People with baby-sized wrists like me might want to skip the massive OnePlus Watch.
You probably think I’m being dramatic. There are reasons to buy a smartwatch other than sizes, like sensors and health features. But OnePlus has specifically instructed tech reviewers to not talk about our full experience with the watch (for now).
So, if OnePlus wants to discuss hardware, we can discuss hardware.
When the company first announced its $159 smartwatch would only be available in a 46mm case size, I rolled my eyes. It didn’t help when Vita Hsu, OnePlus’ design lead, pointed out during the keynote that the watch is “a bit on the bigger side, but even if you have smaller wrists, it still looks stylish.” It’s almost like OnePlus knew this was going to be a problem.
And when I unboxed the smartwatch, I was right. I wrapped the silicone watch strap around my wrist, clipped it into the very last notch (number 10, but who’s counting?), and it was still loose. The only way I could secure a tight fit was by pushing it up to my arm.Â
The watch does come with the option to swap out its own straps for third-party ones. So you can try and find one that’s more snug. But that might take some digging, seeing as how watch straps for large watch cases are always … large.
Look, if this was a regular watch, I’d say rock it. In college, I wore a giant men’s Michael Kors watch because the women’s line felt too dainty.
But the OnePlus Watch needs to fit correctly for the heart-rate monitor and SPO2 sensor to accurately measure your activity and sleep.
As in, it’s not so tight that it’s cutting off your circulation, but it’s also not loose enough to slide along your wrist. Otherwise, you’ll be left with inconclusive or inconsistent results.
As for the rest of the smartwatch’s design? Well, it’s … fine. The case is made of stainless steel and it looks and feels a bit more expensive than its $159 price tag. It only comes in Midnight Black though, which actually looks gray depending on how the light hits it. I would’ve preferred Moonlight Silver, but that color isn’t coming to North America.
It also felt slightly heavy on my wrist. At about 1.58 ounces, it’s lighter than the Apple Watch Series 6 and Samsung Galaxy Watch 3. But coming from the 1.27 ounce Apple Watch SE, I definitely feel the difference.
But I do appreciate the larger display (one upside to having a larger case). The OnePlus Watch has a 1.39-inch AMOLED touchscreen, and colors look crisp and vibrant. It also feels super responsive to the touch.
The smartwatch comes with a charging puck that packs OnePlus’ Warp Charge technology. While I can’t comment on my own experience with battery life just yet, the company claims it can provide a full day’s worth with a five-minute charge and up to one week of battery with a 20-minute charge.
The large display and long battery life, however, don’t make up for the lack of size options. Brands that have been in the smartwatch game for a while know this.
Apple offers its Apple Watch Series 6 in 40mm and 44mm sizes. Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 3 comes in 41mm or 45mm sizes. And while Fitbit’s Sense and Versa smartwatches are only offered in 40mm, I can assure you it looks fine on both small and large wrists.
It took OnePlus until 2021 to come out with its own watch. One might think the company would have come fully prepared to take on its competitors with multiple sizes.
Instead, I felt like I borrowed my dad’s watch. Maybe I’m being too harsh, considering I’ve only spent a couple of days with it.
For a more complete evaluation, check back for a full review of the OnePlus Watch soon. It officially goes on sale on April 14.
