OnePlus Watch 3 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch 8

OnePlus Watch 3

A 1.5-inch LTPO AMOLED at 466 x 466, now peaking at 2,200 nits — a clear brightness upgrade over the Watch 2 that makes it noticeably more readable outdoors. Sapphire crystal protects it.

• 1.5-inch LTPO AMOLED at 2,200 nits — The Verge notes it's larger and brighter than the Watch 2, with smaller bezels.
• The 2,200-nit brightness is noticeably more readable outdoors in direct sunlight than the Watch 2's panel.
• A new video watch face lets you upload your own clips — a fun, distinctive touch.
• Sapphire crystal protection — premium scratch resistance for the price.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8

A Super AMOLED panel — 1.34-inch on the 40mm, 1.5-inch on the 44mm — that now peaks at a brilliant 3,000 nits, a big jump over the Galaxy Watch 7's 2,000. Sapphire crystal protects it, and there's an always-on mode.

• Peak brightness jumps to 3,000 nits — a major upgrade over the Galaxy Watch 7's 2,000 nits, easily readable in direct sun.
• Crisp, colorful and fluid Super AMOLED — TechMishka says it 'looks amazing in all conditions.'
• Sapphire crystal protection on every size — premium scratch resistance.
• The display stays round despite the squircle case — TechMishka notes the round panel still limits how much information fits on screen.

OnePlus Watch 3

The OnePlus Watch 3 covers the basics — heart rate, SpO2, skin temperature, sleep, stress — plus a handy 60-second multi-metric Health Check. But health-tracking depth lags Google and Samsung, accuracy is middling, and the ECG hardware is disabled in the US for lack of FDA clearance.

• A 60-second Health Check captures heart rate, SpO2, ECG-style and arterial-stiffness metrics in one quick reading.
• No ECG in the US — the hardware is built in, but without FDA clearance the ECG Analyzer is disabled for US buyers.
• Heart-rate accuracy is improved over the Watch 2 but still imperfect — The Quantified Scientist found it picks up peaks reasonably and was positively surprised by outdoor cycling.
• Sleep-stage tracking is weak — The Quantified Scientist measured roughly 60% deep-sleep agreement and only ~36% REM agreement.
• Health-tracking depth lags rivals — OnePlus's OHealth app is functional but behind Google's Fitbit and Samsung Health.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8

This is the Galaxy Watch 8's strongest card — the deepest health suite of any Wear OS watch: ECG, blood pressure, body composition, SpO2, skin temperature, plus new metrics like the Antioxidant Index, Vascular Load and AGEs Index. Heart-rate accuracy during exercise is the weak spot.

• The deepest Wear OS health suite — ECG, blood pressure monitoring, body composition (BIA), SpO2 and skin temperature all on board.
• New wellness metrics — an Antioxidant Index, Vascular Load and an AGEs (cellular aging) score turn raw data into longer-term health guidance.
• Sleep tracking is a standout — Android Authority calls the Galaxy Watch 8 its favorite smartwatch for sleep tracking.
• Heart-rate accuracy lags rivals — The Quantified Scientist found it often read too low and lagged behind real heart-rate changes during exercise.
• The optical heart-rate hardware is essentially unchanged from the Galaxy Watch 7 — a disappointment for accuracy-focused buyers.

OnePlus Watch 3

100+ workout modes with dual-frequency GPS and automatic detection. It's a capable everyday fitness watch — GPS accuracy is decent if not class-leading — and the huge battery means it can track multi-day adventures without an anxious eye on the charger.

• Dual-frequency (L1 + L5) GPS — Matt LeGrand found running accuracy decent, if not quite at the level of an Apple Watch Ultra.
• 100+ workout modes, including skiing with slope-angle tracking and swimming thanks to the 5 ATM rating.
• The huge battery is a real fitness advantage — a multi-day snowboarding trip with constant tracking still left the watch going strong.
• It's a capable everyday fitness watch, but serious athletes still note Garmin's deeper training analytics.
• 5 ATM water resistance covers pool and open-water swimming.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8

Samsung Health workout tracking with dual-frequency GPS, automatic exercise detection and a new adaptive Running Coach. GPS distance is the best of any Samsung watch yet, though still behind a dedicated sports watch — and GPS workouts drain the battery hard.

• A new adaptive Running Coach delivers real-time pacing and audio feedback during runs.
• Dual-frequency GPS — distance accuracy is the best Samsung has managed yet, measured around 5.8% off outdoors, though still behind an Apple Watch.
• GPS locks fast — Ultra Value Tech got a fix in about 3 seconds in an urban area.
• GPS workouts drain the battery hard — a 1-hour run can eat 15-20%, capping GPS endurance.
• Automatic workout detection works, though it can be slow to recognize a session has started.

OnePlus Watch 3

The OnePlus Watch 3's defining strength. A 631mAh silicon-carbon battery and a dual-chip architecture deliver a genuine 5 days of full smartwatch use — unmatched in Wear OS — and up to 16 days in power-saver mode. Fast charging adds a full day in about 10 minutes.

• A genuine 5 days of full smartwatch use — Mark Ellis confirms the 5-day claim is 'pretty much bang on.'
• OnePlus's dual-chip architecture — a Wear OS chip plus a low-power RTOS chip — is the secret to the endurance, and nothing else in Wear OS matches it.
• Heavy use brings it down — a multi-day snowboarding trip with constant tracking landed closer to 3-4 days.
• Power-saver mode pushes battery to up to 16 days while still delivering notifications and tracking.
• Fast charging is excellent — about 10 minutes on the dock returns a full day of use, and a full charge takes roughly 45 minutes.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8

The Galaxy Watch 8's clearest weakness. Samsung rates it at 40 hours (always-on display off) or 30 hours (on), and real-world results are merely okay — roughly 27-45 hours depending on settings, with the 44mm a particular underperformer. A full charge takes around an hour to 90 minutes.

• Rated 40 hours with the always-on display off and 30 hours with it on — an 8% bigger battery than the Galaxy Watch 7.
• Tech Spurt got roughly 36 hours from a full charge — wishing it could clear 48 hours so it wouldn't need daily charging.
• Endurance testing exposed a 44mm quirk — The Product Reviewer measured the 44mm at just 27 hours and, oddly, the smaller 40mm lasting longer at 32 hours.
• Lighter use stretches it further — one tester pushed the 44mm Bluetooth model to about 45 hours with two nights of sleep tracking.
• A full charge takes roughly 1 hour to 1 hour 20 minutes via the 10W wireless puck — slower than rivals.

OnePlus Watch 3

Full Wear OS 5 with Google's app ecosystem and Google Wallet, layered with OnePlus's interface and the OHealth companion app. Performance is fast, though there's occasional lag — and the OHealth app is the weak link versus Google and Samsung.

• Full Wear OS 5 with the Google Play app ecosystem and Google Wallet — the complete Android smartwatch experience.
• Performance is fast and fluid — Android Police reports 'absolutely no problem' with everyday navigation.
• The OHealth companion app is the weak link — owners switching from Samsung find it behind the Wear and Samsung Health apps.
• Occasional system lag — some owners notice stutters when quickly exiting the always-on display into an app.
• It's Android-only — like every Wear OS watch, the OnePlus Watch 3 does not pair with an iPhone.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8

One UI Watch 8 on Wear OS 6, running on the 3nm Exynos W1000 with 2GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. Gemini is built into the wrist. Performance is snappy and Samsung Health is comprehensive — but the deepest features need a Samsung phone, and there's no iOS support.

• One UI Watch 8 on Wear OS 6 — snappy and smooth on the 3nm Exynos W1000 chip.
• Gemini is built into the wrist — the Galaxy Watch 8 was among the first smartwatches to run Google's new AI assistant natively.
• 2GB of RAM and 64GB of storage — double the Galaxy Watch 7, with room for plenty of offline music.
• The deepest health features need a Samsung phone — full functionality is gated to Samsung handsets, and there's no iOS support at all.
• Samsung still locks down what users can tweak — TechMishka notes the UI is enjoyable but Samsung 'holds too much control.'

OnePlus Watch 3

A stainless-steel case with a titanium bezel and sapphire-crystal glass, rated 5 ATM and IP68. It's a genuinely rugged build for the price — one reviewer put it through a full multi-day snowboarding trip without issue.

• Stainless-steel case with a titanium bezel and sapphire-crystal glass — a genuinely premium, durable build.
• 5 ATM water resistance plus IP68 — fine for swimming, showering and rain.
• It held up to a full multi-day snowboarding stress test without issue — durable enough for outdoor adventures.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8

Sapphire-crystal glass over an armor-aluminum case, rated 5 ATM plus IP68 and MIL-STD-810H. It holds up well to everyday knocks — a month of heavy wear left long-term reviewers with barely a scratch.

• 5 ATM plus IP68 water and dust resistance — fine for swimming, showering and rain.
• Sapphire crystal holds up well — a month of heavy wear left long-term reviewers with barely a scratch on the glass.
• Armor aluminum case with MIL-STD-810H certification — durable for daily wear, though not a rugged adventure watch.

OnePlus Watch 3

Dual-frequency GPS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and Google Wallet via NFC. The notable omission is cellular — there is no LTE model, so the OnePlus Watch 3 can't operate fully standalone.

• Dual-frequency (L1 + L5) GPS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and Google Wallet — the standard Wear OS connectivity set.
• No LTE model — the OnePlus Watch 3 is Bluetooth-only, so it can't go fully standalone away from a phone.
• Google Wallet handles contactless payments, and notifications and calls work well over Bluetooth.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8

Dual-frequency GPS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and NFC payments. An optional LTE model adds standalone connectivity for about $50 more.

• Dual-frequency GPS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and NFC — the full connectivity set.
• An optional LTE model adds standalone connectivity for roughly $50 more.
• NFC payments work, but Tech Spurt notes Samsung doesn't make it easy to swap the default Samsung Wallet for Google Wallet.

OnePlus Watch 3

The OnePlus Watch 3 launched at $329.99, then took a confusing hike to $499.99, and now typically sells around $349.99. At its sale price it's a standout value; at full list it's harder to justify. It beats the Pixel Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 8 decisively on battery, but trails them on software polish and health depth.

• CNET's verdict: the OnePlus Watch 3 has 'the best battery life of any Android smartwatch.'
• The pricing is confusing — it launched at $329.99, then jumped to $499.99; Digital Trends openly asks whether it's still worth buying at the higher price.
• Two months on, TechRadar says OnePlus fixed its biggest issue via updates and 'now I can recommend it to everybody.'
• vs the Pixel Watch 4 / Galaxy Watch 8: the OnePlus wins decisively on battery and build for the price; the others win on software polish and health-tracking depth.
• Best for: Android users who want the longest-lasting Wear OS watch in a premium build — and don't need ECG or a small case.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8

At about $349.99 (40mm) rising to roughly $429.99 for the 44mm LTE, the Galaxy Watch 8 took a price hike reviewers widely call unjustified. It's the richest-software Wear OS watch — but the Pixel Watch 4 and OnePlus Watch 3 both counter hard on, respectively, polish and battery.

• PhoneArena's verdict: a 'brand-new design that looks original and grows on you, but the price hike is unjustified.'
• It starts around $349.99 for the 40mm and climbs to roughly $429.99 for the 44mm LTE — about $50 more than the Galaxy Watch 7.
• vs the OnePlus Watch 3: reviewers repeatedly point to the OnePlus for 3-4 days of battery against the Galaxy Watch 8's day-and-a-half.
• It's an iterative update — Tavesper sums it up as 'minor changes' that don't make it significantly better than the Galaxy Watch 7.
• Best for: Samsung phone owners who want the deepest health software in a Wear OS watch and can live with daily charging.