When OnePlus first entered the smartwatch game, it felt like a cautious step rather than a bold leap. The original OnePlus Watch had its charms, but also its fair share of rough edges. Now, with the OnePlus Watch 3, the company seems determined to prove it belongs in the same conversation as the heavy hitters from Samsung, Google, and even Apple. And spoiler alert it just might.
A Watch That Feels as Good as It Looks
At first glance, the OnePlus Watch 3 doesn’t shout for attention it commands it. Crafted from stainless steel with a titanium alloy bezel, topped by sapphire crystal, this is a watch that looks like it could survive both a formal dinner and a weekend hike. Its MIL-STD-810H durability rating and 5 ATM water resistance aren’t just for show; this thing is built to handle real life.That said, it’s not exactly a featherweight. At around 81 grams and a case size pushing 47.6 mm, this is a chunky piece of wristwear. If you have a smaller wrist, you’ll feel its presence not necessarily a dealbreaker, but worth knowing.
The Rotating Crown Returns And It Works
One of the most satisfying upgrades over previous models is the rotating crown. No longer just a decorative touch, it now doubles as a navigation tool, letting you scroll through menus and apps without smudging that gorgeous screen. If you’ve used an Apple Watch, the experience will feel pleasantly familiar.Display That Shines Literally
The Watch 3’s 1.5 inch LTPO AMOLED display hits an impressive 2200 nits peak brightness. Translation, even under harsh midday sunlight, you’ll have no trouble checking notifications or tracking your run. The sapphire crystal layer adds scratch resistance, so you can skip the screen protector without losing sleep.Power Meets Efficiency
Under the hood, the Watch 3 runs on a clever dual chip architecture: a Snapdragon W5 for power hungry tasks, and a BES2800BP MCU running a lightweight RTOS for background duties. This setup, paired with Wear OS 5, ensures the watch feels snappy without draining the battery like a thirsty smartphone.Battery Life That Puts Rivals to Shame
If there’s one headline feature here, it’s battery life. The 631 mAh cell keeps the Watch 3 running for up to 5 days in smart mode or a staggering 16 days in power saving mode. Need a quick top up? A 10 minute charge gives you enough juice for a full day. In an era when most smartwatches beg for nightly charging, this endurance feels almost rebellious.Fitness and Health: Comprehensive, With a Few Caveats
OnePlus has packed in a full suite of health features: heart rate monitoring, SpO₂ tracking, sleep analysis, stress measurements, wrist temperature, and even vascular health checks. The 60 second Health Check In and 360° Mind & Body insights are neat touches for anyone wanting a quick wellness snapshot.Sports enthusiasts get over 100 workout modes, including 11 pro level options, plus dual band GPS for accurate route tracking.
The downside? During intense workouts especially when your heart rate climbs above 155 BPM the watch’s tracking can lag. Serious athletes may notice this and, unfortunately, there’s no option to pair an external chest strap.
Price and Position in the Market
With a launch price of around $329 / €299 - €350, the OnePlus Watch 3 undercuts most premium competitors without feeling like a compromise. While it may not have LTE connectivity or the most advanced health sensors, its combination of premium build, Wear OS flexibility, and unmatched battery life makes it a compelling choice for Android users who don’t want to charge their watch every other night.Final Verdict: Worth the Wrist Space
The OnePlus Watch 3 feels like the moment OnePlus finally nailed its smartwatch formula. It’s tough, elegant, lasts days on a charge, and offers just enough smart and fitness features to satisfy most users.It’s not perfect heart rate accuracy could be better for high intensity athletes, and the size won’t suit everyone but for the price, it’s hard to find a more well rounded Android smartwatch right now. If battery life and build quality matter more to you than bleeding edge health analytics, the OnePlus Watch 3 deserves a serious look.