Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 vs Oppo Watch: the new Android smartwatches compared

If you’ve never thought about buying a smartwatch before, then 2020 is the year to do it.

My Apple Watch has been incredibly useful during the coronavirus pandemic, reminding me to get up every hour from my desk and helping me to maintain healthy habits even as the world felt like it was falling apart.

According to anonymous Fitbit user data, those wearing Fitbit wearables have managed to keep up healthy habits and have been more intentional about activity such as exercising, which has helped to lower their resting heart rate and sleep longer than non-wearable owners.

For iPhone owners, the choice is relatively simple with the Apple Watch leading the pack. But for Android owners, there is a lot more choice on offer. Just in the last two weeks, Samsung has unveiled its new Galaxy Watch whilst Oppo entered the ring with its first Oppo smartwatch.

Here’s how the new wearables measure up and how to decide which one is for you.

Samsung vs Oppo: Design

When it comes to the design of the two smartwatches it depends on if you want something that looks like a watch or one that looks like a smartwatch.

Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 3 looks more like a normal watch, with a variety of digital watch faces that look like a real watch does, and the rotating bezel which allows you to access different functions.

There’s two versions, a 41mm and a 45mm, and both can be either wi-fi only or with 4G connectivity on the LTE version. There are three colours: mystic bronze, mystic black and mystic white with matching leather straps, though there is a titanium strap to go with the black variant.

The Watch 3 is 14 per cent thinner and 15 per cent lighter so it’s not as bulky as other smartwatches. As well, both feature always-on Super AMOLED displays that are protected by Gorilla Glass DX. Receive a message? Automatic reply options are now available for a quick response.

With the Oppo Watch, it looks more like an Android-version of the Apple Watch, with a square curved display, and a variety of bands including a rubber band for when you want to exercise or leather for a more refined look.

The smaller, 41mm watch boasts a 1.61” AMOLED display so it’s bright and easy to read what’s on the screen regardless of how sunny it is outside. The larger 46mm version features a 1.91” dual-curve display, along with an aluminium alloy frame which looks impressive. Both displays are protected by Gorilla Glass 3. The smaller watch is available in black, mist silver and pink gold, whilst the larger variant is available in black and glossy gold.

There are two physical buttons on the right-hand side which are used to control the watch.

If you're looking for a more traditional watch with smart features then go for the Galaxy Watch 3. But if it's a futuristic, Apple Watch-esque design, then Oppo is the one.

Samsung vs Oppo: Specs

As Samsung is the incumbent between the two so it’s had the opportunity to refine some of the specs with the Galaxy Watch 3. It features the Exynos 9110 chipset found on the 2018 Galaxy Watch, but with 8GB of storage and 1GB RAM, the same RAM as the Apple Watch 5. In terms of battery, the smaller version has a 247mAh, whilst the 45mm one features a 340mAh battery.

Both versions are available with just wifi as well as LTE variants for 4G connectivity on the go without a smartphone.

If you want a 4G connection on the Oppo Watch, you need to go for the 46mm version but the 41mm version is just as good in terms of receiving notifications and fitness tracking, as long as it is connected to your phone via Bluetooth.

Both Oppo watches feature dual chipsets, the Snapdragon 3100 and Apollo 3 chips. This promises to give the watch a long battery life: there’s a smart mode, which offers full functionality, and a power saving mode which can last multiple days depending on usage. In power saving mode you can still get step count and heart rate readings, but not the full functionality. It has the same memory as the Galaxy Watch at 8GB storage and 1GB RAM.

In terms of battery, the LTW watch has a 430 mAh battery and the 41mm one has a 300 mAh battery, so both should offer longer battery life than the Galaxy Watch 3. Oppo says on the LTE watch, smart mode will work for 30 continuous hours, with power saving mode set to last up to 21 days, which is pretty impressive. On the smaller 41 mm, smart mode will see the watch last up to 24 hours, whilst it can hit 14 days in power saving mode.

If it’s battery life that you prioritise, then Oppo is the clear winner here with a bigger size to make sure the watch lasts longer. That power saving mode will come in handy if you go away for the weekend and forget to take your charger with you.

Samsung vs Oppo: Fitness tracking

Tracking is one of the main reasons for having a smartwatch. Oppo has a lot to prove here. As the watch runs Google’s WearOS software, it benefits from the inclusion of Google Fit features though Oppo has introduced its own Activity X feature which is the fitness targets for the day, sort of like the Apple Watch’s Rings.

These targets appear as bars on the screen and as you burn calories, work out, and up your step count and activity, the bars will come together in an X once you’ve hit the targets. There are few different workout modes including fitness run, fat burn run, walking, cycling, swimming and workouts. In addition, the watch can also monitor heart rate, sleep and guided breathing exercises.

Samsung has improved the fitness tracking it offers on the Galaxy Watch 3 with a new SpO2 monitor which can track oxygen levels in the blood, as well as blood pressure monitoring and an electrocardiogram (ECG) app. A new feature for the Watch 3 includes a fall detection feature that will send an SOS notification to chosen contacts.

There are a total of 40 workout activities, the ability to activate workouts by voice and the option to cast the Samsung Health app to Samsung TVs for access to 120 different workouts. Sleep tracking has been improved so you can see a new sleep score and insights.

For fitness fans, Samsung has the best offering when it comes to tracking different workouts, along with the fall detection feature and the ECG — subject to each country’s medical approval system.

Samsung vs Oppo: UK price and release date

Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 3 is available to pre-order now from the Samsung website with prices for the 41mm version starting from £399, going up to £419 for the 45mm version. They will be on sale from August 21, though if you pre-order one now you’ll get a free wireless charger thrown in. If you want some hands-on time before you buy, you can head to Samsung’s KX experience store in Kings Cross to see the watches IRL.

The Oppo Watch has a more affordable price, at £229 for the 41mm version, and £369 for the 46mm LTE one, but remember you’ll have to get a contract for 4G connectivity. Even so, this is a seriously good price for a smartwatch packed with features. Oppo’s watches will be available to buy from September 3 via the Oppo website.

So what will it be? An Oppo Watch which looks like a gadget and has a really good battery life, or the more refined watch-looking Galaxy Watch 3 with improved fitness tracking? Samsung owners will be keen to stay within the ecosystem but both are decent offerings.

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