The OnePlus Watch 3 Completes The OnePlus Mobile Ecosystem
OnePlus has steadily been building one of the most coherent and competitive ecosystems in the Android universe. After evaluating the OnePlus 13, I really wanted to delve into the ecosystem because of how much I enjoyed using the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 and how much I wanted to try out the OnePlus Watch 3. As shown in the image above, the company has really unified its products with a single design language and has built an extremely cohesive lineup that I believe offers a genuine alternative to Samsung's Galaxy ecosystem.
The OnePlus Watch 3 builds on the best elements of the OnePlus Watch 2, adding a few refinements including an upgraded co-processor and enhanced crown. The Watch 3 comes with a larger 1.5-inch display, compared to the 1.43-inch display of the Watch 2. The new display is capable of 2,200 nits of peak brightness, versus the 1,000 nits of the preceding generation. While the resolution remains the same across both models, the new display is much easier to see.
Both models have stainless steel cases, but the Watch 3 comes with a titanium alloy bezel for better durability. The Watch 3 also adds a rotating crown with haptics, which is a welcome UI improvement. It also has a 30% bigger batter at 648 mAh (versus 500 mAh in previous model). The stated battery life for the new model is 5 days or 120 hours of use, compared to 4 days or 100 hours for the Watch 2. It also comes with the upgraded BES2800 co-processor, which is more efficient than the BES2700 in the Watch 2. OnePlus also upgraded the sensors in the Watch 3 to add ECG, skin temperature and fall detection, although it does not offer ECG in the U.S. because of FDA regulations.
In my experience, the OnePlus Watch 3 emanates quality, and the battery life is truly impressive. That's why so many people see it as a competitor to Samsung's Galaxy Watch Ultra, especially since the two watches share the same screen size and similar battery capacity. The biggest difference is that the Galaxy Watch Ultra offers cellular connectivity and wireless charging via Qi. The price difference is a difficult one to assess because the OnePlus Watch 3 debuted at $329, but then — after tariffs — went as high as $499 before settling (at the time of publication) at $349. For comparison, the Galaxy Watch Ultra now sells for around $500, down from $650 on Samsung's site.
When paired with the Ohealth app on the OnePlus 13, the OnePlus Watch 3 is a powerful device. I also found myself frequently using the OnePlus Buds 3 Pro, which OnePlus offers in multiple colors, including a blue that matches the phone and the optional blue wristband for the watch. I personally think that this is not only one of the best combinations of devices in the Android ecosystem, but also one of the best-looking.
The Buds 3 Pro provide a superior listening experience with superb audio quality that pairs well with the fitness capabilities of the Watch 3. This has become my default workout combination, and I think the watch is well-equipped to be both a lifestyle and a fitness watch depending on the band that you use. While I don't think that Ohealth is quite as good as the Fitbit app or other top-tier fitness apps, in my opinion it's not far behind Samsung's health app (although the Samsung app supports more devices).
While I didn't use a OnePlus tablet along with these devices, that option does exist; if you used it, you could truly have a complete Android ecosystem that rivals Samsung's for a very competitive price. OnePlus doesn't offer a fitness ring like Samsung, nor does it have any recently launched foldables, but I do think that with the OnePlus Watch 3, Buds 3 Pro and OnePlus 13, the company offers a competitive and comprehensive ecosystem of devices.
OnePlus has shown once again that it can deliver an impeccable product at a fairly good value, although that value has been muddied after launch by tariff issues. After a bit of tariff whiplash on pricing, the OnePlus Watch 3 is competitively priced and offers a lot of watch for a reasonable amount of money. I still use mine for workouts and enjoy the comfort and big screen for controlling my music and tracking my exercise. Beyond that, it's a great complement to the OnePlus 13 phone and the OnePlus Buds Pro 3, both of which have impressed me even more than their predecessors. Now, if only we could get a OnePlus Open foldable in the U.S. market again, that would really complete the brand's lineup. Alas, we already know that's wishful thinking — and certainly isn't happening this year.
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CNET
44 minutes ago
- CNET
Beyond the Hype: J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction Survey Confirms 5G Internet Might Be Here to Stay
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Recent FCC data shows that the nation's biggest 5G provider, T-Mobile, covers 64% of households nationwide, and a significant portion of its coverage is rural. 'Is it a better product than fiber? Absolutely not,' Lepper said. 'No one would say it is, but it's hitting all the other buttons just right.' 5G may not always be consistent, but it's getting better J.D. Power uses several metrics to gauge customer satisfaction with broadband, the most notable being the level of trust an internet user has with an ISP. Fixed wireless internet is generally more unreliable than fiber internet since it's more susceptible to congestion and requires proximity to a tower and good weather conditions. However, it has substantially improved over the years. Former CNET writer Eli Blumenthal switched from Spectrum to Verizon 5G and hands-on tested T-Mobile 5G and AT&T Internet Air. 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Android Authority
an hour ago
- Android Authority
After using the vivo X200 Ultra for several weeks, I wish Samsung would copy its amazing cameras
vivo X200 Ultra The vivo X200 Ultra is a China-only release, so most buyers sadly won't be able to get their hands on one, but dedicated Android fans who want a top-notch camera experience and plenty of premium features should certainly add it to their wishlist. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is among the most popular camera phones around. But there's a strong argument to be made that Samsung's flagships (and to a lesser extent even Google's top Pixels) have stagnated as far as hardware is concerned. Samsung's base and Plus phones have effectively used the same camera hardware since 2022, while its most recent Ultra phones have offered upgraded ultrawide cameras and a switch to a more modern 5x 50MP camera. Nevertheless, the company is still sticking with a measly 10MP 3x camera on its $1,200 Ultra devices. 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Check out this comparison between an older Pixel 7 Pro and the X200 Ultra to see the difference between a conventional 24mm smartphone shot and a 35mm snap. I didn't have to worry about the sheets above or people sitting too close to my friend. Pixel 7 Pro at 24mm vivo X200 Ultra at 35mm Furthermore, a native 35mm camera should theoretically deliver better image quality than a crop from a similar 24mm camera. However, I had to pixel-peep to spot any significant quality differences versus a 35mm crop. So it's not a night-and-day quality difference if you stick with a software-based 35mm mode, especially when some phones let you set the 35mm crop as the default. This main camera still holds up in a variety of lighting conditions, offering plenty of detail, wide dynamic range (see the fourth and sixth image in the gallery), and little noise. I do occasionally see some over-processing, particularly at night when vivo sometimes manages the feat of using too much noise reduction and too much sharpening in the same scene. I'm also glad to report that this camera doesn't suffer from glare like the X200 Pro's primary shooter. Ultrawide camera hardware that's closer to the main camera We've also seen the Pixel 9 series and Galaxy S25 Ultra embrace higher-resolution ultrawide cameras. These sensors are much smaller than the primary cameras, though. However, vivo has decided to use the same 1/1.28-inch camera sensor for both the main and ultrawide cameras. This also seems like the next logical step for more mainstream brands. Perhaps the biggest benefit I noticed with the X200 Ultra's ultrawide camera was the much-improved brightness. There isn't a big disparity between the ultrawide and main cameras. The improved light capture also means I was able to capture handheld astrophotography shots using the wider camera. 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It's not the first time we've seen smartphones use the same camera sensor for both main and ultrawide lenses (hello, OPPO Find X3 Pro), but I want to see Google and Samsung pull this off too. vivo has also taken the interesting step of defaulting to the ultrawide camera for video. It makes sense on paper as cameras with a narrower field of view, like the 35mm main sensor, tend to be less stable than wider cameras. You can still switch to the 35mm camera anyway, although it looks like vivo is shooting 8K/30fps videos exclusively via the ultrawide lens. In any event, I thought that video capture was at least on par with the already good X200 Pro, with smooth panning and good stabilization. But I did notice weird flickering on people's faces when filming portrait video in poor lighting. What about that 200MP zoom camera? 85mm 85mm snapshot mode 85mm 85mm 170mm 85mm vivo was the first smartphone brand to adopt a 200MP zoom camera on a smartphone, debuting the feature on the X100 Ultra in 2024. It has since become a fixture on high-end phones like the HONOR Magic 7 Pro and Xiaomi 15 Ultra, and the X200 Ultra returns with a 200MP 3.7x periscope camera (f/2.27). This zoom camera delivers image quality that's close to the main camera, featuring a good level of detail, consistent colors, and dynamic range, and very little noise. Image quality does fall sharply from 10x to 15x, though, with 20x shots being a gamble. But more than anything else, I'd like to see Google and Samsung take a similarly ambitious route with their zoom cameras. I'd love to see a Pixel 11 Pro with a 200MP tele camera or a giant 50MP periscope lens. 35mm 85mm Much like the X200 Pro and X100 Ultra, the X200 Ultra edges out Google when it comes to the number of ways you can use the periscope camera. There's the expected macro focus and 4K/120fps slow-motion options, as well as portrait video with automatic focus switching (like iPhones), a stage mode, and higher-resolution active stabilized video. There's also local support for 8K video and night video capture. I thought there was still room for improvement here, though. vivo does some sketchy processing at long focal lengths, as I noticed in my hands-on with the X200 Ultra's crazy external lens. During my time with the lens, I noticed that the phone actually seemed to airbrush balcony railings out of a very long-range zoom snap, while the picture taken with the lens kept it intact. There's also a very shallow depth of field when taking close-up images or full-blown macro shots (e.g. food or bugs). So you have to move back if you want everything in focus. Still, this depth of field comes in handy for portrait snaps. vivo X200 Ultra verdict: A great camera phone with one dealbreaker Hadlee Simons / Android Authority Thankfully, the vivo X200 Ultra also ticks many boxes for a 2025 flagship device. There's the all-powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, a 6,000mAh battery that usually delivers two days of regular usage, 90W wired and 40W wireless charging, and a bright, 6.82-inch QHD+ OLED screen. Other notable vivo X200 Ultra features include IP68/IP69 ratings, an Apple-style Camera Control button, an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor, Bluetooth 6.0, and Wi-Fi 7. So, the vivo X200 Ultra has a cutting-edge set of cameras that could be a sign of things to come, a ton of performance, a large battery, and plenty of premium extras. So far, so good, right? The vivo X200 Ultra is another great camera phone from vivo that most people can't buy. There is one major caveat, though. Unlike the excellent vivo X200 Pro ($749.99 at Giztop), the Ultra is limited to China only. This restricted availability severely reduces your purchase options if you're interested in the device. You'll just have to pay the ~$1,049 fee to import the phone from storefronts like Giztop. The China-only nature also means you miss out on Quick Share, although Google Wallet works fine, and it supports Android Auto. Another galling absence from China-only phones is eSIM support. There are eSIM adapters that bring this support to phones without the tech, but it's still a notable omission here. In any event, I really hope Google and Samsung embrace technologies like a 35mm main camera, an ultrawide camera with a flagship sensor, and more ambitious zoom cameras. Because it certainly looks like the rest of the industry will adopt or has adopted this tech. vivo X200 Ultra Optional external lens • 35mm camera • Top-notch performance MSRP: $1,099.99 One of 2025's best camera phones The vivo X200 Ultra has an optional external camera lens that delivers great long-range zoom. Other notable features include a Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, high-quality rear cameras, and fast wired/wireless charging. See price at Giztop Positives Smooth performance Smooth performance Unique camera hardware Unique camera hardware Great video capture Great video capture Fast wired/wireless charging Fast wired/wireless charging Long battery life Cons China-only release China-only release No eSIM No eSIM Ultrawide images could be better
Entrepreneur
an hour ago
- Entrepreneur
Manish Gupta Appointed as Dell Technologies India President and MD
Gupta takes over from Alok Ohrie, who is stepping down to focus on personal pursuits and spend more time with his family. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Dell Technologies has appointed Manish Gupta as the new President and Managing Director for India, effective immediately. He will lead the company's strategic initiatives and sales operations across the country. Based in Bengaluru, Gupta will report to Peter Marrs, President of Asia Pacific Japan and Greater China (APJC), Dell Technologies. Gupta takes over from Alok Ohrie, who is stepping down to focus on personal pursuits and spend more time with his family. "I am excited to have Manish leading Dell in India. His exceptional blend of technical expertise, deep market understanding, and visionary leadership will be instrumental in driving growth and innovation," said Marrs. "I would like to thank Alok for the incredible impact he has made at Dell Technologies India and wish him all the best for the future." Gupta brings over 25 years of experience in the IT industry, including more than 10 years at Dell in key leadership roles. Most recently, he led global alliances, channel engagement, and strategic planning for the APJC region. Earlier, he served as Vice President of the Infrastructure Solutions Group in India, contributing significantly to the company's growth. Speaking on his new role, Gupta said, "India presents immense opportunities, with businesses striving to harness technology for agility and competitive advantage. Dell Technologies is uniquely positioned to empower customers on their digital transformation journey. I look forward to working with our customers and partners as they navigate change and drive an AI-powered future." Gupta holds an MBA from IIM Lucknow and a Bachelor of Engineering from Panjab University. He is also a Fulbright-Nehru Fellow from Carnegie Mellon University's Tepper School of Business.
