My review of the OnePlus Watch was quite different from those written by my fellow smartwatch testers. While I am fully open to having my own opinion, I was genuinely surprised to see a first-generation smartwatch garnering such harsh criticism.

The majority of tech reviewers who received pre-release units of the $159 OnePlus Watch, which became available for anyone to purchase this week, had not much good to say about it.

Most of the complaints were about the OnePlus Watch's software, called the Real Time Operating System (RTOS). the RTOS is essentially a clone of the Google Wear OS, with support for third-party apps and certain connectivity features, traded off for faster performance and battery efficiency.

OnePlus promised the benefits of its RTOS without the caveat of inoffensive software, since its marketing team is not paid to draw attention to shortcomings. That is the check that reviewers like myself provide for potential customers. In this case, the "check" docked on the OnePlus Watch's buggy notifications, inconsistent power drain, and underutilized interface. People also missed out on their favorite fitness, productivity, and entertainment apps, which they had to temporarily abandon for testing.

It's not clear why people had such high hopes for the $159 smartwatch. Most of us who review wearables use $400 flagships on a daily basis. I compare the OnePlus Watch to the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 and Apple Watch Series 6 to highlight what shoppers would trade for financial savings.

In testing the OnePlus Watch, I chose to compare it to other recently released smartwatches in the $150-$200 price range. The problem is that not many smartwatches of this type have been released in the last year, at least not from a company as well-known as OnePlus.

Some of the least expensive smartwatches available today include the Apple Watch Series 3, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active, and the Fitbit Versa 2. These are all still good choices and are supported by software updates from their respective companies, but they are also previous generation models that received discounts when replaced by newer versions.

Amazfit is probably the most notable company that regularly releases affordable smartwatches. I have used a few of them, and while they are very capable, they do not compare to the more expensive models I will return to after I finish my review. The company's proprietary RTOS certainly has its shortcomings, but what you can get for under $200 (and often less) is reasonable.

Now, I will say that Amazfit has mastered the art of tailoring its watch models to specific user needs. For example, the Amazfit T-Rex Pro is positioned as the outdoor adventurer's best friend; the Amazfit GTR 2 is a fashionable wearable for the professional; the Amazfit T-Rex Pro is the perfect companion for the outdoor adventurer.

OnePlus could have done a better job of thinking about what the OnePlus Watch should be. To me, the design and the large display were appropriate for a lifestyle smartwatch. However, the company is more inclined toward fitness features, and to be honest, the OnePlus Watch was not something I would reach for when I work out. While I did not suffer from as serious miscalculations in steps or calorie burn as other reviewers, I did note that the blood oxygen level readings were blatantly inaccurate.

If you are serious about staying in shape and getting in shape, the OnePlus Watch is not for you, even if you use a OnePlus smartphone. At this price, Fitbits' best model is a better choice. If you want a true smartwatch, not a fitness tracker, the Galaxy Watch Active and Apple Watch Series 3 are still cutting-edge health devices.

But if you're not fitness oriented, or at least understand that a $159 smartwatch won't perform as well as more expensive alternatives, don't be put off by negative reviews. We are in no way saying this to discredit the experience of our peers. Feedback is valid and absolutely essential for OnePlus to improve OnePlus Watch in the future.

And if anything, the harsh comments give OnePlus a reason to rush the development of software updates. Those, coupled with the planned updates that OnePlus has already announced, could make for a great, affordable smartwatch in a few months.

So should you buy the OnePlus Watch? Yes, if you are a fan of OnePlus' other products and know you will get what you paid for. That means you can buy it cheaper than the flagship models from Apple, Samsung, and Fitbit, which is reasonable considering the price difference.

We also recommend waiting for the aforementioned updates to be implemented. That way, when you unpack the OnePlus Watch, you will hopefully find the latest software version and an improvement over what reviewers experienced in the early days of the smartwatch.