The Huawei Watch 3 isn’t just another smartwatch; it’s one of Huawei’s most essential releases in a long time. Harmony OS, Huawei’s self-developed operating system, replaces the Watch GT2’s older software, which we’ve heard a lot about but have yet to try.
The Huawei Watch 3 is the first gadget to launch with the software officially, and while it’s quick and well-designed, getting it to work with your phone takes a lot of time and effort. Is it worth it, assuming you’re willing to put in the effort?
Design
The Huawei Watch 3 is one of the most attractive smartwatches on the market. With a case made of 316L stainless steel and a high-quality, beautiful ceramic case back, it’s meticulously crafted and incredibly comfortable to wear.
Huawei has a long history of proving that it knows what it’s doing when it comes to design, both in phones and wearables, and the Watch 3 is no exception. It’s simple, basic, yet thrilling; the setup is incredibly watch-like and far superior to most Wear OS smartwatches.
The 46mm casing fits my 6.5-inch wrist perfectly, and the 65-gram weight makes it comfortable to wear all day, albeit it’s a little too wide for sleeping. Because ceramic feels so lovely against your skin, it’s crucial to use it. Its reflecting nature is elegant, and unlike plastic, it does not sweat or itch.
An offset, finely textured crown sits atop a single button at the four o’clock position on the side. Neither digs into your wrist, but the button on the case is a touch too low on the subject, making it a little challenging to identify and press.
The touchscreen and the crown are used to control the Watch 3. The 1.43-inch AMOLED screen, with a resolution of 466 x 466 pixels, is stunning, and it shines brightest when displaying colorful watch faces.
The toughened glass used over the screen has a lovely feel, and the 2.5D curve around the bezel makes swiping satisfyingly haptic while also giving the watch face shape and aesthetic interest. The elegant texture of the crown provides grip and is thus easy to move with your finger.
Software
Harmony OS is Huawei’s reaction to not using Google Services on its mobile devices due to US government limitations that prevent US companies from working with Huawei. It’s a whole software ecosystem established by Huawei that’s supposed to work flawlessly across everything from IoT hardware to smartphones.
The Huawei Watch 3 is the first device to run HarmonyOS 2, so don’t expect Wear OS or Huawei’s LiteOS, which were previously used on the company’s wearables. It’s its world, vastly superior to the two of them.
The fluidity, speed, and smoothness are incredible. There are no delays or slowdowns; instead, you get an instant response, a gorgeous “bounce” sensation when swiping between screens, and lightning-fast scrolling. Bright colors, huge icons, clear writing, and several pretty watch faces make it appealing to the eye.
Huawei’s Health App
The Huawei Watch 3 wins some goodwill by being stylish and having fast software, and it needs every ounce of it because getting it up and running and using the app can be irritating. HarmonyOS 2’s newness is revealed here, and we can see Huawei’s dilemma if it wants to garner wider adoption.
The pairing and setup process is simple if you have a Huawei phone. It uses the Huawei Health app, which comes pre-installed on the Mate 40 Pro I tested and which you launch and add your watch to via the Devices menu. The procedure takes only a few minutes to finish.When you wish to utilize a non-Huawei smartphone, though, things get a lot more complicated.
HarmonyOS 2
HarmonyOS 2’s smoothness makes navigating the software a breeze. There are apps for all significant functionality, including access to the compass, breathing exercises, the music app, and phone operations if you activate the eSIM. If you’re in the UK and wish to utilize the eSIM, you’ll need to use Vodafone’s network.
Huawei informed Digital Trends that it “aspires to offer eSIM support from a larger number of carriers in more countries,” but gave no timeline for when this may happen. Remember that adding an eSIM to your current monthly subscription will cost you more. Thanks to its speaker and microphone, calls can be answered on the Watch 3 even if it doesn’t have an eSIM.
