Huawei Watch GT 3 hands-on: 24hr oxygen saturation, AI Running Coach
Huawei just got off the stage where it announced its next Watch GT 3 iteration, whose two model sizes get a significant boost in health and fitness features, all the while they keep the signature weeklong battery life with moderate to heavy use.
Compare that to the day or two of actual Apple or Samsung smartwatch battery life, and you'll notice why Huawei's timepieces have earned their loyal fanbase, including on Amazon where the previous, GT 2 model, is now available for half of its launch price.
A big, easy to rotate crown features prominently on the right side of the watches, used to navigate the new HarmonyOS 2.1 with new interface and service extras like the distinctive Healthy Living Shamrock, while a rectangular action button sits right below it and evokes the more than a 100 exercise modes to choose from for faster access:
Huawei Watch GT 3 design, specs, and features preview
Keep on running
Available in a masculine 46mm and elegant 42mm versions, the Huawei Watch GT 3 have brighter, more resolute displays compared to their predecessors, and a design that actually looks like a timepiece, not a nerdy gizmo.
The larger, stainless steel 46mm model sports a 1.43" AMOLED screen with a rather impressive 466 x 466 resolution, while the 42mm Watch GT 3 keeps it svelter with a 1.32" display and a thinner, lighter body. For the sake of battery life, that is, as the smaller GT 3 almost halves the larger's 8 days of battery life with heavy use, two weeks with moderate mantra.
The slimmed down 46mm Watch GT 3 is 11mm thick, while the 42mm model shaves off some of that to reach a svelte 10.2mm physique, thinner than the Apple Watch. The watches looked and felt just as promised in person on our wrist, sturdy and elegant each in their own way, as you can see from our Huawei Watch GT 3 hands-on pictures below. The screens are very bright and clear to look at, while Huawei has put a real effort in the variety of watch faces to choose from from the get-go.
With the HUAWEI GT 3, Huawei combines scientific consideration and user experience to develop the AI Running Coach. It will be based on the weekly plan implementation and the body’s feedback on the training plan to automatically adjust the training plan for the user in the next week to ensure that the plan is suitable. Through the humanised adjustment, users will be able to enjoy more out of the training.
Huawei's new running ability measurement, Running Ability Index (RAI), uses historical running heart rate, pace, and other data to analyse the running performance after each training, which is convenient for users to understand the training progress and witness their improvements.
The new Healthy Living Shamrock has added many small features to better fit user’s daily health needs. Through personalised settings, users can receive regular reminders like Health challenges, daily water intake, daily mindfulness, early sleep reminder, exercise volume, and stay positive are all small things related to your health.
Huawei's new running ability measurement, Running Ability Index (RAI), uses historical running heart rate, pace, and other data to analyse the running performance after each training, which is convenient for users to understand the training progress and witness their improvements.
The new Healthy Living Shamrock has added many small features to better fit user’s daily health needs. Through personalised settings, users can receive regular reminders like Health challenges, daily water intake, daily mindfulness, early sleep reminder, exercise volume, and stay positive are all small things related to your health.
In terms of the Watch GT 3 hardware upgrades we get a faster processor and new TruSeen 5.0+ sensor with more optical receptors for more accurate readings with an added optical film that reduces interference.
Thanks to these upgrades there is a better continuous saturation monitoring system that would alert you if your blood oxygen falls too low - a very welcome feature in these trying COVID-19 times. To be frank, we did find the heart rate measuring feature to take off a bit faster than on the GT 2 models, yet when it comes to the oxygen saturation measurements, they move at the same snail pace until the GT 3 takes an accurate reading. Oh, well, we'd turn on continuous monitoring system and report on it as soon as we review these puppies.
There is a body temperature measurement system now as well, which showed us going to the freezing point, but it needs way more time for calibration in order to be accurate than what we were able to give it during the frantic hands-on sessions with the GT 3 on the show floor.
In any case, the up to 14 days of battery life, constant saturation and temperature monitoring, and new and improved fitness features like fresh exercise modes with more precise reports, should be enough to pique your interest when Huawei's new timepieces hit the shelves.
Huawei Watch GT 3 price and release date
Not great not terrible
The 42mm/46mm Watch GT 3 models are available to preorder right now at Huawei's store, while the official Watch GT 3 release date is pegged for November 10 or November 11, depending on the market. As GT 3 preorder bonuses in various markets you get Huawei's FreeBuds 4i true wireless headphones and a 12-month subscription to the Adidas Running Premium service. The Huawei Watch GT 3 price? Well, here are the UK ones, straight from Huawei's mouth:
- Watch GT 3 46mm – Active: £229.99
- Watch GT 3 46mm – Classic: £249.99
- Watch GT 3 46mm – Elite: £299.99
- Watch GT 3 42mm – Active: £209.99
- Watch GT 3 42mm – Elegant: £229.99
- Watch GT 3 42mm – Elegant (Milanese Strap): £279.99
If you are wondering what the model names mean, the differences stem from the fact that the Huawei Watch GT 3 can be had in black and brown but the 46mm one has a stainless steel version, while the 42mm GT 3 is available in light gold for the gold digger in you.
When you add the fresh sporty fluoroelastomer straps, as well as the more premium leather and stainless steel ones, the available options become dizzying. We'll guide you through with a Huawei Watch GT 3 review when we get the 42mm and 46mm models through their testing phases. Stay tuned.
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