Google Pixel Watch 3 vs. OnePlus Watch 2: Same platform, different approach
by Ted Kritsonis · Android PoliceBigger this time
Google Pixel Watch 3
The Google Pixel Watch 3 now has a bigger sibling in the form of a 45mm model, making it easier to compare and contrast with other larger smartwatches.
Pros
- Now comes in both 41mm and 45mm sizes
- Fitbit integration offers solid tracking options
- The Wear OS standard-bearer
Cons
- Proprietary band connectors
- Need to subscribe to get all the tracking features
Bigger body, bigger battery
OnePlus Watch 2
The OnePlus Watch 2 shows what's possible when Wear OS has longer battery life to work with. It plays nice with all Android phones, not just OnePlus models.
Pros
- Best battery life on Wear OS
- Slick design despite larger body
Cons
- Activity tracking could be better
- Still some software kinks to work out
- No LTE option
You could argue Google enjoys a head start in any smartwatch matchup when both models run Wear OS but the details tell a different story. The Pixel Watch 3 now comes in two sizes, with the 45mm model being the newest, making Google's watch more competitive against larger ones like the OnePlus Watch 2. It makes for an interesting comparison in gauging two watches that fall under the best Wear OS smartwatches, so which of the two delivers a better experience?
Read our ranking
Best Wear OS smartwatches in 2024
Your wrist deserves the best
Price, availability, and specs
The Google Pixel Watch 3 follows a very similar path to its predecessors, including on price. It starts at $350 for the 41mm model and $400 for the 45mm size. Add an extra $100 to either one and you can get the variant with LTE connectivity. As for color options, the 41mm comes in Matte Black with an Obsidian band; Polished silver with either a Porcelain or Rose Quartz band; or Champagne Gold with a Hazel band. The 45mm version comes in Matte Black with an Obsidian band; Polished Silver with Porcelain; or Matte Hazel with a Hazel band.
The OnePlus Watch 2, on the other hand, only comes in one 46mm size. Color options are also limited to Radiant Steel and Black Steel. Whichever way you go, it'll cost $300. There is no LTE variant here, so the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth combination is all you can get.
The Pixel Watch 3 has broader availability, and will be easier to find from brick-and-mortar and online retailers. The OnePlus Watch 2 is easy to find from the OnePlus website but is also readily available on Amazon. Google offers trade-in deals, particularly if you have products from Google, Apple, Samsung, and Fitbit. OnePlus doesn't really do that for its wearables, though often reduces prices or offers a discount if you're a student or employee.
Here's how these two watches line up with their respective specs:
Google Pixel Watch 3
Case size
41mm; 45mm
Case Material
Aluminum
CPU
Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 with Cortex M33 co-processor
RAM
2GB
Storage
32GB
Battery
306mAh (41mm); 420mAh (45mm)
Cellular connectivity
LTE (optional)
Wi-Fi connectivity
2.4GHz; 5GHz
Software
Wear OS 5
Health sensors
Optical heart rate, SpO2, ECG, continuous EDA, skin temperature
Dimensions
41 x 41 x 12.3mm (41mm); 45 x 45 x 12.3mm (45mm)
Weight
31g (41mm); 37g (45mm)
IP Rating
IP68
ExpandOnePlus Watch 2
Case size
47mm
Case Material
Stainless steel
CPU
Snapdragon W5, BES2700
RAM
2GB
Storage
32GB
Battery
500mAh
Cellular connectivity
No
Wi-Fi connectivity
Yes
Software
Wear OS 4
Health sensors
Heart rate, SpO2
Dimensions
47 x 46.6 x 12.1mm
Weight
80g (with strap)
IP Rating
IP68
Expand
Read our review
Review: Google’s Pixel Watch 3 is big, beautiful, and brainy
The 45mm version is large and easy to love
Read our review
OnePlus Watch 2 review: Worth it for the battery alone
With two chipsets and two operating systems, the OnePlus Watch 2 offers revelatory battery life — but not much more
Design
Trying one on for size
Google clearly likes what it has in its Pixel Watch design, which is why the Pixel Watch 3 looks so much like the previous two models. Indeed, bands from those two will fit the 41mm Watch 3 exactly the same way since Google uses a proprietary connector system for its watches. Now with a 45mm model in the mix, that backward-compatibility won't apply to the larger of the two. The system remains the same, only you'll need to look for bands specifically made for the 45mm model.
For the 41mm, the screen is the same size as before, only with double the peak brightness this time at 2,000 nits. You get the same brightness on the larger variant's 1.4-inch AMOLED. However, the screen is also more exposed in comparison to other smartwatches, and since it's Gorilla Glass 5 and not Sapphire Crystal, you have to be careful not to bump or scrape it on anything.
The OnePlus Watch 2, on the other hand, has a Sapphire Crystal display and stainless steel body. Despite being a larger 46mm model, it offers the same screen size as Google's larger model. The big difference is that peak brightness is nowhere near the same at 1,000 nits peak. It's going to be easier to see the Pixel Watch 3 in brighter sunlight than OnePlus's watch. With a digital crown — that unfortunately does nothing when you rotate it — plus a button below, the Watch 2 has pretty user-friendly navigation options.
Where it really shines on the design side is its dual-chipset setup underneath. The Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 processor handles all the main heavy tasks while the BES 2700BP chip takes care of background tasks, like monitoring the health sensors and maintaining the connection to your phone. Doing it this way also does wonders for battery life, which is one area these two watches significantly diverge.
Software and tracking
Staying on top of it all
Both companies try to make health and fitness tracking easier to manage and understand, though Google holds an advantage because it owns Fitbit. Having many elements of Fitbit's tracking features available on the Pixel Watch 3 means there's a deeper level of tracking and integration — though you do have to subscribe to Fitbit Premium to get the full suite. But most of the good stuff is free to use, so you have a solid base to work with once you put the Watch 3 on your wrist. Features like Readiness, Target load, Cardio load, and Morning Brief are right there when you start off.
Neither Google nor OnePlus are necessarily going to track extras the way others do. Don't expect an electrocardiogram (ECG) or specialized sensors to track very specific metrics. What you get is a more holistic approach on the health side, along with more brand-specific options on the other. The Pixel Watch 3 works with Pixel phones to let you control the phone's camera, including tighter synergy in how notifications and Do Not Disturb work between them; do it on one device and the other follows suit. Google is looking at AI as a big driver of the watch's capabilities going forward, so the feature set could grow with future updates.
OnePlus doesn't hide any features within its own ecosystem. You could use the Watch 2 with a Pixel phone and it would essentially be the same as using a OnePlus device. They share many of the same types of sensors, though the Watch 2 doesn't have a skin temperature sensor the way the Pixel Watch 3 does. Also, the OHealth app isn't as extensive as Fitbit, nor does it present all the metrics in aggregate scores, leaving the details largely lacking context. Not only that, but there's also no women's menstrual tracking, either. If you're just interested in basic tracking and want to avoid paying for a subscription, OnePlus won't charge you for anything, as it is.
Another challenge is OHealth doesn't work in the cloud, so your data stores on your phone, not your account. Lose your device and all the data goes with it. Third-party app integration isn't as extensive with OnePlus, so while Strava might work, other apps available with the Pixel Watch 3 might not. But the OnePlus Watch 2 has an advantage in that the dual-chipset system makes it run smoothly, and as a Wear OS watch, it benefits from the same OS updates.
Battery life and charging
A story of two lives
OnePlus made waves with the Watch 2 because of its battery life. Never before has a Wear OS watch been able to even sniff at four days per charge, much less pull it off. In that respect, there's a big disparity between these two since you're not likely to make it past 24-36 hours with the Pixel Watch 3. You might be able to stretch that to two days but it would require going easy on GPS and leaving the always-on display off.
The Pixel Watch 3 also uses a proprietary charger with magnetic pins where the cable attaches to the charging pad. OnePlus wisely separates the two, meaning if you were to take the charger with you, you could just take the pad and use any USB-C cable with you to plug into it. Google made improvements to cut down charging time by 20% but it still doesn't quite match the speed OnePlus offers.
Which should you buy?
Now that Google offers a larger size with the 45mm Pixel Watch 3, the choice is less about size and more about what you want to prioritize. Neither of them are going to pass for the kind of trackers athletes would want because they don't cover everything other serious watches do. These are smartwatches made to cover a little of everything. You want health and fitness tracking? Check. Good phone integration? Check. Wear OS? Check. They differ in integration and battery life, but are both based on the same software, for the most part.
The Google Pixel Watch 3 is a further refinement of what Google started with from the first model. It runs better, lasts a little longer, and offers a more balanced experience. Integration with Android devices and third-party apps is excellent, and likely only gets better if future updates usher in more useful features. Google's watch also fits in better in varying situations, which is all the more obvious when you attach bands made of different materials, like metal, leather, and nylon.
That's not to say the OnePlus Watch 2 isn't pretty, it just looks more substantial. Google also offers something for smaller wrists in the 41mm, which OnePlus can't match given the size disparity. If battery life is of the utmost importance, and you want Wear OS, you won't find a model that lasts longer than the Watch 2, But if you want the best overall experience, the Pixel Watch 3 wins out.
Two sizes to choose from
Google Pixel Watch 3
The Google Pixel Watch 3 offers the best of Wear OS, and now does it in two different size options. While it looks similar to its predecessors, it can track more and do it more accurately.
$350 at Amazon $350 at Best Buy $350 at Google Store
The OnePlus Watch 2 shows the company knows how to make a really good smartwatch. It may not have everything but it's hard to beat the battery life, which it achieves with an innovative approach to efficiency and power consumption. Its 46mm size rules out smaller wrists, yet running Wear OS puts it in line with other popular smartwatches on the market.
Battery for days
OnePlus Watch 2
The OnePlus Watch 2 runs Wear OS and offers both health and fitness tracking while also delivering the best battery life of any Wear OS watch.