OnePlus Watch 3 launched: Bigger, better, brighter, and costlier

When the OnePlus Watch 2 launched nearly a year ago, it received much praise as it was miles ahead of the company's first smartwatch. Now, OnePlus has announced a third model aptly named the OnePlus Watch 3, and it builds upon the success of its predecessor.

The OnePlus Watch 3 has gotten some design changes, a mix of both function and aesthetics. The watch now has a titanium alloy bezel that adds more durability along with the stainless steel case. The bezel, which is also narrower, also features minute markings.

Another design change is the tapered digital crown which OnePlus says is to ensure precise and ergonomic control. This makes sense since the crown is no longer just a button but a functional rotating one that can be used to scroll in apps and menus. The display is still protected by sapphire glass, the 22mm straps are made of rubber, and the weight has changed by roughly a gram.

The OnePlus Watch 3 now flaunts a bigger and brighter 1.5'' LTPO AMOLED display with a peak brightness of 2200 nits. The display sits in a 46.6mm case which, unfortunately, once again excludes those with small wrists. The OnePlus Watch 3 has several watch faces to choose from and has gained support for video watch faces.

The smartwatch brings back the Dual-Engine Architecture which uses a combination of Qualcomm's Snapdragon W5 processor and the BES 2800 chipset. There's 32GB of storage for apps and files. Like its predecessor, it is powered by both WearOS and RTOS, but OnePlus doesn't say what version of WearOS it is running.

The OnePlus Watch 3 brings a few new health features such as a temperature sensor, EKG sensor (not available in all countries including Canada and the US), and vascular health which measures arterial stiffness. There's also a new feature called 60S Health Check-In which allows users to quickly check vital features such as heart rate, SpO₂, wrist temperature, sleep quality and vascular health, by touching the side button. This feature will be available in all regions via an OTA update in March 2025.

For fitness tracking, the OnePlus Watch 3 can track over 100 sports with pro modes for select sports including running, tennis, skiing, and cycling. It also has dual-frequency GPS, a barometer, gyroscope, and compass. 

There's a larger battery inside the watch now and it's a Silicon NanoStack Battery like the type inside the OnePlus 13. The bigger battery results in better battery life as the OnePlus Watch 3 boasts up to 120 hours (or 5 days) of use when in smart mode, compared to the OnePlus Watch 2's 100 hours of use.

The Watch 3 will also last up to 3 days in heavy usage mode and up to 16 days in power saver mode. OnePlus's new smartwatch also has an IP68 dust and water resistance rating, a 5ATM water resistance rating, and an MIL-STD-810H military-grade certification.

The OnePlus Watch 3 is available in Emerald Titanium and Obsidian Titanium. Priced at $329.99/€349/£319, the OnePlus Watch 3 is more expensive than its predecessor which cost $299.99 at launch. On the bright side, OnePlus is offering a $30/€30/£50 discount when you pre-order. You can also save more money if you trade in an eligible device or use a student discount.

Those in the UK even get a free OnePlus Buds Pro 3 as a free gift with their pre-order while those in Germany get a free OnePlus Buds 3 or OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro. For those in the US, OnePlus is offering up to 50% off on select products and accessories.