Mobvoi is one company that has been very loyal to the Wear OS platform. They started with the Ticwatch E and S in 2017 which were very popular and were even adjudged some of the best back then. Mobvoi went on to release many more watches, and today, we have the Ticwatch Pro 5 which is the most advanced Ticwatch yet. From its build quality to features and battery life, the Pro 5 has all the attributes of a modern day watch. There’s no doubt why it’s highly rated, and already voted amongst the best smartwatches of 2023.
A little step down from the Ticwatch Pro 5, you have cheaper alternatives in the Ticwatch Pro 3 and Pro 3 Ultra that were released in 2020 and 2021 respectively. These two share very close similarities with the Pro 5. We also have an even cheaper alternative in the Ticwatch E3 which was also released in 2021. It has a less premium build but measures up for that in having very similar features to the Ticwatch Pro 3 and Pro 3 Ultra.
You should note that while Ticwatch E3, Pro 3 and Pro 3 Ultra will work with both Android and iOS phones, the Ticwatch Pro 5 will only work with Android phones.
In all sincerity, Mobvoi makes some of the best watches. So if you are a fan, you don’t want to look beyond Ticwatch Pro 5, Pro 3, Pro 3 Ultra and E3 – This is because, at least till 2024, these are the most advanced and best Ticwatches.
It’s pertinent to note that while there are older Ticwatches, the Ticwatch E3, Pro 3 and Pro 3 Ultra are the only ones to receive Wear OS 3 update. In fact, Mobvoi has already announced beta testing for the Wear OS 3 update on these watches. Meanwhile, Ticwatch Pro 5 ships with Wear 3 out of the box. In this guide, we will be discussing the differences between the Ticwatch E3, Pro 3, Pro 3 Ultra and Pro 5 to help choose the right Ticwatch for you.
So what’s the difference between the different Ticwatches? In summary, the Ticwatch Pro 5 is better than the Ticwatch Pro 3 Ultra and Pro 3. It’s powered by a more advanced Snapdragon W5+ chip and has a higher 2GB RAM that ensures robust and hitchless performance. The storage capacity is bigger, the waterproof rating is higher and the battery life is a little longer. Moreover, there is a skin temperature sensor in the Pro 5 which allows the watch to measure your skin temperature. It also has a compass not present in Ticwatch Pro 3 and Pro 3 Ultra.
On the other hand, the difference between the Pro 3 Ultra and Pro 3 is that the former has a more durable Corning Gorilla Glass 3 screen. The frame is also more durable, and unlike the Pro 3, the essential FSTN display features 18 color pallets that let you view in more colors other than the odd black and white LCD display.
Meanwhile, the Ticwatch E3 is a lower-end device. It lacks the dual-display architecture but rather has a not-so-awesome LCD display that boasts only 180nits in brightness (this will be quite difficult to read outdoors). The E3 also lacks an ambient light sensor and a barometer both of which are present in Ticwatch Pro 3. Moreover, unlike the Ticwatch Pro 3 and Pro 3 Ultra with up to 3 days of battery life, the Ticwatch E3 can only muster up to 2 days of battery life.
So, from all indications, for now, Ticwatch Pro 5 is Mobvoi‘s flagship watch. It has all the features that qualify it as one of the best watches for Android users. Interestingly, it’s only $50 more than the Ticwatch Pro 3 Ultra. If you must buy a Ticwatch, get the Pro 5, it’s your best bargain.
Ticwatch E3 vs Pro 3 vs Pro 3 Ultra vs Pro 5 Full Specifications
| Product Info |
 Ticwatch E3 Full Smartwatch Specifications, Features and Price |
 Ticwatch Pro 3 Specifications, Features and Price |
 Ticwatch Pro 3 Ultra Full Smartwatch Specifications, Features and Price |
 Ticwatch Pro 5 Full Smartwatch Specifications, Features and Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $119.99 | - | $229.99 | $349.99 |
| ABOUT DEVICE | ABOUT DEVICE | ABOUT DEVICE | ABOUT DEVICE | ABOUT DEVICE |
| Device name | Ticwatch E3 | Ticwatch Pro 3 | Ticwatch Pro 3 Ultra | Ticwatch Pro 5 |
| Device type | Fitness/Sport smartwatch | Fitness/Classic smartwatch | Fitness/Classic smartwatch | Fitness/Classic smartwatch |
| Gender | Unisex | Men | Men | Men |
| Release date | June, 2021 | September, 2020 | October, 2021 | May, 2023 |
| Predecessor | Ticwatch E2 | Ticwatch Pro 2020 | Ticwatch Pro | Ticwatch Pro 3 |
| Successor | — | Ticwatch Pro 5 | Ticwatch Pro 5 | — |
| Versions | — | Bluetooth/WiFi only, LTE | Bluetooth/WiFi only, LTE | — |
| BODY | BODY | BODY | BODY | BODY |
| Dimension | 44 x 47 x 12.6 mm | 47 x 48 x 12.2 mm | 47 x 48 x 12.3 mm | 48 x 50.1 x 12.2 mm |
| Weight | (excluding straps), 32 grams | 41.9g | (excluding straps), 41g | (excluding straps), 44.3g |
| Shape | Circular | Circular, Curved | Circular, Curved | Circular, Curved |
| Case material | Polycarbonate | Stainless steel, Thermoplastic | Stainless steel/high-strength nylon | Aluminum/high-strength nylon |
| Strap material | Silicone | Silicone | Fluororubber | Fluororubber |
| Bezel material | Polycarbonate | Stainless steel | Stainless steel | Stainless steel |
| Strap size | 20 mm | 22 mm | 22 mm | 24mm |
| Interchangeable strap | 20mm, Yes | 22 mm, Yes | 22 mm, Yes | 24mm, Yes |
| Screen protection | Tempered glass (with anti-fingerprint coating) | Tempered Glass | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Water resistance | IP68 | IP68 | IP68 | Yes, 5ATM |
| Durability test | — | MIL-STD-810G | MIL-STD-810G | MIL-STD-810H |
| Swim-proof | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes, recommended |
| Color | Black | Black | Black | Sandstone, Obsidan |
| DISPLAY | DISPLAY | DISPLAY | DISPLAY | DISPLAY |
| Display size | 1.3 inches | 1.4 inches | 1.4 inches | 1.43 inches |
| Display type | LCD | AMOLED, FSTN, Full color | AMOLED, FSTN, Full color | AMOLED, FSTN, Full color |
| Display resolution | 360 x 360 pixel | 454 x 454 pixels | 454 x 454 pixels | 466 x 466 pixels |
| Pixel density | 277 PPI | 326 ppi | 326 ppi | 326 ppi |
| Always on | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Custom watch face | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Input type | 2 Physical buttons, Touchscreen | 2 Physical buttons, Touchscreen | 2 Physical buttons, Touchscreen | 1 Haptic rotating crown, 1 Physical button, Touchscreen |
| CONNECTIVITY | CONNECTIVITY | CONNECTIVITY | CONNECTIVITY | CONNECTIVITY |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth v5.0 | Yes, Bluetooth v4.2 LE | Bluetooth v5.0 | Bluetooth v5.2 |
| Bluetooth calling | Yes | (Android only), Yes | Yes | Yes |
| GPS | BEIDOU, GLONASS, GPS | BEIDOU, Galileo, GLONASS, GPS, QZSS | BEIDOU, Galileo, GLONASS, GPS, QZSS | BEIDOU, Galileo, GLONASS, GPS, QZSS |
| NFC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| MEMORY | MEMORY | MEMORY | MEMORY | MEMORY |
| RAM | 1GB | 1GB | 1GB | 2GB RAM |
| ROM | 8GB | 8GB | 8GB | 32GB |
| Memory card slot | No | No | No | No |
| CELLULAR CONNECTIVITY | CELLULAR CONNECTIVITY | CELLULAR CONNECTIVITY | CELLULAR CONNECTIVITY | CELLULAR CONNECTIVITY |
| Technology | None | None | None | None |
| SIM type | None | None | None | None |
| Band | — | — | — | — |
| NOTIFICATIONS | NOTIFICATIONS | NOTIFICATIONS | NOTIFICATIONS | NOTIFICATIONS |
| SMS alert | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Calls alert | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Email alert | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Event reminder | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Third-party apps alert | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Reply to Notifications | Yes | - | Yes | Yes |
| MEDIA | MEDIA | MEDIA | MEDIA | MEDIA |
| Audio | mp3 | mp3 | mp3 | mp3 |
| Bluetooth music | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Microphone | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Camera | No | No | No | No |
| Radio | No | No | No | No |
| SENSORS | SENSORS | SENSORS | SENSORS | SENSORS |
| Sensor(s) | Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Latency off-body sensor, PPG Heart rate sensor, Spo2 sensor | Accelerometer, Ambient light sensor, Barometer, Gyroscope, Latency off-body sensor, PPG Heart rate sensor | Accelerometer, Ambient light sensor, Barometer, Gyroscope, Latency off-body sensor, PPG Heart rate sensor, Spo2 sensor | Accelerometer, Ambient light sensor, Barometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Latency off-body sensor, PPG Heart rate sensor, Skin temperature sensor, Spo2 sensor |
| ACTIVITY TRACKING | ACTIVITY TRACKING | ACTIVITY TRACKING | ACTIVITY TRACKING | ACTIVITY TRACKING |
| Blood oxygen | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Blood Pressure | No | No | No | No |
| Calories | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Distance | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ECG tracking | No | No | No | No |
| Heart rate monitoring | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sleep tracking | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Steps | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Floors climbed | Yes | - | Yes | Yes |
| Stress | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fall detection | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Menstrual cycle | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| VO2 Max | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| Swim-tracking | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Underwater heart rate tracking | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| On-screen workout | No | No | No | No |
| Sport modes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| BATTERY | BATTERY | BATTERY | BATTERY | BATTERY |
| Battery type | non-removable Lithium-polymer | non-removable Lithium-polymer | non-removable Lithium-polymer | non-removable Lithium-polymer |
| Battery capacity | 380mAh | 577mAh (minimum), 595mAh (Nominal) | 577mAh | 628mAh |
| Battery life | Up to 2 days | Regular: 3 – 45 days | Up to 3 days (AMOLED display), Up to 45 days (FSTN display) | Up to 45 days (FSTN display), Up to 80hrs (AMOLED display) |
| Charging type | Charging dock | Charging dock | Charging dock | Charging dock |
| Charging time | 1-2 hours | 1-2 hours | 1-2 hours | 30min-1hr, (Fast charging) |
| Solar charging | No | No | No | No |
| PLATFORM | PLATFORM | PLATFORM | PLATFORM | PLATFORM |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 4100 | Snapdragon 4100 | Snapdragon 4100 | Snapdragon W5+ |
| CPU | 1.7GHz Quad-core CPU ARM Cortex A53 | 1.7GHz Quad-core CPU ARM Cortex A53 | 1.7GHz Quad-core CPU ARM Cortex A53 | 1.7GHz Quad-core CPU ARM Cortex A53 |
| GPU | Adreno 504 | Adreno 504 | Adreno 504 | Adreno 702 |
| Operating system | Wear OS 3.5, (Soon to be updated) | Wear OS 3.5, (to be updated) | Wear OS 3.5, (Soon to be updated) | Wear OS 3.5 |
| MISC | MISC | MISC | MISC | MISC |
| Companion app | Ticwatch App | Ticwatch App | Ticwatch App | Ticwatch App |
| Compatibility | Android OS 8.0+, iOS 12.0+ | Android 6.0+, iOS 10.0+ | Android OS 8.0+, iOS 12.0+ | Android OS 8.0+ |
| Payment system | Google Pay | Google Pay | Google Pay | Google Pay |
| Voice command | Yes, Alexa, (Via third-party app) | Yes, Google Assistant | Yes, Alexa, (Via third-party app) | Yes, Alexa, Google Assistant (to be added in future) |
| Find my phone | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Box content | Charger, Manual, Straps, Ticwatch E3 | Charger, Manual, Straps, Ticwatch Pro 3 | Charger, Manual, Straps, Ticwatch Pro 3 Ultra | Charger, Manual, Straps, Ticwatch Pro 5 |
Ticwatch E3 vs Pro 3 vs Pro 3 Ultra vs Pro 5 – Features Review
Now that you know the main differences, let’s go into the details of how these four watches stack up against each other.
Design
We start with the build quality, and from all indications, all four watches will pass any quality check. Though the build quality differs, and in this case, the Pro 5 holds sway with the most durable build. It has a frame made of 7000-serie aluminium and high-strength nylon while the back is made of fibreglass. And like the Ticwatch Pro 3 Ultra, the Pro 5 has a Corning Gorilla Glass 3 screen while its 24mm strap comes with fluoro-rubber material.
On the flip side, the Ticwatch Pro 3 Ultra comes next to the Pro 5 in terms of durability. The frame is made of stainless steel and high-strength nylon while the back is fibreglass. Like the Pro 5, the straps come in fluoro-rubber but measure 22mm in width.
The Ticwatch Pro 3 is also sturdily built, but unlike the Pro 3 Ultra, the screen is tempered glass. Meanwhile, the frame is made of stainless steel and plastic, and the straps come in 22mm silicone material.
The Ticwatch E3 comes last as far as sturdiness is concerned. It also has tempered glass like the Ticwatch Pro 3, and the frame is made of a polycarbonate material while the straps measuring 20mm come in silicone material.
The waterproof rating also differs. You have a Ticwatch Pro 5 with a 5ATM rating while the other three are certified with an IP68 rating. The Pro 5 is the first watch from Mobvoi to have a full-fledged waterproof rating. The 5ATM rating means it can survive water pressure up to 50 meters while the other three are waterproof up to 1.5 meters underwater. While I would recommend wearing any of these to the shower, I’ll only wear the Pro 5 for any swimming activity. Interestingly, the Pro 5 is the first Ticwatch to support open water tracking. It will track your swimming activity in open water.
Beyond the higher waterproof rating, the Pro 5 has a higher MIL-STD-810H military-grade rating that certifies it as a rugged device ready to withstand unfavorable weather conditions. In contrast, Ticwatch Pro 3 Ultra is certified MIL-STD-810G, which also certifies it as a rugged and tough device, but the MIL-STD-810H uses a more rigorous and tougher process.
There is not much difference in the case sizes and weights of all four watches, though the Ticwatch Pro 5 has the biggest case size and also weighs a little more than the Pro 3 Ultra. Nonetheless, I think it still falls inline as par comfortability but is not so compact.
Mobvoi also decided to alter the design of the buttons on the Pro 5. It has a flat button and a rotating crown that makes navigation very easy. Meanwhile, Ticwatch Pro 3, Pro 3 Ultra and E3 all have two physical buttons. In addition to the physical buttons, all four watches have touch sensitive displays that aid interaction.
So clearly, the Ticwatch Pro 5 has the most durable build of all four Ticwatches.
Display
A major selling point for Ticwatches is the innovative dual-display architecture. Mobvoi lays an LCD display over a more colorful AMOLED display allowing users to easily switch between two displays on one watch.
The Ticwatch Pro 3, Pro 3 Ultra and Pro 5 all have dual FSTN/AMOLED displays. The FSTN display (secondary display) has a very low impact on battery and will allow you to go longer, however, it deactivates most Wear OS features leaving just the time, date, steps and heart rate complications. Though, interestingly, starting with Ticwatch Pro 3, Mobvoi ensured that even when the secondary display is activated, the watch can still record your sleep and other activities.
The FSTN display on the Ticwatch Pro 3 shows complications in only one color – a monochrome display, meanwhile the Pro 3 Ultra and Pro 5 offers 18 color pallets. So, even with the essential display activated, you still get a colored display – that’s awesome.
Unlike the Ticwatch Pro series, the Ticwatch E3 doesn’t have a dual display, rather it has a not-so colorful LCD display. In addition, the display isn’t that bright, it’s just 180 nits bright. That’s quite absurd for a watch that costs $200. It will be quite difficult to read complications under direct sunlight with such brightness. Moreover, it lacks ambient light which means you will have to manually adjust brightness.
In terms of display size, the 1.43 inches display of the Pro 5 is slightly bigger than the 1.4 inches of the Pro 3 and Pro 3 Ultra. While I don’t consider this a significant difference, for a smartwatch, every inch matters.
Meanwhile, the Ticwatch E3 has the smallest display size at 1.3 inches.
Activity Tracking
The four Ticwatches are well-equipped to track your daily activities. Each of these will track your heart rate, stress, blood oxygen and sleep in all four stages. Each of these also has an inbuilt GPS that enables the watch to track your routes, locations and pace during an outdoor activity. Though, while the Pro series supports 5 satellite systems, the Ticwatch E3 only supports 3 satellite systems. All four watches also feature over 100 sports modes.
There is a barometer in the Ticwatch Pro 3, Pro 3 Ultra and Pro 5 but not in the E3. As a result, the E3 won’t make a decent choice for hikers.
Moreover, there is also a compass and skin temperature sensor in the Pro 5 but not in the other three. The compass helps in knowing your location while the skin temperature sensor enables the watch to measure your skin temperature.
From all indications, while all four watches have very similar activity tracking features, the Ticwatch Pro 5 with a compass and skin temperature sensor is a more comprehensive activity tracker.
Performance and Operating System
Going by reviews from users, Ticwatch E3, Pro 3 and Pro 3 Ultra all have awesome performances – all thanks to 1GB of RAM and Snapdragon 4100 – a 12nm chip that powers many Wear OS watches. However, Mobvoi took it a step forward by equipping the Ticwatch Pro 5 with Snapdragon W5+ – a 4nm chip that succeeds the 4100 chip. The Ticwatch Pro 5 is the first watch to have the W5+ chip which in addition to a 2GB of RAM ensures a robust performance. As far as I’m concerned, this is the deal breaker between the Pro 5 and Pro 3 Ultra.
Talking about the operating system, Google has done more for the Wear OS platform in the last 2years than it did in 5 years before then. Today, Wear OS 4 is the latest version and only the recently released Galaxy Watch 6 series have it. Though Samsung is already rolling out Wear OS 4 to older Galaxy Watch 5 and 4 series.
The Ticwatch Pro 5 ships with Wear OS 3 out of the box, and going by reports, Ticwatch Pro 3, Pro 3 Ultra and E3 will soon receive Wear OS 3. Considering that it took Mobvoi 18months+ to start rolling out West OS 3 to their older watches, one would wonder when the Ticwatch Pro 5 will receive Wear OS 4.
You might be wondering what’s the difference between Wear 3 and 4, The difference is that while Wear OS 3 is based on Android 11, Wear 4 is based on Android 13. Moreover, unlike Wear OS 3, Wear OS 4 supports dynamic Material You – a theming framework that allows you to use your favorite colours throughout the user interface. Material You was introduced by Google in 2021 and was only available on phones running Android 12 and above, now it’s available on smartwatches with Wear OS 4. Beyond these, Wear OS 4 will also welcome new native apps like Gmail and more.
Music Storage and Bluetooth Calls
Music storage is another area where the Ticwatch Pro 5 outshines the Pro 3 Ultra and the other two. You get a massive 32GB onboard storage capacity that allows you to store as much track as possible. It is 8GB onboard storage for Ticwatch E3, Pro 3 and Pro 3 Ultra. You have the option to transfer your personal music to the watches or use popular apps like Spotify and YouTube Music to enjoy music. Spotify is my favorite, I find it easy and fun to use on my Galaxy Watch 5 Pro.
Interestingly, all four watches have a microphone and speaker. This will allow you to make and receive calls when your phone is nearby. Unfortunately, there is no Google Assistant on any of the four watches. Though, according to this video guide you can still get Google Assistant on your Ticwatch Pro 5 by remotely installing the Go version of Google Assistant on the watch. Meanwhile, according to this report, Mobvoi is currently working with Google to add Google Assistant to the Ticwatch Pro 5.
Battery Life
Like I mentioned earlier, Ticwatches are regarded as the king of battery life among Wear OS watches, and that’s thanks to the dual display architecture that ensures you can go longer from a single charge.
While you can get up to 3 days with the smart OLED display on Pro 3 and Pro 3 Ultra, it’s up to 80 hours with Pro 5. Meanwhile, with the essential FSTN display, you can get up to 45 days long battery life. It becomes more interesting when you realize that with the Pro 3 Ultra and Pro 5, you have the option to choose from 18 different color pallets when the secondary display is activated.
On the other hand, as I stated earlier, the Ticwatch E3 only has a single display and it boasts up to 48 hours of battery life which is not bad.
Furthermore, solidifying its status as the best Ticwatch yet, the Pro 5 is the first Ticwatch to have fast charging. Mobvoi claims you can get up to 65% of charge in as little as 30 minutes. It joins the Galaxy Watch 5 and Apple Watch 8 to have fast charging technology.
Meanwhile, charging the Ticwatch Pro 3 Ultra takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Which is Better? My Verdict
So, which is the best? You guessed right, the Ticwatch Pro 5 is the best choice here. It’s clearly the best bargain. It outshines the other three in performance and storage. The battery life is also longer.
If you must go lower, the Pro 3 Ultra is a decent alternative.
And if you are really tight on budget, the Ticwatch E3 suffices.
