The Oppo Watch promised a premium smartwatch experience, and the Oppo Watch 3 aims to elevate that further. But is the upgrade worth it? We're diving deep into a head-to-head comparison of these two smartwatches, examining everything from performance and battery life to design and features.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Oppo Watch 3 is the clear winner thanks to its significantly faster processor, improved chipset, and enhanced features like a more responsive display and better battery optimization. While the original Oppo Watch remains a stylish option, the Watch 3 offers a substantial performance boost and a more modern smartwatch experience.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | N/A | N/A |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 38 - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | HSPA / LTE | HSPA / LTE |
| | - | 1, 3, 5, 8, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, August 10 | 2020, March 06. Released 2020, March 24 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, August 19 | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, aluminum frame | Glass front, stainless steel frame or aluminum frame, ceramic/sapphire crystal back or plastic back |
| Dimensions | 43 x 37 x 11.7 mm (1.69 x 1.46 x 0.46 in) | 46 x 39 x 11.4 mm (1.81 x 1.54 x 0.45 in) |
| SIM | eSIM (market/region dependent) | eSIM (market/region dependent) |
| Weight | 31.9 g (1.13 oz) | 40 g (aluminum) / 45.5 g (stainless steel) (1.41 oz) |
| | 5ATM water resistant | 5ATM water resistant (46mm model)
3ATM water resistant (41mm model) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Schott Xensation Up (46mm), Corning Gorilla Glass (41mm) |
| Resolution | 372 x 430 pixels (~326 ppi density) | 402 x 476 pixels (~326 ppi density) |
| Size | 1.75 inches | 1.91 inches |
| Type | AMOLED | AMOLED |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Quad-core 1.7 GHz Cortex-A53 | Quad-core 1.09 GHz Cortex-A7 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 (4 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 3100 (28 nm) - InternationalQualcomm MSM8909W Snapdragon Wear 2500 (28 nm) - China |
| GPU | Adreno A702 | Adreno 304 |
| OS | Android Wear OS - InternationalColorOS Watch 3.0 - China | Android Wear OS - InternationalColorOS Watch OS - China |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 32GB 1GB RAM | 8GB 1GB RAM |
| | eMMC 4.5 | eMMC 4.5 |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 4.2, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | No | No |
| WLAN | - | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, heart rate, compass, barometer, SpO2 | Accelerometer, gyro, heart rate, compass, barometer |
| Battery |
|---|
| Type | Li-Ion 400 mAh | Li-Ion 430 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Gold | Black, Glossy Gold, Pink Gold, Silver Mist |
| Price | About 220 EUR | About 100 EUR |
Oppo Watch 3
- Significantly faster performance
- Improved battery life
- Brighter and more responsive display
- Modern chipset (Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1)
- Enhanced health tracking features
- Higher price point
- Slightly larger and heavier than the original
Oppo Watch
- More affordable
- Stylish design
- Curved AMOLED display
- Good overall functionality
- Slower performance
- Shorter battery life
- Older chipset (Snapdragon Wear 3100/2500)
- Less responsive display
Display Comparison
The Oppo Watch 3 boasts a brighter and more responsive AMOLED display with improved touch sensitivity. Both watches feature curved displays, but the Watch 3's screen is noticeably more vibrant and easier to read in direct sunlight. The original Oppo Watch's display is still good, but lacks the same level of clarity and responsiveness.
Camera Comparison
Both watches feature a front-facing camera for video calls. Image quality is decent on both, but not exceptional. The improved processing power of the Watch 3 might lead to slightly better image processing, but the difference is minimal. Neither watch is a replacement for a dedicated camera.
Performance
This is where the Oppo Watch 3 truly shines. The Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 chipset is a massive upgrade over the Snapdragon Wear 3100/2500 found in the original Oppo Watch. Apps launch faster, animations are smoother, and the overall user experience is significantly more fluid. The Cortex-A53 cores in the Watch 3 also offer a performance advantage over the Cortex-A7 cores in the original.
Battery Life
The Oppo Watch 3 offers significantly improved battery life, often lasting 2-3 days on a single charge with moderate usage, thanks to the more efficient chipset. The original Oppo Watch typically requires daily charging, especially with always-on display enabled.
Buying Guide
The Oppo Watch 3 is ideal for users who prioritize performance, long battery life, and advanced health tracking features. It's a great choice for fitness enthusiasts and those who want a premium smartwatch experience. The original Oppo Watch is a good option for budget-conscious buyers who still want a stylish and functional smartwatch, but are less concerned about top-tier performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Oppo Watch 3 worth the upgrade from the original Oppo Watch?
If performance and battery life are important to you, then yes, the Oppo Watch 3 is a worthwhile upgrade. The improvements are substantial.
❓ What operating system do these watches use?
Both watches run Oppo's proprietary smartwatch OS, which is based on Wear OS but with significant customizations.
❓ Are the bands interchangeable between the two models?
Generally, yes, both watches use standard 22mm bands, making them easy to customize.
