Main improve
Whereas different Android smartwatches launch extra iterative annual updates, OnePlus knew it had quite a lot of fixes to make with the OnePlus Watch 3. This watch has vital upgrades throughout the board, primarily battery life, well being information, and the show, however with extra refined enhancements, too.
For
- Bigger, smoother show with titanium bezel
- Redesigned well being sensor with ECG, pores and skin temp
- Crown is now purposeful
- Additional day of industrial quality use
- Quicker co-processor for background duties
In opposition to
- Nonetheless no smaller choice, LTE
- ECG not out there in North America
- Solely two years of software program assist
Work in progress
OnePlus’s first Put on OS watch made a splash due to its lengthy battery life, however we discovered minor points in areas like efficiency and well being monitoring that made it tougher to advocate. This watch will nonetheless beat rivals for battery life and technically matches the Watch 3 for efficiency, however it’s tougher to advocate now.
For
- Wonderful battery life solely a day in need of Watch 3
- Quick VOOC charging
- Identical Snapdragon chipset, reminiscence
- Equally sturdy design
In opposition to
- Nonfunctional crown
- Unreliable last-gen MCU
- No ECG, pores and skin temp
- Arguably much less fashionable
- Had documented points with exercise monitoring
Once you weigh the OnePlus Watch 3 vs. Watch 2, you may discover there’s rather more that is modified than simply the additional battery life. The design has purposeful and stylistic adjustments, the efficiency has a refined increase, new sensors provide you with a wider vary of well being metrics, and the show has a noticeable increase in a number of areas.
That mentioned, the OnePlus Watch 2 takes after the Watch 3 in predictable methods, and in case you’re trying to find a deal and contemplating the last-gen watch, this OnePlus Watch 3 vs. Watch 2 information will show you how to make your choice!
Beginning with the whole lot that is unchanged between the 2, let’s dive by the important thing variations between these two glorious Android smartwatches, based mostly on our hands-on time with the OnePlus Watch 3 and the official specs.
Class | OnePlus Watch 3 | OnePlus Watch 2 |
|---|---|---|
Supplies | Titanium bezel, chrome steel case, sapphire crystal glass | Stainless-steel case/bezel, sapphire crystal glass |
Safety | MIL-STD-810H, IP68, 5ATM | MIL-STD-810H, IP68, 5ATM |
Dimensions | 46.6 x 47.6 x 11.75mm | 46.6 x 47.0 x 12.1mm |
Weight (with out/ with strap) | 49.7g / 81g | 49g / 80g |
Show | 1.5-inch (466×466) LTPO AMOLED, 2,200 nits brightness | 1.43-inch (466×466) AMOLED, 600 nits brightness |
Processor | Snapdragon W5 SoC, 6nm BES2800 MCU, 32GB | Snapdragon W5 SoC, 12nm BES2700 MCU |
Reminiscence | 2GB RAM, 32GB storage | 2GB RAM, 32GB storage |
OS | Put on OS 5 (+ 2 model updates) and RTOS | Put on OS 4 (+ 2 model updates) and RTOS |
Battery | 631mAh; 120 hours (sensible mode); 72 hours (heavy use); 16 days (energy saver mode) | 500mAh; 100 hours (sensible mode); 48 hours (heavy use); 12 days (energy saver mode) |
Charging | 24 hours in 10 minutes; 100% in 60 minutes | 24 hours in 10 minutes; 100% in 60 minutes |
Sensors | Optical HR, SpO2, ECG, wrist temperature, accelerometer, barometer, geomagnetic, gyroscope, gentle | Optical HR, SpO2, accelerometer, barometer, geomagnetic, gyroscope, gentle |
Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.2, WiFi 2.4/5GHz, NFC, | Bluetooth 5.0, WiFi 2.4/5GHz, NFC |
Monitoring | GPS (L1 + L5), Beidou, Galileo, GLONASS, QZSS | GPS (L1 + L5), Beidou, Galileo, GLONASS, QZSS |
OnePlus Watch 3 vs. Watch 2: What’s the identical?
These are the important thing options and design components which can be both unchanged or nearly equivalent between the OnePlus Watch 3 and Watch 2:
Processor and reminiscence: Each watches use the Snapdragon W5 Gen 1, a chip that launched in 2022, with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. They do have completely different coprocessors, however we’ll focus on that later. Basically, you may get the identical efficiency velocity as different Put on OS watches just like the Pixel Watch 3 and TicWatch Professional 5 Enduro.
Updates: Though the OnePlus Watch 2 and three launched with Put on OS 4 and OS 5, respectively, each watches will obtain two model updates and two years of safety updates and can share the identical options as soon as the Watch 2 updates. This places OnePlus behind Google (3 OS updates) and Samsung (4 OS updates).
Straps: Each watches use 22mm fluororubber straps with chrome steel buckles; in contrast to different Android watches, the OnePlus Watch 3 and a couple of use commonplace 22mm lugs, so you need to use whichever appropriate bands you need. We’ll ask OnePlus whether or not its fluoroelastomer materials has any points with toxicity and replace if we hear again.
OnePlus did say it applied a “new curved strap design that enhances the wraparound match” for extra correct sensor information, however in any other case, it ought to really feel pretty comparable; our examined discovered that he did not discover an actual distinction in consolation.
General measurement, really feel, and colours: We’ll focus on what’s modified, design-wise, within the subsequent part, however typically talking, you are getting a 47mm chrome steel watch that weighs about 80g/2.8 ounces and measures about 13mm thick if you take the sensors into consideration. OnePlus did not announce a smaller mannequin for the Watch 2 or 3, which could possibly be a deal-breaker for these with smaller wrists.
Additionally, the OnePlus Watch 2 and three are available two comparable finishes. They’ve completely different names — Obsidian Titanium/ Black Metal and Emerald Titanium/ Radiant Metal — however it’s basically the identical black and silver choices as earlier than.
Sturdiness: Each watches have the identical mud and water resistance (IP68), although not on the identical IP69 score because the OnePlus 13. OnePlus lists a variety of military-grade sturdiness checks that the Watch 3 (and a couple of) handed, together with excessive/low temperature, photo voltaic radiation, 96-hour salt spray, vibration, influence, acidic environment, and freezing rain. It isn’t bulletproof however as rugged as you’d hope for in an Android watch.
OnePlus Watch 3 vs. Watch 2: Design and show
Regardless of being the identical basic measurement, the OnePlus Watch 3 has a brand new titanium bezel as a substitute of chrome steel, including a metallic sheen across the edge the place the OnePlus Watch 2 had a “sizeable bezel” enveloping the show that irritated our reviewer.
Eradicating that wasted area, OnePlus gave the Watch 3 a 1.5-inch show, a slight visible increase over the 1.43-inch Watch 2. That matches bigger Android watches just like the Galaxy Watch Extremely. We’re somewhat shocked that OnePlus did not enhance the decision to match the dimensions enhance; each watches have 466 x 466 decision, so the Watch 2’s pixels per inch ratio is barely extra dense (~15ppi).
Nonetheless, the OnePlus Watch 3 show has extra vital upgrades that make it the clear winner: It hits a peak brightness of two,200 nits as a substitute of 600 nits and makes use of an LTPO AMOLED materials able to dipping as little as 1Hz to avoid wasting battery life.
Apparently, our OnePlus Watch 3 tester discovered there wasn’t a lot visible distinction between the 2 in direct daylight. He as a substitute appreciated that the Watch 3 makes use of DC dimming in any respect brightness ranges as a substitute of PWM, which may trigger complications for prone folks.
General, the OnePlus Watch 3 design seems extra like a sports activities watch because of its 60-second scale across the titanium bezel, just like the OnePlus Watch 2R. The latter did effectively in our current smartwatch magnificence pageant, and I feel it is no shock that OnePlus realized that this type would make its mainline watches look extra distinct.
OnePlus irritated some Watch 2 homeowners by including an ornamental crown with no precise navigational skills. Listening to that criticism, it transformed the OnePlus Watch 3 crown to be purposeful: you may rotate by menus and press it to pick out choices, so that you’re now not absolutely touch-dependent.
The crown has a “tapered, pyramid-pattern” texture that is simple to twist. Our tester praised it because the “greatest crown I’ve used on any watch to this point,” noting that it is massive sufficient on your finger to relaxation comfortably on it, it has a pleasant tactility, and the haptics really feel nice when twisted.
OnePlus Watch 3 vs. Watch 2: Efficiency, battery life, and charging
Despite the fact that these watches share a predominant processor and RAM, the Watch 3 switches to a brand new coprocessor referred to as the BES2800 for background RTOS duties. Constructed on 6nm FinFET tech, it is alleged to have a 200% CPU increase and 400% NPU increase over the 12nm BES2700 within the Watch 2.
When reviewing final 12 months’s Watch 2, our reviewer complained that issues did not work reliably due to the dual-OS resolution; we now have cause to hope that this improve on the Watch 3 will clear up a few of his issues, like health-tracking inaccuracies and dropped notifications.
When it comes to battery life, there’s an apparent 131mAh capability enhance, however OnePlus pulled this off whereas making the Watch 3 barely skinnier due to the brand new silicone-carbon battery tech, which OnePlus calls Silicon NanoStack Battery. It makes your battery denser, that means you get extra capability and higher sturdiness towards excessive temperatures whereas utilizing much less area.
To date, we have discovered the OnePlus Watch 3 can simply final an estimated 5 days, together with with every day exercises, however our preliminary hands-on check did not embody sleep monitoring. Your private battery mileage could range, however typically talking, each watches are a lot longer-lived than the typical smartwatch; the Watch 3 merely provides you a bit extra leeway in case you’re an influence consumer who ceaselessly makes on-wrist calls, streams music to Bluetooth earbuds, or does quite a lot of GPS exercises.
Equally vital, each watches assist VOOC quick charging that offers you a couple of day of battery life in 10 minutes. Apparently, our OnePlus Watch 3 tester discovered he might cost it from 20% to 100% in simply half-hour, whereas the Watch 2 took about an hour to cost absolutely. OnePlus did not announce a charging velocity enhance, however it seems that the Watch 3 prices quicker regardless of its bigger capability.
OnePlus Watch 3 vs. Watch 2: Sensors and connectivity
Whereas each OnePlus Watches have 8-channel optical coronary heart charge sensors and 16-channel blood oxygen (SpO2) sensors, OnePlus is promising rather more correct outcomes on the Watch 3. We discovered the Watch 2 wasn’t particularly correct for exercises, making this a much-needed enchancment.
Reportedly, the OnePlus Watch 3 has a brand new again cowl glass that improves LED effectivity and a redesigned sensor format “to cut back the space between the LED and photodetector” to make sure “sign high quality.” OnePlus additionally says it improved its coronary heart charge algorithm.
That is all on paper, however in our early testing, the OnePlus Watch 3 delivered exercise outcomes a lot nearer to that of different smartwatches, whereas the Watch 2 usually had curiously deflated outcomes.
Apart from improved accuracy, the OnePlus Watch 3 added an “ECG Analyzer” to guage your coronary heart well being; sadly, it will not be out there in the US or Canada as a result of OnePlus selected to not try to get FDA certification as a “enterprise choice” to economize.
OnePlus is including a 60-second well being check-in to the Watch 3 beginning in March 2025 that’ll analyze your vascular age, coronary heart charge, SpO2, psychological wellness, sleep high quality, wrist temperature, and (in Europe and Asia) ECG information. Your vascular well being, or arterial stiffness threat, will probably be a brand new main focus with its personal app and tile, aiming to catch hypertension points.
As well as, OnePlus is providing new sleep information insights within the OHealth app — although we suspect a few of them will come to the Watch 2, as effectively. Basically, you’ll verify your sleep rating/period, respiratory charge, HRV, physique motion, loud night breathing ranges, and your resting coronary heart charge in comparison with your typical baseline.
However the large new addition is pores and skin temperature. You could put on the look ahead to at the least 4 hours of sleep monitoring per night time for 5 days; after that, OnePlus may have a temperature baseline to check towards, warning you in case your well being verify or in a single day temperature seems elevated.
On the connectivity entrance, OnePlus upgraded the Bluetooth chip from 5.0 to five.2 for the Watch 3, however the Wi-Fi commonplace is unchanged. You get NFC for Google Pockets funds, however it seems that OnePlus as soon as once more will not supply an LTE improve choice or ultra-wideband assist.
One refined improve is to GPS monitoring. The OnePlus Watch 2 had dual-band GPS, however the OnePlus Watch 3 has a brand new “circular-polarized antenna” that is designed to seize weak alerts extra reliably and “scale back refraction attributable to tall buildings.” Plus, it added a brand new 7nm GPS chip that reportedly reduces energy consumption by “over 50%” whereas rushing up your satellite tv for pc search.
OnePlus Watch 3 vs. Watch 2: Do you have to improve?
OnePlus saved the identical rugged, traditional design philosophy for the Watch 3 and a couple of, and Qualcomm’s subsequent Snapdragon chip possible will not be out there till later this 12 months, so OnePlus had no improve choice. However in any other case, this information ought to make clear simply what number of generational adjustments OnePlus made with the Watch 3! Nearly nothing was left unchanged.
In the event you purchased the OnePlus Watch 2, I am unable to let you know whether or not it is too quickly to improve or not, however OnePlus definitely made the Watch 3 tempting.
The upgrades to the background MCU and well being sensors, together with refined OHealth adjustments, make it extra dependable as a health watch. The battery life and charging boosts are vital, however the Watch 2 isn’t any slouch in both space. You may actually recognize the brighter, smoother show, however you could not recognize the dearth of a 1.2- or 1.3-inch choice.
Till our OnePlus Watch 3 evaluate lets us check the battery, software program, and well being information extra totally, we won’t give a full-throated advice. However based mostly on our preliminary impressions, it is a a lot stronger Android smartwatch than the Watch 2, and I might advocate paying further for the Watch 3 as a substitute of grabbing the Watch 2 on sale.
Subsequent-gen choice
Select the OnePlus Watch 3 to prioritize battery life, behind-the-scenes upgrades to efficiency and well being/ health monitoring, and fashionable type. Skip it if you wish to look forward to the OnePlus Watch 4 so as to add a brand new Snapdragon processor or if you cannot deal with heavy watches.
Final-gen lonvevity
Hold your OnePlus Watch 2 in case you’re glad with its present battery life and do not want a crown; or, purchase a brand new Watch 2 in case you’d relatively get monetary savings and might compromise in areas like well being information. In any other case, severely contemplate the OnePlus Watch 3, because the variations are substantial.
