Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 3 Review

This watch runs on Wear OS by Google and is one of our favored products that run on this operating system. This means that it has the Google Assistant built right in and offers an enormous number of options for customizing the watch face.

Performance Comparison

Smart Functions

A smartwatch that is not “smart” is not very useful. Therefore our testers weigh our smart functions metric the highest as this is the main selling point for any quality smartwatch. We looked at the library of compatible apps, cellular capabilities if the watch can be used as a payment method, music control, and phone calls. The TicWatch Pro 3 has the complete app functionality of any other smartwatch that uses Google's Wear OS.

As a WearOS smartwatch, the TicWatch Pro 3 has an identical app portfolio to other WearOS devices. Unfortunately, WearOS devices are lacking compared to the app selection of Apple products. Both Apple and WearOS have plenty of applications to choose from, but Apple's library is simply in another league.

The TicWatch Pro 3 is able to text and call as well as any other smartwatch. Assuming your phone is nearby and connected via Bluetooth since this watch does not have an LTE option. We found the audio quality was somewhat finicky, but it does not detract from its overall utility. A great shortcut to making a call is asking the built-in Google assistant by holding down the top button.

With music control, this watch allows users to sync headphones and play great hits on the go. Standard features like find my phone and Google Play are included as well.

Health

In today's smartwatch landscape, it is necessary to have smartwatches double as fitness trackers. Many smartwatch consumers are those who desire to be more health-conscious in an increasingly sedentary world. Accordingly, we thoroughly test the various health features such as step counting, workout tracking, HR monitoring, safety features, and additional health features.

To compare and score the step count accuracy of the TicWatch Pro 3, we took it on three separate one-mile walks where we counted our steps with a mechanical tally counter and then compared the results. This smartwatch was an average of 44 steps off of the true count after the three trials — considerably more than the top trackers, which managed to keep their average error in the single digits.

This device includes multiple sensors, enabling the user to access blood oxygen levels, heart rate, and sleep data. Our HR monitor test produced mediocre results, delivering a mix of readings that were not up to par. However, we found other health features like TicZen helpful. TicZen measures stress levels and provides breathing exercises to help manage it. Data collected by the TicWatch Pro 3 can be displayed in the TicHealth or Google Fit app. Unfortunately, there is no safety feature like SOS or fall detection, somewhat hurting the overall score.

This watch can track an array of different activities, such as an outdoor run, outdoor walk, indoor run, cycling, indoor cycling, freestyle, pool swimming, rowing machine, elliptical machine, body mechanics, trail running, mountaineering, or yoga. Data collected depends on the activity, but we noticed the data collected wasn't quite as comprehensive as what is collected by some top-tier products.

Battery

Our next metric evaluated the battery life, quick charge, and total charge of this wearable. Given its higher-end capabilities, it is remarkable how well the TicWatch Pro 3 performed.

Battery life is absolutely astounding, considering this watch's smart capabilities. This is mostly due to the Snapdragon 4100 Chipset that gives the TicWatch Pro 3 better processing capabilities without significantly sacrificing battery life. Our tests found that on a full charge, this watch can last up to 36 hours. Quick charge and total charge time were not inspiring. It takes about 2 hours to charge this device, and it only reaches 25% after 23 minutes. Considering these criticisms, we think this is worth the price, considering how battery durable this smartwatch is.

Ease of Use

For our next metric, we analyzed the TicWatch Pro 3 performance in screen responsiveness, crown scroll, charging setup, and water resistance.

Navigating the various applications did not make any lasting impressions. Accessing the various apps via scrolling and selection is what you expect from any touch screen. Scrolling could sometimes get finicky, making it necessary to repeat inputs. This would not be a problem if there were a physical crown scroll. Most smartwatch manufacturers include a crown scroll for their products, and it is not entirely clear why TicWatch does not do the same. There should be an option to accommodate those who dislike using the touch screen. Instead, there are two buttons on the side of the frame. The top button can either open the clock face or the app launcher, and the bottom is a shortcut key.

The charging dock diverges from the traditional circular adapter of most smartwatches to a smaller banana shape adapter. To charge, simply insert the magnetic connector at the bottom of the watch. According to the manual, the water resistance rating is IP68, so pool swimming is suitable.

Display

Next, we scored the screen and image quality of the TicWatch Pro 3 against the other smartwatches in the group. We looked at the display resolution and ease of reading for the bulk of the score, along with the different backlight settings. This product delivered a decent result, but it is far from the spectacular screens on top watches.

The 31mm screen display is quite large for a smartwatch and may appear to some as too bulky. Despite its large appearance, the Pro 3 is remarkably light and fits nicely along the wrist. Its 454 x 454 pixels AMOLED display is suitable for the price but slightly inferior to the juggernauts from Samsung or Apple. The basic design of the home screen is pleasant and can be customized depending on your taste.

Most notably, the TicWatch Pro 3 features a dual display where the watch can alternate between an AMOLED and a digital LCD display. In AMOLED mode, the auto-brightness adjusts accordingly, although we felt it could become hazy in lighter environments. The LCD mode displays all the necessary information but is more difficult to read in light. However, there is a wrist wake feature that makes the LCD display brighter.

Should you buy the Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 3?

The main selling point of the TicWatch Pro 3 is its excellent battery life. Functionally this watch does just fine but is not competitive compared to other Android and Apple smartwatches. It is too expensive to be a budget option and only stands out due to the battery life. Unless you specifically want a battery-durable smartwatch, there are better options to choose from.

What other Smartwatches should you consider?