Huawei unveils new Watch 5 and Watch Fit 4 Pro smartwatches

With the Watch 5 and the Watch Fit 4 Pro, Huawei is presenting two new smartwatches in Berlin. With its new sensor, the Watch 5 is aimed primarily at people who want to measure as much health data as possible. The Watch Fit 4 Pro, on the other hand, is more for the sporty type.

The Watch 5 is available in 42 and 46 millimeter sizes. The smaller version houses the technology in a stainless-steel case, while Huawei uses titanium for the larger version. Curved sapphire crystal protects the screen. Both watches have an identical design: round OLED display with up to 3000 cd/m² brightness, rotating crown at the top right, additional button at the bottom right.

Huawei has placed a new sensor called X-Tap in the middle between the crown and button. The 3-in-1 sensor can create an ECG, perform a PPG measurement to change the volume of blood vessels (photoplethysmography) and recognize ten pressure levels. X-Tap can therefore record optical, electrical, acoustic and mechanical data all at once. All of this should lead to more precise and faster measurements simply by placing a finger on it. Huawei calls this the Health Tap, which is intended to provide a better overall picture in addition to the continuous monitoring by the sensors on the underside of the watch.

In standard mode, Huawei promises a battery life of three days for the small and four and a half days for the large version of the watch. With the always-on display, it should be two and three days respectively, and in ultra power-saving mode with limited functions up to seven and eleven days respectively. The Watch 5 supports mobile communications via eSIM.

Huawei is presenting the Watch Fit 4 Pro, which the manufacturer is aggressively comparing with the Apple Watch Ultra. Its rectangular format and operating elements also give it a similar look. However, at 9.3 millimetres compared to 14.4 millimetres, the Huawei watch is significantly slimmer, and with its titanium alloy case, it only weighs around half as much, namely a good 30 grams. At 1.82 inches, the Huawei display is slightly smaller than the Apple screen at 1.92 inches, but both OLED panels achieve the same brightness of 3000 cd/m² according to the manufacturer.

The Huawei Watch Fit 4 Pro supports numerous sports modes, including diving and golf, and is unlikely to run into endurance problems if it achieves the manufacturer's battery specifications in practice. One week of normal use and a maximum of ten days without recharging should be possible.

Huawei Watch Fit 4 as a cheaper alternative

The Watch Fit 4 completes the watch trio with a slightly slimmed-down technology and a more discreet look. It is similar to the normal Apple Watch and, like the Pro, should last a week without recharging under normal use, with a maximum runtime of ten days. At 27 grams, the Watch Fit 4 is very light, and the case measures 9.5 millimeters. The 1.82 -inch rectangular OLED display achieves a brightness of up to 2000 cd/m² according to the manufacturer.

The right app is required to set up the Huawei watches. However, due to the US embargo against the Chinese company, this is not listed in the Google Play Store and must be installed manually via sideloading. A QR code on the packaging of the watches leads directly to the download link. External APK sources must be enabled on the smartphone for installation. Huawei users should urgently close this potential security gap after successful installation to reduce the risk of catching malware this way. The Huawei watches are compatible with Android, iOS, and the Huawei EMUI system.

The Huawei Watch 5 will be available for purchase at prices between 449 and 649 euros, depending on the size and model. The manufacturer charges 279 euros for the Watch Fit 4 Pro and 169 euros for the Watch Fit 4.

(sht)