HUAWEI Watch GT 4 review: Should you buy it?

Should you buy the HUAWEI Watch GT 4?

The days of HUAWEI watches being a super stripped-back software experience compared to other mainstream smartwatches are long gone. Over the years, HUAWEI has steadily chipped away at the mainstream feature set and caught up with the pack, all the while adding other unique features few others offer. The HUAWEI Watch GT 4 is easily the most feature-rich GT series watch yet, adding the new calorie counter and health community aspects of the more expensive HUAWEI Watch 4. It also adds support for even more sports and activity modes for fitness tracking and improves the accuracy and reliability of sensors and GPS.

All of these under-the-hood improvements are largely overshadowed, however, by the distinctly fashion-forward look of some models of the GT 4, including the steel version I tested with the integrated bracelet design. HUAWEI tells me this design was popular in regular watches from the 70s and is seeing a comeback. While I don’t personally love it, to each their own. I’m also not a huge fan of the octagonal shape of the puck but HUAWEI assures me it has a long history in Swiss watchmaking. The good news is that if one version of the GT 4 doesn’t appeal to your particular tastes, there are a bunch of other styles on offer, from sporty to delicate, and two sizes to choose from, at 46mm and 41mm.

Fitness tracking and health metrics have always been a strong suit of HUAWEI’s wearables, barring the occasional hiccup. I’ve previously found them to be highly accurate when compared to my Polar H10 chest strap and even to the Apple Watch. In my testing of the GT 4, the same results held true. I found the HUAWEI Watch GT 4’s TruSeen 5.5+ heart rate tracking to fall within a +/-3% range when compared to the Polar H10 — this is even better than HUAWEI’s claimed +/-5%.

Some common activities like walking and running can be automatically detected and tracked. Many more can be activated manually, providing even more specific analysis of whatever type of activity you do, whether it’s cross-country skiing, skipping, or triathlon. I mostly rode and ran with the GT 4 and found its tracking and analysis to be in line with what I got from the HUAWEI Watch Ultimate I was previously wearing and what I know my usual metrics to be for regular routes. I have no concerns recommending the Watch GT 4’s ability to accurately track health data.

Some of the new features are particularly interesting, including a calorie counter and sleep-breathing awareness function. As you would expect, the calorie counter lets you upload caloric info for several meals per day, including snacks, leave notes (and even photos), add meal times, and set target intake figures so you can accurately monitor your caloric deficit. Data entry is done through the HUAWEI Health app under the Weight tab but you can access an overview on the GT 4 via the Stay Fit app and add a new weight record from your wrist. Sleep breathing simply monitors your breathing during sleep and reports any irregularities or interruptions. I guess my breathing is fine as I only got normal readings, but this could be a great addition for those wanting a closer ear on their nocturnal breathing habits.

All the other regular features are here too: sleep stage analysis, stress level monitoring, skin temperature, SpO2, activity rings, step counter, heart rate tracking, and breathing exercises. You can export your health data and sync stats with third-party apps like Strava, Komoot, and Adidas Running. Some apps are not supported in some countries (or on. iPhone) so your mileage may vary and the App Gallery is still woefully underpopulated with the only real standouts being the calculator and Spotify controller. Some regions don’t have access to the watch face gallery either but if you do there are thousands of options both free and paid to suit every need.

I particularly like the fresh new UI on the Watch GT 4 and hope it comes to other wearables in HUAWEI’s lineup. The old UI was getting a little dated in my opinion, so a fresh coat of paint is appreciated and makes the watch look and feel a bit newer on the outside. This is especially helpful considering the relatively dated internal components HUAWEI has been using for several generations of smartwatches. Despite this, the GT 4 doesn’t lag or hang, and navigating the UI is seamless and intuitive. The screen is also great and is easily readable outdoors in bright sunlight.

The biggest selling point for any HUAWEI wearable is always outstanding battery life, and the Watch GT 4 delivers. I’m yet to encounter a HUAWEI wearable that doesn’t live up to its stated battery life claims, give or take a day or two, which is largely dependent on usage. I would consider myself a relatively heavy smartwatch user. I check it countless times a day, occasionally play music on it, use GPS to track a few runs and rides and leave all the health tracking options enabled. I don’t use the always-on display, however, and leave it in sleep mode after 9PM. so the screen doesn’t illuminate when I lift my wrist. In the 10 days I’ve been using it, I’m down to 31% remaining, right on track for hitting the claimed 14 days. The Watch GT 4 charges wirelessly with an included charging puck.

HUAWEI is proudly touting the new “sunflower” GPS in the Watch GT 4, which adjusts signal strength depending on the watch’s orientation. I’ve had some issues in the past with slow location locking on HUAWEI watches, but that hasn’t been in evidence on this device.  Sunflower GPS is more about maintaining a stable connection with a satellite to ensure location accuracy once a lock is achieved, so it may just be a coincidence that I’ve had speedy location locking so far. Regardless, I haven’t had any issues with the GT 4’s dual-band GNSS being slow to lock on to my location when starting an activity. I haven’t personally noticed the accuracy of location data being any more accurate than in past HUAWEI wearables I’ve tested but I can’t say it’s not doing anything either. Sunflower GPS is only available on the larger 46mm HUAWEI Watch GT 4.

My only real gripe with the HUAWEI Watch GT 4 is its cheap-feeling haptics. I’ve used every generation of GT and don’t ever remember the haptics feeling this rattly. There’s nothing ostensibly “wrong” with the haptics, they just don’t feel very… integrated into the watch. Rather, the feeling (and sound) is more superficial and loose feeling. The best way I can describe it is to say it’s like one of those table buzzers you get at restaurants when it’s time to go collect your food. Given the centrality of haptics to a smartwatch, this is a pretty unfortunate weakness.

At £229/€249, the HUAWEI Watch GT 4 offers a lot of the great fitness tracking HUAWEI wearables are known for along with excellent battery life in an affordable package. It also adds even more new software features and a refreshed UI and exterior design, with styles and straps to suit every taste. Some other watches may have better app support or syncing options and should be considered if you have specific platforms or needs. Non-Huawei phones, iPhones, and Android devices in particular regions will also miss out on certain features, so I’d strongly advise a visit to your local HUAWEI store (or check the returns policy) before pulling the trigger on a purchase.

What are the best HUAWEI Watch GT 4 alternatives?

There’s a lot to like about the HUAWEI Watch GT 4 but there are also some strong competitors worth considering in the same price range.

• Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 ($299.99 at Samsung): If you’re considering one of the more expensive HUAWEI Watch GT 4 options, Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 6 is the most obvious competitor, especially if you have a Samsung smartphone or have any concerns about US compatibility or app support.
• Fitbit Versa 4 ($199 at Amazon): The Fitbit Versa 4 is a great fitness tracker in a smartwatch body. While it’s a comparable health, fitness, and sleep tracker, the Versa 4 saw some controversial feature omissions from its predecessor (due to the Google acquisition). Nevertheless, it’s right in the same price range and worth considering for both Android and Apple devices.
• Apple Watch SE 2 ($269.99 at Amazon): The Apple Watch SE 2 is the natural choice for anyone within the Apple ecosystem, especially if the standard Apple Watch 9 series is a little too expensive. It lacks some of the features and functionality of the more expensive Apple Watch and has less battery life than others on this list but it’s worth considering.
• Garmin Forerunner 255 ($304.99 at Amazon): While not the latest and greatest from Garmin, the Forerunner 255 from 2022 is still a competitive alternative to the HUAWEI Watch GT 4. If running is your sport of choice, you can do a lot worse than a Garmin watch.

HUAWEI Watch GT 4 specs

HUAWEI Watch GT 4 review: FAQ

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