OnePlus took its time before getting back into the smartwatch game, and the company delivered with the OnePlus Watch 2 and step-down OnePlus Watch 2R. Now, there’s a new flagship in town in the OnePlus Watch 3, which adds improvements. There’s a lot about it that’s the same as its previous-gen sisters, and that’s a good thing. But there are a few key differences, too.
OnePlus Watch 3 Vs. OnePlus Watch 2
First, let’s go over the basics. The OnePlus Watch 3 is powered by Wear OS 5 versus Wear OS 4 in the Watch 2 and offers up to 16 days battery life with Power Saver mode, an increase from 12 in the OnePlus Watch 2. This is thanks to the larger 631mAh OnePlus Silicon NanoStack battery, the same used in the company’s smartphones like the OnePlus 13, versus the 500mAh battery in the Watch 2.
You also get up to five days in Smart Mode (read: normal mode), up from four days in the previous generation model, up to three days with heavy usage. While that doesn’t sound like a lot, when you consider that other premium smartwatches need to be charged every day or two, it’s a big deal. Like the OnePlus Watch 2, the OnePlus Watch 3 charges super quickly, with the ability to get a full day after just a 10-minute battery boost.
It employs the same dual chip architecture with one chip to handle low-energy background tasks and another (Snapdragon W5) to focus on more demanding ones, like app usage, GPS, and workout tracking. The new BES2800 chipset for low-energy tasks improves on CPU performance and NPU processing power, says OnePlus.
This model also adds new health monitoring capabilities, including a 60-second health check-in that will track heart rate, Sp02, vascular health, wrist temperature, sleep, and physical and mental wellbeing to deliver a score. This feature will be available in March 2025 through an over-the-air update, so I was not able to try it just yet. There’s also the capability to take an ECG reading, but this feature has not been approved yet for Canada or the U.S.
GPS has been improved with new a dual-frequency GPS (GNSS) chip. OnePlus promises more accurate fitness tracking for outdoor activities like running as a result. You can choose from more than 100 sports modes and get detailed insights about fat burning efficiency, workout intensity, and exercise effectiveness. There are 11 professional modes, including an upgraded running mode that monitors performance and posture.
This new watch comes in Emerald Titanium and Obsidian Titanium finishes with a stainless-steel body, corrosion-resistant titanium PVD bezel and 1.5-inch LTPO flexible 2D sapphire crystal display. The OnePlus 2 has a crown, but it only functions for pressing not rotating. Those who were annoyed by this will appreciate that the OnePlus Watch 3’s can be both pressed in and rotates, affording an alternative way to navigate menus. It’s built to the MIL-STD-810H military standard, boasting both an IP68 and 5ATM water resistance rating.
As a Wear OS 5 watch, you can access all the latest Google and third-party apps. It also supports e-mail sync and reply functions; while Google Wallet now offers support for boarding passes.
The OnePlus Watch 3 works with any compatible Android device (sorry, there’s no version of the OHealth app for iPhone just yet), but you’ll get additional functionality when connecting it to a OnePlus phone. This includes the ability to use the watch to remotely control the device while playing videos from sources like TikTok and YouTube Shorts, and the phone’s camera.
The OnePlus Watch 3 is available for pre-order starting February 18 and will officially be available in Canada on February 25 for $450. Accessory straps start at $45 and a charging base is $45. For pre-orders, OnePlus is offering $50 when you use the discount code TIME1010. You can also trade in any device from any brand in any condition for an additional $70 off.
OnePlus Watch 3 Review
Not surprisingly, slapping this watch around my wrist feels familiar. It looks and feels a lot like the OnePlus Watch 2, which means it’s heavier and bulkier than some might like, especially if you have smaller wrists. But it’s comfortable to wear, so much so that I’d even sometimes forget I was wearing it.
Aesthetically, the OnePlus Watch 3 is like combining the best of both worlds of the OnePlus Watch 2 and OnePlus Watch 2R. It has virtually the same look as the OnePlus Watch 2 but with a similar dial around the perimeter as the OnePlus Watch 2R, integrated to look even sleeker.
The 1.5-inch screen is, on paper, just slightly larger than the 1.43-inch screen of the OnePlus Watch 2. But you get tons more real estate when comparing them, and the dimensions of the watch are actually identical, as is the weight. You get up to 2,200 nits brightness, so it should be viewable in even bright sunlight. While my testing period occurred during the dark and gloomy winter months, I didn’t have any issues viewing the screen on the few days I went for a walk or was out and about when the sun was glistening on banks of snow.
While I know some people absolutely adore a rotating crown, it’s not something I use often: I prefer a touchscreen. But it’s nice to have the alternative when the screen is wet from rain, for example, or you’re wearing thin gloves. The top crown protrudes for easier handling when rotating and the bottom button now sits flush in the housing. The bezel has a more modern, edgy look to it that, when combined with the dial and the digital crown, resembles a pro watch for serious athletes.
As expected, battery life blew me away. The five days in smart mode or three days with heavy usage is accurate, even with daily workout tracking. One late morning when there was only 20% battery left, I was still able to put the Watch in power saving mode and complete both a 35-minute workout and a 45-minute walk. By 6:30 p.m., the Watch was still running in low-power mode.
I love the new Video Watch Face for using moving video versus a static image as a face, from a fun moment from your day to a calming sunrise video. Add it to the Watch using the new Video Moments section in the app just as you would a static image. I added a lovely photo of waves hitting the rocks on a beach in The Bahamas, and the animation whenever I lift my wrist and tap is calming.
Having a video screen does mean you have to forego all the useful features that come with complications for time, date, activity, weather, and more. But it’s also nice to use and eliminate distractions during a night out or any time you don’t need to see your stats.
The OnePlus Watch 3 promises more accurate sleep monitoring as well as enhanced heart rate monitoring.
Using my Apple Watch Series 10 as well as the Luna Ring smart ring to compare (yes, I wore all three for several weeks during my testing period!) here’s a comparison for a strength training workout, a walk, and a night of sleep, all tracked by the three devices simultaneously. The Apple Watch was on my dominant hand and the OnePlus Watch 3 and Luna Ring on my non-dominant.
| Workout Avg. HR | Calories Burned | Walk Avg. HR | Sleep Duration | Light Sleep | REM Sleep | Deep Sleep | Awake | |
| OnePlus Watch 3 | 114 bpm | 192 Active | 120 bpm | 7 hours, 11 minutes | 3 hours, 45 minutes | 1 hour, 30 minutes | 1 hour, 56 minutes | 4 minutes |
| Apple Watch Series 10 | 123 bpm | 158 Active | 116 bpm | 6 hours, 58 minutes | 4 hours, 39 minutes | 1 hour, 21 minutes | 58 minutes | 16 minutes |
| Luna Ring Smart Ring | 110 bpm | 211 Active | 119 bpm | 7 hours, 1 minute | 4 hours, 2 minutes (reported as a percentage) | 1 hour, 12 minutes | 1 hour, 36 minutes | 8.4 minutes (reported as a percentage) |
What these figures tell me is that the OnePlus Watch 3 is consistent in terms of how it tracks heart rate and sleep compared to other smartwatches and smart rings I have tried. Considering all three devices track only slight variations, I can confidently say that the OnePlus Watch 3 tracks heart rate and sleep just as accurately as other premium trackers.
The OHealth app has also been enhanced to offer new Health Insights, which includes an integrated analysis of health metrics, powered by machine learning. This includes things like Sleep Trends Analysis and Heart Rate Trends. I love how it shows sleep regularity so I get an idea of my average bedtime (as a nudge to go to bed earlier!) as well as average wake-up time.
The Health journey section, meanwhile, summarizes your day with tidbits of information like “adequate sleep,” “very active,” and “daily activities goals reached.” The Mind and Body section is a nice addition that measures how you deal with stress and plots this on a graph throughout the day, week, month, and year, giving you a score from Excellent to Poor. It also logs how you improve (or regress) and confirms your average resting heart rate and average daily heart rate variability (HRV).
The Watch still does not offer female cycle tracking, an unfortunate omission for women looking to keep on top of their monthly cycles and couples looking to conceive.
Should You Buy the OnePlus Watch 3 or Upgrade From the OnePlus Watch 2?
If you’re buying new, it’s a no-brainer to go with the newer, enhanced OnePlus Watch 3 versus the previous-gen OnePlus Watch 2. It’s about the same price and improves on the experience, design, and durability. The OnePlus Watch 2 hasn’t been out for that long so if you already invested in it, stick with that model unless you have someone to gift or sell it to so you can get the new one. This model is in some ways an iterative update, and the differences are enough to call the OnePlus Watch 3 the better option, but it isn’t night and day.
The OnePlus Watch 3 builds on what was already great about the OnePlus Watch 2. It’s sleeker in design with a larger and brighter screen and a rotating crown, lasts longer than the already long battery life of the OnePlus Watch 2, and it offers more health and wellness features and accurate tracking. The upgrades are ones someone serious about their fitness will appreciate, including those who work out daily, particularly outdoor runners.
As with the OnePlus Watch 2, The OnePlus Watch 3 is a fabulous smartwatch that any Android user will love. The one downside is that there’s still no version of the OHealth app for iOS. OnePlus is missing a huge opportunity to be a viable competitor to the likes of Fitbit and Garmin as a brand-agnostic smartwatch option for both Android and iOS. For now, Android users should seriously consider this smartwatch if you value elegant design, long battery life, and the Wear OS experience.
Pre-order the OnePlus Watch 3 now or purchase it starting February 25, 2025 for $450. Trade in any device from any brand in any condition for an additional $70 off. The Watch comes with tweo years of software and security updates.
.