Huawei Watch GT 6 Pro review: Long-lasting | Tech News

Huawei was on the verge of turning into a true world smartphone drive earlier than sanctions in opposition to it by the US authorities put an finish to these ambitions in 2019. Huawei telephones can no longer natively run Google companies akin to Gmail, Google Maps and Photos, making them very arduous to make use of within the West, and in the present day the firm doesn’t sell handsets to Brits.

That has meant much less of a presence in UK tech patrons’ minds for different Huawei merchandise, together with its burgeoning line of smartwatches. But after testing out the Huawei Watch GT 6 Pro, I’ve been pleasantly shocked to seek out a thoughtfully designed and executed wearable that’s, for essentially the most half, unaffected by Huawei’s smartphone ban.

It stands out from rival merchandise such because the Google Pixel Watch 4 or Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic by having significantly better battery life. Those competing watches run Google’s Wear OS software program, which is a miniaturised model of Android and so helps first and third occasion apps.

If you need tiny variations of Spotify, Strava, Uber and plenty of more in your wrist, they’re those to go for. But Wear OS is a energy drain, and the newest Google and Samsung smartwatches battle to final for more than two days on a charge.

Huawei watches run HarmonyOS, the company’s own software program that’s constructed on Android however is a a lot lighter software program layer. This signifies that choosing a Huawei wearable means you don’t get third occasion apps, however the repay is excellent battery life.

The newest Huawei Watch GT 6 Pro I’ve been testing lasts for more than two weeks on a charge. The firm claims up to 21 days, however I’ve seen a little much less as I’ve been utilizing the always-on show and GPS monitoring for runs and hikes.

You don’t sacrifice options akin to GPS, they merely run on a a lot more vitality environment friendly working system. The GT 6 Pro has a very premium design with a sapphire glass round screen and titanium alloy construct that appears more like a conventional gown watch than most different clearly smartwatches. I don’t love the odd brown London bus seat cowl textures on my review pattern’s strap, however in any other case that is a good-looking, if monumental, watch.

The premium construct considerably accounts for its £329.99 RRP, however on prime of class-leading battery life, you get correct dual-band GPS, waterproofing to 5ATM (50 metres), the power to trace many alternative actions, particular monitoring for path working, biking and golf, ECG readings, all day coronary heart charge monitoring, blood oxygen ranges, pores and skin temperature and sleep monitoring.

The software program is sort of busy however has and does most of the issues you could possibly need. Without apps, you continue to get full notification assist out of your cellphone, however with fewer methods to answer or work together with messages. The watch is an superior exercise tracker within the physique of a smartwatch, slightly than a full smartwatch itself due to the lack of ‘smart’ options.

If that sounds a little harsh, the spectre of Huawei’s Google ban looms while you attempt to pair the GT 6 Pro with an Android cellphone. The Huawei Health app needed to do that isn’t within the Google Play Store. It’s solely obtainable on Huawei telephones (which you very doubtless don’t own), Samsung’s standalone Galaxy Store app and the Apple App Store.

In a bizarre twist, meaning the GT 6 Pro is definitely simpler to connect with an iPhone than a non-Huawei or non-Samsung Android cellphone. To pair it to, say, a Google Pixel or OnePlus cellphone, it’s a must to sideload the Huawei Health app by way of a web browser. This is much from user-friendly, and regardless of my expertise in reviewing Android telephones for more than a decade, I didn’t discover it straight ahead.

Huawei’s Petal Maps app additionally didn’t work for me on Android or iOS, a frustration then balanced out by the gadget’s remarkably good offline maps function. This enables you to obtain maps for any nation totally free, which then show within the working, mountain climbing, biking and different outside modes when monitoring exercise. It means even with out a mobile connection, you possibly can see the place you might be because of GPS and maps saved on the watch.

But then again the Wallet perform doesn’t work, and even seem within the Huawei Health smartphone app, regardless of the app being on the watch. No cellular funds for you.

And but, the climate app is effectively designed and affords correct information, and the sleep monitoring could be very informative. The watch may (it claims) measure air stress, and you may keep an eye on altitude and different metrics you possibly can’t get on equally priced rivals.

It makes the Huawei Watch GT 6 Pro an odd proposition. On the one hand I discover it troublesome to suggest to Android customers because the app is tough to put in except you will have a Samsung cellphone, and key apps akin to maps and wallet don’t work.

But the battery life is totally excellent, and also you don’t must compromise on many different areas. This is a absolutely featured train and outdoor watch that you would be able to simply hook up with add exercises to Strava.

If you need a premium smartwatch with class-leading longevity and top-tier exercise monitoring, the GT 6 Pro is one of the best choices proper now. You simply may need a little persistence and technical know-how to get it working best for you.