HUAWEI Watch 4 REVIEW: A fitness and health tracker that's not just for gym rats
A watch of today does more than just tell the time. The timepiece is a fashion accessory, and with the popularity of the smartwatch, it's the ultimate fitness buddy, too.
Enter the HUAWEI Watch 4, the Chinese tech brand's latest wearable which offers a wide array of health monitoring features—on top of the usual ECG and Blood Oxygen tests, this smartwatch also does temperature and respiratory checks.
With all this health data on your wrist, this watch will give you a nudge for when it's time to see a doctor. It's not just gym rats who'll be able to utilize this watch to the fullest.
Design and specs
The Watch 4 comes in a sleek form factor with its 3D curved glass screen and slim bezels. Its touch display comes at 1.5 inches, and it's actually AMOLED so you get a pretty vibrant display indoors or outdoors.
On the right side of the watch, there are two buttons: the rotating crown so you can scroll through your screen and a quick access button for apps for calling, workouts, and health.
Despite its chic look, the Watch 4 is rugged as it is 5ATM-rated water resistant, meaning it can take splashes of water and can be used for swimming in pools and shallow waters.
User experience
Out of the box, the watch already has all the apps you'll need pre-installed. There are apps for messaging, calls, music, maps, weather, alarm, timer, and workouts. The watch is simple to navigate, as well—a swipe up from the home screen shows your notifications, a swipe down takes you to the control center, and swipes across the screen takes you to different widgets.
The Watch 4 also easily pairs with an Android or an iPhone through the HUAWEI Health app where you can see more detailed information about your health data and exercise plans. This app also gives you additional options for watch faces, if you're not feeling any of the pre-installed ones. However, do take note that some watch faces are paid so make sure to search for the free ones.
If you want quick access to apps, the Watch is equipped with HUAWEI Assistant. I've found it handy in times when I need to set quick timers while cooking or when I start outdoor workouts when I take my dog out for walks.
Despite pairing an iPhone with the HUAWEI Watch 4, I was able to get notifications right to my wrist so I could check them even when my phone was away.
The smartwatch also supports eSIM, so I was able to send texts and make calls even when I didn't have my phone with me. One thing I noticed though as an iOS user, the texts I send with the watch don't show up in my inbox.
In terms of battery life, the watch can last you more than a day depending on the watch face and other features that are on. Charging can take longer, though, if you don't have a high-powered power brick.
Health features
The cherry on top of the HUAWEI Watch 4 is its bevy of health monitoring features. On top of recording exercises and activities for workouts, this smartwatch can be useful, too, for those who are not as active.
The Watch 4 monitors your sleep, stress, heart rate, blood oxygen levels, temperature, and more. One of the most useful features I've found useful is the Health Glance reporting where you get your basic data on your phone. Besides the ones mentioned above, this function also does a respiratory check so you can check if your lungs are in okay shape. How the watch does this is by recording coughs.
The watch itself isn't a medical device, as the Health app states, but it's pretty handy for showing you data about your respiratory and cardiovascular health. It will also send you reminders based on trends, which may be a sign to go to the doctor soon.
Verdict
Even if you aren't a fitness buff, the HUAWEI Watch 4 is a useful smartwatch for tracking your health as it can provide you quick data on your heart and lung health. Its eSim support comes in very handy, as well, so people can reach you via call or text if you leave your phone behind.
The Watch 4 is available for P22,999 with a free HUAWEI Sound Joy speaker worth P6,999 starting February 23 through the HUAWEI website.