In 2026, smart wearable devices are more popular than ever. Smartwatches, fitness bands, and even smart rings have taken hold in the industry, with tons of major hardware brands having now jumped in on the action. In the Android-powered WearOS sector, Samsung and Google dominate much of the public mind share, but OnePlus has also carved a name out for itself with its well-received Watch 3 series.
Fast-forward to today, and OnePlus is gearing up to launch its next-generation Watch 4 to market. This shiny-new timepiece is a compelling proposition for first-time buyers, what with its WearOS 6 out of the box, its 13 percent lighter titanium build, and its brighter 3,000 nits of screen brightness. That said, it appears to be a fairly iterative upgrade over the Watch 3 on the whole, at least from an internal hardware perspective.
The existing $300 USD / $400 CAD Watch 3 also has a particular ace up its sleeve that the Watch 4 simply can’t compete with: the former is available in a compact 43 mm size, while the latter — at least for the time being — can only be had in a bulkier 47 mm. I’ve been daily-driving the 43 mm OnePlus Watch 3 for several months now, and, in that time, it has handily secured permanent fixture status on my wrist. Here are four reasons why I simply love the 43-mm-sized Watch 3.
It’s compact and lightweight
43 mm of pure sleekness
When compared to its larger sibling, the 43 mm OnePlus Watch 3 is a svelter package overall. The unit (without its strap) measures a compact 1.70 x 1.70 x 0.43-inches (43.2mm x 43.2mm x 11mm), while tipping the scales at only around 1.33 oz (37.8 g). OnePlus says the device should fit wrist sizes of between 5.12-inches (130 mm) and 8.27-inches (210 mm).
In practice, I love how thin and light the Watch 3 is in this 43 mm configuration, but that’s coming from somebody who generally prefers smaller form factor tech in general. As ever, your mileage will vary, and you might well prefer the larger variant of the device if you prefer larger watches and value having the largest screen size possible.
It’s worth noting that the 43 mm Watch 3 does sacrifice in the battery capacity department to achieve its smaller footprint. It includes a 354mAh power pack within its chassis, which is significantly smaller than the 631mAh battery found in the 47 mm Watch 3. OnePlus does quote up to 60 hours of battery life in Smart Mode for the 43 mm, and, for what it’s worth, I haven’t found battery drain to be significantly worse than other compact smartwatches I’ve previously worn.
It’s beautifully built
A sturdy stainless steel construction
No matter how you slice it, the 43 mm OnePlus Watch 3 is a downright gorgeous wristwatch. My black steel unit is clean and sophisticated looking, though I’m also a big fan of the silver steel colorway the company offers.
The case itself is, of course, made of stainless steel, with tight tolerances and a cool-to-the-touch feel. The default strap, meanwhile, is made of a fluoroelastomer material, which is a soft-touch and highly heat-resistant synthetic rubber that feels silky smooth.
I also love the 43 mm Watch 3’s 2.5D curved glass design, which protects the circular 1.32-inch 466 x 466 AMOLED display panel found below. The Apple Watch-like crown is suitably premium in that it smoothly articulates with tactile precision, and the function key below that is nice and clicky when pressed down upon.
It’s got a convenient charging cradle
Compatible with any and every USB-C cable
Rather than going the inductive wireless charging route, OnePlus has opted for a pogo pin top-up solution for its Watch 3 series. My 43 mm unit came with the proprietary OnePlus Watch Charging Base included in the box, as well as charging cable to go alongside it.
Personally, I’m happy that the charging cradle itself isn’t hard-wired to the included cord — I much prefer having a detachable USB Type-C port, which comes with cable management flexibility built right into the experience.
It works with OHealth
For configuring settings and tracking health data
Rather than relying on the Wear OS by Google Smartwatch application for setup and configuration duties, OnePlus makes use of parent company Oppo’s own OHealth app (which is available on both the Google Play Store and on the Apple App Store, but only connects the 43 mm Watch 3 to your phone on the former platform)
OHealth allows for easy switching of watch faces and for other basic customization settings that you’ll find across all contemporary smartwatches, but it’s also a central hub for all things health and fitness. From within the app, you can view your daily steps, your heart rate, your sleep data, and a variety of other metrics taken directly from the 43 mm Watch 3 itself.
As a health wearable, the Watch 3 is fairly comprehensive, with real-time data taken in via both an Optical Heart Rate Sensor and an Optical Pulse Oximeter Sensor. OHealth also optionally integrates with both Google Health Connect and Strata, which is an appreciated addition.
This device was provided to Pocket-lint by OnePlus.
