Huawei is back with their newest timepiece, the Huawei Watch 4 Pro. With enhanced features, a sleeker design, and two available versions, this watch promises to offer more than its predecessors. Let’s delve into its features, usability, and overall impression.
The new Huawei Watch 4 series follows the luxurious Huawei Watch Ultimate and stands out as fully-equipped smartwatches. The Watch 4 Pro, boasting a sapphire crystal and titanium alloy case, exudes quality. A robust Qualcomm processor powers it from within. Notably, it outlasts many Android Wear OS watches with a battery life of up to 4.5 days. With HarmonyOS supporting apps and standalone LTE with eSIM, both the Huawei Watch 4 and Watch 4 Pro operate independently from smartphones.
Pros and Cons
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Stunning display with curved glass | Lacks Google’s Wear OS |
| Cool watch faces | Expensive than competition |
| Extensive health tracking | Bulky case |
| Strong battery life | |
| eSIM compatible |
Specifications
| Watch 4 | Watch 4 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimension | 46.2 × 46.2 × 10.9 mm | 47.6 × 47.6 × 12.9 mm |
| Case size | 46 mm | 48 mm |
| Thickness | 10.9 mm | 12.9 mm |
| Weight | 48 g (without strap) | 65 g (without strap) |
| Display | 1.5 inches LTPO AMOLED | 1.5 inches LTPO AMOLED |
| Resolution | 466 x 466 pixels, 310 PPI | 466 x 466 pixels, 310 PPI |
| SoC | Qualcomm SW5100 | Qualcomm SW5100 |
| OS | HarmonyOS 3.1 | HarmonyOS 3.1 |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC |
| Case Material | Stainless steel | Aerospace-Grade titanium |
| Water Resistance | 5 ATM IP68 | 5 ATM IP68 |
| Battery | 530 mAh | 780 mAh |
Huawei Watch 4 (46mm) vs. Huawei Watch 4 Pro (48mm)
The Huawei Watch 4 comes in a more budget-friendly option, featuring a 46mm steel case and a black 22mm silicone strap. Its 1.5-inch AMOLED display, which it shares with the Pro model, makes it compact and lightweight at 47 grams (excluding the strap). You can expect the battery on this smaller watch to last 3 days with its 530mAh capacity under standard use.
On the other hand, the Huawei Watch 4 Pro showcases a durable titanium alloy case, which you can pair with either a leather strap or a titanium bracelet. While the 48mm case houses a larger battery, it tips the scales slightly heavier at 65 grams (without the strap). With a 780mAh battery, the Watch 4 Pro promises a battery life of 4.5 days under typical usage.
Unboxing
From the moment of unboxing, the Watch 4 Pro demands attention. The larger 48mm Pro version contrasts its 46mm counterpart. However, both promise a sturdy build with the Pro version boasting a titanium strap (with a leather option available). One particularly notable improvement is the Sapphire crystal coating which ensures the watch remains scratch-free, an improvement many long-term Huawei watch users will appreciate.
The package comes with a user manual, the leather strap, and a USB-A charging cable. However, the watch also supports QI wireless charging.
Display
The Huawei Watch 4 Pro boasts a sturdy LTPO display technology that promises to outperform standard AMOLED technology. This watch supports a permanent display mode, which showcases various screensavers when idle. With just a wrist flick, the display lights up, ready for action.
The AMOLED screen on the watch is 1.5 inches across and has a resolution of 466 x 466 pixels, giving it 310 pixels for every inch. It refreshes 60 times a second, but with LTPO technology, it can slow down to 10 times a second when showing the always-on display.
The regular Huawei Watch 4 has a screen protected by tough glass, but the Pro version uses even stronger sapphire glass. What’s really cool about it is the curved or “spherical” shape of the glass and the screen underneath. This design not only looks amazing but also feels nice to use.
Design
At first glance, the Huawei Watch 4 Pro looks like a luxury watch because of its top-notch design and materials.
The Huawei Watch 4 Pro with a leather strap has dimensions of 47.6 x 47.6 x 12.9 millimeters and reaches up to 16mm at its thickest point. It weighs 78.7 grams with the strap and 65 grams without it. The strap fits wrist circumferences between 140 – 210mm, but can stretch up to 22cm. Both Huawei Watch 4 models have an IP68 certification, making them water-resistant up to 5ATM and safe for diving up to 30 meters deep.
The Watch 4 Pro comes in a pristine titanium case paired with a metal strap. Interestingly, Huawei also offers two other strap versions: metal and leather, giving consumers an array of options based on their style preferences. The watch comes packed in a stylish box, hinting at the elegance inside.
The highlight of the design is the sapphire glass that has a unique semi-circular shape, enhancing the overall aesthetic. Additionally, its large display provides ample space for easy interaction and control.
The design itself has evolved. Compared to the GT3 Pro, the Watch 4 Pro looks more modern, circular, and with a matte finish that gives it a luxury look.
The case’s right side houses a quick select button with an ECG sensor, and above it, a rotating, clickable crown for easy menu navigation. Two microphones sit below the frame on the left, and a speaker on the right.
Wearing Comfort
The Huawei Watch 4 Pro, with its 1.5 inch AMOLED screen and 780mAh battery, is pretty big. It’s even chunkier than the TicWatch 5 Pro and fits more snugly on the wrist. If you have slender arms, this watch might look too big. It looks stylish for everyday use, but it tends to wobble when I run. If you’re into sports, you might prefer the regular Watch 4 with its Fluoroelastomer Rubber Strap.
Features and Connectivity
Huawei has integrated 4G LTE Data Network compatibility into this series. This means, with an eSIM or virtual SIM, users can use the watch as a standalone phone. An added perk is the ability to maintain WiFi and Bluetooth connections.
This watch runs on HarmonyOS in its 3.0 version. The revamped interface is snappier, offering fluid navigation with quick action shortcuts. For those curious about compatibility, the Watch 4 Pro can seamlessly connect with both iOS devices and other Android phones.
Another highlight feature is the Live View section. You can quickly access your phone’s camera, giving you a preview directly on the watch. It’s a perfect feature for those who love self-recording or need a live feed of their camera.
One of the standout features is the watch’s eSIM support. Users can send and receive messages directly from the watch. However, there’s a slight limitation: popular messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram aren’t supported yet.
For fitness enthusiasts, the watch offers more than 100 training sessions, automatic workout detection, blood oxygen level measurements, and even an ECG function. This comprehensive fitness suite makes it a worthy companion for health-conscious individuals.
Sensors and Health Tracking
Huawei continues to prioritize health with a plethora of sensors on the Watch 4 Pro. It measures heart rate, stress, sleep, and even skin temperature. Its blood oximetry sensor and over 100 sports modes solidify its place as a health-focused watch. Added safety features like automatic fall detection can notify your contacts in case of an emergency.
The Watch 4 and Watch 4 Pro connect to the smartphone using Bluetooth 5.2. They also have 2.4 GHz WiFi (LE). Both watches feature an eSIM function and support many 3G & 4G network frequencies like B1, B2, B3, and so on up to B66.
You can make calls directly from the Huawei Watch 4 and 4 Pro. They also have a fall detection feature. If someone falls, the watch can automatically call a saved number, like a family member’s. However, it won’t call emergency numbers like 112 because smartwatches often mistakenly call it.
Both watches come with NFC, but it’s not fully functional right now. If you go running or cycling, the watches can track your route with their built-in GPS. This GPS supports different systems like GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BeiDou, and QZSS. They also have an e-compass and a barometer.
On the back of the watches, there’s an optical heart rate sensor named “TruSeen 5.0“. It checks your pulse and the amount of oxygen in your blood. With the help of a side button, it can even create an ECG, which is a test of your heart’s activity. The watches also have a temperature sensor to measure your body temperature. Plus, they come with an accelerometer and gyroscope to track your steps and other physical activities or sports.
Huawei Health App
To make the Watch 4 Pro work, you’ll need the Huawei Health app. This app works on both Android phones and iPhones. You can get the app from Huawei’s App Gallery. Once you download the app, it will ask for some permissions. After you agree, you’ll need to sign in with a Huawei account to pair the Watch 4 Pro.
The Huawei Health App is easy to navigate. The app tracks pretty much everything! However, only data from Strava can be shared with it. You can change all the Watch 4 Pro settings from the app and even start some sports activities.
The Huawei Watch 4 Pro tracks many health details and any exercise or sports you do. There’s a feature called “Health Glance” that lets you quickly check your health with just a tap. Some cool new features are the breathing test for checking lung function, where you cough on the watch a few times, and a medically-approved ECG that can spot heart issues. If the Watch 4 Pro senses a fall, it can even make an emergency call using its eSIM to a phone number you set up earlier.
Of course, it also has the usual health features that can check your health around the clock. These include checking your pulse, seeing how much oxygen is in your blood (SpO²), figuring out your stress level, measuring your skin temperature (this is useful for tracking the female cycle), and seeing how well you sleep at night.
To help you stay active, the watch has three rings with goals you can set. They show your daily steps, how many calories you’ve burned through exercise, and how long you’ve stood up during the day. Plus, you can earn medals for hitting your step goals and trophies for setting new records, like running your fastest 5 kilometers.
The Huawei Watch 4 Pro offers more than 100 sports modes to choose from. It can automatically detect when you’re doing a sport, though this works best for walking and might take a moment to kick in for other activities. For sports enthusiasts, there’s pretty much every mode you can think of. There’s even a new dive mode for those into scuba diving, which makes use of the depth sensor to measure pressure. Golfers can also try out the new tee-off training mode.
While many of these modes simply track your heart rate and tell you how many calories you burned, some use the watch’s extra sensors to give more detailed information. For instance, when you’re swimming, the watch can show how often you pull your arms through the water. And in many modes, the watch also measures the maximum amount of oxygen you use (known as VO2Max) and checks your heart rate after you finish your workout to see how quickly you recover.
Usability and Extras
Controlling music is a breeze on the Watch 4 Pro. It syncs perfectly with your phone, allowing users to control volume, play, pause, and skip tracks directly from the watch.
There’s also an option to store music directly on the watch. This is perfect for those who wish to leave their phone behind when they head out for a jog. The built-in GPS ensures your route gets recorded.
When you’re cycling, jogging, or walking, the Huawei Watch 4 Pro uses its GPS to track your route by itself. It takes about 10 to 15 seconds for the watch to figure out your location when you’re outside. Plus, if you’re hiking or running, the watch can show you the path you took and even guide you back to where you started.
Battery Life
The battery life of the Huawei Watch 4 Pro is impressive. The watch comes with a 780mAh battery. Huawei says that with regular use, the battery will last 4.5 days, and if you use the energy-saving mode, it can stretch to 12 days.
When you keep the always-on display feature turned on, the battery lasts about four and a half days. Plus, this watch charges super fast – just 15 minutes of charging gives you a full day’s power! If you want the battery to last even longer, there’s an “Ultra Mode.” When you turn this on, the watch can run for up to 21 days on its most energy-saving setting.
The watch comes with a special charging cable. This cable has a tiny dip in it, so the watch sits right in the center, and it sticks to the charger with magnets. With fast charging, the Watch 4 Pro can fully charge in just 90 minutes. But you’ll need a charger that provides at least 18 watts of power for this. The cool part? The watch uses the QI standard, which means you can also use other wireless chargers to charge it.
Pricing
The Huawei Watch 4 Pro excels as a wearable, standing almost as a cell phone on your wrist. However, it hasn’t established itself as the best smartphone extension or accessory. With a price ranging from $490 to a staggering $700 for the premium variant. The Huawei Watch 4 Pro, featuring a titanium case and leather strap priced at $590, through its paces in both daily use and during sports activities.
The previous models, Huawei Watch 3 and Huawei Watch 3 Pro, hinted at potential in their practical tests. So, does this new generation position itself as a genuine Android contender?
Conclusion
The smartwatch works wonderfully for Huawei users, but not so much for the broader Android community. The smartwatch looks amazing, and you might even mistake it for a high-end luxury watch. My favorite part? The AMOLED display with its curved glass. Traditional Wear OS smartwatches just can’t match the depth of Harmony OS and the lasting battery.
However, since Google stopped working with Huawei, the watch doesn’t connect well with Android and lacks some essential smartwatch apps. Although the Huawei Watch 4 (Pro) performs better than some Android phones, it doesn’t really complement them well.
When we talk about the price, Huawei’s new smartwatch has to battle big names like the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro and the TicWatch Pro 5. These watches are more affordable, and they come with Google’s Wear OS 3.5. This means they interact much smoother with any Android smartphone.
