The OnePlus Watch has been a notable entry in the smartwatch market, known for its solid design, good performance, and impressive battery life. As OnePlus continues to innovate and improve upon its wearable tech, the OnePlus Watch 3 is on the horizon. Leaks and rumors suggest exciting changes and upgrades, making it one of the most anticipated smartwatches for early 2025. Here’s what we know so far about the OnePlus Watch 3, including its design, features, specifications, and launch details. Design: Familiar Yet Refined The OnePlus Watch 3 will retain much of the design elements seen in its predecessor, maintaining a clean and simple aesthetic that OnePlus is known for. However, there are a few refinements expected in terms of both the physical design and functionality. Rotating Crown The biggest change in the OnePlus Watch 3 is the addition of a rotating digital crown. On the OnePlus Watch 2, the crown was purely decorative, with no functional role in the user interface. The rotating crown on the OnePlus Watch 3 will allow users to interact with the smartwatch’s interface in a much more intuitive manner, making it easier to scroll through menus, adjust volume, and zoom in or out in apps. This will likely be one of the most welcomed features, as it solves a major issue that users had with the previous version. Color Options The OnePlus Watch 3 is rumored to come in two color options. While we don’t know exactly which colors will be available, it’s likely to feature classic options like black and silver, which would match the minimalist and elegant design that OnePlus is aiming for. These colors should appeal to a wide range of customers who appreciate a versatile design that can match any style. Smaller Bezels According to renders based on leaked prototype images, the OnePlus Watch 3 will feature smaller bezels around the screen, contributing to a more immersive viewing experience. This design change is in line with OnePlus’ commitment to refining its products while maintaining a balance between aesthetics and functionality. Features and Specifications The OnePlus Watch 3 is expected to offer significant upgrades over the OnePlus Watch 2 in terms of performance, health monitoring, and connectivity. Wear OS 5 One of the standout features of the OnePlus Watch 3 is its upgrade to Wear OS 5, the latest version of Google’s operating system for smartwatches. This update will bring a host of new features and improvements, such as better app performance, enhanced customization options, and improved integration with Google’s suite of services. Wear OS 5 is expected to offer a smoother user experience with faster app launches and better battery efficiency. This will be especially important as the watch also runs on a dual operating system: Wear OS combined with a lightweight RTOS (real-time operating system) for optimized battery life. ECG and Heart Rate Sensor The OnePlus Watch 3 is rumored to feature an upgraded heart rate sensor with ECG functionality. ECG (electrocardiogram) is a critical health feature that allows the watch to detect irregularities in heart rhythm, such as atrial fibrillation (AFib). While the ECG feature might only be available in select markets, it adds a significant level of medical-grade functionality to the watch, making it an appealing choice for users who prioritize health and fitness monitoring. In addition to the ECG, the heart rate sensor on the OnePlus Watch 3 will likely be more accurate, offering real-time heart rate tracking during workouts, sleep monitoring, and throughout the day. The addition of these health features will help the OnePlus Watch 3 compete with other premium smartwatches, such as the Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch. LTE Connectivity For users who want to stay connected without their phone, LTE connectivity will be available on the OnePlus Watch 3. This feature will enable the smartwatch to make and receive calls, send texts, and stream music, all without needing to be paired with a smartphone. This is a crucial step forward for OnePlus, as many other smartwatches, including the Apple Watch, already offer LTE connectivity. Processor and Memory Internally, the OnePlus Watch 3 will be powered by the Snapdragon W5 Gen 1, a powerful processor designed specifically for wearables. This chip will allow the watch to handle more demanding apps and processes, ensuring that the device runs smoothly even when multitasking. The smartwatch will also feature 2GB of RAM, which should offer enough memory for seamless performance when switching between apps, tracking activities, or monitoring health metrics. Additionally, the 32GB of storage will provide plenty of space for apps, music, and other files. Battery Life: Bigger and Better One of the highlights of the OnePlus Watch 2 was its impressive battery life, and the OnePlus Watch 3 is expected to take that further. The battery capacity will likely be in the range of 500 mAh to 648 mAh, depending on the final version. The larger battery, coupled with the combination of Wear OS and RTOS, should provide users with extended usage between charges. The OnePlus Watch 3 could easily last multiple days on a single charge, especially with the power-efficient RTOS running in the background to handle lighter tasks. The exact battery life will depend on factors like usage and settings, but we can expect a notable improvement in longevity over previous models. Launch Timeline The OnePlus Watch 3 is expected to be officially launched in the first quarter of 2025. There is speculation that it could be unveiled alongside the OnePlus 13 series smartphones, with a potential release date as early as January 7, 2025. However, this has not been confirmed by OnePlus, and the smartwatch may have a separate launch event closer to its availability. Comparison with OnePlus Watch 2 To better understand the improvements in the OnePlus Watch 3, let’s look at a quick comparison with the OnePlus Watch 2: Feature OnePlus Watch 2 OnePlus Watch 3 Design Round face, no rotating crown Round face, rotating crown Operating System Wear OS 2 Wear OS 5 Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon