Oppo Watch 46mm
With its angular design, the Oppo Watch is very reminiscent of the current Apple Watch models and represents a cheap Android alternative to the popular smartwatches. The shiny aluminum case lacks a rotating crown. Instead, two flat buttons are used here. The large display with a diagonal of 1.6 inches offers good colors and 402 x 476 pixels thanks to the AMOLED panel. What may sound like little at first shows content sharply at a pixel density of 329 PPI. Since AlwaysOn here is offered, the display does not switch off when not in use and shows the current time even without lifting the arm. The Corning Gorilla Glass protects it from accidental scratches and cracks. The watch is also protected from water – it is also suitable for swimming.
The Snapdragon Wear 3100 processor powers the smartwatch. It has 1 GB of RAM and 8 GB of data storage. In addition to Bluetooth and WLAN, our test model also had LTE cellular communications via eSIM. To this end, Oppo is currently cooperating with Vodafone – other providers are not supported. Users have to do without a compass.
The watch tracks training routes via GPS, for example, and you can use NFC for mobile payments via Google Pay. An optical heart rate monitor is located on the bottom, and a loudspeaker and microphone are also integrated. The plastic wristband made of fluoro rubber is also easily exchangeable.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 3
As usual, Samsung is launching the watch in two sizes: a diameter of 41 millimeters and a 45-millimeter model and four versions. The differences lie in the connectivity of the smartwatches – with or without a cellular module and e-SIM.
Common to all models is an elegant, minimalist design and the return of a well-known Galaxy Watch feature: the physical bezel. With this rotatable ring, it navigates itself intuitively through the menus after a very short familiarization. The Galaxy Watch Active 2’s indirect predecessor relies on a digital bezel integrated with the touchscreen.
For the first time, titanium is also available as a material for the 45-millimeter version of the Galaxy Watch 3. But that also costs a lot: In the top version, up to 600 USD are due for the new Galaxy Watch. The Apple Watch no longer needs to hide in terms of price.
The Galaxy Watch 3 is available in the following models:
SM-R850: 41 mm, Bluetooth in silver, bronze/gold
SM-R855: 41 mm, LTE in silver, bronze / gold
SM-R840: 45 mm, Bluetooth in silver, black
SM-R845: 45 mm, LTE in silver, black
Pros and Cons
| Oppo Watch | Galaxy Watch 3 |
| Sharp OLED display with AlwaysOn | Great battery life |
| Intuitive Wear OS | Large selection of functions |
| Good battery life and charging time | Intuitive operation |
| Cellular only via Vodafone | No payment function |
| Limited iOS compatibility | No ECG and blood pressure functions |
General
| Oppo Watch | Galaxy Watch 3 | |
| $ | CHECK PRICE | CHECK PRICE |
| Brand | Oppo | Samsung |
| Model | 46mm LTE | Galaxy Watch 3 |
| Release date | 2020, March 24 | 2020, August 06 |
| Shape | Rectangle | Circular, Flat |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, heart rate, compass, barometer | Accelerometer, gyro, heart rate, barometer |
| OS | ColorOS Watch OS | Tizen-based wearable OS 5.5 |
| Display | AMOLED | Super AMOLED |
| Compatibility | Android, iOS | Android, iOS |
| Colors | Black, Glossy Gold, Pink Gold, Silver Mist | Black, Silver, Gold |
Technical Specifications
| Oppo Watch | Galaxy Watch 3 | |
| Display Resolution | 402×476 pixels | 360 x 360 Pixels |
| Dimension | 46 x 39 x 11.4 mm | 46.2 x 45 x 11.1 mm |
| Weight | 67 g | 65 g |
| Touchscreen | Yes | Yes |
| Water Resistant | 50m water resistant | 50m water resistant |
| Water Resistance Depth | 5ATM | 5ATM |
Activity Monitoring
| Oppo Watch | Galaxy Watch 3 | |
| Pedometer | Yes | Yes |
| Calories Count | Yes | Yes |
| Heart Rate Monitor | Yes | Yes |
| Compass | Yes | No |
| Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Alarm Clock | Yes | Yes |
| Chronograph | Yes | Yes |
| Date & Time Display | Yes | Yes |
| Language | English | English |
| Sleep Tracking | Yes | Yes |
Oppo Watch
The Oppo Watch may look like an Apple watch, but it differs drastically from the larger model in one point: the operating system. Google’s own Wear OS and thus a watch version of Android are used here. This means integrating well-known Google services such as Google Pay, the Play Store, Google Fit, and Google Assistant. If desired, this can also be activated with the “Ok, Google” voice command. The other well-known functions are also on board: alarm clock, breathing exercises, sleep monitoring, music streaming (including music storage), and route planning, for example. However, the transfer of messages from the smartphone is reserved for Android devices.
You can see health data such as heart rate, consumed calories, or steps on your smartphone using the “HeyTap Health” app available for Android and iOS. However, the watch does not measure the oxygen saturation of the blood, nor does the Oppo-Watch do an EKG or fall detection. The Apple Watch Series 6 has more to offer here. For this purpose, a health report is issued via the app.
Sports such as running, cycling, and walking are available for training, and thanks to water protection, the watch is also suitable for swimming laps. Another interesting function of the watch concerns the design of the dial: If you can’t decide here, take a photo of yourself and let the watch decide based on your appearance.
Galaxy Watch 3
Instead of analog pointers, a bright OLED display shines with strong colors and good sharpness of 360 x 360 pixels. Samsung has installed several simple, classic dials ex-works that simulates an analog clock – alternatively, there are dashboards with quick access to apps and information. For the first time, the display is protected by Gorilla Glass DX and is intended to make the new display glass more robust and resistant.
The Galaxy Watch 3 is technically the most powerful Samsung watch to date: the internal memory grows from 4 to 8 GB and can be used for music or photos. The main memory is 1 GB. The case is waterproof up to 5 ATMs and therefore suitable for swimming. However, Samsung adds the note: “No protection against salt water and other liquids, especially soapy water, alcohol and/or heated liquids.” Therefore, the Galaxy Watch 3 should remain in the safe during a beach holiday by the sea or when producing your own soap.
Samsung’s watch has the same sensors as the Galaxy Watch Active 2. A GPS module records the route. Thanks to the barometric altitude sensor, the accuracy of the altitude meters are also the same – important when hiking, for example. A pulse sensor monitors the heart rate. Like its predecessor, the Galaxy Watch 3 also offers sophisticated training and fitness functions, such as automatic training detection that automatically records walking, running, and cycling from around ten minutes. The watch also provides a cycle tracker that makes period predictions. It can be added and controlled as a widget on the clock.
For the first time, the oxygen saturation in the blood, the SpO2 value, can be measured via a menu entry in the Samsung Health app. The maximum oxygen saturation VO2max helps runners to assess their fitness. Fall detection is also new, as is the case with the Apple Watch. If you have a serious fall, you can send your location to pre-determined emergency contacts and send an SOS call to the number defined in the app.
Like the Apple Watch, the Galaxy Watch 3 can technically write a single-channel EKG (electrocardiogram). In any case, the corresponding sensors are installed. The Watch3 is also technically able to measure blood pressure. However, both functions have not yet been released for Germany and are expected to be patched in 2021.
To make matters worse, Samsung continues to rely on its own “Tizen-OS” operating system – that is not bad per se, but you cannot currently pay with it in Germany via the smartwatch – although the necessary NFC components are installed. This is particularly frustrating because the Galaxy Watch 3 encourages you to activate Samsung Pay during setup. Google Pay doesn’t run on the Galaxy Watch3 either.
Connectivity Features
| Oppo Watch | Galaxy Watch 3 | |
| Bluetooth | Yes v4.2 | Yes v5.0 |
| GPS | Yes, with A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS | Yes, with A-GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| NFS | Yes | No |
| Mobile Payment | Fitbit Pay | Garmin Pay |
| Battery | Li-Ion 430 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 430 mAh, non-removable |
| Charging port | Proprietary charging cable | Proprietary charging cable |
Oppo Watch
With a weight of around 67 grams, the Oppo Watch is not one of the lightest models on the market due to its size, but it is still comfortable to wear and does not attract any further attention. Our test model with a length of 46 millimeters is around 39 millimeters wide and 11.4 millimeters thick.
The battery life is, of course, also decisive for mobile use. The 430 mAh battery makes a good impression here: We measured a runtime of 30:54 hours in the test, which should help you get through the day even with more intensive use. Alternatively, there is also an energy-saving mode to choose from, which severely restricts the smart functions but can keep the watch in operation for several weeks. Unfortunately not offered, inductive charging is not offered, but the watch is fully charged again after around an hour via cable.
Galaxy Watch 3
The built-in 340 mAh battery achieves an operating time of around 43 hours in classic everyday use with a permanent connection to the smartphone. GPS was not activated. Still an excellent value – which, however, should be significantly worse for sports enthusiasts. Because the various training programs suck in the running time, the endurance of the watch is still enough for a day of training.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch3 is charged inductively. The Qi-Charger is included in the scope of delivery. The watch takes 2 hours and 18 minutes from 0 to 100 percent.
Conclusion!
With its design inspired by the Apple Watch, the Oppo Watch can mostly convince the test, even at the upper price level. We like the sharp OLED display, the ease of use of Google’s Wear OS, and the water resistance up to 50 meters deep. The mobile Internet via eSIM is practical but currently only available via Vodafone as a provider. The display is permanently on if desired, and the fast charging time of under an hour is also impressive.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 is not only a feast for the eyes of fans of classic watch design but also impresses in the test with great battery life, excellent usability thanks to the physical rotating bezel, and good features. New: The watch detects falls, offers an Outlook app, and measures oxygen saturation. Of course, the automatic training recognition, the running coach mode, and the messaging and music functions are also part of the game.
There is criticism for the lack of software updates for Samsung Pay and the ECG and blood pressure function. The latter will be patched at least at the beginning of next year. Nevertheless, the Galaxy Watch 3 remains a good piece of jewelry, especially for Android users.
