Photo by Mica de los Reyes
Smartwatches continue to grow in prominence as more and more features are being introduced in this space. Loyalists of traditional watches are unlikely to budge. But for the casual watch enthusiast, the “smarter” that smartwatches get, the more enticing they may appear.
In swoops HUAWEI with the new Watch 4 – an incredibly slick looking timepiece with a host of smart features to help you manage your daily life. From health management to independent communication, this smartwatch hits all the right spots.
Design and build
Compared to its predecessor, the HUAWEI Watch 4 is both slimmer and lighter. Its thickness clocks in at 10.9mm which is around 10% slimmer than the Watch 3. In terms of its weight, it weighs at around 47g compared to the Watch 3’s 57g.
The slim and lightweight profile contributes to the wearability of this smartwatch. It definitely feels comfortable on the wrist regardless of the activity you’re engaged in.
The size of the bezels has also been reduced for more screen real estate. The bezels have been shaved down by around 0.9mm with the screen-to-body ratio of the HUAWEI Watch 4 being at around 74%.
When it comes to durability, the display is made from 3D-curved sapphire glass while the body is built with aviation-grade titanium alloy. The smartwatch itself does feel quite sturdy and feels like it’s built to last.
Its sleek and minimalist designs provide situational versatility, making it quite suitable for a variety of occasions. Mix and match from numerous watch face options to better suit the experience.
Display
The HUAWEI Watch 4 is equipped with a 1.5-inch LTPO AMOLED display. I was quite impressed with the screen quality. The details on the watch were vibrant and truly stuck out. Apart from the colors, scrolling and swiping felt so smooth which is a testament to the display’s responsiveness.
In relation to the display, I was more than pleased with the watch face options to choose from. The default watch faces are limited, however you can go on the HUAWEI Health App on your mobile device and choose from a variety of free watch faces to install.
You also have the option to search for other watch faces in the smartwatch’s settings, but I’d recommend the former as there are more choices there.
Health is wealth
During the post-pandemic era, monitoring one’s health has become a priority for most of us. And more often than not, we look to smartwatches to help ourselves keep track of important health metrics.
The HUAWEI Watch 4 has numerous features that monitor the health of our most important organ – the heart. The smartwatch is equipped with an ECG sensor. It also makes use of pulse wave arrhythmia analysis to screen for abnormal heartbeat rhythms.
It is also able to monitor SpO2 and arterial stiffness for a more comprehensive and holistic view of your health. However, it is important to note that getting a regular checkup from your physician is always the best way to manage your health.
Thanks to the HUAWEI Watch 4’s rubber strap, I personally have no problem sleeping with the device on my wrist. This is especially helpful when using the smartwatch to track my sleep patterns. As someone who is usually deprived of sleep, it is able to assist me in knowing how to adjust my sleep schedule and what I need to do to get better sleep.
The smartwatch is also able to measure skin temperature. This is definitely relevant to most of us right now as we are experiencing the intense summer heat.
100+ workout modes are also offered to keep track of your performance. The wide range of workout modes makes this watch suitable for almost any type of athlete.
All of these features make the HUAWEI Watch 4 an excellent companion in your health and fitness journey. I would recommend pairing this with the use of the HUAWEI Health App on your mobile device as it can make better sense of the data provided by the watch. It can also assist you in formulating goals and creating health plans to achieve these desired goals.
Smart features
The HUAWEI Watch 4 allows you to make use of service widgets. This lets you scroll through different widgets for different scenarios, whether it’s related to your work efficiency, managing your health, or engaging in your workouts. Service widgets are also easily customizable to show whatever is relevant to you.
This smartwatch also allows for independent navigation. You can easily navigate around while running or cycling so that you will never get lost while doing these activities. While this navigation is independent, it can also be used in tandem with the navigation app on your smartphone.
Independent communication is also one of the main features of the HUAWEI Watch 4. It is compatible with an eSIM that allows you to have one number for two devices like your smartphone and the watch, but also for the watch to have an independent number.
This way, wherever you go, regardless if you have your phone or not, you can stay connected and send your own messages through the watch or take calls as well. And the speakers by the way are pretty decent. While taking calls with the watch, the sound was quite clear, which is definitely a big plus.
The HUAWEI Watch 4 is compatible with both iOS and Android. Regardless of your platform, you can enjoy the host of smart features that this watch has to offer.
Battery and charging
While in the standard mode, the watch can last up to around four days which can definitely be extended to around 14 days on Ultra-long Battery Life Mode. However, after activating the eSIM and setting it to always on, I found the battery life reduced to around two days.
When it comes to charging, a full charge for me took approximately 70-80 mins.
Verdict
The HUAWEI Watch 4’s capabilities can be fully maximized with a HUAWEI ecosystem and Health App. However, its compatibility with iOS and Android will still allow you to use the wide range of its features.
It is one slick looking timepiece that offers a lot of health management and smart features to help you get through and monitor your daily activities. It’s further evidence that HUAWEI is a major player in the wearables space. At a price point of Php 22,999, the HUAWEI Watch 4 is a premium smartwatch that is definitely one to consider.
