For the launch of the Huawei Watch 3 4G, we were invited to an online press conference, worthy of an American show. After the presentation of the product, we were invited to open a bag and discover the watch live, all filmed by webcam to observe our reactions. My first impression? This watch is MA-GNI-FI-QUE, as much in the finish of the stainless steel dial, as the rotating ring of the most beautiful effect (Apple style), as well as the huge 1.43 inch touchscreen AMOLED screen (466 x 466 pixels), and genuine leather strap.

Discovery of the watch

Usually I have a preference for sporty rather than classic watches, but the Huawei Watch 3 is so splendid that design-wise I prefer it to my current Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2. Although imposing (46.2 x 46.2 x 12.15 mm for 54g), it does not seem massive on my small wrist or on that, even smaller, of my partner.

The watch off is beautiful, but when the OLED screen is on, it's sublime. The screen is huge, splendid and I have fun discovering all the pre-installed applications. At first glance, the Huawei Watch 3 is more health tracking oriented than multimedia.

Configuration

Huawei and its AppGallery having been banned from Google Play Store, you must download the application directly from the manufacturer's website or other download sites. Despite my computer skills, finding the latest version of the AppGallery and installing it on a smartphone is not easy.

I let you imagine my frustration with this magnificent watch in my hands, but unusable because I could not connect it to my Smartphone. When the applications (AppGallery, Health and Huawei CMS) are installed, connecting the Watch 3 to your phone is a snap.

While I had some difficulty installing it on my Samsung smartphone, setup didn't take two minutes on my son's Huawei P30. The Huawei Watch 3 is better integrated on a Huawei phone than on my Samsung and therefore offers additional options.

It is for example possible to record via the watch, a voice note which is immediately saved on the smartphone. It bothers me somewhat to use a complementary store, in addition to the Google Play Store and the Galaxy Store, especially since each time the AppGallery is launched, an advertisement systematically appears for a few seconds. God that is unpleasant as can be!

Harmony OS 2

Huawei proudly presented HarmonyOS 2 as the future reference operating system for all connected objects of tomorrow. In theory, this smart new OS is fast, smooth and low on memory. It reminds us of Apple's, which is not disturbing, but since I've been wearing Samsung smartwatches for more than four years, adapting to Huawei's OS has not been without difficulty. Once the logic has been assimilated, with a lot of time, the use becomes natural and intuitive.

Thanks to this new OS, it is possible to install applications directly from the watch without using your smartphone. In reality, HarmonyOS 2 is ultra-fast, pressing an application and presto, it launches instantly. On my Samsung smartwatch, when I launch an app, it takes several seconds for it to open. In other words, it's very annoying and it's with pleasure that I click everywhere on the Huawei 3 just for the pleasure of watching the applications launch quickly.

Features & Apps

Compared to my Samsung Watch Active2, Huawei's marketplace offers far fewer apps (perhaps because the OS is recent?). Spotify is thus absent subscribers. However, Huawei offers an alternative via their in-house "Music" application... which is not compatible with my Samsung Note 10+, so it is impossible to control the music with the watch.

The Huawei Watch 3 is sorely lacking in configuration options. I like when the screen lights up with every notification, it allows me to read content without touching my watch and saves me time. That's basically why I own a smartwatch.

This configuration is impossible on the Watch 3: you have to either activate the lighting of the screen when you move your wrist but, suddenly, the screen lights up all the time and the autonomy drops drastically, or press the a button to read his messages, which is not practical and takes away all the interest of the watch.

Apparently notifications aren't Huawei's specialty (unresponsive to them and not optimal display of messages) even on previous generations, but I'm sure with HarmonyOS updates 2, things will get better.

The watch received for the test is the one compatible with eSIM 4G, which allows you to pair your physical SIM card with a virtual SIM card. Very practical for walking around without your phone without fear of missing a call. However, in Belgium this feature is only enabled at Telenet, so we were unable to test it. If this function also allows you to read notifications without having your smartphone nearby, it would save me from having to carry my Smartphone everywhere I go. Also, we tested the call in Bluetooth, the quality of the small speaker and the microphone of the watch are excellent.

An elegant yet sporty watch

Even if the Huawei Watch 3 presents itself as an elegant watch, it is as well or even better equipped than sports models. It is equipped with a built-in GPS, an accurate heart rate monitor, a temperature sensor, a gyroscope, an accelerometer and a barometric pressure sensor. Although these sensors are practically constantly activated, the watch has an astronomical autonomy.

I wanted to compare the health statistics of my Samsung Watch Active2 and the Huawei Watch 3 while wearing them simultaneously. Result ? The heartbeat and the number of steps are identical. As much as I like the Huawei Watch 3 to be big, it's heavy and uncomfortable to run on. I quickly removed it to keep only my small and light Samsung.

Darling, she with her tiny wrist was not bothered at all by the weight and the guard when we train together. On the other hand, for cycling, the size of the watch is not a problem since the wrist remains fixed.

A practical option for a sports watch is the fall detection which allows you to call a number in case of emergency (if the eSIM is configured). Reassuring for athletes who want to go out to practice sport without their phone.

Autonomy

The autonomy is faithful to what was announced during the press conference, the watch lasts three days with all the health monitoring functionalities activated, but with the automatic screen ignition deactivated and by removing the watch the night. When the screen turns on with motion detection, battery life drops to just under two days. To fully charge the Huawei Watch 3, it will take just over 90 minutes using the supplied induction charger.

Value for money

The Huawei Watch 3 eSIM is sold at €399 (On sale on Amazon, with the Huawei Free Buds 3 headphones), a price justified for the quality of the watch and the on-board technology, if the eSIM is operational.

Conclusion

The qualities of the watch are undeniable, but the complexity and the obligation to install Huawei's AppGallery could put some people off. , this watch will fit you like a glove.

On the other hand, if your preferences go towards a connected object full of configuration options rather than a pretty watch, it is better to go your way. For my part, on a daily basis, I prefer my good old Samsung Watch Active2, because it is lighter and more configurable. However, when I want to be stylish and flirt with girls, it's the Huawei Watch 3 that I proudly wear on my wrist.