The OnePlus Watch 2 was an impressive device, but one frustrating limitation was that its rotating crown had no functional purpose within Wear OS. With the OnePlus Watch 3, that finally changes—the rotating crown is now fully functional.
OnePlus has confirmed that the OnePlus Watch 3 will officially launch on February 18, and as the date approaches, the company has begun revealing more details. One of the first major improvements being highlighted is the enhanced rotating crown.
In an interview with TechRadar, OnePlus Europe CMO Celina Shi shared that one of the key hardware upgrades in the OnePlus Watch 3 is the inclusion of a fully functional rotating crown.
Rotating crowns have long been a staple in smartwatches, most notably popularized by the Apple Watch. Many Wear OS devices—including Google’s Pixel Watch, as well as models from Fossil, Mobvoi, and others—have incorporated this feature. However, the OnePlus Watch 2 merely had a crown that physically rotated but did not interact with the software, missing out on a common and useful navigation method. Typically, rotating crowns are used for scrolling and zooming, making navigation on a small smartwatch screen much smoother.
With the OnePlus Watch 3, the rotating crown now integrates with Wear OS, allowing users to efficiently and intuitively navigate through apps and menus.
Shi elaborates:
“We put much focus on design with the OnePlus Watch 2 and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. But we did hear calls from our community to develop the rotating crown to offer functionality and an alternative way to navigate the device. With the ability to both press and rotate, the rotating crown makes navigating through apps and menus efficient and intuitive – and ultimately the user experience even better.”
The interview also touches on other key upgrades, including a larger battery that enhances endurance, along with improvements in durability.
The OnePlus Watch 3 officially launches on February 18.
