OnePlus Watch 3 Review: A Stunning Smartwatch That Nails the Basics
The OnePlus Watch 3 is a refined evolution of its predecessor. While the original OnePlus Watch faded into obscurity, the Watch 2 gained a cult following thanks to its sleek asymmetric design and impressive battery life. Now, the Watch 3 builds on that legacy with polished aesthetics, improved tracking, and better endurance.
The unboxing experience is minimalistic: the watch, a USB-A to USB-C cable, and a four-pin magnetic charging dock. While the cradle isn’t as convenient as Huawei or Samsung’s effortless magnetic pucks, it gets the job done. Offered in Obsidian Titanium and Emerald Titanium, this 46mm wearable supports Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, but not eSIM.
Design & Build
Elegant and bold, the Watch 3 sports a brushed titanium dial and stainless steel body weighing 49.7g without the strap. The 1.5-inch LTPO AMOLED display is protected by sapphire crystal and boasts an impressive 2,200 nits brightness. It’s rugged too, certified with MIL-STD-810H and IP68 + 5ATM ratings. The rotating crown now doubles as a navigation tool with tactile feedback, and the second button opens the workout menu.
Despite a minor mishap with early models featuring “Meda in China” engravings, the build quality is top-tier. It features a comprehensive health sensor setup and a built-in speaker and mic-though calling quality is average at best. The included 22mm fluoro-rubber strap is premium, with options like black, green, and Nordic Blue. Still, OnePlus Red fans are out of luck.
Display & Comfort
The larger, sharper AMOLED screen supports Always-On Display (AOD) and is visually stunning. With a comfortable fit tailored for larger wrists, the Watch 3 might be the most ergonomic big smartwatch around. Slightly contoured lugs help the strap mold naturally to your wrist, offering all-day comfort even during intense workouts or sleep tracking.
Software & Performance
Like its predecessor, the Watch 3 runs dual systems: Wear OS powered by Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 and a real-time OS on OnePlus’s own BES2800 chip. This hybrid setup maximizes efficiency and battery life. Smart Mode dynamically switches between processors, while Power Saver restricts features to extend longevity.
Navigation is smooth: the crown brings up apps, the second button jumps to workouts, and swipes reveal widgets, notifications, and quick settings. With over 100 fitness modes (11 of them “pro”), it covers everything from swimming to tennis. GPS accuracy is spot-on, with support for L1+L5 bands.
Fitness & Sleep Tracking
The Watch 3 now tracks heart rate, SpO2, skin temperature, breathing rate, and sleep stages with better accuracy than before. It even supports snore detection via your phone. During tests, sleep and fitness readings aligned closely with Huawei’s well-regarded Watch Fit 2.
Battery Life
The battery life is stellar-four full days with AOD, workouts, sleep tracking, and notifications. That’s double what you’d get from many Wear OS watches, including the Galaxy Watch6 Classic. And when it’s time to charge, you’re back to 100% in under an hour.
Final Verdict
The OnePlus Watch 3 hits the sweet spot for design, performance, and battery life. It feels premium, performs well, and looks like a classic timepiece. Yes, it’s large and lacks eSIM, but these are minor trade-offs. At a standard price of $350/€300/£300 (often discounted), it competes fiercely with the Pixel Watch 2, Galaxy Watch6, and even Huawei’s best.
Ultimately, buying a smartwatch is a personal choice. But if style, durability, and endurance matter to you, the OnePlus Watch 3 deserves a spot on your wrist.
Pros:
- Premium build: titanium bezel, stainless steel body, sapphire screen
- Refined Wear OS experience with useful rotating crown
- Excellent display and battery life
- Comfortable for large wrists
Cons:
- No LTE/eSIM support
- Bulky for smaller wrists
- Charger requires pin alignment