OnePlus Watch 3 vs Galaxy Watch 6 Classic vs Apple Watch Series 9 – Which Reigns Supreme in 2025?

The smartwatch arena is more competitive than ever. OnePlus’s Watch 3, Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, and Apple’s Watch Series 9 each bring unique strengths – from marathon battery life to refined software ecosystems. In this in-depth comparison, we’ll pit these wearables against each other on features, performance, battery life, operating systems, app ecosystems, design, health and fitness tracking, pricing, and availability. We’ll also touch on what’s next (including the Apple Watch Series 10 and Samsung Galaxy Watch 7/8 rumors). By the end, you’ll know which of these flagship smartwatches best fits your needs as of August 2025.

Design and Build Quality

OnePlus Watch 3 embraces a classic round timepiece aesthetic. It has a large 46.6×47.6mm face (11mm thick) with a titanium alloy bezel (upgraded from stainless steel on its predecessor) and a sapphire crystal covering the 1.5-inch AMOLED display techradar.com techradar.com. The Watch 3 looks like a “timeless metal dress watch” – elegant and premium – but it’s undeniably big and heavy at 81 g (including strap) techradar.com techradar.com. The upside of that heft is a bright (2000 nits) AMOLED screen that’s extremely easy to read, plus a new rotating digital crown for intuitive control (complementing the touch screen and side button) techradar.com techradar.com. OnePlus has even added a 5ATM water resistance and MIL-STD-810H durability, meaning it’s swim-proof and built to withstand extreme temperatures, shocks and dust oneplus.com oneplus.com. A smaller 43 mm variant of the OnePlus Watch 3 was launched in mid-2025 for those with smaller wrists, carrying the same design language in a lighter package androidguys.com androidguys.com.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic also opts for a round shape but with a distinctive flair – the rotating bezel. After skipping this beloved feature in the prior generation, Samsung brought back the knurled rotating bezel on the Watch 6 Classic, giving it a “retro look of a beefy analog windup” watch techradar.com. This bezel isn’t just for show: twisting it scrolls through widgets, notifications, and apps, offering a tactile alternative to swiping techradar.com. The Watch 6 Classic comes in two sizes (43mm and 47mm); the 47mm model is Samsung’s largest watch yet, with a huge 1.5-inch always-on AMOLED display (480×480 resolution) techradar.com. It certainly “lives up to its name” as big and bold techradar.com – the 47mm version measures 46.5×46.5×10.9 mm and weighs 59 g, which some reviewers found “over-sized” for comfort techradar.com techradar.com. (Samsung even jokes it’s a great sleep tracker “if you don’t mind not sleeping” with such a large device on your wrist techradar.com.) For most people, the 43mm Classic (42.5 g) or the standard Galaxy Watch 6 (which has no bezel and a sleeker profile) are more wrist-friendly options techradar.com techradar.com. In terms of materials, the Watch 6 Classic uses stainless steel and sapphire glass for a premium feel, and it’s rated 5ATM + IP68 with a MIL-STD-810H rating, meaning it’s water resistant to 50 m and built to endure drops and extreme conditions techradar.com techradar.com. Samsung also introduced a new band mechanism – a push-button quick-release system – to make swapping straps easier techradar.com. Overall, the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic’s design is about bold, attention-grabbing style; as TechRadar put it, “subtlety is discarded” in favor of an “elegant, big, readable-at-a-distance” look techradar.com.

Apple’s Watch Series 9 follows Apple’s iconic squarish-rounded rectangle design with seamless curved edges. At first glance, it’s almost indistinguishable from the Series 8 or Series 7: it comes in 41mm and 45mm aluminum or stainless steel cases, with the familiar Digital Crown and side button on the right. The always-on LTPO OLED Retina display has slim bezels and a peak brightness now boosted to 2000 nits for better outdoor visibility (matching the Ultra model’s brightness) techradar.com techradar.com. The build is premium and durable, featuring sapphire crystal on stainless steel models and Ion-X strengthened glass on aluminum models, and it’s water resistant to 50 m (WR50 rating). While Apple didn’t radically redesign anything for Series 9 – even the dimensions (10.7 mm thick) and weights are essentially unchanged techradar.com – it’s a refined and comfortable design that many users love for its sleek minimalism. One subtle change is the move toward more environmentally friendly materials; Apple introduced new color options (including a Pink aluminum) and made certain watch bands carbon-neutral. Still, some critics wished for fresh aesthetics or slimmer cases, noting the Series 9’s “identical design and sizes” to its predecessor as a minor letdown techradar.com. If you prefer a round watch look, obviously the Apple Watch’s shape is a very different style from the OnePlus and Samsung, but it remains an unmistakable part of the Apple identity.

Display quality on all three is excellent. The OnePlus Watch 3 and Galaxy Watch 6 Classic both have 1.5-inch AMOLED screens that are vibrant and sharp (the Samsung’s 47mm has 480×480 pixels techradar.com, while OnePlus hasn’t published an exact resolution but it’s crisp thanks to an LTPO AMOLED panel techradar.com). Apple’s Series 9 has a slightly smaller screen (1.65″ on the 45mm model, 396×484 pixels), but it’s extremely bright, color-rich, and responsive, with a smooth always-on refresh rate down to 1Hz. Apple’s advantage is in the seamless touch responsiveness and deep integration of the display with watchOS’s UI (like subtle use of the curved corners for watch faces). Samsung’s display is notable for being perfectly round and now covered in sapphire, matching Apple in durability techradar.com. All three watches have always-on display (AOD) modes if you choose to enable them, though using AOD will impact battery life (more on that shortly).

In summary, design comes down to personal taste: the OnePlus Watch 3 and Galaxy Watch 6 Classic target those who want a traditional round watch style – OnePlus with a more minimalist dress watch vibe, Samsung with a bold bezel and classic chronograph feel – whereas the Apple Watch is a modern tech-forward design that’s slim and light for its size. Each is built from high-end materials with water resistance for swimming. If having a rotating crown or bezel matters to you, OnePlus and Samsung both deliver tactile controls (Apple’s crown, while not rotating through lists in the same way, can be used for scrolling and zooming). Apple’s tighter integration of hardware and bands gives it an edge in fit-and-finish, but it lacks the visual variety of watch faces that a round display offers. As we’ll see, those design differences also influence aspects like comfort (the huge Samsung can be cumbersome on smaller wrists) and interface navigation.

Operating System and App Ecosystem

Under the hood, these watches run very different software platforms, which affects everything from app selection to phone compatibility:

• OnePlus Watch 3: OnePlus made a significant change with the Watch 3 by embracing Google’s Wear OS platform – specifically Wear OS 5 at launch techradar.com. This is a big deal because the original OnePlus Watch (and even the Watch 2) used a proprietary RTOS that had limited app support. Now, the Watch 3 has full access to Google’s Play Store for Wear OS, meaning you can install hundreds of third-party apps like Spotify, Strava, Google Maps, WhatsApp, Audible, and more, directly on the watch techradar.com. TechRadar noted “the beauty of Android watches is that you can stuff them full of third-party apps, and it’s the same case here” with the OnePlus 3 techradar.com. In other words, OnePlus users finally get the rich app ecosystem that Samsung and other Wear OS watches enjoy – a huge improvement over the app-less first OnePlus Watch. OnePlus didn’t stop there: uniquely, they implemented a dual OS setup – the Watch 3 runs Wear OS for most functions on a Snapdragon W5 chipset, but also runs a secondary low-power RTOS on a BES2800 co-processor techradar.com. The watch intelligently switches to the lightweight RTOS for background tasks and basic features, which dramatically extends battery life (more on battery soon) without the user even noticing any interface change techradar.com techradar.com. This dual-OS approach is similar in concept to what Mobvoi did with TicWatch and helps give OnePlus an edge in endurance while still delivering the full Google experience. The OnePlus Watch 3 works with any recent Android phone (Android 6.0+), and setup is done via the OnePlus Health app and Google’s standard Wear OS integration. (It does not work with iPhones, as Wear OS 3 and above do not support iOS). OnePlus has committed to 3 years of platform updates (Wear OS 5, 6, 7) and 3 years of security patches for the Watch 3, so it’s assured software support through at least 2027 techradar.com. That’s on par with Samsung’s update promise and reflects a serious long-term software commitment from OnePlus.
• Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic: Samsung also runs Wear OS now, but with their own twist. The Watch 6 Classic shipped with Wear OS 4 skinned with One UI Watch 5 on top techradar.com. In practical use, One UI Watch provides Samsung’s custom apps and interface style, making the watch feel integrated with Samsung’s ecosystem (with familiar apps like Samsung Health, Samsung Pay/Wallet, and Bixby assistant by default). However, you still have access to the full range of Google services and Play Store apps on the Watch 6 series – including Google Assistant, Google Maps, Gmail, YouTube Music, etc., if you prefer them over Samsung’s alternatives. Samsung’s platform is arguably the most feature-packed for Android users, but there is a catch: certain advanced health features (notably the ECG electrocardiogram and blood pressure monitoring) are locked to Samsung phones when using official software reddit.com. Samsung’s Health Monitor app, which enables ECG/BP, won’t normally work on a non-Galaxy phone without unsupported workarounds reddit.com. So, if you use a Pixel, OnePlus, or other Android phone, the Galaxy Watch will still function for most things, but you’d lose ECG and blood pressure features (all other health tracking – heart rate, SpO₂, sleep, etc. – works regardless). This is an important consideration in the ecosystem: Galaxy Watch 6 is best experienced with a Samsung phone. Compatibility is officially limited to Android (Android 8.0 and up), with no iPhone support. In terms of app ecosystem, the Watch 6 Classic leverages the same Wear OS Play Store catalog as OnePlus Watch 3. Popular apps are available and performance is smooth (Samsung’s watches tend to get new Wear OS versions quickly – e.g., the Galaxy Watch 7 in 2024 was among the first to launch with Wear OS 5 tomsguide.com). Additionally, Samsung preloads some nice watch faces and Tiles (widgets) that integrate with their phone apps (for example, a Buds controller if you have Galaxy Buds, SmartThings smart home controls, etc.). Overall, if you are entrenched in Android, Samsung’s One UI Watch feels polished and offers tight integration (especially for Galaxy phone users), while still benefiting from Google’s app ecosystem and services.
• Apple Watch Series 9: The Apple Watch is in a world of its own, running Apple’s watchOS (version 10 at Series 9’s launch, upgradable to watchOS 10.1+ and beyond). The app ecosystem on Apple Watch is the most mature in the industry, with over 1 million watch-specific apps available via Apple’s App Store (part of the Watch app on the iPhone) bankmycell.com bankmycell.com. Virtually every major app or service that makes sense on a watch has an Apple Watch app – whether it’s fitness (Strava, Nike Run Club), productivity (Notion, Outlook), smart home (HomeKit, Nest), or niche utilities. Many apps are better optimized on watchOS than their Wear OS counterparts, thanks to Apple’s tight hardware-software integration and the watch’s popularity among developers. Apple also bundles a host of excellent native apps: everything from a smooth iMessage and Phone interface, to Apple Music and Podcasts, Calendar, Wallet (for Apple Pay, transit cards, tickets), Maps with turn-by-turn navigation, and more. With watchOS 10, Apple introduced a new widgets Smart Stack interface and redesigned apps to be more glanceable. Siri is built-in and now can even work on-device for certain requests (like starting workouts or querying health data) thanks to the improved Neural Engine on the Series 9’s chip techradar.com. However, the biggest limitation of Apple’s ecosystem is compatibility: an Apple Watch only works with an iPhone. If you don’t use an iPhone, Series 9 is essentially off the table. But for iPhone users, the Apple Watch offers unparalleled continuity – your watch mirrors notifications, can answer calls, unlock your Mac, act as a camera shutter, use Apple’s Handoff and Continuity features, etc., all seamlessly. It’s deeply woven into the iOS ecosystem in a way no other wearable can match. As for software updates, Apple typically supports watches for many years; the Series 9 should receive watchOS updates for at least 5+ years, keeping it current long into the future (for perspective, even the 2018 Series 4 received the watchOS 10 update in 2023).

In summary, app selection and OS fluidity are strong across the board, but with different strengths. Apple’s watchOS on Series 9 is the most polished and has the largest app catalog, but it’s walled into the Apple universe. Wear OS on OnePlus and Samsung’s watches offers more openness for Android users, and thanks to Google’s revitalized efforts, you’ll find most of the essential apps on these as well – from Google’s own offerings to Spotify, WhatsApp (now with a dedicated Wear OS app), Uber, and more. OnePlus’s decision to join the Wear OS club means it now stands on equal footing with Samsung in apps, whereas previous OnePlus watches were at a big disadvantage.

If you have an Android phone, the choice is between OnePlus’s pure Google experience (plus some OnePlus wellness apps) versus Samsung’s feature-rich One UI Watch experience. Samsung may give you a few more bells and whistles (like offline Spotify downloads via Spotify app, Google Assistant and Bixby both available, etc.), but OnePlus running plain Wear OS is clean and free of any phone-brand lock-in (and it even has the Google Assistant onboard as your voice assistant). If you have an iPhone, realistically only the Apple Watch Series 9 (or an older Apple Watch) will fully meet your needs – neither Wear OS watch is officially compatible with iOS today.

Performance and Hardware Specs

All three watches are fast and capable, but they use different silicon:

• OnePlus Watch 3: Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 chipset (a modern 4nm dual-core processor for Wear OS) along with that secondary BES2800 co-processor, the OnePlus Watch 3 delivers smooth performance in Wear OS. Swiping through tiles, launching apps, and animations are all fluid – reviewers have noted it “performs as smoothly as any Wear OS watch… including the Google Pixel Watch 3” techradar.com. The Snapdragon W5+ was Qualcomm’s flagship wearable chip in 2023, so it handles health tracking and apps with ease. The watch has ample memory and storage (typically 2 GB RAM and 32 GB storage on Wear OS devices like this, though OnePlus doesn’t heavily advertise the numbers). Connectivity includes Bluetooth 5.3 for phone pairing, plus Wi-Fi. Notably missing is LTE – OnePlus did not release a cellular-equipped Watch 3, so it’s Bluetooth-only for now (they hinted an LTE version could come later, but as of August 2025 it’s not available) techradar.com. Location is handled by a dual-frequency GPS module, which improves outdoor tracking accuracy in dense urban environments or rough terrain by using both L1+L5 bands techradar.com techradar.com. The OnePlus Watch 3’s raw specs impress in other areas too: the display is a 1.5” LTPO AMOLED (with dynamic refresh rate for power saving) and protected by sapphire crystal. It also packs a whopping 631 mAh battery – larger capacity than most rivals – which contributes to its multi-day endurance techradar.com. Overall, OnePlus built the Watch 3 to be a performance beast with no lag, and it shows in daily use. Even with the heavier Wear OS, it remains responsive thanks to the efficient chip and OnePlus’s optimizations.
• Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic: Samsung uses its in-house Exynos chips. The Watch 6 Classic runs on the Exynos W930 (dual-core 1.4 GHz), which is a slight iteration of the W920 from the previous generation. In TechRadar’s tests, this new processor proved to be “more than enough juice” – every on-watch action was “instantaneous and a pleasure,” and importantly, the CPU managed tasks without sapping battery life excessively techradar.com. The watch feels zippy: launching workouts, swiping the interface, and rotating the bezel through menus all respond quickly. Samsung paired the chip with 2 GB RAM and 16 GB storage on the Watch 6 series. That storage allows for apps and music downloads (e.g. you can store songs from Spotify or YouTube Music offline). The Watch 6 Classic comes in both Bluetooth/Wi-Fi and LTE variants – the LTE models have an eSIM for 4G connectivity so you can make calls or stream music without your phone. Other hardware features include NFC (for Samsung Pay or Google Pay contactless payments) and all the standard sensors (GNSS/GPS, barometer, compass, etc.). The 47mm Classic has the same battery size as the standard Watch 6 (which is a point of contention): it houses a 425 mAh battery, identical to the smaller Watch 6 (44mm) battery and not expanded despite the Classic’s larger case techradar.com. We’ll discuss battery life impact in the next section, but performance-wise the Watch 6 Classic got a top score 5/5 from TechRadar for “fast, responsive” operation techradar.com. Samsung’s watches also benefit from smooth integration with their phones (e.g., faster app syncing, camera controller, etc. if on a Galaxy phone). One thing to note: the Watch 6 Classic has the most complete wireless connectivity options of the trio if you buy the LTE model – it’s the only one here that can be a truly standalone cellular smartwatch (Apple also offers cellular on their watch, but the specific Series 9 models compared here can have it as well). If staying connected without your phone is a priority, Samsung and Apple both have options, whereas OnePlus currently does not offer an LTE Watch 3 model techradar.com.
• Apple Watch Series 9: Apple introduced a new S9 System-in-Package (SiP) for the Series 9. This custom Apple Silicon is based on a dual-core 64-bit processor (derived from the A15 Bionic architecture) and includes a new 4-core Neural Engine. It’s notably faster than the previous S8 chip and enables some new experiences – Apple claims 30% improved CPU/GPU performance and 2× faster neural processing, yet also 25% better power efficiency apple.com. In daily use, you likely won’t feel a huge speed difference from Series 8 (which was already smooth), but the S9 allows features like on-device Siri processing (requests are handled locally for tasks like starting timers or querying health data, making Siri responses quicker and usable offline) techradar.com. It also powers the new Double Tap gesture – detecting subtle wrist movements via machine learning (more on Double Tap in the Features section) techradar.com. The Series 9 has 1 GB RAM (approx) and 64 GB of storage, the latter being far more than you’ll typically need but great for storing music, podcasts, or apps. Connectivity includes Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi (now dual-band 2.4/5 GHz) and Ultra Wideband. An upgrade this year was the U2 chip (second-gen Ultra Wideband), which enables Precision Finding to locate your iPhone (much like AirTag finding, showing distance and direction) and improved device-to-device connectivity for handoff and HomePod integration techradar.com. Like Samsung, Apple offers both GPS and GPS + Cellular models for Series 9 – the GPS-only model relies on your iPhone’s connection, while the Cellular model (with an eSIM) can independently handle calls, texts, and data. All Series 9 models include NFC for Apple Pay. In terms of raw performance, the Apple Watch has long been considered the gold standard, and Series 9 is the most powerful Apple Watch yet. It runs animations at a locked 60 FPS, loads apps with barely any delay, and can handle heavy tasks (like continuously tracking a workout while streaming music and navigating) without stutter. The limitation for Apple is not speed but battery, which the S9 chip tries to address via efficiency gains. Apple doesn’t quote CPU clock speeds or core counts like others, but independent testers note the S9 is significantly faster in benchmarks than the older S7/S8, though real-world differences are subtle due to watchOS optimizations.

In short, all three watches offer excellent performance. Apple’s Series 9 probably has the edge in raw processing power (the S9 is arguably the most advanced silicon here, with a neural engine and tight integration), but in practice, none of these watches feel slow. OnePlus and Samsung can run any Wear OS app smoothly; Apple can do the same with watchOS apps. If you’re switching between apps or using interactive watch faces, Apple’s buttery-smooth experience is well-known, but Samsung’s Watch 6 Classic was also praised for being “fast, responsive” with “every action instantaneous” techradar.com techradar.com. OnePlus’s Watch 3 similarly suffers no performance hiccups – the addition of that secondary RTOS doesn’t hamper user experience since it operates behind the scenes.

One thing to highlight is that OnePlus and Samsung both lack any sort of voice assistant AI chip, whereas Apple’s Neural Engine on S9 is a unique hardware advantage that powers features like Double Tap gesture recognition and on-device Siri apple.com apple.com. If voice commands or future AI-driven features are important, Apple’s hardware is arguably more future-proof on that front. But on day-to-day tasks – swiping, notifications, tracking a run – each watch’s performance is snappy and reliable.

Health and Fitness Tracking Features

Health and fitness tracking is the heart of any smartwatch today, and all three of these devices are packed with sensors and features to keep you on top of your well-being. There are differences in focus and some unique tricks, though.

OnePlus Watch 3: With the Watch 3, OnePlus greatly expanded its health tracking capabilities, aiming to cover both basics and advanced metrics. It has the standard array of sensors: optical heart-rate sensor, SpO₂ blood oxygen sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, compass, ambient light, and even a wrist skin temperature sensor. It also introduced ECG (electrocardiogram) hardware to monitor heart rhythm – a first for OnePlus. OnePlus’s signature health feature is the new “60-second Health Check-In” mode: by pressing your finger to the side button sensor, in one minute the watch will measure your heart rate, blood oxygen level, stress (heart rate variability), skin temperature, respiratory rate, and produce an ECG reading, plus derive a new metric called “vascular age.” techradar.com techradar.com. Vascular age is essentially assessing your arterial stiffness and cardiovascular health relative to your age – if you’re very fit, your vascular age might be lower than your actual age, and vice versa techradar.com. This is similar in spirit to Garmin’s “fitness age” but specifically focused on heart health. OnePlus places a big emphasis on heart wellness: it provides vascular elasticity scores and insights into your “arterial stiffness trends” over time. The Watch 3 can effectively tell you if your cardiovascular system looks older or younger than expected. It’s a deep metric that we don’t typically see outside of specialized devices – a notable differentiator. However, note that the ECG feature wasn’t active at launch in some regions (OnePlus was awaiting regulatory clearance in the US, for example) techradar.com. By late 2025, ECG is expected to be enabled in more markets via firmware update.

For more conventional fitness tracking, OnePlus 3 covers a lot: it supports over 100 sport modes, from running, cycling, swimming (it’s 5ATM waterproof), to yoga, hiking, and more techradar.com. Eleven of those modes are “professional” with deeper metrics (like running, which can give cadence, VO₂ max estimation, etc.). The inclusion of dual-band GPS means outdoor workouts have improved accuracy – important for runners and cyclists mapping their routes techradar.com. OnePlus also introduced new recovery and wellness insights, like a “Mind & Body” energy tracking (the smaller OnePlus Watch 3 43mm even has a feature that reads your fatigue level via a real-time barometer for stress) androidguys.com. The Watch 3 can continuously monitor stress levels, and even prompt you for guided breathing exercises when stress is high androidguys.com. It tracks sleep in detail (stages, total sleep score) and interestingly can warn of potential breathing irregularities during sleep – essentially flagging if you might be at risk of sleep apnea (though not as an FDA-cleared diagnostic, just as a wellness note). All these health metrics integrate into the OnePlus Health app on your phone, which gives you charts and trends.

OnePlus’s approach seems to be holistic wellness – combining physical metrics with mental health indicators (stress, fatigue). However, it’s worth mentioning that in reviews, some of OnePlus’s health tracking was a bit off initially: TechRadar noted “slight issues with swim tracking & sleep data interpretation” (for example, it sometimes under-scored sleep quality) techradar.com techradar.com. These are areas that can improve with software updates. The watch isn’t intended as a medical device, but it is feature-rich: continuous heart rate and SpO₂, abnormal heart rate alerts, menstrual cycle tracking, and more are all present. OnePlus also added a temperature trend monitor (useful for female health tracking or detecting fevers) and breathing exercise apps. What it lacks is any sort of blood pressure or body composition feature – those are not included. But given everything it does have, the OnePlus Watch 3 is on par or even ahead of many Wear OS competitors in health tracking, especially with the vascular health focus.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic: Samsung has been a leader in adding innovative health sensors. The Galaxy Watch 6 Classic is equipped with Samsung’s advanced BioActive Sensor array, which combines optical heart rate, electrical heart sensor, and bioimpedance analysis (BIA) all in one module on the back. This means the Watch 6 Classic can do ECG (using the electrical sensor in conjunction with the touch bezel or button as a lead) and even measure Blood Pressure (via pulse wave analysis, though it requires calibration with a traditional cuff and, officially, a Samsung phone) reddit.com. Additionally, the BIA sensor lets the watch measure body composition – in about 15 seconds, it can estimate your body fat percentage, skeletal muscle, body water, and BMI by sending a small electric current through your body. This is a standout feature Samsung introduced in Watch 4 and still no Apple Watch offers. It’s great for those monitoring fitness or weight loss, as you can track body fat reduction, muscle gain, etc., right from your wrist.

Samsung also includes a skin temperature sensor (used for advanced cycle tracking for women and general wellness; it can track skin temperature trends at night). The Watch 6 Classic tracks all the basics excellently: steps, continuous heart rate, automatic activity detection, and sleep. In fact, Samsung has improved its sleep tracking features with things like a Sleep Score and detailed sleep stage graphs, plus a cute “Sleep Coaching” program that assigns you a sleep animal chronotype and gives tips to improve sleep. With One UI Watch software, the Galaxy Watch can also detect blood oxygen during sleep and even snoring (if your phone is on the nightstand to listen).

For fitness, Samsung covers 90+ workout modes. Importantly, the Galaxy Watch can auto-detect workouts: for example, it will automatically recognize and start tracking a walk, run, or cycling session after a few minutes, and even automatically stop when you’re done – something TechRadar praised, noting that only the Galaxy Watch would automatically begin tracking walks and end them without any intervention, which they “loved” techradar.com techradar.com. Apple requires manual confirmation for auto-detected workouts; Samsung’s automation is a bit more proactive. The Watch 6 Classic offers run coaching programs, interval training modes, and can connect to external sensors (e.g., a Bluetooth chest strap for heart rate, if you want). It also provides advanced running metrics (like VO₂ max, recovery time, running dynamics similar to Garmin’s if you use the Samsung Health app). Newer Samsung Health updates have added personalized insights: for instance, a “Sleep Apnea warning” was introduced (the Watch 7 in 2024 got FDA authorization to detect possible moderate to severe sleep apnea events during sleep and alert the user) tomsguide.com. It’s likely some of this has trickled to Watch 6 via updates. Samsung Health also started giving a daily “Body energy” or “Energy score” using AI that considers sleep, activity, and stress – akin to Fitbit’s Daily Readiness or Garmin’s Body Battery tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. In short, Samsung’s ecosystem is feature-packed, arguably the most comprehensive set of health tools outside of dedicated fitness watches: you have heart health (ECG, heart rate alerts), metabolic insights (BIA body composition, metabolic health predictions using AI tomsguide.com), women’s health (cycle tracking with skin temp), sleep coaching, stress tracking (with breathing exercises via the Stress app), and even safety features like Fall Detection and Emergency SOS on cellular models.

The only caveat, as mentioned, is the ECG and BP require a Galaxy smartphone officially. If you do pair the Watch 6 Classic with a Samsung phone, you unlock those and it essentially becomes a full medical-grade tool (ECG is FDA-cleared for Afib detection in many regions, and BP is cleared in some countries for wellness). If paired with another Android, you’d still get the raw sensor data (heart rate, etc.) and body composition but not the ECG/BP apps. Regardless, core tracking like steps, workouts, and sleep work on any Android, and Samsung Health remains one of the best fitness apps.

Apple Watch Series 9: Apple has steadily built a strong suite of health features over the years. The Series 9 includes an optical heart sensor, electrical heart sensor (ECG), and a blood oxygen (SpO₂) sensor, plus a new skin temperature sensor that was introduced in Series 8. With these, the Apple Watch can take a medical-grade single-lead ECG in 30 seconds using the Digital Crown as a contact (FDA-cleared for detecting atrial fibrillation) and can measure your blood oxygen saturation on demand or periodically during sleep apple.com. The temperature sensor is used primarily for cycle tracking – it can retroactively detect ovulation by seeing the biphasic shift in basal temperature at night, which is a unique benefit for those tracking fertility. Apple also uses temperature trends to enhance its sleep tracking accuracy and to give insight into nightly variations (e.g., noticing if you were running a slight fever).

When it comes to daily activity, the Apple Watch’s Activity Rings approach is famous – it motivates you to close your Move (calories), Exercise (minutes), and Stand rings each day. It automatically tracks all sorts of workouts with the Workout app, and with watchOS updates it has gained advanced metrics: for runners, it provides stride length, ground contact time, vertical oscillation, and even a form of VO₂ max estimation (Cardio Fitness score). It doesn’t have native body composition or blood pressure features (Apple has not yet added those sensors), but it covers most else: heart rate notifications (high, low, and irregular rhythm alerts indicating possible AFib), cardio fitness level monitoring (based on VO₂ max), fall detection (will call emergency services if you fall hard and don’t respond), and Crash Detection (leveraging new sensors to detect car accidents). Sleep tracking on Apple Watch, while historically basic, has improved – it logs sleep stages (light, deep, REM) and syncs with the Health app, although Apple’s sleep insights are still less detailed than Samsung’s or Fitbit’s. Apple compensates by allowing third-party sleep apps; for example, AutoSleep or Pillow can provide more analysis if needed.

In terms of coaching and insights, Apple leans on its Fitness+ service (a subscription workout platform with videos) and the motivation of Activity sharing with friends. In watchOS 10, Apple introduced a “State of Mind” mental health logging feature (you can record your mood on the watch), and expanded metrics like Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and Resting Heart Rate trends in the Health app. There’s also a new VO₂ max-based Training Zones display during workouts and a “Workout API” that allows apps like Nike or Strava to use the watch’s sensors more deeply. For women’s health, in addition to cycle tracking, Apple can now also assess cycle deviations (like irregular periods or prolonged cycles) and notify you, which can be useful signals to discuss with a doctor. Apple Watch also has an excellent Medication tracking feature (reminding you to take meds or log them) integrated into the Health app, sending discreet taps on the wrist.

An area Apple particularly shines is heart health monitoring and emergency alerts. It was one of the first to do irregular rhythm notifications (potential AFib) just from the optical sensor passively. It also has features like Cardio Fitness score (if your VO₂ max is very low for your age, it will warn you). And multiple stories credit Apple Watch’s high heart rate alerts or fall detection with saving lives. Samsung and OnePlus have some of these (Samsung has fall detection too, OnePlus added an SOS alert feature as well), but Apple’s system is very mature and tied into Medical ID on the iPhone.

One unique health aspect: Apple’s ecosystem means the Watch works seamlessly with the Apple Health app, which aggregates data from not just the watch but also any connected devices (like smart scales, etc.) in one place. It’s a very comprehensive health record if you use it fully. On Android, you’ll likely juggle Google Fit, Samsung Health, or OnePlus’s app and perhaps third-party apps for different data.

Accuracy and expert opinions: In general, all three watches do a decent job with everyday tracking. TechRadar’s review of OnePlus Watch 3 noted that workout and sleep tracking were good overall, with just minor nitpicks in data interpretation techradar.com. Samsung’s health tracking was described as “covering all the basics plus a whole lot more” – it earned praise for being proactive (like auto-starting workouts) techradar.com. Apple’s approach was called iterative but reliable – not much changed in Series 9’s health from Series 8, but it’s consistently solid and benefited from watchOS refinements. One gripe across the board is sleep tracking accuracy: for example, OnePlus and Samsung sometimes differ in how they interpret sleep quality techradar.com. These aren’t medical devices, so think of their data as guidance rather than gospel. Still, having features like ECG on your wrist (available in OnePlus and Samsung with some regional caveats, and Apple globally) means you can capture important data to show your doctor if you feel an irregular heartbeat.

If you’re an athlete or serious about fitness, all three can track workouts well, but you might care about battery life for GPS sessions (which we will discuss next) and ecosystem (Apple Watch has excellent third-party support from apps like Strava and WorkOutDoors; Wear OS watches can also use Strava, Adidas Running, etc., but the selection of specialized fitness apps is a bit less). Samsung’s coaching (sleep and fitness) is more built-in, whereas Apple tends to rely on third-party apps for advanced training analysis (unless you subscribe to Fitness+). OnePlus is somewhere in between, providing more guidance than Apple in certain areas (heart health insights) but not having as much of a history or community as Apple/Samsung’s platforms.

Bottom line: For health features, Samsung’s Watch 6 Classic is the most feature-rich, with everything from ECG to blood pressure and body composition – truly a Swiss army knife of health sensors (especially if you have a Samsung phone to unlock all of it) techradar.com. Apple’s Watch Series 9 has a slightly more limited sensor set (no BP or BIA) but nails the core functions and is extremely reliable and well-integrated with medical research and health records (it’s the best for heart monitoring and emergency detection in real-world outcomes). OnePlus Watch 3 has made huge strides and even outdoes Apple in some areas (blood oxygen, temperature, and soon ECG and heart health analytics), but it’s still establishing its track record – it’s fantastic for a holistic overview (especially with that 60-second checkup feature) and will meet most users’ needs, with just a few first-generation kinks to iron out in health algorithms.

Smart Features and Apps

Beyond health, these are smartwatches, and they offer a host of convenient features on the wrist:

All three show smartphone notifications for calls, texts, emails, and app alerts – you can typically read and respond (via voice dictation, quick replies, or a keyboard). Apple, being tied to iPhone, allows you to respond to iMessages, SMS, and even take phone calls on the watch (thanks to its speaker and mic). Samsung and OnePlus, when paired with Android, let you respond to texts (on Android, notifications are more universal, so you get similar functionality). Samsung’s has a speaker/mic too, so you can answer calls from your wrist when connected to your phone or with LTE model independently.

Voice assistants: Apple Watch uses Siri – and on Series 9 it’s faster and can handle requests without internet (for things like setting timers or querying your health data) due to the on-device processing techradar.com. Wear OS watches like OnePlus’s and Samsung’s can use Google Assistant (Samsung also includes Bixby, but you can install/enable Assistant if you prefer). Google Assistant on Wear OS can do things like smart home control (via Google Home), ask general queries, or send texts by voice – just as on your phone. Siri similarly can control HomeKit devices, dictate messages, etc. Assistants are very handy on a watch, and all three support raising your wrist and speaking a command (or pressing a button/crown).

Music and media: Each watch can control music playing on your phone (Spotify, Apple Music, etc.), and also store music for offline playback (useful with Bluetooth headphones on a run). Apple Watch syncs playlists from Apple Music or allows streaming via cellular. Samsung’s watch can do offline Spotify (a Spotify app feature) or YouTube Music. OnePlus, through Wear OS, can similarly run Spotify’s Wear OS app for offline playback. Podcasts and audiobook apps are also available. So, you can leave the phone at home and still have tunes (with Samsung/Apple LTE models, you could even stream over 4G).

Payments: Apple Watch has Apple Pay – double-click the side button and tap to pay at contactless terminals, very seamless. Galaxy Watch 6 Classic supports Samsung Pay (tap the back button) and now also Google Pay if installed, so you have two mobile wallet options. OnePlus Watch 3, running Wear OS, can use Google Wallet for NFC payments as well. This is great for buying a coffee without your phone.

App selection on-watch: We covered ecosystem generally, but to highlight, Apple has some exclusives: e.g., Apple Maps with turn-by-turn directions on your wrist (including haptic taps for turns), which is excellent for walking navigation. Google’s Wear OS watches have Google Maps too (with the ability to do turn-by-turn independent of your phone if you have LTE or if your phone is with you). Both Apple and Wear OS watches have Uber/Lyft apps, messaging apps like WhatsApp (recently on Wear OS, coming soon to Apple Watch), and many others. Samsung’s One UI doesn’t restrict app availability – it even allows some of their phone apps like Outlook (if you use it on Samsung phone) to integrate. OnePlus doesn’t have its own app ecosystem separate from Wear OS, so it relies solely on Google’s app store.

Safety and emergency features: All three watches offer some form of emergency SOS. Apple Watch can detect hard falls and auto-call emergency services (and share your location) if you’re unresponsive techradar.com. It also has international emergency calling on cellular models and will alert your emergency contacts if an SOS is triggered. Galaxy Watch has fall detection (you can configure it in Samsung’s app) and SOS as well, though it may require a phone connection unless you have LTE. OnePlus Watch 3 added an SOS feature that can be triggered if needed (likely via the connected phone). Apple’s Series 9 (with an iPhone 14/15) also can utilize the phone’s Crash Detection, but that’s more phone-based.

Unique features: A big new one for Apple is the Double Tap gesture on Series 9. By pinching your index finger and thumb together twice, you can control the watch without touching the screen – useful if your other hand is occupied. It lets you answer calls, snooze alarms, play/pause music, scroll through widgets, and more, just by pinching the air apple.com apple.com. Apple touts this as a “use-everyday” convenient feature and it’s exclusive to Series 9 (and Ultra 2) due to the S9 chip’s neural processing techradar.com. It basically detects tiny wrist movements and blood flow changes when you tap your fingers apple.com. TechRadar called it “genuinely useful, game-changing” for everyday use techradar.com. By contrast, OnePlus and Samsung don’t have an identical gesture, though Assistive gestures exist in both (via accessibility settings you can enable things like clenching fist to answer calls on Galaxy Watch, etc.). But Apple’s integration of Double Tap is more system-wide and polished.

Samsung’s unique smart feature (on Classic) is of course the physical rotating bezel which many consider a productivity and fidget-friendly tool – you can scroll long lists or zoom maps with a satisfying clicky ring, which some prefer over swiping. It’s not a software feature per se, but it’s a distinctive UI element that makes interacting with Tizen/Wear OS easier for some.

OnePlus doesn’t yet have a voice call LTE or speaker, as mentioned, but it does allow Bluetooth calling (using your phone’s connection) since it has a speaker and mic. So you can talk to someone through the watch Dick Tracy-style as long as your phone is nearby.

Maps and Navigation: Apple’s is excellent with haptic feedback. Google Maps on Wear OS allows the Samsung and OnePlus to do navigation too (even totally phone-free if on LTE or if you start it on phone and transfer to watch). If you’re an outdoor hiker, none of these are as robust as a Garmin, but they can get you back to a waypoint (Apple has a Compass app with Backtrack feature to retrace steps, Samsung/OnePlus could use third-party hiking apps).

Third-Party integrations: Apple Watch integrates with lots of Apple services (unlock your Mac, use as a camera remote for your iPhone, Apple TV remote app, etc.). Samsung’s Watch will integrate with SmartThings for smart home control or serve as a presentation remote for PowerPoint on your phone/PC. OnePlus doesn’t have a ton of proprietary integrations yet, but being Wear OS, you can get Google Home app for controlling smart home devices with Google Assistant.

In essence, all three are highly capable smartwatches that go far beyond fitness bands. The Apple Watch might be the most “smart” in terms of broad capabilities and tight integration with its ecosystem (it essentially acts as a mini extension of your iPhone for almost any task). Samsung’s watch is the king in versatility for Android, with more features than OnePlus thanks to things like a richer default app suite and those extra sensors enabling interesting use cases (e.g., measure body fat or control a slideshow with hand motions). OnePlus Watch 3 covers the essentials for Android users extremely well, now that it has the Play Store, and its focus is slightly more on being a long-lasting wellness companion rather than cramming every imaginable feature.

One downside to OnePlus and Samsung compared to Apple: voice dictation accuracy and voice assistant reliability – Siri on Series 9 (with on-device processing) can be faster for some requests, whereas Google Assistant on watches sometimes feels a tad slower or requires saying the hotword multiple times if the watch had gone into deep sleep. This is a minor issue and has been improving, but Apple’s integrated approach still gives it a small edge in these micro-interactions.

Battery Life

Battery life is a category with stark differences among these three. In fact, it’s one area that might sway your decision the most: do you want multi-day endurance, or are you okay charging daily?

• OnePlus Watch 3: Battery Champ – OnePlus advertises a whopping up to 120 hours (5 days) of battery life in “smartwatch mode” techradar.com techradar.com. And impressively, this claim isn’t far-fetched. Thanks to its beefy 631 mAh battery and that dual OS (Wear OS + RTOS) approach, the Watch 3 delivers. TechRadar’s tests confirmed around 4.5 days of use on a charge even with multiple GPS workouts during that period techradar.com techradar.com. In typical use, most users can reliably get 4-5 days per charge, which blows the Galaxy and Apple Watch out of the water. Even with the always-on display enabled, you’re looking at multiple days (maybe ~3 days). If you disable AOD and let the RTOS handle low-power times, the OnePlus Watch 3 truly lives up to having the “best Wear OS battery life on the market” techradar.com. This is a huge selling point – no more nightly charging, you might only charge twice a week. Part of the magic is that when you’re not actively using apps, the watch downshifts into the RTOS for basic time and sensor logging, which sips power. The LTPO display also can drop refresh rate to 1Hz for static watch faces, conserving energy. Additionally, the Snapdragon W5+ Gen1 is more efficient than previous gens and OnePlus optimized things well. OnePlus also includes fast charging, so topping up is quick (though specifics weren’t quoted, in practice you can get a day’s power in maybe 10-15 minutes of charging). If battery life is your priority, the OnePlus Watch 3 clearly leads this trio by a large margin. It’s the difference between wearing it to track sleep for nearly a week vs. having to take it off every night or two.
• Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic: Improved but Still 1–2 Days – Officially, Samsung rates the Watch 6 series for about 30 hours with always-on display (AOD) on, or 40 hours with AOD off techradar.com. In real-world terms, that’s roughly 1.5 days of use per charge on the default settings. TechRadar’s reviewer initially struggled to get a full day early on (maybe during heavy setup and testing) but found that after some optimizations, the Watch 6 Classic could consistently last “at least a day or more” and was “well-equipped to go from a day of wear to my bed for sleep tracking” by the end of a week of testing techradar.com techradar.com. In other words, you can often manage ~2 days if you turn off AOD and aren’t doing extended GPS workouts daily. With AOD on, it’s safer to assume you’ll charge every night or at best stretch into the next midday. This is in line with previous Galaxy watches and a bit better in some cases, thanks to the W930 chip’s efficiency. The Watch 6 Classic did not increase battery size over Watch 5, which was a disappointment to some techradar.com, but the decent optimization earned it a 5/5 score for battery life in at least one review techradar.com techradar.com – likely because the reviewer was able to surpass a full day. If you use GPS exercise tracking for an hour or two, or sleep tracking overnight, you’ll wake up with a chunk gone (say you wear it 24 hours including a workout – you might be at 30% by the next morning). So practically, many users will still charge nightly or every 36 hours. The upside is Samsung supports fast charging – you can go from near-zero to ~45% in 30 minutes and to full in about 1 hour on the included puck (using a 5V/2A adapter). So a quick charge while showering can pump in many hours of use. Compared to OnePlus, Samsung’s battery life is clearly not as strong, but it’s comparable to Apple’s and arguably slightly better in some scenarios. For example, with AOD off, a Galaxy Watch can push close to 2 days, whereas an Apple Watch with AOD off might hit 1.5 days. The Watch 6 Classic’s bigger form didn’t mean bigger battery, so battery life is identical to the smaller Watch 6, making the Classic get the same endurance despite powering a larger screen. The forthcoming Galaxy Watch 7 (2024) didn’t change design or battery much either, but it introduced a more efficient chip (Exynos W1000) that in theory gave 30% better battery performance – Samsung said the Watch 7 could manage a bit longer on the same battery tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. So as of 2025, the Galaxy Watch line is still roughly a 1-2 day watch for typical users.
• Apple Watch Series 9: All-Day (18+ hours) and not much more – Apple has famously stuck to an ~18-hour battery life claim for its watches, and Series 9 is no exception. Officially it’s “18 hours of typical use” (which includes some workout, notifications, etc.), or up to 36 hours in a Low Power Mode that disables features like always-on display and heart background measurements. In practice, many users find they can get about 1 full day plus part of the next. For example, you can wear it from morning, track sleep overnight, and if you don’t do a long workout the next day, squeeze into the afternoon before needing a charge. But you’ll likely charge it daily or at least every 24 hours. TechRadar’s verdict explicitly called out frustration at the “lack of any improvement in battery life”, as Series 9 still has the same all-day-but-not-much-more stamina techradar.com techradar.com. The S9 chip’s efficiency gains mostly allowed the brighter screen and new features without worse battery life, but didn’t extend it beyond Series 8. If you enable the always-on display, you’ll hit low battery by nighttime. Many Apple Watch users charge once in the morning while getting ready or at night before bed, depending on whether they want to wear it for sleep tracking. The good thing is Apple has made charging faster since Series 7: using the included USB-C fast charger puck, the Series 9 can go 0 to 80% in about 45 minutes, and to 100% in around 75-80 minutes. A quick 15-minute top-up can often give you around 8 hours of use apple.com (Double Tap’s background document noted minimal impact to the 18h life, implying typical use includes some new features and still 18h apple.com). Apple’s tight integration means power management is good – if you’re not actively using it, it sips, but the high-power tasks like GPS or phone calls on LTE will drain it rapidly (e.g., an hour of GPS run might use ~10-15% battery). In low power workout mode (which cuts heart rate sampling), it can track a marathon’s worth of running by sacrificing fidelity. But broadly, Apple Watch requires a daily charging routine, which is a trade-off for its rich features and display.

So in a clear ranking: OnePlus Watch 3 is the battery life king, making it a great choice if you hate charging or want to travel without a charger for a weekend techradar.com. Samsung’s Watch 6 Classic comes second, usually lasting a bit more than a day – enough to not panic if you forget to charge one night, but you’ll need to charge pretty soon into the next day. Apple’s Watch Series 9 comes last in longevity, sticking to the well-known pattern of daily charging. It’s worth mentioning, however, that many Apple Watch users have adapted to this norm and might prioritize the advanced features over battery.

For prospective buyers: if sleep tracking every night is important and you don’t want to charge in the morning, OnePlus would let you wear it to bed for 4-5 nights straight. With Samsung, you can wear it one night, maybe two if you plan carefully, but you’ll likely need a quick top-up at some point (Samsung’s advantage is you could charge it a bit each day and night and manage). Apple basically requires you to carve out a charging window each day (some do it while showering or at their desk). None of these watches have user-replaceable batteries, but over a few years, capacity will degrade – starting with more buffer (OnePlus) is nice if you plan to keep it 3+ years.

Pricing and Availability

OnePlus Watch 3: The OnePlus Watch 3 initially surprised observers with a very different price in the US vs elsewhere. It launched in early 2025 with an expected price around $329, but due to tariff changes, OnePlus ended up pricing it at $499 in the US, a steep hike that puts it in premium territory techradar.com techradar.com. In contrast, the UK price dropped after launch to £269 (down from around £319 originally) techradar.com, making it quite a bargain in that market. In Europe, the price is around €329, and in India and China (if/when available) it’s also positioned more affordably relative to Apple/Samsung. The large disparity means in the US the Watch 3 costs almost as much as a high-end Apple or Samsung watch – TechRadar wryly noted it pushes the OnePlus into “Galaxy Watch Ultra territory” on price techradar.com. This high US price on OnePlus’s website even caused confusion (AndroidPolice reported the OnePlus site accidentally listed it at $499.99 while announcement said $330) androidpolice.com. The good news: OnePlus later released the Watch 3 43mm model at $299.99 in the US androidguys.com. This smaller variant, launched July 2025, is more competitively priced and might appeal to those who balked at $499. The larger 46mm is still $499 official, but one might find it on sale occasionally or import from Canada (where pricing is CAD $399.99, roughly ~$299 USD) androidguys.com. Availability-wise, OnePlus initially sold the Watch 3 exclusively on OnePlus.com in the US, UK, and select regions, but by August 2025 it has expanded to Amazon and Best Buy in the US, and carrier partnerships are not in play (since there’s no LTE version yet) androidguys.com. In Europe and India, OnePlus’s own online and offline stores carry it. Color options include Emerald Green (with a green strap) and Obsidian Black for the 46mm, and Black or Silver for the 43mm androidguys.com. OnePlus often offers trade-in discounts or bundle deals (as noted, they had trade-in offers and student discounts during launch) androidguys.com, so savvy buyers could snag it for less.

Overall, outside the US, the OnePlus Watch 3 is priced aggressively – undercutting Apple and Samsung while offering high-end build (titanium, sapphire) and long battery. Inside the US, it’s oddly expensive for the 46mm – one could buy an Apple Watch Series 9 or Samsung Watch for less – which might hamper its mainstream uptake there.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic: Samsung launched the Watch 6 Classic in August 2023. At launch pricing, it started at $399.99 (43mm Bluetooth) and $429.99 (47mm Bluetooth) in the US techradar.com. Adding LTE capability was a $50 premium (so $449 for 43mm LTE, $479 for 47mm LTE) techradar.com. In the UK, launch prices were £369 (43mm Bluetooth) and £399 (47mm Bluetooth), with LTE versions at £429 and £459 respectively techradar.com. In Europe it was around €419/€449 for 43/47mm Bluetooth. By 2025, these prices have dropped significantly with sales – indeed, we saw Prime Day deals with the 47mm Classic going for half off (~$210) techradar.com techradar.com. It’s not uncommon now to find the Watch 6 Classic around $250 or less in the US for Bluetooth models, given Samsung’s release cycle has moved on. Samsung itself now focuses on Watch 7 (2024) and Watch 8 (2025), so retailers often discount the Watch 6 Classic. This makes it an excellent value in mid-2025 if you can find a deal. Availability is broad: Samsung sells through its official site and all major electronics retailers (Best Buy, Amazon, carriers, etc.). The Classic was offered in Black and Silver case options, usually with a leather or silicone strap included, and standard 20mm bands are compatible (plus Samsung’s own watch bands, of which there are many).

If you prefer the standard Galaxy Watch 6 (non-Classic), those were cheaper at $299/$329 launch (40/44mm), but since our focus is Classic, note you paid a roughly $70 premium for the rotating bezel model at launch. Many thought it worth it for the bezel and stainless steel build.

By August 2025, Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 (released July 2024) is widely available too – it launched at the same $299+ price points for 40/44mm and notably did not have a Classic variant (Samsung skipped the bezel in the Watch 7 generation, likely focusing on a new Ultra model) tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. So if you want a bezel and a newer model, your choice would be Watch 6 Classic or jump to the brand-new Galaxy Watch 8 Classic (2025). Samsung announced the Watch 8 series in July 2025: the Watch 8 (40mm/44mm) starting at $349 (a $50 hike) and the Watch 8 Classic in a single 46mm size at $499 phonearena.com. Essentially, the Watch 8 Classic has replaced the need for a Watch 7 Classic. Early reviews suggest the Watch 8 Classic is an iterative update (with perhaps improved materials and a “cushion” design, plus possibly new chipset features like on-device AI) phonearena.com phonearena.com. For consumers in 2025, that means Galaxy Watch 6 Classic could be a bargain pick if you don’t need the absolute latest. It’s readily available, supported by software updates (Samsung typically gives at least 3 years of updates), and its price has fallen well below the original $399. Samsung often offers trade-in deals as well – you could trade an older watch or phone for credit towards a new watch.

Apple Watch Series 9: Apple launched Series 9 in September 2023 at the same price as the Series 8: $399 in the US for the base 41mm aluminum GPS model (and $429 for 45mm aluminum GPS) techradar.com techradar.com. Add $100 if you want the Cellular version (so $499/$529 for 41/45mm aluminum with LTE). Stainless steel models are much pricier – starting around $699 and up (since they all include Cellular by default). In the UK, pricing was £399/£419 for 41/45mm GPS (holding steady from prior year), and in Europe ~€449/€479. Apple is known for rarely discounting at their store, but by mid-2025, Series 9 can often be found on sale from third-party retailers. We’ve seen prices like $279.99 in big sales for the 41mm techradar.com, which is a significant discount. Typically, one can find Series 9 for $300-350 on Amazon or Best Buy on any given day in 2025, especially as Series 10 enters the scene. Apple Watch is widely available at Apple Stores, carriers (AT&T, Verizon, etc. often run promos for the Cellular models), and electronics stores globally. Colors for Series 9 aluminum included Midnight, Starlight, Silver, Product Red, and the new Pink. Stainless came in Silver, Graphite, or Gold. There was also a Nike edition (same price, just with Nike bands and watch faces) and a Hermès edition (luxury bands, very expensive).

By August 2025, Apple Watch Series 10 has been introduced (late 2024) and presumably taken over the $399 slot as the “flagship Apple Watch”. That means Series 9 might officially still be sold by Apple at a slight discount or simply phased out. Apple often keeps the prior year model around $349 or so until stock runs out. But whether you buy new or refurbished, Series 9 remains a great value for iPhone users if you don’t need the very latest. It holds its value relatively well, but with Series 10 offering upgrades (we’ll cover soon), you might find Series 9 at attractive prices second-hand too.

Summary of pricing: If buying at MSRP: OnePlus Watch 3 (46mm) at $499 is the most expensive of the trio (in the US), while the Samsung Watch 6 Classic and Apple Watch Series 9 both started around $399. In markets where OnePlus is ~£269 or ~$329 equivalent, it undercuts the others. Actual street prices in 2025, however, show Watch 6 Classic often the cheapest (on sale) and Series 9 and OnePlus Watch 3 (43mm) around similar mid-$300 levels after discounts. OnePlus (46mm) US pricing is an outlier that makes it more expensive than a new Apple or Samsung – an important note for US buyers.

All three are widely available globally, though OnePlus is slightly more niche (you might need to order online if local stores don’t carry it). Samsung and Apple have strong retail presence and accessory ecosystems (bands, chargers, etc.) easily found. Warranty-wise, Apple offers 1 year standard (extendable via AppleCare+), Samsung similar 1 year, OnePlus typically 1 year as well.

Expert Reviews and Verdicts

To wrap up, let’s consider what experts have said about each of these watches and how they stack up overall:

OnePlus Watch 3 – “Android’s big, beautiful watch” with unbeatable battery. TechRadar’s review crowned it “the Android smartwatch of 2025 so far” techradar.com, highlighting the impressive 120-hour battery life and big, bold AMOLED screen techradar.com. They praised OnePlus for delivering “the best Wear OS battery life on the market” and appreciated that, thanks to Wear OS, it now has access to all of Google’s third-party apps and services techradar.com. The classic design (now with titanium and sapphire) and new health features like vascular health tracking also earned positive notes techradar.com. However, it’s not without caveats. Reviewers pointed out the watch is large and heavy on the wrist, which not everyone will love techradar.com. Another drawback noted was the lack of an LTE model (at launch), meaning you can’t use it untethered from your phone for data/calls techradar.com. There were also “a few health-tracking niggles” – minor issues with things like swim tracking accuracy and sleep interpretation – which “knocked a star off” the final score (TechRadar gave it 4 out of 5 stars) techradar.com techradar.com. On balance, experts view the OnePlus Watch 3 as a successful comeback from OnePlus’s rocky first watch. PhoneArena called it “the smartwatch you should get in 2025” for its stylish design and battery endurance phonearena.com. Android Police noted the delayed launch and odd pricing in the US, but acknowledged it’s a robust smartwatch offering once it finally arrived androidpolice.com. If you’re an Android user, many reviewers now put the OnePlus Watch 3 in the same conversation as the Galaxy Watch and Pixel Watch – a huge compliment – especially if multi-day battery is a priority. It’s essentially the Android watch for battery hawks and health enthusiasts, as long as you’re okay with its size and the OnePlus brand’s shorter track record in wearables.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic – Refined revival of the rotating bezel, with style and substance. When it launched, Lance Ulanoff of TechRadar gave it 4/5, enjoying the return of the “superfluous” yet fun bezel and the elegant looks techradar.com. He noted the watch’s sensors and overall operation are top-notch, and even said it has “surprisingly good battery life” for a Samsung watch techradar.com. The performance was stellar (they rated performance & battery 5/5) and the fitness/health features set is one of the most comprehensive techradar.com techradar.com. The watch’s large size in the 47mm was the main criticism – being “almost too big and heavy” for comfort, and they strongly suggested most people go for the smaller 43mm Classic for better wearability techradar.com. Another con mentioned was that Samsung kept the same battery capacity despite the bigger case, implying they could have given it longer battery but chose not to techradar.com. Still, in usage, Ulanoff found battery life “excellent” and enough for his needs techradar.com techradar.com. The Watch 6 Classic earned praise for being the premium Android smartwatch at the time: great display, great build, loads of features. Many reviews and user opinions celebrated the return of the physical rotating bezel (something unique to Samsung) – it’s both a functional navigation tool and an aesthetic signature that “we welcome the return of,” as TechRadar put it techradar.com. In comparisons, the Watch 6 Classic often ranked at or near the top for Android watches in 2023/early 2024. Some did note that if you don’t care for the bezel or the classic look, the standard Galaxy Watch 6 or later Watch 7 might be more streamlined and cheaper. But for those who love a traditional watch feel with modern smarts, the Classic was highly recommended. As of 2025, experts still say the Watch 6 Classic is excellent, but naturally the spotlight has shifted to the Galaxy Watch 7 and 8. The Watch 7 (2024) improved internals but dropped the Classic variant entirely, which ironically made the Watch 6 Classic still the go-to for a bezel-lovers until the Watch 8 Classic arrived. Now that the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic (2025) is out (with potentially an “Ultra” model alongside it news.samsung.com), reviews have noted it’s “a Galaxy Watch Ultra that’s dressed to impress” techradar.com – meaning Samsung is continuing the Classic line as the stylish high-end option. The Watch 6 Classic thus sits as a bit of a modern classic itself, and if you find it at a good price, experts still consider it one of the best all-around smartwatches for Android, with a balance of looks, functionality, and ecosystem integration techradar.com.

Apple Watch Series 9 – Polished and fast, but an iterative update. When Series 9 launched, it was met with the sentiment that it’s not a revolutionary upgrade from Series 8, yet it remains “the best Apple Watch for most people” techradar.com. TechRadar’s Stephen Warwick noted it’s “largely more of the same again – but with a twist,” that twist being the Double Tap gesture enabled by the new S9 chip techradar.com. Double Tap was widely seen as a genuinely useful addition that makes daily interactions easier techradar.com. Beyond that and the brighter screen, reviewers pointed out the design and 18-hour battery are unchanged, which was a slight disappointment in an age where competitors are improving endurance techradar.com. The Series 9’s S9 chipset and on-device Siri got positive nods for keeping Apple ahead in performance, and the continued lack of serious rivals within the iOS ecosystem means if you have an iPhone, the Apple Watch is still a no-brainer for a smartwatch. Many reviews mentioned that Series 9 is an iterative year-over-year update (some quipped “the Apple Watch Series 9 is basically Series 8S”). It wasn’t criticized heavily for anything – it’s more that Apple is coasting a bit until a bigger overhaul (which perhaps came with Series 10). The pros in reviews included the brighter screen (now up to 2000 nits, making outdoor use easier) techradar.com, the new double-tap gesture (novel and actually convenient) techradar.com, and the faster S9 chip (future-proofing and enabling new features) techradar.com. The cons consistently listed were the “same 18-hour battery life” and “identical design and sizes” as before techradar.com. Essentially, nothing to entice Series 8 owners to upgrade, but as a product on its own, it’s excellent. By late 2024, with Series 10 out, TechRadar updated their Series 9 review to advise that the differences between 9 and 10 are “scant” – Series 10 is only slightly bigger (42/46mm vs 41/45) with an even brighter off-angle screen and a switch to titanium, but “not much in it” techradar.com. They noted if you can find a Series 9 on discount, “it’s well worth considering” because it’s nearly as good as Series 10 for a lot less money techradar.com. This indicates that experts see Series 9 as still very competitive in 2025. It does everything most users need, and watchOS updates continue to enhance it (e.g., new watchOS 10 features, and it will get watchOS 11, 12, etc.). The bottom line from expert perspective: Series 9 is a safe, excellent choice for any iPhone user, with top-notch build, seamless iOS integration, and a now even more convenient interface (double tap). Its only flaw is Apple’s conservative approach to battery life and design refreshes. But in terms of user satisfaction, Apple Watches consistently have high ratings – people love the reliability and the fitness+smart features combo. If you were hoping for multi-day battery or new health sensors, Series 9 didn’t deliver that; you’d still be charging daily and waiting for maybe blood pressure monitoring in a future model. But everything it does do, it does very well, maintaining Apple’s position at the forefront of the smartwatch experience (at least within its ecosystem).

Rumored and Upcoming Models

The smartwatch landscape doesn’t stand still. Here’s a quick look at what’s next from OnePlus, Samsung, and Apple – whether rumored or confirmed – beyond the models we compared:

• OnePlus Future Plans: OnePlus just released the Watch 3 in 2025, so it’s the current model. There’s no official word on a “Watch 4” yet, and given OnePlus’s history, they tend to skip yearly launches (the gap between Watch 1 and Watch 3 was significant). We can expect OnePlus to follow up eventually; perhaps a OnePlus Watch 4 or a variant might come in late 2026 or 2027. For now, OnePlus is focusing on making Watch 3 a success – they confirmed it will get updates through Wear OS 7 in 2027 techradar.com. If anything, we might see different variants of Watch 3 (like how they added the 43mm model). For instance, could OnePlus do a Watch 3 Pro with LTE or a different design? There are no strong rumors, but it’s a possibility. The current Watch 3 already has a high-end build; maybe OnePlus will stick to a single flagship watch strategy for a while. Enthusiasts would love to see OnePlus eventually expand availability to more regions (some markets in Europe and Asia still haven’t gotten it widely). In short, no concrete leaks of a new OnePlus watch as of August 2025 – the Watch 3 will likely remain their flagship through at least early 2026.
• Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 and 8 (and Ultra): Samsung has adopted a yearly release cycle. Galaxy Watch 7 launched in July 2024. It turned out to be an incremental upgrade over Watch 6, keeping the same design and sizes (40/44mm) and notably omitting a Classic model (no rotating bezel that year) tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. Instead, Samsung introduced its first Galaxy Watch Ultra in 2024 alongside the Watch 7 tomsguide.com. The Watch 7’s improvements included a new Exynos W1000 processor (3× faster and 30% more power efficient) tomsguide.com, doubled storage (32GB vs 16GB) tomsguide.com, dual-band GPS added tomsguide.com, and new AI health features – like the FDA-cleared Sleep Apnea detection and a daily AI “Energy Score” for wellness tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. The absence of a rotating bezel in Watch 7 suggests Samsung wanted to differentiate the lineup: the new Galaxy Watch Ultra (1st gen, 2024) took the mantle of the high-end model with a large rugged design, and the Watch 7 was more streamlined. Fast forward to Galaxy Watch 8 in July 2025: Samsung brought back the Classic! The lineup is Galaxy Watch 8 (40/44mm) and Galaxy Watch 8 Classic (46mm) phonearena.com phonearena.com. They also launched an updated Galaxy Watch Ultra (let’s call it Ultra 2) with some tweaks (e.g., new titanium color, more storage, possibly new sensors) phonearena.com. The Watch 8 series got a price bump (base model now $349) phonearena.com and some design changes – Samsung adopted a new “circle-in-a-square cushion design” reminiscent of the Ultra’s shape, making even the regular Watch 8 look a bit more rugged and with integrated lugs phonearena.com. It’s also thinner by 11% than Watch 7, so that’s a nice refinement phonearena.com. Samsung is also touting AI features: one headline was that Watch 8 is the first with “built-in Samsung’s new Galaxy AI (Gemini AI) on-device” – likely referring to more advanced on-watch machine learning for things like voice commands or health insights sammyfans.com news.samsung.com. Additionally, expect further health tracking improvements – rumors suggested Samsung working on blood glucose monitoring and others, but those haven’t materialized yet and likely still a few years off. What is very plausible soon is Blood Pressure without calibration and more advanced stress/fatigue metrics via AI. On the Ultra side, by 2025 there’s talk of an Ultra 2 or Ultra (2025) which might include satellite connectivity and blood pressure trend alerts yankodesign.com macdailynews.com, positioning it against Apple’s Ultra in the adventure space. Summing up: If you’re looking ahead, Galaxy Watch 7 (2024) is a known quantity – solid but a minor spec bump generation, Galaxy Watch 8 (2025) is the latest with refined design and the return of Classic bezel, and Samsung’s rumored Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 (perhaps 2025 or 2026) could bring even more high-end features (microLED display and full satellite SOS have been rumored, though likely a bit further out) reddit.com. Samsung appears committed to annually refreshing their Wear OS watches and expanding the portfolio (the “Classic” and “Ultra” naming suggests they want a tiered approach like Apple’s regular vs Ultra). For buyers in late 2025, it means you have a new generation to consider; for example, the Watch 8 Classic is the direct successor to the Watch 6 Classic we reviewed, with likely better specs and slightly different styling. If you already have a Watch 6 Classic, experts say the upgrade to 7 wasn’t compelling, but the 8 Classic might entice those who skipped 7 – especially as it will get the latest software and support through 2030 (Samsung gives 5 years updates now on new models).
• Apple Watch Series 10 (and beyond): Apple hit a milestone with Series 9 being the 9th generation, and indeed the Apple Watch Series 10 launched in late 2024 (coinciding with the 10th anniversary of Apple Watch’s 2015 debut). It’s sometimes stylized as “Series X” in rumors, but Apple ultimately named it Series 10 officially. According to TechRadar and Apple’s own info, the Series 10 made some notable changes: it comes in new case sizes (approximately 42mm and 46mm) which are slightly larger displays than Series 9’s 41/45mm techradar.com. The Series 10 also switched materials, ditching stainless steel in favor of titanium for the higher-end models techradar.com – likely making it lighter and more durable (similar to how the Apple Watch Ultra uses titanium). The display got a new “wide-angle OLED” technology, meaning it’s 40% brighter when viewed at an angle techradar.com, which addresses how visibility can drop off when not looking straight-on. This suggests a new screen panel type that’s easier to read with a quick glance from different angles apple.com. In terms of features, Series 10 reportedly introduced sleep apnea detection notifications (leveraging blood oxygen and heart data, likely similar to what Samsung did) reddit.com, faster charging, and new health insights like “Training Load” for workouts and a water depth sensor (possibly indicating you can use Series 10 for recreational diving up to some limit, or at least measure depth when swimming) apple.com. Essentially, Series 10 appears to bridge some gap between the regular line and the Ultra by adding features like depth sensing. There were also rumors Apple would include a blood pressure trend sensor soon (not a cuff-replacement, but alerting to hypertension risk via optical sensors) – some of those rumors align with Apple working on that for 2025 or 2026 models wareable.com reddit.com. It’s possible a form of that might debut in Series 11 or a future Ultra. Speaking of Ultra, Apple launched Apple Watch Ultra 2 alongside Series 9 in 2023, and an Ultra 3 is rumored possibly for 2025. The Ultra 3 might get a microLED display (a new tech with better brightness and efficiency) and the aforementioned blood pressure monitoring features tomsguide.com reddit.com, as well as maybe satellite messaging. If Ultra 3 comes, it would be Apple’s way of keeping the absolute cutting-edge for adventurers. For the main line, Series 11 (2025) is too early to say – but some expect another redesign or features like glucose monitoring by 2026 or 2027 if tech permits.

For now, if you’re eyeing an Apple Watch purchase as of August 2025: the Series 10 is the latest and greatest with modest improvements (bigger/brighter screen, possibly better materials, a slightly faster chip than S9). However, as TechRadar noted, the difference from Series 9 is not massive – so a discounted Series 9 is still a compelling buy techradar.com. Series 10 being titanium also means prices likely went up a bit for those models (titanium costs more than steel). And if you want a truly major redesign, rumors suggest Apple might plan something special for a 10th Anniversary edition “Watch X” around 2025 or 2026, potentially with a thinner case and a new magnetic band attachment mechanism replacing the slide-in lugs system – basically a significant overhaul to celebrate a decade of Apple Watch reddit.com reddit.com. That’s still speculative, but intriguing for those willing to wait.

In summary, the horizon holds iterative but meaningful upgrades: OnePlus will likely refine its formula (perhaps exploring an LTE model next or more sizes), Samsung is pushing boundaries with an Ultra line and on-watch AI capabilities (and possibly new sensors in the coming years), and Apple continues its steady drumbeat of annual improvements, with Series 10 marking a step towards the future and more ambitious health tech (blood pressure, glucose) on the longer-term roadmap. For a buyer today, it’s always a balance between getting what’s available and knowing something newer is around the corner – but in tech, that’s always the case. What’s clear is that all three brands are committed to smartwatches: you can expect years of support and new features via software for these models, and when you do decide to upgrade, there will be even more advanced options waiting.

Conclusion

Choosing between the OnePlus Watch 3, Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, and Apple Watch Series 9 ultimately comes down to your phone ecosystem and priorities:

• OnePlus Watch 3 is a dream come true for Android users craving battery life and a classic watch aesthetic. It delivers a nearly week-long runtime techradar.com, top-notch build materials, and now with Wear OS, a rich app and feature set. It’s the best option for those who hate frequent charging or want a watch that can go the distance on trips. Its health features are cutting-edge (ECG, dual-band GPS, vascular health metrics) and it has the fundamental Google smarts covered. Just be aware it’s hefty in size and lacks a cellular option for now techradar.com. If you’re not tied to Samsung’s ecosystem, the Watch 3 is a compelling alternative that in many ways outperforms bigger brands, especially for endurance. As an Android smartwatch, it’s easily among 2025’s finest techradar.com.
• Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic strikes a balance of style, functionality, and ecosystem integration for Android (particularly Galaxy phone) users. It’s the only one with a timeless rotating bezel control, and exudes the vibe of a traditional watch while packing arguably the most comprehensive feature set. You get nearly every health sensor in the book (heart, ECG, SpO₂, BIA, temp) and a polished One UI Watch interface with Google’s app ecosystem on tap techradar.com. It’s the all-rounder: great for fitness, productivity (notifications, calls, Samsung Pay, etc.), and looking boardroom-ready or gym-ready with a swap of the strap. Battery life is decent (a solid day or two) techradar.com, though not a standout, and you will get the best out of it with a Samsung phone (for ECG/BP features) reddit.com. With the Watch 6 Classic now often on sale, it represents fantastic value – a flagship experience at potentially mid-range prices. If you prefer a slimmer design and don’t mind losing the bezel, Samsung’s newer models (Watch 7 or Watch 8) are options, but many enthusiasts still adore the Classic’s combination of “big, bold elegant looks” and functionality techradar.com. It’s a sure bet if you’re in the Android camp and want a watch that does almost everything, right now, in 2025.
• Apple Watch Series 9 remains the gold standard for iPhone users. It doesn’t dramatically reinvent the wheel, but it perfects it: a sleek, premium design, seamless integration with iOS, and an ecosystem of apps and accessories that is second to none. It’s the smartest of the bunch in terms of user experience polish – from little things like unlocking your Mac, to dictating a message or paying for groceries with a flick of your wrist. Health and fitness features cover all the key bases (and then some, with unique things like fall/crash detection and Fitness+ workouts). The new Double Tap gesture is a standout convenience that you’ll quickly find hard to live without techradar.com. The major limiter is battery life: you’ll need to charge it daily, which is the trade-off for its always-on Retina display and slim design techradar.com. If you’re okay with that routine, Series 9 will serve you exceptionally well. Given that Series 10 is out with only minor improvements techradar.com, opting for a Series 9 (especially at a discount) is a savvy move for 2025 – you get 90% of the latest features at a better price. It’s safe to say that for iPhone owners, the Apple Watch is still “the one to get” techradar.com, and Series 9 is a culmination of years of refinements.

In conclusion, there is no outright “winner” – all three are superb in their own domains. If you live on Android and value longevity and value, the OnePlus Watch 3 might just steal your heart (and it’s a new contender worth watching as OnePlus commits to wearables) techradar.com. If you want the most feature-packed Android watch backed by a tech titan, Samsung’s Galaxy Watch line (especially the Classic) is hard to beat, and it will only get better with the Watch 8/Ultra releases phonearena.com news.samsung.com. If you’re in the Apple ecosystem, the Series 9/10 is basically your best (and only serious) choice – but luckily, it’s an excellent one that continues to define what a smartwatch can do when hardware, software, and ecosystem are tightly woven.

What’s exciting is how each manufacturer is pushing the others: Apple’s focus on holistic health and polish, Samsung’s drive to innovate with new sensors and form factors, and OnePlus’s leapfrogging in battery tech and dual-OS creativity – all point to a bright future for wearables. With rumored breakthroughs like blood pressure monitoring, satellite connectivity, and microLED displays on the horizon tomsguide.com reddit.com, the next generations (Apple Watch Series 11, Galaxy Watch Ultra, etc.) will be even more powerful. But as of August 2025, the OnePlus Watch 3, Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, and Apple Watch Series 9 stand as three of the top smartwatches you can buy, each excelling in different ways. Your choice will depend on your smartphone, budget, and which strengths align with your needs – be it OnePlus’s endurance, Samsung’s versatility, or Apple’s all-around user experience. No matter which you choose, you’re getting a cutting-edge piece of tech on your wrist that can help keep you connected, healthy, and informed with just a glance or a tap… or now, a double tap.

Sources:

• TechRadar – OnePlus Watch 3 review (2025) techradar.com techradar.com techradar.com
• TechRadar – Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic review (2023) techradar.com techradar.com techradar.com
• TechRadar – Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic review (Battery & verdict) techradar.com techradar.com
• TechRadar – Apple Watch Series 9 review (2023) techradar.com techradar.com
• TechRadar – Apple Watch Series 9 review (Editor’s note on Series 10) techradar.com techradar.com
• Tom’s Guide – Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 news (2024) tomsguide.com tomsguide.com
• PhoneArena – Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 release (2025) phonearena.com phonearena.com
• Apple Newsroom – Apple Watch double tap gesture (2023) apple.com apple.com
• AndroidGuys – OnePlus Watch 3 43mm launch (2025) androidguys.com androidguys.com
• Reddit via TechRadar – OnePlus Watch 3 updates info techradar.com
• TechRadar – “The best smartwatch 2025” roundups techradar.com techradar.com
• TechRadar – Trending: Watch8 Classic review, etc. techradar.com techradar.com