Innovative smartwatch or a product destined to fail? The Huawei Watch Buds marks the start of a brand new period of smartwatches, not less than in accordance with the Chinese producer. Read our review to search out out whether or not the novel wearable idea has the potential to determine itself and for whom the acquisition of the premium smartwatch is likely to be worthwhile.
Marcus Herbrich, 👁 Daniel Schmidt, ✓ Brian Burriston (translated by DeepL / Ninh Duy), Published 🇩🇪
With the Watch Buds, Huawei takes a totally progressive strategy by integrating detachable, wi-fi earbuds into the smartwatch’s casing. What could appear uncommon at first look might revolutionize the wearable market – not less than if the Chinese producer has its method.
The smartwatch itself is supplied with a chrome steel case together with a hinge and a 1.43-inch AMOLED display that resolves with a pixel density of 326 PPI. According to Huawei, the folding mechanism has been examined over 100,000 occasions. Besides the particular case design, the Huawei Watch Buds presents ECG, coronary heart charge and SpO2 measurement in addition to sleep monitoring.
Display
1.43 inch 1:1, 466 x 466 pixel 326 PPI, capacitive Touchscreen, AMOLED, shiny: sure, 60 Hz
Connections
NFC, Brightness Sensor, Sensors: Accelerometer, gyroscope, digital compass, optical coronary heart charge sensor, VAC, The earbuds are shielded from splashes of liquid (IPX4)
Networking
802.11 b/g/n (b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/), Bluetooth 5.2, GPS
Size
peak x width x depth (in mm): 15 x 47 x 47 ( = 0.59 x 1.85 x 1.85 in)
Battery
410 mAh Lithium-Polymer, Earbuds: 30 mAh
Charging
wi-fi charging
Operating System
Huawei HarmonyOS
Additional options
Smartwatch, earbuds (with dimension M ear plugs – S and L dimension ones additionally included), charging station & cable, fast begin information, security information, guarantee card, HarmonyOS 3, 24 Months Warranty, fanless
Weight
77.5 g ( = 2.73 oz / 0.17 kilos) ( = 0 oz / 0 kilos)
The particular characteristic of the Huawei Watch Buds is the combination of the True-Wireless headphones, which additionally impacts the smartwatch’s haptics. The watch’s heart of gravity is unusually excessive as a result of hinged display, to which the in-ear headphones are magnetically hooked up in two recesses on the underside. Thus, the Huawei Watch Buds strikes extra distinctly on the wrist than different smartwatches. The excessive weight of virtually 67 grams (~2.4 oz) additionally has a unfavourable influence.
Due to the mechanics, the case yields a bit underneath strain and wobbles minimally. However, the push button wants fairly a little bit of drive to open the display screen and launch the headphones. Inadvertently opening it’s subsequently nearly unimaginable.
The 15 millimeter (~0.6 in) deep stainless-steel case is cumbersome even on giant wrists, however seems to be nicely-made and of top of the range – with the exception of the crown. The knurled button-like management aspect doesn’t have any resistance when turned and the strain level may be tighter, which makes the crown look fairly low-cost total. The Huawei Watch Buds additionally has a Clous de Paris bezel across the OLED display, but it surely seems to be very tough to learn in on a regular basis use.
The included full-grain leather-based strap has a width of twenty-two millimeters (~0.9 in) and is appropriate for wrists with a circumference of 140 to 210 millimeters (~5.5 to eight.3 in). The strap feels nice, however might be a bit softer and much less stiff. However, each ought to nonetheless enhance over the service life.
Due to the hinged lid design, the Huawei Watch Buds isn’t waterproof – not less than not formally. We requested Huawei Germany and acquired the reply that each the headphones and the watch itself comply with the IP54 commonplace. If water enters the opened smartwatch, it mustn’t trigger any issues, identical to rain or sweat.
The Huawei Health app, which will be accessed and downloaded through a QR code on the display of the Huawei Watch Buds, is required for the setup technique of the wearable and the next operation. Devices with Android can not get the appliance through the in-home app retailer and must be put in manually – the person has to comply with an set up from insecure sources. The smartwatch is paired with the smartphone through Bluetooth 5.2 and labored nicely within the take a look at with a Galaxy S23 Ultra labored with none issues.
Numerous watch faces will be considered, firmware updates downloaded, and settings for the smartwatch will be made through the Huawei Health app. However, some features can solely be adjusted through the smartwatch itself, which is a bit incomprehensible. For instance, we don’t discover an possibility for the at all times-on display within the Health app.
The capacitive contact display screen is generally operated through swiping gestures. A swipe to the left opens the configurable widgets, a swipe down opens the settings, and a swipe up opens the notifications. If the person desires to entry the menu, he has to press the crown on the left casing edge as soon as. Pressing the dial additionally returns to the house display screen. The operation works reliably in on a regular basis use. The processor’s efficiency can be quick sufficient to display the adjustments between missed messages or house screens easily. However, the truth that turning the crown has been assigned with out features is meaningless.
A wrist gesture can be utilized to activate the display screen. A palm-up gesture can be accessible to place the display into stand-by. When the person prompts the Always-On display, the Huawei Watch will be woken up with a double faucet, in any other case the Watch Buds doesn’t assist this gesture.
Huawei doesn’t embody a speaker or a microphone within the Huawei Watch Buds, which is disappointing contemplating the smartwatch’s pricing. Incoming calls are displayed on the wearable and will be rejected, however nothing extra. Third-party calls, like from WhatsApp, are additionally displayed.
However, the premium smartwatch from the Chinese producer presents the choice – if the state of affairs permits it – to take away the integrated headphones from contained in the watch and use them to make a name. As quickly because the in-ears are eliminated, the decision is robotically accepted. Callers from the decision listing can be actively known as again, so long as a connection to the mobile phone will be made.
The small True Wireless headphones have AI noise cancellation and a constructed-in microphone. However, lively noise cancellation isn’t attainable with them. We additionally used the in-ears of the Watch Buds for making calls, however that’s not one of many headphones’ strengths both. During our calls, the microphone of every earpiece offers first rate voice output, and our name companions attest to the TWS’ clear copy in quiet environment. However, a discount of ambient noise is much less good and even non-existent in on a regular basis use. The background acoustics are very current within the in-ears. Besides avenue noise, vibrant background noises, equivalent to birds chirping, are notably audible. We discovered the voice copy a bit tinny and stuffed with reverb.
The Huawei Watch Buds shows notifications reliably and with out a lot delay within the take a look at room. However, solely the topic of emails will be learn, which does not likely provide any added worth. In messengers, equivalent to WhatsApp, emojis & co. are displayed appropriately and a reply perform with predefined texts or emojis is obtainable – however customized replies can’t be used. Which functions are allowed to seem on the display screen will be set precisely within the Health app.
Health and health features are displayed on the 1.43-inch OLED display screen in addition to within the Health app. With the assistance of the 6-axis inertial sensors (accelerometer and gyroscope sensor), the person’s steps are decided and private knowledge, such because the energy burned, is calculated. Biometric knowledge is measured optically utilizing the PPG (photoplethysmography) technique via a light-weight pulse. This consists of all-day monitoring of coronary heart charge, stress stage, and oxygen saturation (SpO2). SpO2 measurement is the share of whole hemoglobin quantity certain to oxygen within the blood. The Huawei Watch Buds isn’t a medical machine and the producer emphasizes that the monitoring knowledge and outcomes are for informational functions solely and will not be appropriate for diagnostic or medical functions.
Although Huawei advertises an ECG perform for its Watch Buds, the electrocardiogram measurement didn’t work throughout the take a look at interval.
The Huawei smartwatch informs the person concerning the coronary heart charge, variety of steps, stress stage, blood oxygen in addition to energy burned and sleep conduct. An overview of those values is supplied by each the watch itself and the Health app. The wearable helps a complete vary of sports activities actions with 80 sports activities modes, however no water sports activities are listed as a result of lack of IP certification.
The sensors of the Huawei Watch Buds allow everlasting monitoring of coronary heart exercise in actual time. The stress stage can be primarily based on the guts charge variability and is indicated on a scale from 1 to 100. In addition, the SpO2 measurement will be measured repeatedly. To take a look at the plausibility of the blood oxygen saturation and coronary heart charge readings, we evaluate the generated knowledge with a Braun pulse oximeter 1 and a Polar H10 chest strap as a reference machine.
Blood oxygen saturation is a vital indicator of oxygen provide and crucial for muscle tissues to be adequately provided with power. In our measurements, the smartwatch deviates a most of two proportion factors from our medically licensed reference. Take word – the Huawei Watch Buds tends to overestimate the oxygen saturation.
We take the wearable on a motorbike experience to confirm the guts charge knowledge. The health tracker nonetheless detects efficiency peaks fairly nicely; there are solely two beats per minute between Huawei’s Watch Buds and our reference. However, the smartwatch’s charges are fairly totally different in the beginning and finish of the exercise – we measure deviations of as much as over eleven % right here. In whole, there may be a few 6 % distinction between the wearable and the Polar H10 on the finish of our sequence of measurements. The Huawei Watch Buds could be very correct when it comes to resting coronary heart charge – we can not decide any deviations right here.
The Huawei smartwatch reliably detects sleep phases and waking occasions and appears principally believable. A distinction is made between gentle, deep, and REM sleep. The high quality of sleep respiratory can be decided. The sleep knowledge can be utilized for a sensible alarm perform if desired, and feels like voices or loud night breathing can optionally be recorded throughout sleep.
Huawei’s Watch Buds shows a compact overview of the sleep knowledge, however solely the Health app offers extra detailed details about the sleep phases.
Ambitious and even aggressive athletes are actually not the goal group of the two-in-1 smartwatch, however the watch nonetheless presents quite a few coaching modes. Some sports activities will be known as up immediately within the menu, and the exercise listing can be personalized. Depending on the chosen exercise, the Huawei Watch Buds informs about a very powerful parameters. While the guts charge is definitely at all times displayed, sport-particular key figures are additionally added. The variety of strokes is displayed for rowing, and the space or pace is displayed for working.
The Huawei Watch Buds has a GPS module and can thus set up its personal GNSS connections, impartial of the related smartphone. The satellite tv for pc connection is established with just a few seconds delay when beginning a exercise outdoor. However, the Huawei Watch Buds can not set up a location indoors. The Huawei smartwatch reveals nice inaccuracies particularly in curves throughout a brief bike lap with our comparability machine, the Garmin Venu 2. The route steerage of the Huawei Watch Buds is usually off the route we really selected.
Routes will be exported through the Health app and imported through frequent file codecs (gpx, tcx, and kml). Huawei’s Petal Maps app can be put in on the Huawei Watch Buds, however navigation can’t be began immediately from the smartwatch with out the related machine.
Huawei installs a 1.43-inch AMOLED panel with a decision of 466 x 466 pixels in its smartwatch, which ends up in a excessive pixel density of 326 ppi. The producer doesn’t specify which protecting glass is used.
The OLED display screen at all times stays sufficiently legible in direct daylight because of the strong brightness. Our measurements reveal a most luminance of 477 cd/m² when the brightness sensor is enabled – we measured 415 cd/m² in handbook management. However, those that use the at all times-on display possibility within the settings must reckon with readability restrictions in vibrant environment. Otherwise, the brightness sensor regulates the display’s brightness convincingly.
Like nearly all screens with OLED expertise, the panel of the Huawei Watch Buds makes use of pulse width modulation for management. We measured flickering with a frequency of 131 Hz.
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
ℹ
To dim the display screen, some notebooks will merely cycle the backlight on and off in fast succession – a way known as Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This biking frequency ought to ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If mentioned frequency is just too low, customers with delicate eyes might expertise pressure or complications and even discover the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM detected | 131 Hz | ||
The display backlight glints at 131 Hz (Likely using PWM) . The frequency of 131 Hz could be very low, so the flickering might trigger eyestrain and complications after prolonged use. In comparability: 53 % of all examined gadgets don’t use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, a median of 18965 (minimal: 5 – most: 3846000) Hz was measured. |
The Huawei smartwatch is pleasantly easy to make use of. The Chinese producer doesn’t disclose details about the put in chipset and the reminiscence. Closing functions and scrolling by means of menus is finished with out lengthy delays.
The integrated battery features a capability of 410 mAh. According to the producer, the ability provide ought to present a robust utilization time of as much as 3 days utilizing the in-ear headphones. We operated our take a look at machine with a everlasting Bluetooth connection, steady pulse and blood oxygen measurement, and sleep and respiratory exercise monitoring. However, the at all times-on perform is essential for stamina. With a everlasting display of display content material, the battery indicator is decreased by about 30 % per day, which is an efficient worth in view of the massive display. If we do with out the everlasting display, we get by means of the day with about 10 % within the take a look at, which can be superb.
If you utilize the integrated headphones with a capability of 30 mAh loads, you’re going to get a correspondingly greater consumption. After about two hours of use and a remaining capability of about 50 %, the 2 in-ears want about 15 to twenty % of the smartwatch’s battery. However, the smartwatch will be prioritized within the settings in order that the headphones will not be provided with energy.
The Huawei smartwatch is charged wirelessly through the included charging pad, so charging through the paired smartphone can be attainable if the latter helps reverse wi-fi charging. When the battery is totally drained, the Huawei Watch Buds wants about 1 hour and 45 minutes for charging.
The integrated true-wi-fi headphones of the Huawei Watch Buds are very gentle with a web weight of solely about 4 grams (~0.14 oz) and in comparison with the Huawei FreeBuds 5i are rather more compact. As a end result, the working gestures will not be supported on the octagonal and cylindrical casing itself, however with a management within the space across the ear cup through a bone conduction sensor. A double faucet on the ears can pause a music monitor or finish a name.
Inside the headphones, a planar speaker with 4 magnets offers strong acoustics, however no sound miracles ought to be anticipated right here. The bass particularly could be very weak within the in-ears and the tweeters additionally break in strongly. Audiophile customers is not going to have enjoyable with the fairly weak headphones as a result of focus within the midrange, which exudes a sure boredom total. In our measurements, the harmonic distortions are additionally greater than a budget FreeBuds SE. The producer doesn’t specify which Bluetooth codecs can be found to be used in addition to the compulsorily supported SBC and AAC through Bluetooth 5.2.
Huawei states a runtime of 4 hours at a quantity of fifty%, which we will additionally affirm within the take a look at with everlasting music playback. We get a runtime of about 3.5 hours.
Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro (RMS: -3.0 dBFS) |
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Huawei Watch Buds |
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Huawei FreeBuds SE |
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Huawei FreeBuds 5i (RMS: -2.4 dBFS) |
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Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro (RMS: -3.0 dBFS) |
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Huawei Watch Buds |
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Huawei FreeBuds 5i (RMS: -2.4 dBFS) |
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Huawei FreeBuds SE |
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* … smaller is best
THD (Total Harmonic Distortion): Harmonic distortion quantifies the magnitude of the parts that come up attributable to non-linear distortion (harmonic content material) in relation to the unique sign. THD solely refers back to the elementary part. The distortion issue is usually talked about in the identical breath, however refers back to the whole sign.
THD+N (Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise): This worth is similar to THD, however along with the harmonic distortion, that of the noise is measured as an RMS worth.
For the measurement, a low-harmonic sinusoidal sign (1 okHz, > 0 dB) is reproduced through the headphones to be examined, which is recorded by a linear measurement microphone (measurement distance: approx. 1 cm) in a man-made head.
Both values are given as a proportion. The decrease the worth, the higher the sign constancy.
Frequency diagram (checkboxes will be checked and unchecked to match gadgets)
Huawei Watch Buds audio evaluation
(+) | audio system can play comparatively loud (85.7 dB)
Bass 100 – 315 Hz
(-) | almost no bass – on common 22.7% decrease than median
(+) | bass is linear (5.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 – 2000 Hz
(±) | greater mids – on common 8% greater than median
(±) | linearity of mids is common (7.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 – 16 okHz
(±) | greater highs – on common 10.9% greater than median
(±) | linearity of highs is common (9.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 – 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of total sound is common (26.3% distinction to median)
Compared to identical class
» 0% of all examined gadgets on this class have been higher, 100% comparable, 0% worse
» The finest had a delta of 26%, common was 26%, worst was 26%
Compared to all gadgets examined
» 84% of all examined gadgets have been higher, 4% comparable, 12% worse
» The finest had a delta of three%, common was 20%, worst was 65%
Huawei FreeBuds 5i audio evaluation
(+) | audio system can play comparatively loud (96 dB)
Bass 100 – 315 Hz
(±) | decreased bass – on common 13.9% decrease than median
(+) | bass is linear (3% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 – 2000 Hz
(±) | greater mids – on common 6.2% greater than median
(+) | mids are linear (5.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 – 16 okHz
(±) | greater highs – on common 11.7% greater than median
(+) | highs are linear (6.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 – 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of total sound is common (16% distinction to median)
Compared to identical class
» 26% of all examined gadgets on this class have been higher, 5% comparable, 69% worse
» The finest had a delta of three%, common was 20%, worst was 65%
Compared to all gadgets examined
» 26% of all examined gadgets have been higher, 5% comparable, 69% worse
» The finest had a delta of three%, common was 20%, worst was 65%
Pros
+ good workmanship
+ thrilling idea
+ lengthy runtimes
Cons
– partly inaccurate measurement knowledge
– no official IP certification
– Software (no typing gesture, e-mail display, …)
– higher particular person Smartwatch and headphone choices can be found for much less
The Huawei Watch Buds refreshes the wearable market with an thrilling strategy and reveals how smartwatches might develop sooner or later. However, the two-in-1 idea at present nonetheless requires some huge sacrifices, as a result of particular person options which might be equally priced provide a significantly better total package deal – for instance, the Samsung Watch 5 Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 together with the Galaxy Buds2 Pro or a Huawei Watch GT 3 collectively with the FreeBuds Pro 2.
Those searching for a particular companion on the go will discover an progressive idea in Huawei’s Watch Buds, which undoubtedly attracts consideration in on a regular basis use.
We want to see a extra enticing pricing from Huawei for a second Watch Buds era, as a result of patrons make a compromise that’s too large in our opinion with an MSRP of virtually 500 Euros (~$552). While the smartwatch itself is generally convincing, the standard of the integrated headphones nonetheless must be improved. However, we additionally miss options on the watch itself, equivalent to an extra microphone and speaker in addition to a extra practical crown. Furthermore, not less than an official IPX certification must be labored on.
The minor weaknesses within the software program are a little bit of a pity. The rudimentary display of e-mail notifications, the dearth of watch face customization or the absence of a faucet gesture to wake the watch from standby are literally pointless factors of criticism.
The Huawei Watch Buds will be bought for an MSRP of about 500 Euros (~$552), amongst others through the Huawei Store or Amazon.de.
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Huawei Watch Buds (Watch Series)
Transparency
The current review pattern was made accessible to the writer as a mortgage by the producer or a store for the needs of review. The lender had no affect on this review, nor did the producer obtain a replica of this review earlier than publication. There was no obligation to publish this review.
I’ve at all times been very passionately all for cellular applied sciences, particularly smartphones. Being a tech fanatic means the half-lifetime of my gadgets isn’t precisely lengthy, and being the most recent {hardware} isn’t sufficient to suffice because the producer and working system play a minor position – a very powerful side for me is that the machine is state-of-the-artwork. After posting for Mobi Test I joined Notebookcheck in 2016, the place I’ve been pursuing my enthusiasm for expertise by reviewing the most recent smartphone, pill, and accent traits.
Translator: Ninh Ngoc Duy – Editorial Assistant – 304918 articles revealed on Notebookcheck since 2008
My major accountability as an editorial assistant is sustaining the Library part, which aggregates evaluations from different publications and channels. In addition, my day by day breakfast is Notebookcheck’s lengthy listing of latest content material, which I comb by means of to pick essentially the most fascinating subjects for translation from English to French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and Dutch.”
Marcus Herbrich, 2023-05- 9 (Update: 2023-05- 9)
…. to be continued
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