The smarter the better I suppose... but at what cost?
And by cost, I'm not just talking price, I'm talking cosmetic cost too; till recently most smart watches have sacrificed form for function.
Well not anymore...
Meet the Huawei Watch, perhaps the first smart watch to really blur the line between tech gadget and fashion accessory.
There are two contrasting stories to tell about the Huawei Watch - we'll get to the inside story soon enough, but let's go with look and feel first.
At last we have something most people would consider to be a good-looking watch in its own right. There's quite a selection of casing/band combinations, ranging from the classic silver stainless steel casing with black leather band, right up to the rose gold stainless steel casing with matching gold stainless steel link strap. Whichever option you choose, there's a real feeling of quality and traditional style to this watch and it starts with the packaging.
The Huawei Watch is sealed within a sturdy box within a box, all mounted on a padded display stand that would be sure to knock the socks off anybody lucky enough to receive one as a gift. They say first impressions last and with this device you are left in no doubt you're dealing with quality workmanship... and that's before you even pick it up.
When you do, there's a solidity and heft to the Huawei Watch that really sets it apart from its more "plasticky" competitors. The screen is sapphire crystal, the casing cold-forged stainless steel. In short, this is a real watch.
If I had to criticise the style of this watch, I might highlight how thick it is (ie: how high it sits on top of your wrist) but it's not at all over-the-top in comparison with other large-style time pieces.
No. I loved the look of this thing, from the moment I picked up its black on black box to the second I had it on my wrist.
Pairing it with my phone posed no particular challenges; there was the usual firmware update but that didn't take long at all, then I was able to fire this baby up.
Like many other smart watches on the market, the Huawei Watch runs the Android Wear OS, which has its advantages, but a fair few drawbacks too. Because of the number of manufacturers using Android Wear, when it comes to options like face styles, the list to choose from is almost limitless. Huawei has installed quite a nice selection to begin with, but there are several apps around that let you customise the face to whatever colour and style you prefer; analogue, digital the choice is yours. The display definition is very sharp and clear, so if you choose the right face the casual observer would never suspect what lies beneath.
Huawei has built in the option to leave your screen on all the time, or you can save battery by activating it with a screen tap or a push of the home button situated at the 2 o'clock position on the side.
As good as the display is, I struggled to read it in bright sunlight conditions, especially with sunglasses on which was annoying when running.
Which brings me to the limitations of Android Wear. Unlike Samsung's Tizen-based watches, or purpose-built fitness trackers like the Fitbit Surge, Android Wear doesn't really seem to install apps on the watch itself. Instead, the watch relies more on Android Wear functionality being built into the app on the phone it's paired with.
This means notifications are sent to the watch and controls are sent back to the phone, sort of like a smart remote. This arrangement seems to work very well for things like the media controller (skipping tracks, pausing video, turning volume up and down etc) but I've found it's less effective when it comes to activating fitness apps like Endomondo. Sometimes it would start, sometimes not. Sometimes my durations and progress would display on the watch in real time. Sometimes I was left with the impression the app had stopped, even though it hadn't. Of course, all this could be a programming issue at Endomondo's end, which may be resolved down the track. (See what I did there? "Track?"... Never mind)
There's a step counter built in and being an Android Wear device, you can easily sync with your Google Fit account if you have one.
What was in no doubt was the inconsistent performance of the heart rate monitor. Good on Huawei for including one at all, I'm constantly amazed when other brands don't. But the readings I got were random to say the least. I'd love to think I can make it through a whole Attack class without my pulse getting above 90BPM, but I think we all know that ain't happening.
In saying that, I really don't think many people would by this watch as a fitness device. It's a fashion accessory and despite its IP67 water/dust-proof rating, its not a watch you really want to sweat all over.
Another frustrating thing about Android Wear is while you can read texts and notifications when they come in, you can only read emails if they arrive one at a time. Once they start stacking up, you're forced to get your phone out to go back through them. Again, maybe Android will figure this out eventually, but for now, it's a real barrier to productivity.
Let's talk battery life. In my experience, wearables like this usually last about a day on a single charge. Critics are always going on about how this is the problem with smart watches but I disagree. Most people take their watch off at night anyway and the Huawei Watch's magnetic charging cradle is super easy to attach and detach. There's also an easily accessible Theatre Mode which turns off the screen and notifications, without affecting any alarms you have set. I found this useful for bedside table use as well.
As I review this review, I feel like most of my complaints have to do with the Android Wear operating system, not the watch itself. So given so many of the smart watches on the market run the same OS, you may as well buy the one that looks the best.
By the way, Apple disciples, I'm talking to you too. Whatever you've been brainwashed into thinking, the Apple Watch is still big, square, awkward and geeky. The good news is, the Huawei Watch will work with your iPhone as well.
It's not cheap, but nothing truly fashionable ever is, is it?
Click here for more information on the Huawei Watch
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