ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The OnePlus Watch 3 normally retails for $350.
- Its long-lasting battery, durability, rotating digital crown, and superb design make this a compelling smartwatch.
- However, the OHealth app needs some work, workout data screens are limited, and ECG measurements are not supported.
After the original OnePlus Watch failed in 2021, the company hit it out of the park with the OnePlus Watch 2. Users, like myself, have been very happy with the Watch 2, but did provide feedback to OnePlus, and the company clearly listened as the newest OnePlus Watch 3 improves in some key areas. There are still reasons to consider other Google Wear OS watches, but battery life shouldn’t be one of them.
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That’s because OnePlus advertises up to five days of battery life in typical “smart” mode, and I can confirm that is accurate. A five-day battery life for a smartwatch is unheard of when the Apple Watch, Google Pixel Watch, and Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra are still trailing in the two-day range. The OnePlus Watch 3 now competes with GPS sports watches that have AMOLED displays, so if battery life is your primary factor for a smartwatch, then you can’t go wrong with a OnePlus Watch 3.
This long battery life is achieved through the OnePlus dual-engine architecture and the incorporation of a large 631 mAh battery that uses the OnePlus Silicon NanoStack Battery, similar to what is found in the battery king OnePlus 13.
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Previous OnePlus Watch 2 owners were disappointed in the digital crown button serving only as a button, so OnePlus took that feedback, and now the digital crown is larger, has some texture on it, and spins to navigate through menus. The crown also rotates in the app launcher to provide a slick experience where the watch face zooms in and out of the apps to help you read the app label or zoom out to see everything you have installed.
Another criticism of the Watch 2 was the lack of compelling watch faces. That is no longer the case with some fantastic options from OnePlus, including one of my favorites, Metric Matrix, which provides eight functional complications and a host of color options. One of the coolest options available on the Watch 3 is the Moments in Motion watch face, which plays a video when you tap on it and can even loop the video, although that will significantly decrease the battery life.
The OnePlus Watch 3 (left) and the Watch 2 (right).
Matthew Miller/ZDNET
Select a video or GIF, and then the editing tool in the OHealth app will help you customize the video watch face. I have one with the Hover drone circling me as I test an e-bike, and it is slick. People I have shown it to are very impressed with this watch face option, and you can have a lot of fun creating custom watch faces.
Matthew Miller/ZDNET
The dual-frequency GNSS chip has proven to provide accurate location tracking when exercising outside. While the watch supports more than 100 sports modes, the data screens that appear in these various sports are not customizable and are limited to some default standard metrics. After you finish your workout, a vast amount of data is shown in the eHealth app, including running dynamics, heart rate, running power, and much more. So even though the watch isn’t showing you much while you work, the data is collected and can be used afterward.
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The watch is elegant, with a stainless steel casing, a titanium bezel, and a sapphire crystal display. The vibrant AMOLED display is 1.5 inches in diameter with a 466 by 466-pixel resolution and up to 2,200 nits of brightness. It’s a bit heavy at 81 grams, and only one size is available, so those with smaller wrists may not appreciate the watch size.
The 60-second health check-in is a handy feature that allows you to check your heart rate, blood oxygen level, stress level, wrist temperature, sleep quality, and vascular age by placing your finger on the bottom right button. However, OnePlus has not gained FDA approval, so ECG measurements are not provided in the US or Canada.
Matthew Miller/ZDNET
The OHealth smartphone app is useful for showing all of the details of the data captured by the OnePlus Watch 3, but I don’t like that you cannot customize the Home screen tiles. Stress measurements are not appearing from me, and I don’t use OnePlus earbuds, so I would like to remove those tiles from the page and reorder others I want to see at the top. The health insights are also fairly limited.
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The running form and advanced measurement data that appear on the Fitness tab are excellent, though, and provide more insights than others. For example, running dynamics details are shown in addition to a table that shows what you need to achieve to move to the next highest level. OnePlus also provides details about those metrics so that you can understand how to improve them and whether that is possible for your running style.
Matthew Miller/ZDNET
The OnePlus Watch 3 is a Google Wear OS 5 watch, so all of the apps you’re familiar with across similarly operating wearables are available to you. However, there are still reasons that the Google Pixel Watch is better from an app’s perspective. For example, with the Google Home app on the Pixel Watch 3, I can view my various cameras, and on the OnePlus Watch 3, a display appears that directs me to open the app on my phone.
ZDNET’s buying advice
OnePlus continues to improve its wearable offerings with the OnePlus Watch 3. Several improvements have been made to the hardware, and the battery life is the best we have seen on a smartwatch. The watch is also built to withstand the elements, with IP68 and 5ATM ratings, along with MIL-STD-810H certification. It’s a beautiful, functional smartwatch that is available for a reasonable price.
Unless Google and Samsung, or a surprise manufacturer, break new ground this year, I don’t see why the OnePlus Watch 3 wouldn’t be the best option for Android users.
