Huawei watch gt 2 review. Huawei Watch GT 2 Review 2020-02-10

Huawei Watch GT2 Hands

And this is pretty quick, taking the watch from 55% to full in well under an hour. This sequel easily lives up to its predecessor, with a similarly precise array of sensors for detection and tracking. The 46mm version strikes me as the far nicer looking hardware of the two size options — yes, the design of the two sizes differs somewhat. The main advantage is the operating time on one charge and 2 weeks — this is an amazing result, like for a smartwatch. Overall, it was only about five minutes from boot to home screen in my testing. We used it as a quick way to start a tracked exercise.

Huawei Watch GT 2 Review: Second Generation of Smartwatches 2019

On the right side of the case is a button that turns the display on and off and takes you back to the previous screen. As for smartwatches, the price is slightly higher than its competitors on Android systems, but considering that the previous generation had a similar price tag — this will not be a surprise for many users. The brown leather strap is supple out of the box, and a black silicone strap is included as an alternative. Huawei claims the battery can last up to two weeks on a single charge, I have managed a week and the battery has only dipped 30 percent having unboxed at around 60 percent. For example, checking the heart rate level.

Huawei Watch GT 2 Review: Second Generation of Smartwatches 2019

Viewing , , exercise, weight, and stress logs is really easy, thanks to the tile-based menu system across four tabs. At times the watch does get a little sluggish — although my unit is technically running pre-release software. It comes in two sizes: 42mm or 46mm. The goal-based exercise feature launched on the Charge 3 and allows you to choose a specific goal for those exercises, such as duration or calories. This ensures that, after the screen times out, you see a simplified, slightly dimmed watch face showing the time and day. To elaborate, although you can link the watch with Google Fit and MyFitnessPal, there are no apps from Strava, Nike, Runkeeper or Runtastic, as you find on other platforms.

Huawei Watch GT 2 review: The not

The Classic is meant to cost around £220, but again we've seen it on sale for around £40 less at £180. It makes it ideal for making and receiving calls without needing to have a pair of Bluetooth headphones connected. All your workouts, whether part of one of these guided plans or not, can be accompanied by voice prompts. The bezel has numbers around is to make it look a touch closer to a traditional watch, and that ceramic gives it a classier feel than some other smartwatches. In this menu I found — contacts, calls, notifications, workouts, music, compass, settings and much more. Instead, the display is surrounded by a pretty thick bezel on all sides.

Huawei Watch GT 2 Review: Second Generation of Smartwatches 2019

Regardless of which size you choose, though, there are two crown-style buttons on the right edge; one of these opens the app list while the other can be customised to a function of your choice. Not having so many distractions and gaining a watch that acts as a conduit and nothing more really is quite liberating — plus the week-long battery is a godsend. When it was first released, it was difficult to find the more expensive Classic version. Charging through the docking station will be 2 hours. That puts it in direct competition with the , which has recently had its price slashed to £200 for the non-cellular, 38mm model. The hardware is awesome — both internally and externally — but the software leaves a lot to be desired. Most are the stuff of a higher-end fitness tracker rather than a smartwatch.

Huawei Watch GT2 Hands

There are two always-on faces, analogue and digital clocks that show no information but the time. There are a few stylish looking designer-type faces, but most of those that try to emulate a real 46mm analogue watch miss the mark, and some of the more information-rich designs are too busy. There are very few online retailers that you can get the smartwatch from, save importing. Taking calls on the watch is a pleasant experience; the speaker is clear with no distortion in my testing, and my partner tells me that the microphone performs admirably, too. You can have the main watch face visible, too, but only for a maximum of twenty minutes at a time. Pressing the bottom button on the right side will put you in the workout menu with a list of preset workouts, including various runs, walks, cycles, and machines that can be specific to outdoor and indoor tracking. The heart rate tracker will also work in water, which is a first for a Huawei watch.

Huawei Watch GT 2 review: The not

The welcome always-on screen mode is not a default and, of course, there will be a knock-on effect on battery life if you enable it. The crown and bezel on the sequel have been slimmed down quite substantially but you still get the same footprint on the 46mm casing. The top button works to wake the watch and then take you back to the main menu, while the lower one is designed for you to set up your own shortcuts. Huawei has increased the price slightly, unsurprisingly given the amount of additional technology. The notifications are hit-or-miss so far. The right-hand edge of the device has two buttons for interacting with the device, but most of the time you'll likely find yourself using the touchscreen, which feels smooth under the finger.

Huawei Watch GT 2 review

Not having to find a charger every night or every two days is oddly liberating. All the usual basics are here too. Tapping on your device will provide information such as battery life, watch face customization, file management, and notification preferences. Female health tracking is also on board — a feature that launched in 2018 on the Fitbit Versa — which is also available on the Fitbit Inspire too. Only the angular bezel text stops it looking like quite a minimal watch, like the 42mm version. Alternatively, the silicone wristband is great for the gym, swimming, or running.

Huawei Watch GT 2 review: Solid sports credentials, severely lacking in smarts

According to the manufacturer, new watch faces designs will also come with updates. For example, check what the dream was — deep, light and find out detailed information. As such, any running or cycling you track will remain locked largely within the Huawei Health app. Examples that stand out as useful to me, personally, are pool swim, trail run, and outdoor cycle. You do need to beam them via Bluetooth from your phone to your watch using the Huawei Health app. The smartwatch software world is currently a bit of a mess, at least on.

Huawei Watch GT2 Hands

So it depends on what you are looking for: a limited experience with great battery life or a full-featured smartwatch with less longevity. Since the launch of the Fitbit Versa 2, the is now cheaper than ever at just £143. The second generation of smartwatches with 46 mm received a 420 mAh battery, and the 42mm version is half as much. There are modes for walking, running, cycling, swimming and a few specific gym machines. Gamification is the concept of turning typically mundane tasks into mini-games or challenges, and Huawei has done a good job of that here.