The OnePlus Watch 3 emerges as a worthy successor, building upon the strengths of its predecessor with notable improvements in battery performance, display quality, and overall durability. While it introduces innovative health-tracking features, regional availability limitations may dampen the excitement for some.
Design Evolution: Durability Meets Elegance
OnePlus has subtly refined the Watch 3’s design, blending functionality and aesthetics. A new titanium alloy bezel, coupled with the stainless steel case, enhances the watch’s resilience. The narrower bezel, now adorned with minute markings, adds a touch of classic horology. The redesigned, tapered digital crown allows for more precise and ergonomic control, functioning as a rotating input for navigating through apps and menus. Maintaining familiar elements, the display remains protected by sapphire glass, the 22mm straps are crafted from durable rubber, and the overall weight remains comparable to the previous model.
Immersive Display: Bigger, Brighter, Better
The OnePlus Watch 3 boasts a larger and significantly brighter 1.5” LTPO AMOLED display, reaching a peak brightness of 2200 nits. This enhanced visibility makes it easier to view information even in bright sunlight. The display is housed within a 46.6mm case, which may still prove too large for users with smaller wrists. A wide selection of watch faces, including support for dynamic video watch faces, allows for personalization.
Performance and Software: Dual-Engine Power
The OnePlus Watch 3 retains the Dual-Engine Architecture, leveraging the combined power of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon W5 processor and the BES 2800 chipset. It offers a generous 32GB of storage for apps and media. While the watch is powered by both WearOS and RTOS, OnePlus remains tight-lipped about the specific WearOS version.
Health and Fitness: Advanced Tracking Capabilities
The Watch 3 introduces several new health features, including a temperature sensor, an EKG sensor (availability varies by region, notably absent in Canada and the US), and vascular health monitoring to assess arterial stiffness. A convenient 60S Health Check-In feature enables users to quickly assess vital signs like heart rate, SpO2, wrist temperature, sleep quality, and vascular health with a single button press. This feature will be rolled out globally via an OTA update in March 2025. For fitness enthusiasts, the watch supports tracking for over 100 sports, with specialized pro modes for activities like running, tennis, skiing, and cycling. Dual-frequency GPS, a barometer, gyroscope, and compass provide accurate location and activity tracking.
Battery Life and Durability: Powering Through the Day
A larger Silicon NanoStack Battery, similar to the one found in the OnePlus 13, powers the Watch 3. This translates to an impressive battery life of up to 120 hours (5 days) in smart mode, a significant improvement over the Watch 2’s 100-hour battery. Heavy usage mode offers up to 3 days of battery life, while power saver mode extends it to a remarkable 16 days. The OnePlus Watch 3 also boasts IP68 dust and water resistance, a 5ATM water resistance rating, and MIL-STD-810H military-grade certification, ensuring its durability in various environments.
Pricing and Availability: A Premium Offering
The OnePlus Watch 3 is available in Emerald Titanium and Obsidian Titanium. Priced at $329.99/€349/£319, it represents a price increase compared to its predecessor’s launch price of $299.99. However, OnePlus offers a pre-order discount of $30/€30/£50. Additional savings are available through trade-in programs and student discounts.
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