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Huawei has constantly delivered spectacular good wearables for the previous few years and it is no surprise we welcomed the Watch GT3 with excessive expectations. Having spent the higher a part of a month placing it by way of its paces we are actually able to share our impressions with you.
Spoiler alert: it is excellent, an the 2021 smartwatch to have for a lot of a consumer. Learn on to seek out out in case you are amongst them.
Design and Construct
The Huawei Watch GT3 adopted the rotating high button from its extra premium Watch 3 siblings, all the way down to the neat element with the engraverd model identify. The bezel has minute partitions, which seems method higher than a 24-hour answer, however nonetheless serve no function with the overwhelming majority of watchfaces. We should always point out that it’s only obtainable on the 46mm possibility, whereas the 42mm variant has a barely extra rounded 3D edge – an answer many will want by way of aesthetics.
There’s additionally an precise black bezel on the fringe of the round show, but it surely’s not too massive to take a lot from the viewing expertise.
The 1.43” AMOLED (466 x 466 pixels) seems vibrant and snappy. This is likely one of the most spectacular screens we’ve seen on a Huawei wearable and helps all of the acquainted slide, contact and pinch gestures.
A traditional 22mm rubber strap hooked up to the wearable was in our retail field, which seems nicely when coupled with the black metallic physique. The Watch GT3 weighs precisely 42.6 grams (with out the strap) and suits comfortably on an even bigger wrist – thinner ones ought to persist with the 42mm design.
Different choices embrace “Metal”, which is each a coloration and the fabric the physique is product of. The again aspect is all the time created from plastic, but it surely homes a brand new set of sensors beneath that supply much more correct coronary heart charge, blood oxygen, stress ranges and sleep patterns.
{Hardware} and software program
The larger variety of sensors is simply step one for higher monitoring. The Watch GT3 additionally brings an improved AI algorithm up to date to filter inaccurate readings extra successfully. Huawei additionally introduced some options that made an look at earlier wearables – the 24/7 SpO2 and physique temperature measurements and the power to attract your observe with excessive element, because of the dual-band 5-System GNSS.
Huawei was all about sports activities actions and operating when it launched the Watch GT3, and one among our staff members, who’s a long-distance runner, wished to check how exact the brand new navigation system is.
In concept, it receives indicators from L1 and L5 – two satellite tv for pc frequencies that work collectively to supply exact positioning, and smartphones have been utilizing this dual-band GNSS for a number of years. In apply, as our dear-if-slightly-crazy colleague discovered, it’s much more correct than any Huawei wearable we had within the workplace ever and is among the many greatest smartwatches for informal athletes. The Watch GT3 was examined in mountain valleys with poor cell protection and steep rocks from each side, and the sign was as correct as any skilled navigation system.
The most important problem with good wearables from large firms that wish to construct a large ecosystem (corresponding to Huawei and Samsung) is that they’ve a tricky time catering to skilled athletes. Huawei tackled this problem with a brand-new “Private AI Operating Coach”. It’s a software program characteristic that may “assess your athletic capacity primarily based in your historic operating knowledge, and supply with a scientific {and professional} operating plan for each day operating and race preparation”.
Behind all these good phrases sits an algorithm we had already skilled as a result of our avid runner already had some knowledge logged into his account by way of the Huawei Well being app. The characteristic provides reside assist throughout operating, primarily based on earlier outcomes.
The main drawback with the characteristic is it really works solely with one sports activities mode – Out of doors Run; it doesn’t work with Path Run or Indoor Run or any of the hikes or walks. There are greater than 100 exercise modes for monitoring, together with a number of sorts of dances, curler skating, darts, kite flying and even laser tag.
When the Private Coach works, it does an awesome job. It tells you when to decelerate when to hurry up, and in case you are doing a fast interval coaching, the navigation helps with the space and timing to forestall the runner from overexertion. We might’ve cherished to have this, not less than for Path Run as nicely. Nonetheless, we perceive it’s arduous to calculate precise denivelation – the largest variable when operating in nature, subsequently the Watch GT3 can’t be as exact as on the observe.
We might recommend sticking to preparation for extra widespread distances, like your first 5K, 10K, half-marathon or full marathon distance – that’s the place the Watch GT3 excels.
Probably the most essential distinction between the Huawei Watch GT3 and the Huawei Watch 3 (and Watch 3 Professional) is the dearth of SIM assist. Whereas the extra premium 3 collection work with eSIM (obtainable in choose markets), right here calls by way of the watch can be found solely when hooked to your smartphone over Bluetooth.
There’s additionally no Wi-Fi connectivity, however we all the time discovered that to be impractical in sports-oriented watches – it simply drains the battery extra with out doing something further. We additionally discovered underwhelming is the OS typically – HarmonyOS 2.0 for wearables is simply rebranded Lite OS with the power to line up the apps in a grid (they may also be an inventory, there’s a toggle).
Batery life
With a lot dialogue on the efficiency of the Watch GT3, the query in regards to the battery inevitably pops up. Huawei says it may well go 14 days typical use. The capability of 46mm unit is 455mAh, whereas the 42mm has a tiny 292mAh cell.
In our expertise the Huawei Watch GT3 battery can lasted between 7 and 10 days. We actually did greater than the 90 minutes of GPS-tracked exercise Huawei counts as typical, however then most GT3 house owners in all probability will too.
So we imagine energetic sportspeople might want to cost the wearable weekly – this consists of fixed sleep monitoring, stress monitoring, coronary heart charge, blood oxygen, and even physique temperature whereas related to Bluetooth.
That is an impressive end in actual life. No different wearable available on the market can supply all these options, being as exact because the GT3 is and final a whole week.
If you happen to disable the fixed SpO2 and physique temperature monitoring the battery life improves considerably, and a single cost may give you as much as 11 days of life.
Huawei fortunately launched wi-fi charging for its wearables a while in the past, so no want for proprietary chargers – slap the Watch GT3 on any Qi charger and you might be good to go. It takes as much as 3 hours for the whole cell to high up, however this can be a quantity for our 46mm unit – the 42mm system ought to take beneath 2 hours.
There’s a small round charger within the field if you happen to do not don’t have one among your personal – it has the additional advantage of being extra compact and snapping magnetically to the again of the Watch GT3.
Verdict
Huawei is taking hits from a number of sides, however we’re joyful to see it is not affecting its good wearables in any respect.
The Watch GT3 does every little thing we wish, from a smartwatch for informal athletes and much more. Discovering points with the wearable could be nitpicking – the show is vivid, the battery lasts a very long time, and the software program options are as plentiful as they ever have been. The watch seems elegant on the hand and is mild sufficient to not get in the best way.
We might like to see the AI coach make it to different actions, and a wider selection of free watch faces.
Costs for the 42mm variant begin from €209, and the 46mm model will be discovered for as little as €229, however the associated fee grows when a extra unique coloration is chosen. Huawei will low cost some merchandise if bought in a bundle with the Watch GT3, however all of the promos are market dependant.
Nevertheless, even with out the additional goodies the GT3 is one among, if not one of the best value-for-money smartwatches in 2021. If you happen to want a companion on your runs, that additionally would not look misplaced in fancier environments, it’s best to actually have this one in your shortlist.
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