The Oppo Watch X3 continues the brand’s strategy of offering a great Wear OS experience with a focus on battery longevity. With a price point around €300, it positions itself against established competitors by promising up to five days of battery life in its full smart mode. That’s a bold claim in a market where most Wear OS watches struggle to last two days. But Oppo has a trick up its sleeve: a dual-engine architecture that switches between a power-efficient RTOS and full Wear OS depending on the task. The result is a smartwatch that aims to be both a capable companion and a marathon runner. In this review, we’ll dive deep into the design, display, performance, battery life, fitness tracking, and overall value of the Oppo Watch X3 to see if it lives up to the hype.
Design and Build Quality
The Oppo Watch X3 sports a familiar round watch face, but the materials have been upgraded. The front is protected by sapphire crystal, which is highly scratch-resistant, while the frame is made of titanium alloy, giving it a premium feel without adding excessive weight. The back is glass-fiber-reinforced plastic, which helps keep the watch light at just 43 grams. The dimensions are 47.4 x 47.4 x 11.0mm, making it a substantial presence on the wrist, but not overly bulky. It’s available in two colorways: Black and Silver, both with a matching fluoroelastomer strap that is comfortable for all-day wear.
Durability is a strong point. The watch carries IP68 and IP69 ratings for dust and water resistance, meaning it can withstand high-pressure water jets and immersion up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes. It also has a 5ATM rating, so you can swim with it without worry. The sapphire crystal and titanium frame give it a rugged yet refined look that can transition from the gym to the office.
Display
The 1.43-inch AMOLED display is bright and vibrant, with a resolution of 466 x 466 pixels. It reaches a peak brightness of 1,000 nits, which is plenty for outdoor visibility even in direct sunlight. The always-on display mode works well, and the watch automatically adjusts brightness based on ambient light. The touch responsiveness is excellent, and the screen is protected by sapphire, so you won’t have to worry about scratches from daily use.
Comfort and Fit
Despite its 47mm case size, the Watch X3 is comfortable to wear thanks to its lightweight construction. The included strap is soft and flexible, and the watch doesn’t feel top-heavy. It’s suitable for small and large wrists alike, though those with very slim wrists might find it a bit large. The lugs are curved, so it sits nicely on the wrist without digging in.
Performance and Software
Under the hood, the Oppo Watch X3 is powered by the Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 chipset, paired with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. This is the same chip found in many premium Wear OS watches, so performance is smooth. The watch runs Wear OS 4 out of the box, with Oppo’s ColorOS Watch 5 on top. The interface is clean and intuitive, with a rotating crown for navigation and a customizable app grid. You get access to the Google Play Store, so you can download apps like Google Maps, Spotify, and YouTube Music. Google Assistant is also on board for voice commands.
The dual-engine architecture is the standout feature. The watch can switch to a low-power RTOS mode for basic tasks like notifications and fitness tracking, which helps extend battery life. When you need full smart features, it seamlessly switches to Wear OS. This transition is fast and doesn’t require a reboot. In practice, the watch feels responsive, and we didn’t notice any lag when opening apps or scrolling through menus.
Health and Fitness Tracking
The Oppo Watch X3 is equipped with a comprehensive suite of sensors: heart rate monitor, blood oxygen (SpO2) sensor, ECG, and skin temperature sensor. It also has dual-band GPS for accurate location tracking. The health features include sleep tracking, stress monitoring, and a 24/7 heart rate monitor that alerts you to abnormal readings. The sleep tracking is detailed, providing insights into sleep stages and breathing quality. The ECG feature is a nice addition for those concerned about heart health, though it may not be available in all regions.
For fitness enthusiasts, the watch supports over 100 workout modes, including running, cycling, swimming, and yoga. The dual-band GPS locks on quickly and tracks your route accurately, even in dense urban areas. The heart rate sensor is reliable during workouts, though it can lag slightly during high-intensity interval training. The watch also offers VO2 max estimates and recovery time suggestions. It’s water-resistant to 5ATM, so you can swim with it, and it tracks laps and stroke types.
Battery Life
Battery life is where the Oppo Watch X3 shines. With a 500mAh battery, Oppo claims up to 5 days in smart mode and up to 16 days in power-saving mode. In our testing, we consistently got around 4 to 4.5 days with moderate use, including notifications, fitness tracking, and always-on display enabled. That’s impressive for a Wear OS watch. If you disable always-on display, you can easily hit the 5-day mark. Charging is done via a magnetic pogo pin charger, and it takes about 60 minutes to go from 0 to 100%. There’s also fast charging support, giving you a day’s worth of power in just 15 minutes.
Connectivity and Extras
The watch supports Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi, NFC for contactless payments (Google Wallet), and GPS. It also has a speaker and microphone for taking calls directly from the watch. The vibration motor is strong and provides clear haptic feedback. There’s no LTE version, so you’ll need to be connected to your phone for calls and notifications. The watch is compatible with both Android and iOS, though some features are limited on iOS.
Verdict
The Oppo Watch X3 is a compelling option for anyone looking for a Wear OS smartwatch with exceptional battery life. At around €300, it undercuts many competitors while offering premium materials like sapphire crystal and titanium, a bright AMOLED display, and comprehensive health tracking. The dual-engine architecture is a smart solution that delivers the best of both worlds: long battery life and full smart features. It’s not perfect—the fitness tracking could be more accurate during intense workouts, and the design might be too large for some—but overall, it’s a solid choice. If battery life is your top priority, the Oppo Watch X3 should be on your shortlist.
