Head-to-head · Best Smartwatches

Garmin Venu 3 vs OnePlus Watch 3

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

Garmin Venu 3 comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.4 vs 4.3). The gap is mostly about Health-conscious users wanting long battery life — read the strengths below before deciding.

Higher ratedRanked #2 in Best Smartwatches

Garmin Venu 3

4.4

2 sources$364.9as of Jul 31

The Garmin Venu 3 is a health-first watch that happens to have smartwatch manners. Battery life runs to weeks rather than days, the Elevate V5 sensor and multi-GNSS positioning are dependable, and the sleep stack goes deeper than most rivals with full staging, nap detection and a morning report. The trade-offs are a thin third-party app catalogue and no cellular option, so it leans on a paired phone for anything beyond fitness. Buy it for the data and the runtime; skip it if you want a phone on your wrist.

Strengths

— Impressive battery life (up to two weeks)
— Accurate GPS and heart rate/HRV sensors
— All-day health and sleep tracking, including nap detection and morning reports

Watch-outs

— Limited third-party app selection and slow app downloads
— No LTE version available

$364.9 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Ranked #4 in Best Smartwatches

OnePlus Watch 3

4.3

4 sources

Battery life carries the OnePlus Watch 3: a 500 mAh cell plus a dual-engine architecture makes it one of the most reliable Wear OS watches you can buy. CNET praised the endurance, and GSMArena pointed to the MIL-STD-810H certification and IP68 rating behind its durable design. The 1.5-inch LTPO AMOLED display is bright and sharp. Reviewers were less pleased with a charging cradle that has to be lined up just right and with subpar audio during calls. Buy it for the battery and the build; look elsewhere if you need eSIM or better call quality.

Strengths

— Impressive battery life with 23% increase in capacity to 500 mAh
— Durable build with MIL-STD-810H certification and IP68/5ATM ratings
— Large 1.5-inch LTPO AMOLED display with 466x466px resolution and 2,200 nits brightness

Watch-outs

— Charging cradle requires precise alignment
— Sound quality during calls is tinny with average microphone performance
— No eSIM support despite Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity

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How they stack up

Garmin Venu 3

The Garmin Venu 3 offers unmatched battery life compared to the Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 2, but it lacks the app ecosystem and smart features of the Apple models. Unlike the OnePlus Watch 3, it doesn't have a large, high-resolution display or LTE support, and it's not as durable or water-resistant. It's a strong choice for health-focused users who prioritize long battery life over smart connectivity.

OnePlus Watch 3

The OnePlus Watch 3 excels in battery life and durability, surpassing the Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch SE in both areas, but it lacks the advanced health sensors and app ecosystem of Apple's offerings. Compared to the Garmin Venu 3, it offers better display resolution and a more comfortable fit, though it doesn't match the Garmin's sleep tracking or third-party app support. It's a strong contender for users who prioritize endurance and build quality over smart features.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Garmin Venu 3	OnePlus Watch 3
Display	1.4-inch AMOLED	1.5 inches LTPO AMOLED
Battery	Up to two weeks	—
Water Resistance	5 ATM	IP68/5ATM
Health Features	Elevate V5 sensor	heart rate, and temperature sensor
Processor	S9 System in Package (SiP)	Snapdragon W5 and BES2800 BP
Connectivity	LTE, UMTS, Wi-Fi 4, Bluetooth 5.3	Bluetooth and Wi-Fi
Weight	—	49.7g

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