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05 Jul

Huawei Watch 3 Review: Strong Commitment is Needed

July 5, 2021
Posted by Samson

Huawei Watch 3 shows that

Huawei Watch 3 in the test: To achieve perfect harmony, you have to commit to it

"The Huawei Watch 3 is a beautifully designed, fast, and accurate health tracking smartwatch, but you have a seriously daunting setup experience to overcome."

Good looking and comfortable to wear
Accurate, detailed health tracking
Fast GPS connection
Fluid, fast software

Short battery life with all active functions
Limited eSIM support
Bad setup experience

The Huawei Watch 3 isn't just another smartwatch – it's one of Huawei's most important products in a while. The Watch 3 dispenses with the old software of the Watch GT2 for HarmonyOS, the operating system developed by Huawei itself, which we have heard a lot about, but have not yet had a chance to use.

The Huawei Watch 3 is the first device to officially launch with the software on board, and while it's quick and well-designed, it takes a lot of effort and dedication to get it working with your phone. Assuming you're willing to invest the time, is it worth it?

design

The Huawei Watch 3 is one of the best looking smartwatches you can buy. It is well thought out and very comfortable to wear, with a case made of 316L stainless steel and a ceramic case back with a high-quality, luxurious finish. Huawei has long proven that it knows what it's doing in both phones and wearables, and the Watch 3 continues that tradition. Its clear and restrained, yet exciting style is very watch-like and miles ahead of most Wear OS smartwatches.

Huawei Watch 3 on your wrist Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The 46mm case fits my 6.5 '' wrist and the 65g weight makes it portable all day, although I found it too big to wear overnight. Using ceramic is important because it feels so good against your skin. The reflective nature looks classy and doesn't sweat or itch like plastic. On the side is an offset, neatly textured crown over a single button at the four o'clock position. Don't dig into your wrist either, but I found the button to be a little too low on the case, making it a bit awkward to locate and press.

You control the Watch 3 via the touchscreen and the crown. The 1.43-inch AMOLED screen, with its 466 x 466 pixel resolution, is beautiful and best shows off when it shows colorful watch faces. It might sound strange, but the tempered glass used over the screen has wonderful texture, and the 2.5D curve around the bezel makes the swipe pleasantly tactile, adding shape and visual interest to the front of the watch. The stylish texture of the crown is easy to grip and can therefore be easily turned with your finger.

Huawei Watch 3 button and crown Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

If I felt loveless, it would be easy to turn the positives about the Huawei Watch 3 into negatives as most of the aspects that make it a winner – stainless steel, ceramic, light weight, textured crown, a single button, domed bezel – are the same ones that make the Apple Watch a winner. If anything, the Huawei Watch 3 is a pretty accurate representation of what a round Apple Watch might look like, and the similarities to the Apple Watch don't end there either, but we'll get back to that.

The sum of the parts of the Huawei Watch 3 works so well that I won't go into it because the design reflects the very best smartwatch there is to buy, especially since there are so many disappointing smartwatches out there and a good model should be applauds.

software

HarmonyOS is Huawei's response to its inability to use Google services on its mobile products due to US government restrictions making it impossible for US companies to work with Huawei. It's a complete software ecosystem developed by Huawei that is designed to work seamlessly across everything from Internet of Things (IoT) hardware to smartphones.

The app grid menu on the Huawei Watch 3 Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The Huawei Watch 3 is the first device to use HarmonyOS 2, and you can forget about Wear OS or Huawei's own LiteOS that it used for its wearables in the past. It's a world of its own and much better than either. The speed, fluidity and smoothness are amazing. There are no pauses and no slowing down, just instant response, a nice "bounce" effect when swiping between screens and very fast scrolling. It's attractively designed with bright colors, large icons, clear text, and some pretty dials.

I quickly got into using HarmonyOS on the Watch 3 without getting used to it or learning new layouts or icon styles. While that's a good thing, aside from the fluidity, speed, and pretty design, there's a good reason too – HarmonyOS on the Watch 3 is a bit of a "biggest hit" in portable software.

Huawei Watch 3 shows that

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Notifications on the Huawei Watch 3

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Push the crown in to reveal the main menu, which is presented as a grid of circular icons and looks just like Apple's WatchOS. You can even rotate the crown to zoom in and out of the grid, complete with haptic feedback. This is the default setting, but can be changed to a standard list layout if necessary. Browse other menus, like the workout list, accessed from the bottom button on the case, and the options appear as a vertically scrolling list that fits the circular screen and reminds me of Tizen on the Galaxy Watch 3. Swipe left on the screen and you'll get information boards, just like Wear OS and Huawei's own LiteOS on the Watch GT2.

Granted, there are only limited design directions that can be followed with software on such a small screen that has to be operated with a finger, but the similarity to WatchOS does him no favors. I changed the launcher to show a list of icons and spent time picking the best watch faces just to give the Watch 3 its own identity that HarmonyOS 2.0 is currently lacking a little.

Huawei Health app

The Huawei Watch 3 earns quite a bit of benevolence for its attractiveness and fast software, and it needs every last bit of it because starting up and using the app can be very frustrating. This is where the novelty of HarmonyOS 2 shows, and we see the challenge facing Huawei if it wants to find widespread acceptance.

The Huawei Watch 3 deserves some goodwill thanks to its attractiveness and fast software.

To sync the Watch 3 with your Android phone, you need to download Huawei Health, but not Huawei Health from Google Play. This version is out of date and will not work with brand new Huawei devices. Instead, you need to download the Huawei App Gallery and download Huawei Health from there. This means downloading an APK file, accepting system permissions, signing in to Huawei to use the App Gallery, downloading another new file, accepting other new permissions, providing notifications and location access, and much more.

It doesn't stop there. In order for Huawei Health to work properly, you need to install another app called Huawei Core, although it doesn't really explain why. To keep Huawei Health up to date, you'll need to go to the App Gallery – an app that isn't very welcoming to the point where you're forced to look at an ad every time you open it Hold your phone. This is all very daunting and a massive barrier for anyone unfamiliar with sideloading apps and using alternative app stores.

Worst of all, if you miss a step or don't enable the correct permissions, the Watch 3 and Huawei Health app will not work properly – which is very easy because of the fragmented, multi-step setup process, difficult to figure out why. It's a little easier with an iPhone, as an up-to-date Huawei Health app is available directly from the App Store. Huawei claims that when connected to an iPhone, the battery life deteriorates and, like any other non-Apple Watch, it doesn't support all features, including Apple Messages.

HarmonyOS 2

HarmonyOS 2's fluid navigation makes navigating the software painless, and there are apps for all major functions including access to the compass, breathing exercises, the music app and, if you activate the eSIM, phone functions. If you want to use the eSIM and you are in the UK it will only work with the Vodafone network. Huawei does not sell the Watch 3 with already active connectivity. Remember that adding an eSIM will cost on top of your current monthly plan. Even without an eSIM, calls can be answered on the Watch 3 with loudspeaker and microphone, even if not particularly loud.

Huawei Watch 3 eyelets Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

I've received notifications with average reliability, although none can be interacted with when viewed, but at least they're formatted correctly and can be expanded to show more detail. However, when notifications arrive on the watch, it doesn't preview immediately, which is frustrating. I've found that if you let it sit for a few seconds before you raise your wrist, the likelihood of previewing it is much greater. It's extremely annoying because if you raise your wrist too soon you will have wasted your chance of ever seeing it without waking up the screen and swiping up.

Huawei's virtual assistant Celia is available by long pressing the bottom button and works well for basic commands, including starting a workout. It lacks some apps and features, such as Huawei's own MeeTime video call service which doesn't work in the UK, there is also no contactless payment system and no boarding passes. Huawei has informed me that the Watch 3 will have its own petal maps service in the future.

Frustrations aside, HarmonyOS 2 works well on the Watch 3. It's an evolution of the already decent Watch GT2 software and a step beyond Wear OS, but still way behind the Apple Watch despite the visual similarities to WatchOS.

Activity tracking

Huawei packed the Watch 3 with sensors. On the back there is a heart rate sensor, a blood oxygen sensor (SPo2) and a skin temperature sensor. A skin temperature sensor that was recently seen on the Mobvoi TicWatch GTH isn't really great for monitoring core temperature, but it can be helpful in understanding overall health over time. However, it's as much of a niche as a SPo2 monitor. There are 100 different training modes, automatic fall detection and all-day activity recording.

Activity tracking screen on Huawei Watch 3 Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The exercise tracking screens on the Watch 3 are clear and very easy to read and filled with helpful information. I found that the Watch 3 received a GPS signal very quickly, much faster than the Fitbit Versa 3, and its overall accuracy in terms of step count, heart rate, and calories burned was on par with the Apple Watch SE. I also liked being asked to stop a workout if the Watch 3 noticed I stopped moving.

What I don't like is the incredibly irritating voice over that is added to exercise tracking by default. “WORKOUT STARTED!” The Watch 3 screams when you tap the start button, letting everyone around you know what you're doing. It also screams your heart rate, elapsed time, and other information at various intervals, all with the worst accent imaginable. I despise it to the core. There is a volume button on one of the menus that you can use to turn that hateful thing off.

That complaint aside, the data is quickly synced to Huawei Health, where a wealth of information is presented in a clear, easy-to-understand manner with plenty of depth for the serious sports addict. The main page shows important records that can be tapped for more details, while the watch shows you VO2Max data, training load, and recovery time recommendations. Overall, the Huawei Watch 3 is a very effective, accurate, and feature-rich health and fitness tracker. Except for this voice-over, which is one of the worst "features" I have ever come across.

Battery life

Huawei estimates a battery life of three days when connected to an Android phone or up to 14 days with a special battery mode. Hitting those estimates depends a lot on how you use the watch, and so far I haven't hit it either. For example, if you have heart rate, SPo2, and skin temperature monitoring active and track a single workout using GPS for an hour, the battery will last a day, and that's not good at all.

The heart rate sensor on the back of the Huawei Watch 3 Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

With only active heart rate monitoring and a single workout recorded less than an hour in a day without GPS, the battery lasted around two and a half days. That's better, but not class leading. It is charged via a plastic base that is magnetically attached to the bottom of the case. It's pretty slow and takes over two hours to go from zero to 100%.

Price and availability

The Huawei Watch 3 costs £ 350, which is around $ 483, for either the Classic version pictured above or an all-black version with a rubber strap called Sport. It is sold through Huawei's own online shop or Amazon. It is not officially available in the US but could be purchased as an import.

Our opinion

With all its design, fine materials and hyper-fast software, the onboarding process of the Huawei Watch 3 is anything but ideal and a poor introduction to an otherwise very good smartwatch. Tech novices or anyone whose experience ends with connecting Bluetooth headphones to their phone will find the setup process full of complications and uncertainties using the App Gallery and Huawei Health. If it doesn't run correctly, the clock may not work as expected. It's absolutely not appropriate for a smartwatch that costs that much.

Anyone who has ever used alternative app stores or owns a current Google-free Huawei cell phone will find it far less stressful and get involved with the Watch 3 actually pays off. It's extremely comfortable, very well made, and packed full of accessible health and fitness features. However, as with using a Huawei smartphone today, you need to get used to doing things differently, using different apps, and being patient as HarmonyOS grows.

The introduction of the Huawei Watch 3 doesn't require the same level of dedication as using a Huawei smartphone without Google, but it still doesn't feel like a product that is totally mass-marketed. It's very close, however, and anyone who feels confident navigating the cumbersome set-up process and looking to a new app store in the future will be rewarded with an excellent smartwatch.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes. If you own an iPhone, the only smartwatch you should buy is the Apple Watch. If you're considering a smartwatch for around £ 350 (up to $ 480), it means the Apple Watch Series 6 is on budget. It's the best smartwatch you can buy and an excellent choice.

If you own an Android phone, the situation is a little different. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 and the Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 3 are our recommendations for their strong performance and good battery life, but unless you really need to have a smartwatch now, we should wait and see what happens with the next Galaxy Watch release that the will have new Google / Samsung Wear software on board. It is expected to arrive in the summer and promises a far better smartwatch experience than Wear OS.

How long it will take?

The stainless steel case, the ceramic base, the hardened glass and the water resistance of 5 ATM should make the Huawei Watch 3 very durable. The strap is fastened with quick release pins and measures 22 mm by default, making it easy to get a replacement. Huawei is committed to HarmonyOS, which means the software should be supported for a while, but since it's fairly new, some features you might expect may not yet be there, such as petal maps.

The option of an eSIM is also helpful for the future if you think such a function makes sense and if you are equipped with the right network. There's no reason the watch won't be fresh in design two years from now, and in theory the software and experience should only have improved during that time. If you're ready to get involved, there's plenty of life in the Huawei Watch 3.

Should you buy it?

No, life with an Apple Watch or a Wear OS Smartwatch will be easier for most people and will be more tailored to their smartphone. But if you are more adventurous and understand its drawbacks, the Huawei Watch 3 is a risk worth taking.