Oppo Watch X3 Review: Exceptional Battery Life Meets Robust Versatility

Oppo markets the X3 for its slim, lightweight build, premium materials, and durability. To test its resilience, I subjected the watch to a two‑week period of deliberately rough use. The result: no dents, scratches, or chips on either the case or the crystal. It handled everyday activities that many would normally reserve for a more rugged device.

The X3’s standout feature is its battery. Featuring a 646 mAh cell with a 10 % silicon composition, it surpasses the power capacity of most competing smartwatches. With the always‑on display active from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., I consistently achieved around three days of fairly intensive use on a single charge. When the display wakes only on wrist raise, the endurance extends to roughly five days.

Performance feels swift, with no noticeable lag when switching between apps. Voice‑reply to messages, while a niche use case for me, works well when needed.

The watch isn’t flawless. On the first night I forgot to enable sleep mode, it vibrated at 5 a.m. with a “good morning” alert. Occasionally, the watch face switches on its own, and customization options are limited. For example, the Twin Time chronograph face includes three sub‑dials but doesn’t let users assign the displayed data, resulting in faces that feel either too cluttered or too sparse.

Some issues stem from Wear OS rather than Oppo. The app menu is cluttered with multiple shortcuts for similar functions—stopwatch, alarm, and timer each have separate icons—making navigation feel cumbersome. Consolidating related tools under a single button would improve usability.

Bluetooth pairing proved a bit finicky, initially ignoring several of my older wireless headphones. Once a compatible pair was found, pairing was straightforward.

The watch also integrates Google’s Gemini AI, accessible via a long press on the crown. The built‑in speaker sounds thin, with noticeable clipping at higher volumes, but Wi‑Fi capability allows Gemini access even when the phone is offline, which is handy for tasks like setting timers.

A niche feature worth mentioning is short‑video control. When watching TikTok or YouTube Shorts, the watch can display four‑way controls on the face, enabling hands‑free navigation. It’s an odd addition, but it functions as advertised.

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