Huawei Watch GT 3 Pro Review

Worth When Reviewed

Not accessible within the US

‘Professional’ branding has occupied the smartphone area for just a few years at this level, nevertheless it’s far much less prevalent within the smartwatch market. Huawei is one in all solely a handful of big-name wearable makers to supply up ‘Professional’ branded timepieces, with the primary such providing in its Watch GT collection arriving again in 2020.

Quick-forward 18 months and the most recent entry – or relatively entries – within the collection are right here to proceed the strategy laid out by the Watch GT 2 Professional, particularly of their use of latest design aesthetics, enhanced by premium supplies.

The obvious distinction between the earlier Professional and this era is that there are actually two variants to decide on between, providing extra alternative from what’s – in all probability now greater than ever earlier than – one in all Huawei’s most essential shopper product classes on the worldwide stage.

Design and construct

• 46mm titanium physique or 43mm ceramic physique
• Dive-proof as much as 3ATM
• Person-replaceable bands

The Watch GT 2 Professional got here in a single 46mm casing dimension, however with the GT 3 Professional collection, as with the usual GT 3 line, you now have the choice of two sizes to decide on between. Each GT 3 Professional fashions are a fraction bigger than their vanilla counterparts however the primary differentiator isn’t dimension, it’s supplies.

2020’s GT 2 Professional traded a chrome steel casing for a titanium one and the bigger 46mm (46.6mm) GT 3 Professional follows swimsuit. Actually, the design of the 46mm mannequin is clearly knowledgeable by its predecessor, with the primary distinction being the shrouded lugs that angle away sharply from the flat entrance, at about 45°. It’s a definite sufficient adaptation that units the 46mm GT 3 Professional aside from each its predecessor and nearly all of the opposite smartwatches on the market, with out feeling over-engineered.

Alex Walker-Todd / Foundry

Whereas the titanium-bodied GT 3 Professional is a pure evolution of the earlier Professional-branded Watch GT, the smaller 43mm entry is an thrilling new addition that comes clad in a fabric that, within the context of the trade, is reserved nearly solely for the luxurious watch market: ceramic.

The unusual caveat to the GT 3 Professional as a pair of timepieces is that your most well-liked materials can be tied to casing dimension. As such, for these uncertain whether or not the Huawei Watch GT 3 Professional Titanium Version or the Watch GT 3 Professional Ceramic Version is the best way to go, be sure to’re snug with the design and materials at work at the start, earlier than shopping for.

Alex Walker-Todd / Foundry

There’s no denying that each variants of the GT 3 Professional really feel just a little particular in-hand. Not solely do they each supply distinct styling however the usage of titanium and ceramic throughout each fashions additionally comes with just a few extra advantages: these supplies are markedly more durable sporting in comparison with stainless-steel, hypoallergenic, corrosion-resistant, and impressively light-weight.

On this specific occasion, each GT 3 Professionals are just a little heavier than their vanilla siblings however neither feels significantly cumbersome or uncomfortable to put on.

Alex Walker-Todd / Foundry

At a look, the end of the Ceramic Version (which solely is available in white) may very well be mistaken for shiny plastic however boasts a novel lustre when held towards the sunshine, to not point out polished ceramic is considerably extra proof against scratches and scrapes in comparison with plastic (though it’s liable to chipping and cracking if not sorted).

Whereas the type of the Titanium Version appears to be like like a dressed up normal 46mm GT 3, the ceramic mannequin sports activities a markedly completely different design in comparison with the 42mm GT 3, ditching the curved-edge cowl glass for a flat entrance accompanied by a definite seashell patterned bezel, rendered in gold or silver, relying on the strap you go for at buy. That steel accent additionally extends to the rotating crown and button, discovered on the precise aspect of the watch’s physique too.

Alex Walker-Todd / Foundry

See also  The Best VPN Services in 2022: Reviewed & Ranked

Talking of straps, there are two variations of the Ceramic Version, one with a white leather-based strap (the place the casing options silver accents) and one with a ceramic hyperlink strap, sporting a chic butterfly clasp and (together with the casing) gold accents.

As for the Titantium Version, there are three strap choices to decide on between: black fluoroelastomer, gray leather-based, or a titanium hyperlink strap. Not like the Ceramic Version, the place a software is included in-box, each the strap and the person hyperlinks on the titanium hyperlink band supply tool-less adjustment, with spring-loaded pins which might be designed to make the act of eradicating or including hyperlinks simpler. Whereas it’s less complicated, the method continues to be tough, with shorter nails making the method significantly difficult.

Alex Walker-Todd / Foundry

Just like the final Professional, sapphire crystal protects the show and a ceramic again additionally options throughout each variations of the GT 3 Professional, with the underlying {hardware} providing related sturdiness to the usual mannequin. Huawei has, nonetheless, upgraded the road’s water resistance, making these considerably distinctive within the smartwatch area by being dive-proof as much as 30m.

Show and audio

• Round AMOLED show with 326ppi
• Dynamic watch faces for day & night time
• Built-in microphone & speaker

Behind that impressively resilient sapphire crystal lies both a 1.43in or 1.32in round AMOLED show (relying on casing dimension), with the identical 326ppi pixel density as the previous couple of generations of Huawei smartwatch (throughout each the GT collection and numbered entries just like the Watch 3), in addition to rivals just like the Apple Watch.

It’s a splendidly brilliant, vibrant and constantly responsive show that’s straightforward to see and comes paired with a smattering of customisable controls. It contains a well-timed tilt-to-wake setup by default (which is sweet, as there’s no possibility to regulate sensitivity anyway) in addition to controls for brightness (together with auto-brightness), sleep, and screen-on instances.

Alex Walker-Todd / Foundry

Huawei has made a concerted effort to tailor the plethora of watch faces included on the GT 3 Professional to function devoted always-on show alternates that also supply the same type and structure to their normal look, a degree of consideration to element that different smartwatch makers ought to pay attention to.

A few of the watch faces additionally help customisable issues for metrics like battery life, coronary heart fee, and climate, with the UI additionally altering you to which watch faces may draw extra energy than others, which is a small however helpful consideration that, once more, can be good to have accessible on rival wearables.

Just like the GT 3 line, the GT 3 Professional additionally options an built-in speaker and microphone, with the previous serving up surprisingly clear sound that may be heard over basic din (corresponding to highway noise), making it usable for listening to progress updates throughout exercises whereas out working, for instance.

With onboard storage facilitating offline music playback, it’s also possible to play tunes via the GT 3 Professional’s speaker they usually don’t sound horrible nevertheless it’s removed from the best strategy to get pleasure from tunes or podcasts, so Bluetooth earbuds are in all probability the sensible plan of action.

As for the microphone, it’s primarily used for on-wrist calls or, when you’re paired to a Huawei smartphone particularly, interplay with the consumer expertise’s assistant Celia. High quality is once more purposeful (supplied it’s not too noisy within the background) and will solely be used in case your cellphone is out of attain.

Software program and options

• HarmonyOS
• UI borrows from Put on OS and watchOS
• Different notification quick-action help

Operating on Huawei’s personal HarmonyOS 2.1, the Watch GT 3 Professional provides a virtually an identical consumer expertise to the opposite GT 3 watches, together with the corporate’s first HarmonyOS watch, the Huawei Watch 3.

Alex Walker-Todd / Foundry

Concord’s wearable guise borrows from related platforms, like Google’s Put on OS, with swiping down, left, up, and proper summoning fast settings, widgets, notifications, and the watch’s assistant, respectively. In the meantime, by default, urgent the rotating crown brings up a decidedly watchOS-like apps grid (though an inventory view can be accessible).

Whereas it makes for a usually pleasnt and wealthy expertise total, there are some quirks to pay attention to, like inconsistent fast actions on notifications, corresponding to conversations from varied completely different social apps you might have. In the meantime the voice assistant solely capabilities when you have the GT 3 Professional paired as much as a suitable Huawei cellphone, making its ever-present place to the left of the primary watch face just a little annoying when you’ve paired it to a different producer’s Android cellphone, or an iPhone.

Alex Walker-Todd / Foundry

The GT’s line’s standing beneath the Watch 3 signifies that though the Professional collection provides among the most premium {hardware} from Huawei’s present smartwatch portfolio, top-tier options like its on-wrist AppGallery app retailer and eSIM performance (for phone-free calls and information utilization) aren’t a part of the equation right here.

Health and monitoring

• Tracks 100+ sport modes
• New free-dive monitoring
• ECG & NFC are market particular

Health is the place the GT line locations its focus, with a well-recognized line-up of sport-centric options as discovered on the vanilla Watch GT 3. The GT 3 Professional is supplied to trace every little thing out of your steps to your sleep (together with sleep levels like REM), with the likes of coronary heart fee, stress, blood oxygen and pores and skin temperature too.

In some markets (particularly Huawei’s homeland of China) ECG performance can be on the desk (together with NFC), nonetheless approval from native medical our bodies is required for this function to be enabled in all places the GT 3 Professional has launched (suggesting the performance may very well be ‘unlocked’ in markets the place it isn’t at the moment accessible have been Huawei to hunt the related approval).

Alex Walker-Todd / Foundry

Pair all this with an improved TruSeen 5.0+ sensor for larger accuracy when logging metrics like SpO2 and the GT 3 Professional provides among the most complete monitoring of any smartwatch at the moment on the market.

By way of the companion Huawei Well being app, that information comes dressed with extra perception too. Sleep information, for instance, is complemented by suggestions on easy methods to enhance your habits for extra constructive outcomes (or just to inform you you’re already heading in the right direction).

Alex Walker-Todd / Foundry

Together with the upgraded hardiness of this newest Professional collection, Huawei has additionally added to the prevailing 100+ sport modes that the GT 3 line already provided by means of dive monitoring that may log attributes like dive depth and curve; increasing on an already spectacular assortment of trackable actions.

The place Huawei hasn’t fairly ventured with any of its wearables is in the direction of the realm of supplementary exercise information and perception, corresponding to dietary consumption, one thing sometimes discovered on extra superior multisport watches from manufacturers like Polar.

Efficiency and battery

• Responsive consumer expertise
• Handy, fast charging
• Sturdy longevity

Given the GT collection’ marginally decrease standing in comparison with the likes of the Watch 3, I used to be anticipating middling efficiency from the consumer expertise, particularly as that was what the corporate’s earlier Lite OS-powered watches usually doled out.

In apply, the GT 3 Professional proves pleasantly snappy, with easy UI animations little question serving to the watch stay clean and conscious of a level approaching premium smartwatch market leaders just like the Apple Watch Collection 7 and Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 household.

Alex Walker-Todd / Foundry

Interplay through the touchscreen, rotating crown, and aspect button seldom proved problematic, with solely the occasional delay or stutter as I moved across the UI.

As for battery life, the 2 completely different casing and show sizes end in differing battery longevity. Huawei quotes as much as 7 days of ‘typical’ utilization from the 43mm Ceramic Version and as much as 14 days from the 46mm titanium mannequin and in apply, that proved proper on the cash, the place earlier Huawei watches have usually fallen a day or so wanting the corporate’s claims.

Even with half-hour of GPS-based monitoring a day, the 46mm Titanium Version ought to nonetheless serve up eight days of what Huawei calls ‘heavy use’, which is spectacular, to say the least.

In the event you’re new to wearables, small adjustments in utilization – like tweaking display screen brightness or timeout, enabling GPS whereas going for a run, or turning fixed coronary heart fee monitoring on or off – can all have sizeable impacts on a watches longevity and that’s simply as true right here. Nonetheless, Huawei has discovered an outstanding steadiness of health options, software program fluidity and battery life that’s tough to search out elsewhere.

Recharging the Ceramic mannequin introduced it to 75% cost in simply half-hour, with a full cost in underneath an hour, whereas the Titanium mannequin takes a short while longer. Charging takes place through a well-recognized magnetically attachable wi-fi charging puck that attaches to the watch’s ceramic again in any orientation.

Charging is, for probably the most half, painless, though the Ceramic Version did tend to complain about needing the again of the watch to be cleaned to permit for charging consistency, even when the watch was field recent.

Worth and availability

Each fashions are available for purchase direct from Huawei’s web site (Titanium Version/Ceramic Version), with some areas additionally providing availability via native retailers, corresponding to Amazon (Titanium Edition/Ceramic Edition) and Currys (Titanium Edition/Ceramic Edition) within the UK.

Maybe one of the crucial divisive points of the Watch GT 3 Professional is its worth. For a begin, not like the usual GT 3, the ceramic bodywork of the smaller 43mm Professional renders it costlier than its bigger titanium-clad counterpart, whereas the selection of strap that you simply pair together with your most well-liked GT 3 Professional can up the fee much more.

Titanium mannequin pricing:

• Huawei Watch GT 3 Professional Titanium Version (46mm) w/ fluoroelastomer strap: €369/£299
• Huawei Watch GT 3 Professional Titanium Version (46mm) w/ leather-based strap: €369/£299
• Huawei Watch GT 3 Professional Titanium Version (46mm) w/ titanium strap: €499/£429

Ceramic mannequin pricing:

• Huawei Watch GT 3 Professional Ceramic Version (43mm) w/ leather-based strap: €499/£429
• Huawei Watch GT 3 Professional Ceramic Version (43mm) w/ ceramic strap: €599 (or €699 in some areas)/£499

In each circumstances, the hyperlink strap of every mannequin’s respective signature materials makes for the priciest pairing, whereas the black fluoroelastomer strap accessible with the 46mm Titanium Version is among the many most inexpensive choices within the vary (and coincidentally the most suitable choice for many who wish to work out whereas sporting their GT 3 Professional).

The silver lining for these postpone by the worth is that Huawei doesn’t use a proprietary strap design like Apple, so whilst you can go for any of the corporate’s personal EasyFit 2 bands, you’re not restricted to them.

Try our greatest smartwatch roundup to see what the GT 3 Professional line is up towards.

Verdict

When it comes right down to it, nearly every little thing that makes the Huawei Watch GT 3 such an achieved pair of smartwatches can be true with their Professional-branded siblings.

The array of metrics these wearables can monitor and the first-party performance afforded to that information is wealthy and assorted, whereas battery life and efficiency stroll a cautious line that guarantee a powerful steadiness.

Certain, HarmonyOS has its quirks and among the extra nuanced performance of those watches stays walled behind Huawei exclusivity however the underlying expertise is arguably good, albeit acquainted.

Contemplating the extent of performance on supply the GT 3 Professional line is dear, however there simply aren’t many options prepared to toy with such luxurious supplies, that means there’s little else on the market to select from.

The Huawei Watch GT 3 Professional provides itself as much as those that need luxurious and connectivity of their timepieces, with out having to fork our 4 figures for the closest various in entries like Hublot’s Massive Bang E or the most recent Tag Heuer Linked. Even at its most costly, the Ceramic Version undercuts Apple’s top-tier titanium-bodied various, making it ideally suited for iPhone customers who favour Huawei’s round stylings over Apple’s squircles.