The smartwatch market is more competitive than ever, but OnePlus is making a bold play for the top spot. The new OnePlus Watch 3 is a significant upgrade from its predecessor, and according to reviews, it’s one of the most compelling Android smartwatches of the year. TechRadar’s review highlights several key strengths that make it a serious contender, especially for users who value battery life above all else.

Let’s break down what makes the OnePlus Watch 3 stand out.

Unmatched Battery Life

The headline feature of the OnePlus Watch 3 is its incredible battery life. Thanks to a new 631mAh battery and an efficient dual-engine architecture (combining a powerful Snapdragon W5 chipset with a low-power BES2800BP MCU), the Watch 3 can last for up to five days in “smart mode.” This is a significant improvement over most rivals and essentially eliminates the need for daily charging. TechRadar notes that even with heavy use, the watch still comfortably provides multiple days of use, which is a major win for the company.

A Refined, Premium Design

While the overall look is similar to the OnePlus Watch 2, the Watch 3 brings welcome upgrades. The watch now features a titanium alloy bezel and a sapphire crystal display, making it more durable and giving it a more premium, classic dress watch feel. The addition of a new, rotating digital crown makes navigating the interface a breeze, especially during a workout. The watch remains on the larger side, which may not suit all wrists, but a smaller 43mm model is now available to address that concern.

Performance and Software

The OnePlus Watch 3 runs on a combination of Wear OS 5 and OnePlus’s own RTOS. This dual-OS approach allows it to switch between a power-hungry Wear OS for apps and a more efficient RTOS for background tasks and fitness tracking. The result is a fluid and responsive experience. The interface is smooth and intuitive, and the addition of third-party app support via the Play Store makes the watch much more versatile than previous OnePlus models.

Health and Fitness Features

OnePlus has made significant strides in health tracking. The Watch 3 now includes a wrist temperature sensor and enhanced heart rate tracking. The new 60-second health check-in feature provides a quick, holistic overview of key biometrics like heart rate, SpO2, and stress levels. While it may not be on the same level as dedicated fitness trackers from brands like Garmin for pro athletes, it provides more than enough data for the casual user and is a substantial improvement over the previous generation.

The Verdict

The OnePlus Watch 3 is a powerful, robust daily driver. While it lacks features like an LTE option and its health tracking, though improved, still has some minor performance niggles, its outstanding battery life and polished Wear OS experience make it a highly recommendable choice.

For anyone who has been frustrated with the daily charging routine of other smartwatches and wants a device with a premium design and all the core features of Wear OS, the OnePlus Watch 3 is a fantastic option and a strong contender for the best Android smartwatch of the year.