When Motorola released the first Moto 360 in 2014, it laid claim to new ground in wearable technology: the beautiful smartwatch. In just a year, the market has adapted and Motorola now finds itself amid a host of competitors, most of whom have taken note that looks matter just as much as brains. Samsung, LG and Pebble all released round smartwatches this year along with Motorola and its second generation 360. Joining them is Chinese manufacturer Huawei, who is in the midst of an evolution. Though the company has made excellent phones for years, it hasn’t had the opportunity to gain real traction in the United States. That changed in 2015, when Google partnered with Huawei to build the Nexus 6P, a near unanimous hit considered by many to be the best Android smartphone on the market (our review is coming soon).
To pair with its shiny new phone, the company has also played a card at the wearables table. Like its brethren, the simply named Huawei Watch is a thing of beauty.
Hardware
Before we discuss the watch’s design, let’s talk about its packaging. Normally, technology boxes are simple, some even utilitarian. They get the job done but after you’ve seen a handful, you’re rarely surprised. The Huawei Watch is different. The minute I laid eyes on the box, it was clear the company was aiming to make a certain impression. Less a gadget box, the packaging is closer to a traditional high-end timepiece’s, constructed of a soft-touch leather material that looked and felt the part. Inside, the watch is nestled on a familiar pillow, with the inscription “Timeless Design, Smart Within” hovering above on the underside of the lid. The order is important to note. Design is clearly first here. Huawei put a concerted effort into making the device one you would clamor to put on your wrist, rather than begrudgingly accept to.
The watch itself is well-built and handsome; the stealth black, all-metal version the company sent particularly striking. Huawei offers six variations, including silver, black and gold cases, with numerous substitute bands. The system used to swap bands is simple and easy, similar to that of the Moto 360. The metal review unit I received is priced at $449, but it goes for as low as $349. There’s no doubt it’s a robust price, but the quality is undeniable. Huawei crafted an impressive package and, throughout my weeks of wearing it, I received numerous compliments. On your wrist, it has a definite heft that takes getting used to. Once you do, though, it’s a comfortable machine to have on for hours at a time. I never had any trouble with the metal band irritating my skin, and though the watch case is quite thick, it does not feel unwieldy. The clasp mechanism is straightforward, even adjusting the size is a breeze (though Huawei suggests you take it to a professional). There is no doubt, however, this is a dressier smartwatch than most. The black version certainly helped when dressing down, but I am hard-pressed to imagine it in a sporty setting. I found it to be unsuited for wear during exercise given the weight, thickness and metal build. It does have the necessary equipment on board to be a health tracker but, rather than enhancing my workouts, the watch became a nuisance and something I wanted out of the way.
The screen is a 1.4-inch full-circle AMOLED display with 400×400 resolution that accounts for 286 ppi. It’s covered in sapphire crystal, a first for an Android Wear device, so you can rest assured it will remain scratch-free throughout use. The screen is sharp enough for everyday use, with accurate colors and deep blacks. Using a black watch face with the black casing is wonderful, the device coheres together so you can hardly tell it’s digital rather than traditional. My biggest complaint is that the screen is quite reflective, making it difficult to see in direct sunlight. The brightness options are enough to alleviate the issue, but the lack of adaptive brightness is a disappointment. For most situations, keeping the watch on its lowest brightness is plenty. Once you walk outside, though, things get more complicated. Huawei included a brightness toggle in the settings pulldown, but it takes at least three swipes to get to when needed. That may sound like a nitpick, but when you want to simply glance at your watch for the time while on a walk, and instead have to fiddle with settings to achieve the desired brightness, it’s an annoyance. Otherwise, the screen is more than adequate, and I never experienced the “red tint” issue some owners have reported. The circular display worked well with Android Wear in my experience, as well. I never found myself frustrated by cut-off notifications, and the operating system did not seem out of place on the round form factor. Even so, if there had been noticeable clipping, the added fashion boost from the watch’s traditional appearance is more than a worthwhile trade-off.
