When the OnePlus Watch 3 review unit arrived, I braced for flaws—and sure enough, I found one. Etched onto the stainless steel backplate is a glaring typo: “Meda in China” instead of “Made in China.”
Admittedly, the mistake is easy to miss. I didn’t notice it until an Android Police article pointed it out. Yet, in the context of OnePlus’ rocky smartwatch history, this permanent engraving feels oddly fitting—and even reassuring.
A History of Smartwatch Struggles
The original OnePlus Watch was a catastrophe. Plagued by software glitches and inaccurate health tracking, it earned the dubious honor of being the worst product I’ve ever reviewed. I once joked that its fitness data was so unreliable, it deserved a Pulitzer Prize for fiction. Only will.i.am’s infamous Puls smartwatch could rival its awfulness—thankfully, I never had to test that one.
The trauma from that experience made me skeptical of the OnePlus Watch 2 last year. My apprehension grew when the company accidentally sent me eleven review units. That watch also committed a tech sin: its rotating crown didn’t scroll properly.
Redemption and Refinement
Despite these hiccups, the OnePlus Watch 2 marked a turnaround. It wasn’t just functional—it became a compelling alternative to Google and Samsung’s offerings for Android users. Now, with the Watch 3, OnePlus has finally fixed the crown issue, and early testing reveals few complaints.
The “Meda in China” typo, while amusing, is a harmless quirk. Most users won’t even spot it, and some might consider it a quirky collector’s feature. Compared to past missteps, this is a minor blunder—proof that OnePlus is improving.
Perspective on Mistakes
After all, it could’ve been worse. At least OnePlus didn’t pull a Mattel and accidentally print a porn link on the packaging (a real incident from 2019). In that light, “Meda in China” is almost endearing—a small, forgivable flaw in an otherwise solid device.
