TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra: I’m an Apple fanboy, but after years of using the company’s watches, I decided to take a risk and try out Google’s Wear OS with the TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra. My Apple Watch Series 7 is functional, but the interface is becoming tedious. So I wanted to test out some of the numerous cool-looking watch faces available on the Google Play Store. In addition, the Apple Watch’s square form needs to be updated.
I was curious to see if the TicWatch, and hence other Wear OS devices, would work well with iPhone 13 Pro Max. After several months with the Pro 3 Ultra, the answer is yes, with a few caveats. Owners of Apple phones should definitely stay with one of the company’s watches.
The TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra, on the other hand, should be at the top of your list if you are an Android user searching for a sporty-looking Wear OS device with long battery life. Given the watch’s superb performance, the $300 price tag is affordable.
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TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra Design
There’s no denying that the Pro 3 Ultra is large and unwieldy. It measures 47mm x 48mm by 12.2mm and has a rustic, outdoorsy appearance. I like the look, and with only 42 grams of weight, the watch is quite pleasant to wear. However, its bulky appearance may not be to everyone’s taste, and fashionistas should keep in mind that it is not an attractive buttoned-down look. The Pro 3 Ultra has the advantage of not seeming like a smartwatch unless you look closely.
I have been wearing an Apple Watch Series 7 recently, and the TicWatch’s more traditional ergonomics, with actual buttons to push and a round face, were a welcome contrast. When I presented the Pro 3 Ultra to some of my friends, their reactions were mixed. Some people prefer the model’s “un-smartwatch” appearance, while others think it’s awkward.
The 47mm stainless steel, nylon, and fiberglass shell of the watch is attached to a 22mm rubber strap. Any 22mm strap will work, but the GPS type I own is only available in black. The brown leather strap on the LTE model appears to be slightly more expensive.
As much as I enjoy the Pro 3 Ultra’s outdoorsy design, I found the physical interface to be difficult to use. I also have a Samsung Galaxy Watch 3, which has a dial comparable to the Mobvoi. The Samsung dial, on the other hand, allows you to cycle among software features. The dial on the Mobvoi is just decorative.
The Pro 3 Ultra boasts a 1.4-inch AMOLED display with full color. This screen was bright enough for me to use even in direct sunlight. The Pro 3 Ultra, on the other hand, has a second always-on FSTN screen that uses a little battery and allows you to check the clock. This function was quite beneficial to me, and it made me realize how frequently I used my wristwatch as a watch.
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TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra Battery and Charging
Coming from the Apple Watch 7, the Pro 3 Ultra’s battery life was outstanding. I used the wireless charger included with the watch to recharge it in about two hours. The charger is merely a lump of black plastic that doesn’t do anything to highlight the Pro 3 Ultra’s attractive appearance. The cord is also a little tricky to arrange on a nightstand, but it does match Mobvoi’s minimalist aesthetic.
With normal use, the Pro 3 Ultra’s battery lasted more than a week. I attribute the outstanding battery life to the dual-display design, which means that I was mostly glancing at the time with the secondary display rather than the full-color display.
The OS
I put the Pro 3 Ultra through its paces using a Google Pixel phone running Android and an iPhone 13 Pro Max. I usually drive with my iPhone, so it was a pleasant surprise that I didn’t feel like I was missing out on much by utilizing Apple’s operating system with the Mobvoi.
When I used Google’s Wear software, which I purchased from the Apple store, I never had any connection issues with my Pro 3 Ultra. It only took a few taps to get the app up and running. Remember that utilizing Wear OS with an iPhone has limitations. You can’t, for example, interact with notifications. In practice, though, I discovered that I didn’t miss the ability to communicate with my watch. Receiving notifications on my wrist was convenient, and I answered simply by turning to my phone.
Mobvoi has an iOS app that provides some basic functionality that is similar to what Google’s Wear OS app does. It displays information about your physical activity, such as heart rate and blood oxygen levels. The activity apps were simple to use and seemed to track my riding and running sessions effectively.
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Apps can be downloaded from the Google Play Store. The Pro 3 Ultra also has several useful apps, such as fitness fundamentals like step tracking, workout assessments, heart rate, and a blood oxygen monitor.
I tried the blood oxygen and heart rate monitors, and the results were comparable to the Apple Watch Series 7. However, I noticed that the blood oxygen levels on the Pro 3 Ultra looked to be higher than on the Apple Watch. During recent long treks, the step counter on the Mobvoi exactly matched the number of steps displayed on my Apple Watch.
Heart rate tracking appeared to be consistent with the performance of my Apple Watch. The Pro 3 Ultra detected my heart rate promptly, and the range during a bike ride was comparable to Apple’s offering.
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