep quality.

Wrist Temperature Monitoring: A new addition to the Watch 3’s health tracking arsenal is the wrist temperature sensor. This feature allows for continuous monitoring of skin temperature, providing valuable insights into potential health issues or changes in body conditions.

Workout Modes: The Watch 3 caters to a wide range of fitness activities with over 100 workout modes. These modes track various metrics specific to each activity, providing detailed data for analysis and improvement. Eleven of these modes offer pro-level metrics, including running, swimming, and climbing, providing advanced insights for serious athletes.

60S Health Check-In: The Watch 3 introduces a unique “60S Health Check-In” feature that assesses various health parameters, including heart rate, blood oxygen levels, sleep quality, and mental well-being, in just 60 seconds. While the interpretation of these scores may require further clarification, the feature offers a quick and convenient way to get a snapshot of overall health.

ECG Functionality: While the inclusion of an ECG sensor is a welcome addition, its unavailability in North America due to the lack of FDA clearance is a significant drawback. This limitation restricts the Watch 3’s appeal for users in those regions who rely on ECG functionality for health monitoring.

Performance: A Dual-Processor Powerhouse

The OnePlus Watch 3 adopts a dual-processor approach to optimize performance and battery life. It utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 platform for primary tasks, ensuring smooth and responsive user experience. For background functions and power-saving mode, the watch employs the BES2800 processor, efficiently managing less demanding tasks without draining the battery.

This dual-processor system proves to be effective in delivering a snappy and lag-free experience. Navigating through menus, launching apps, and accessing information feels fluid and effortless. The watch handles multitasking with ease, allowing users to seamlessly switch between different functions without any noticeable slowdown.

Battery Life: Endurance That Impresses

Battery life is a crucial factor for any smartwatch, and the OnePlus Watch 3 excels in this department. Thanks to its dual-processor system and efficient power management, the watch delivers impressive battery endurance. OnePlus claims up to five days of use in standard mode and a remarkable 16 days in power-saving mode.

In real-world usage, the Watch 3 lives up to these claims. With moderate use, including always-on display and regular workout tracking, the watch comfortably lasts for two to three days on a single charge. This extended battery life provides peace of mind, eliminating the need for frequent charging and ensuring that the watch is always ready to go.

When it comes to charging, the OnePlus Watch 3 offers a fast and convenient solution. It utilizes a magnetic charging puck with pogo pins that securely attach to the back of the watch. The charging puck itself features a USB-C port, allowing for compatibility with a wide range of chargers and cables.

OnePlus claims that the Watch 3 can be fully charged in approximately 80 minutes, which is relatively fast compared to some competitors. This quick charging capability minimizes downtime and ensures that the watch is ready for use whenever needed.

Software: Wear OS 5 with a OnePlus Touch

The OnePlus Watch 3 runs on Wear OS 5, Google’s latest wearable operating system. Wear OS 5 brings a host of improvements and refinements, including a more intuitive user interface, enhanced notification management, and improved app performance.

OnePlus has also added its own touch to the software experience, with custom watch faces and a companion app called OHealth. The OHealth app provides detailed health insights, allows for customization of watch settings, and offers a convenient way to manage notifications and other watch functions.

While the software experience is generally smooth and user-friendly, there is room for improvement in terms of app availability and third-party integration. The Wear OS ecosystem still lags behind Apple’s watchOS in terms of app selection, and some popular apps are not yet optimized for the platform.

Connectivity: Comprehensive and Reliable

The OnePlus Watch 3 offers a comprehensive suite of connectivity options, including Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi, NFC, and GPS. Bluetooth 5.2 ensures a stable and efficient connection with your smartphone, enabling seamless notification syncing and data transfer. Wi-Fi connectivity allows the watch to connect to the internet independently, enabling features like music streaming and app downloads without relying on the smartphone connection.

NFC support enables contactless payments through Google Pay, adding a layer of convenience for users who prefer to leave their wallets at home. The built-in GPS allows for accurate tracking of outdoor activities, providing detailed route information and distance metrics without the need for a smartphone connection.

Conclusion: A Worthy Contender with Room for Growth

The OnePlus Watch 3 is a well-rounded smartwatch that offers a compelling combination of style, features, and performance. Its refined design, vibrant display, comprehensive health tracking, impressive battery life, and smooth software experience make it a worthy contender in the Android smartwatch market.

While the lack of an LTE option, the limited availability of the ECG feature, and the single size option may be drawbacks for some users, the OnePlus Watch 3 remains an excellent choice for those seeking a feature-rich and reliable smartwatch.

OnePlus has demonstrated its commitment to improving its wearable offerings with each iteration, and the Watch 3 is a testament to this progress. As the smartwatch market continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how OnePlus further refines its products to compete with the industry giants.