OnePlus Watch 3 Review: A Smartwatch That Finally Solves the Battery Problem

OnePlus Watch 3: The Smartwatch That Finally Gets Battery Life Right

Smartwatches have become more than just accessories—they’re personal health trackers, fitness monitors, and notification hubs all rolled into one. From counting your steps to monitoring your heart rate and sleep, these wrist-worn devices keep tabs on your well-being in real time. But despite their impressive features, one problem has consistently plagued even the most premium smartwatches: poor battery life.

That’s where the OnePlus Watch 3 changes the game. Priced at $329, it isn’t just another smartwatch. It’s a device designed to last, with a focus on real-world usability—especially when it comes to how often you need to charge it. After using the Watch 3 for a week, the most impressive takeaway is simple: I only needed to charge it once. That’s something I couldn’t even dream of saying with my Galaxy Watch 7.

Let’s explore what makes the OnePlus Watch 3 a standout, from battery life and display to health features and durability.

A More Premium Design

Right away, the OnePlus Watch 3 feels like an upgrade. It boasts a larger 1.5-inch LTPO AMOLED display, with brightness peaking at 2200 nits—a significant jump from the 600 nits on its predecessor. Whether you’re indoors or in direct sunlight, visibility is crystal clear.

The screen is protected by 2D sapphire crystal, giving it better scratch resistance, and the watch case is made of stainless steel with titanium accents. It feels durable, classy, and ready for everyday use.

One of the most appreciated changes is the new rotating crown. Unlike the one on the OnePlus Watch 2 that served no purpose, this one actually works. You can scroll through apps, adjust icon sizes, and even get haptic feedback for a more responsive experience. Plus, a secondary button acts as a quick-access shortcut to your workouts.

Overall, the round watch face adds to its premium feel, and it’s a design choice I personally prefer over the more common square designs.

Intuitive Software Experience

The OnePlus Watch 3 runs on Wear OS 5, which means it supports Google’s rich ecosystem of apps and smart features. Navigation is intuitive:

• Swipe down for quick settings
• Swipe up for notifications
• Swipe sideways to access customizable widgets (tiles)

If you’ve used a Wear OS watch before, you’ll feel right at home.

Incredible Battery Life That Actually Delivers

This is where the OnePlus Watch 3 truly shines. In normal Smart Mode, OnePlus claims 5 days of usage, and in my experience, that’s accurate. In fact, with light use—checking messages, tracking sleep, using GPS occasionally, and doing some workouts—I squeezed out six full days on a single charge.

That’s a major leap over my Galaxy Watch, which rarely lasts more than two days even on a power-saving mode.

And if you do push it harder, OnePlus says you can expect three days of battery under heavy use. Want to stretch it even further? Power-saving mode promises up to 16 days of battery life.

The secret lies in OnePlus’s dual-chip architecture, a combination of the Snapdragon W5 chip for Wear OS tasks and an upgraded BES 2700 chip for handling background operations. It’s the same approach they used in the OnePlus Watch 2, but this time, it’s been refined and made more efficient.

Plus, the battery itself is better. With a 631mAh Silicon Nano Stack battery, it holds more energy without taking up extra space. When it’s time to recharge, the VOOC fast charging gets you a full day’s use in just 10 minutes, or a complete top-up in about 40 minutes. That means less time tethered to a charger and more time actually using your smartwatch.

New and Improved Health Tracking

The OnePlus Watch 3 also brings upgraded health tracking. New sensors include:

• Wrist temperature monitor
• Improved heart rate sensor
• Pulse oximeter

And in March 2025, OnePlus is rolling out a 60-second health check feature. With it, you’ll be able to assess six key health indicators in just one minute—a handy tool for staying on top of your wellness without needing multiple devices.

For fitness enthusiasts, there are over 100 sport modes, and the watch features dual-frequency GPS for improved accuracy during outdoor workouts like running, walking, or cycling.

Durability-wise, it’s certified IP68, resistant to water up to 50 meters, and can handle extreme temperatures.

Sleep Tracking That Works

I’ll be honest—I’ve never been a fan of wearing watches to bed. But for the sake of testing, I gave sleep tracking a try. To my surprise, the results were not only accurate but insightful. With a newborn at home and a very unpredictable sleep schedule, the Watch 3 did an excellent job capturing short naps and disrupted sleep cycles with consistency.

Extra Smart Features

Beyond the core features, OnePlus adds a few thoughtful touches. You can set a short video or GIF as your watch face, giving it a personal flair. It also offers remote control for apps like YouTube Shorts and TikTok, making it easy to navigate videos without reaching for your phone.

Final Thoughts: Is the OnePlus Watch 3 Worth It?

Absolutely. The OnePlus Watch 3 nails the essentials and then goes beyond expectations—especially when it comes to battery life. It combines strong performance, a beautiful and durable design, improved health features, and practical software.

If you’ve been frustrated by the constant need to charge your smartwatch daily, the OnePlus Watch 3 might just be the breath of fresh air you’ve been waiting for.