{"id":248095,"date":"2025-07-08T13:30:20","date_gmt":"2025-07-08T13:30:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/248095\/"},"modified":"2025-07-08T13:30:20","modified_gmt":"2025-07-08T13:30:20","slug":"oneplus-watch-3-too-big-i-tried-the-smaller-43mm-version-and-its-great","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/248095\/","title":{"rendered":"OnePlus Watch 3 too big? I tried the smaller 43mm version, and it&#8217;s great"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img class=\"e_ph\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"eager\"  title=\"oneplus watch 3 43mm hands on 5\"  alt=\"Someone wearing the OnePlus Watch 3 (43mm).\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/oneplus-watch-3-43mm-hands-on-5-scaled.jpg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Joe Maring \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n<p>Since its launch earlier this year, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.androidauthority.com\/oneplus-watch-3-review-3527860\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">OnePlus Watch 3<\/a> has only been available in a single (and large) 46mm case size. While I love the big, bulky design, that\u2019s not true for everyone, and understandably so. Seemingly in direct response to that, OnePlus has launched the OnePlus Watch (43mm).<\/p>\n<p>The OnePlus Watch 3 (43mm) is exactly what the name suggests: a repackaging of the OnePlus Watch 3, but in a smaller 43mm-sized case. If you like the specs and features of the regular OnePlus Watch 3 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.androidauthority.com\/oneplus-watch-3-case-size-3545574\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">but can\u2019t deal with its size<\/a>, this new version should be perfect.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ve been wearing the OnePlus Watch 3 (43mm) for about a week, and for the most part, I\u2019m impressed. While the compact size means you have to make some compromises in battery life and health tracking, you\u2019re still getting about 90% of the OnePlus Watch 3 experience in a smaller, lighter, and more affordable smartwatch.<\/p>\n<p>Which version of the OnePlus Watch 3 would you choose?<\/p>\n<p>14 votes<\/p>\n<p>OnePlus Watch 3 (46mm)<\/p>\n<p>50%<\/p>\n<p>OnePlus Watch 3 (43mm)<\/p>\n<p>50%<\/p>\n<p>The smaller and lighter OnePlus Watch 3 you\u2019ve been waiting for<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"e_ph\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  title=\"oneplus watch 3 43mm hands on 4\"  alt=\"Someone wearing the OnePlus Watch 3 (43mm) and the regular OnePlus Watch 3.\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/oneplus-watch-3-43mm-hands-on-4-scaled.jpg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Joe Maring \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n<p>Going from a 46mm case to a 43mm one is a significant decrease, and as you\u2019d expect, it means everything about this new OnePlus Watch 3 is smaller than the original version.<\/p>\n<p>Compared to the larger OnePlus Watch 3, the OnePlus Watch 3 (43mm) takes up significantly less space on my wrist. As someone with very small and bony wrists, just one side-by-side photo immediately shows what I\u2019m talking about. While I\u2019ve grown to like oversized watches, there\u2019s no doubt that the OnePlus Watch 3 (43mm) looks better suited to me than its larger sibling.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, and perhaps even more important than its physical size, the OnePlus Watch 3 (43mm) is also significantly lighter. While I never thought the 81g OnePlus Watch 3 was uncomfortably heavy, going to the 59g OnePlus Watch 3 (43mm) has been a treat. I sometimes forget I\u2019m wearing it in a way I never did with the larger model, and the smaller, lighter body has made the 43mm OnePlus Watch 3 much more comfortable for sleep tracking, too.<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"e_ph\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  title=\"oneplus watch 3 43mm hands on 6\"  alt=\"A side view of the OnePlus Watch 3 (43mm) on someone's wrist.\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/oneplus-watch-3-43mm-hands-on-6-scaled.jpg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Joe Maring \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n<p>I still personally like the style and size of the original OnePlus Watch 3, but the more I wear the 43mm model, the more I appreciate its practicality. There\u2019s something to be said about wearing a smartwatch this small, light, and comfortable, and it makes me happy that this option finally exists for folks who have been waiting for it.<\/p>\n<p>A familiar spec sheet, with a couple of compromises<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"e_ph\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  title=\"oneplus watch 3 43mm hands on 3\"  alt=\"The OnePlus Watch 3 (43mm) next to the regular OnePlus Watch 3.\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/oneplus-watch-3-43mm-hands-on-3-scaled.jpg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Joe Maring \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n<p>OnePlus did an admirable job of retaining the best features of the OnePlus Watch 3 and bringing them to the OnePlus Watch 3 (43mm). Comparing the two watches side-by-side, both of them have the following:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Wear OS 5 + RTOS dual operating systems.<\/li>\n<li>Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 chip.<\/li>\n<li>2GB RAM.<\/li>\n<li>32GB storage.<\/li>\n<li>NFC for Google Wallet.<\/li>\n<li>100+ workout modes plus 11 \u201cprofessional sports modes.\u201d<\/li>\n<li>Sleep tracking (including sleep quality score and snoring risk assessment).<\/li>\n<li>High\/low heart rate notifications.<\/li>\n<li>Mind and Body app.<\/li>\n<li>SpO2 blood oxygen tracking.<\/li>\n<li>Fall detection.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Just about every major feature from the OnePlus Watch 3 is present on the OnePlus Watch 3 (43mm), but that doesn\u2019t mean <strong>everything\u00a0<\/strong>is the same on the smaller watch.<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"e_ph\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  title=\"oneplus watch 3 43mm hands on 8\"  alt=\"Battery widget on the OnePlus Watch 3 (43mm).\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/oneplus-watch-3-43mm-hands-on-8-scaled.jpg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Joe Maring \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n<p>In my testing, the most significant downgrade compared to the larger OnePlus Watch 3 is battery life. With 30-40 minutes of workout tracking, sleep tracking, and a steady stream of notifications, I\u2019ve been getting about two days of use out of the OnePlus Watch 3 (43mm) before needing to charge it. On its own, that\u2019s solid endurance, though it doesn\u2019t hold a candle to the 4-5 days of battery life I get from the larger OnePlus Watch 3.<\/p>\n<p>The 43 mm OnePlus Watch 3 also lacks some <a href=\"https:\/\/www.androidauthority.com\/oneplus-watch-3-mind-and-body-score-great-why-3531759\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">key health features<\/a>, specifically a temperature sensor and the Vascular Health app, which measures your body\u2019s arterial stiffness. I was also disappointed to see that the 60s Health Check-In app \u2014 which checks your vascular age, heart rate, mind\/body wellness, SpO2 levels, sleep, and wrist temperature all at once \u2014 isn\u2019t available either.<\/p>\n<p>These omissions may not matter to some people, but it\u2019s still unfortunate that choosing the smaller smartwatch size means giving up some of the OnePlus Watch 3\u2019s most unique health apps.<\/p>\n<p>Is the OnePlus Watch 3 (43mm) worth it?<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"e_ph\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  title=\"oneplus watch 3 43mm hands on 1\"  alt=\"The OnePlus Watch 3 (43mm) next to the regular OnePlus Watch 3.\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/oneplus-watch-3-43mm-hands-on-1-scaled.jpg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Joe Maring \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n<p>Even with its shorter battery life and missing health features in mind, the OnePlus Watch 3 (43mm) is a smartwatch I\u2019ve thoroughly enjoyed using \u2014 and it\u2019s one I\u2019d absolutely recommend. It takes almost everything I like about the standard OnePlus Watch 3, shrinks it down into a more accessible body, and lowers the price, too \u2014 coming in at just $300 compared to the OnePlus Watch 3\u2019s $350 price tag.<\/p>\n<p>$300 is a great deal for everything the OnePlus Watch 3 (43mm) offers, especially if you\u2019re someone who prefers a smaller wearable. That said, I\u2019d argue that the standard OnePlus Watch 3 still justifies its higher price with its longer battery life and more robust health suite (plus, what I think is a nicer overall design).<\/p>\n<p>$300 is a great deal for everything the OnePlus Watch 3 (43mm) offers.<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"e_8l e_ph\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/oneplus-watch-3-43mm-render.jpg\"\/><img class=\"e_-l e_ph\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  alt=\"AA Recommended\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/aa2020_recommended.png\"\/><\/p>\n<p>OnePlus Watch 3 (43mm)<\/p>\n<p>MSRP: $300.00<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s the OnePlus Watch 3, just smaller.<\/p>\n<p>If you like the idea of the OnePlus Watch 3 but can&#8217;t handle its size and weight, the OnePlus Watch 3 (43mm) offers almost all of the same specs and features in a smaller, lighter body.<\/p>\n<p>Positives<\/p>\n<ul class=\"e_mm\">\n<li class=\"e_om\">Compact, lightweight design<\/li>\n<li class=\"e_om\">Excellent display and performance<\/li>\n<li class=\"e_om\">Unique dual operating system<\/li>\n<li class=\"e_om\">Cheaper than the 46mm OnePlus Watch 3<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Cons<\/p>\n<ul class=\"e_mm\">\n<li class=\"e_om\">Shorter battery life than the larger model<\/li>\n<li class=\"e_om\">A couple of missing health features<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Joe Maring \/ Android Authority Since its launch earlier this year, the OnePlus Watch 3 has only been&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":248096,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3160],"tags":[1685,8444,15938,9844,53,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-248095","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-gadgets","8":"tag-gadgets","9":"tag-oneplus","10":"tag-oneplus-watch","11":"tag-smartwatches","12":"tag-technology","13":"tag-uk","14":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114817861590026189","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/248095","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=248095"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/248095\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/248096"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=248095"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=248095"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=248095"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}