Three and a half years ago I had the pleasure of reviewing the Huawei Watch GT, and I loved it so much that it ended up being my daily watch until a few weeks ago when I received the brand new Huawei Watch GT. 3 Pro.
The old watch worked great – it could still reach close to its two week battery life and still let me keep track of my notifications, exercise and sleep pattern like it did when I first set it up in the first quarter of 2019.
Available now for RRP $699, how good is Huawei’s latest smartwatch?
This is the “Pro” model in the GT 3 series and boasts a premium look and feel. The 46mm watch face is made of titanium which really stands out on the wrist. There are a wide variety of straps available, but I’ve chosen to stick with the included fluoroelastomer strap, at least for now. For consumers looking to spend a little less, the Active, Classic, and Elegant models of the GT 3 are all available for less than $500. Huawei also offers the Watch Fit 2, Band 7 and Watch D, all of which we reviewed in August.
The Watch GT 3 Pro is packed with features with over 100 workout modes, ECG monitoring and even a golf swing analyzer included. Huawei pretty much took everything people loved about the Watch GT and GT 2 and made it even better.
The Huawei Watch GT 3 Pro is gorgeous, and I think it strikes the perfect balance for a smartwatch. The large face of the watch is well complemented by a versatile scratch-resistant sapphire dial. One of my favorite things about the watch is the crown which works like a dial to scroll through notifications and navigate the different menus with haptic feedback. The only physical “button” is the ECG button, which also serves as a quick start for exercise. The nanocrystalline ceramic back cover feels nice on the wrist compared to other watches and is almost gel-like in terms of smoothness.
Setting up the watch is simple and just requires downloading the HUAWEI Health app. The app breaks down your information and data well, such as your sleep tracking and workouts.
The 100+ workout modes we’ve already mentioned include running, biking, mountaineering, indoor swimming, skiing, and more, but one of my favorite features for active users (and a which, admittedly, I have not tried yet) is the possibility of recording dive data. The watch displays real-time dive data, including speed, depth and duration of dives. It also has airtight safety reminder settings, like automatic reminders if you go too deep or too long. IP68 and 5 ATM water resistance ratings allow for free dives up to 30 meters.
Golf mode analyzes swing speed, swing tempo, backswing time and downswing time, giving you tips to further improve your game. While not as polished as dedicated golf watches, it’s the perfect solution for the casual golfer.
There are loads of different watch faces you can download through the app, although the store itself looks a bit clunky. A couple of my favorites were watching the moon cycle and high/low tide – great if you like to go to shore to fish.
HUAWEI TruSleep 2.0 sleep monitoring is one of the best sleep monitors I’ve used on a watch, giving you sleep quality scores and personalized advice to help you get the most rest possible. There’s also a stress monitor that detects when you’re stressed and gives you breathing exercises to help clear your mind.
The notifications aren’t too intrusive, and there are handy quick replies you can use if you don’t want to answer a particular phone call.
If you’re using Android or HarmonyOS, you can sync music to the watch and listen through a Bluetooth device. Likewise, the ability to download third-party apps through the App Store is only available through these two operating systems.
The Watch GT 3 Pro’s AMOLED display is excellent and performs very well in bright conditions. In addition, the screen sensitivity is now much better and offers perfect responsiveness.
Like the first Watch GT, battery life can last up to 14 days with minor use or around eight days with heavy use. The included fast charger, however, lets you charge 25% in 10 minutes or 100% in just 85 minutes – perfect if you’re always on the go.
Battery life will obviously decrease if you opt for the new always-on display option, but this feature might benefit those used to a more traditional watch.
Verdict
The Huawei Watch GT 3 Pro has won awards around the world since its launch, and it’s easy to see why. Despite its relatively high price, it’s certainly a worthy competitor to the flagship devices offered by Apple, Samsung and Garmin, although you might not get as much out of it if you own an iPhone.
The watch’s great looks, impressive performance, and durability are the perfect combination for a modern smartwatch. I’m sure this one will last me another three years, at least.
