In the (rather expensive) world of smartwatches, it can be difficult to find a decent device that allows you to expand the uses of the smartphone in your possession without breaking the bank.
In fact, buying a smartwatch can feel like buying a second phone – expensive as hell. It’s like saying ‘Rest in peace’ to your bank account.
Sure, there are budget options out there. But of course, like other tech products, the less you spend on smartwatches, the less you get in terms of functionality and quality. It’s a tradeoff some people are willing to make.
It doesn’t always have to be that way though.
HUAWEI’s GT line of smartwatches have comfortably filled that void, offering all the functions you would expect from more expensive brands, while also providing an air of quality and refinement in design.
I used to own the HUAWEI Watch GT 2. To me, it seemed like the perfect ‘dumb’ smartwatch. But in no way is that an insult. Rather, it’s a welcome sight in an over-saturated market obsessed with keeping people connected to every single notification possible.
It only showed me the notifications that mattered, allowing me to enjoy the watch for what it really was – a go-anywhere personal assistant.
But after spending two weeks with the new Watch GT 2 Pro, it’s safe to say HUAWEI has stepped up their game.
Right out of the box, the HUAWEI Watch GT 2 Pro oozes quality.
Offering a similar unboxing experience to the HUAWEI Watch GT 2 that came before it, the GT 2 Pro immediately greets you the moment you lift up the box lid.
Accompanying the smartwatch is a USB-C cable which you’ll need to plug into the included wireless charger. More on this later.
My review unit also came fitted with a silicone strap, making it super-lightweight and comfortable for long periods of use.
Upon first glance, the GT 2 Pro looks less sporty than the GT 2, and I’m glad that’s the case. Don’t get me wrong, I love the rugged appearance of the 46mm GT 2, but there’s just something about the newly-designed frame of the GT 2 Pro that screams luxury.
There aren’t anymore shouty numbers encompassing the watch’s circular display. Instead, we just have hour indicators, represented by clean white lines.
The watch frame itself is made of titanium, which to me is a huge plus when comparing the materials used in the GT 2. It feels hefty, like it could do some real damage if I slammed it on a glass table or something – please don’t do this. Just an example.
And the fact that the watch back is made of ceramic also makes it feel good on my wrist.
The GT 2 Pro is more refined than previous offerings.
Remember the wireless charger included in the box? Last year’s GT 2 came with a proprietary charger, essentially limiting you to the one you got with the watch itself if you were in need of a battery boost.
But THANKFULLY, the GT 2 Pro now has Qi wireless charging. This was an amazing discovery when I first got my paws on it. No longer did I need to worry about lugging a finicky wireless charging pill around.
Instead, I could just use the wireless charger I’d been using for my other devices. This allowed me to just leave the included charger in the box, without a care in the world.
And if you’ve got a smartphone that has reverse wireless charging capabilities, even better. It certainly worked just fine on the back of my Samsung Galaxy Note10 Plus.
But aside from Qi wireless charging, the watch also gets a sapphire crystal fascia, making it less prone to small dings and scratches.
Swiping across the expansive menus also feels more smooth and fluid, thanks to HUAWEI's custom user interface, LiteOS. The circular display itself offers 1.39-inches of deep, substantial blacks, and punchy vibrant colors thanks to the use of an OLED panel.
While I wish the automatic brightness of the screen was a little stronger indoors, I had absolutely no problems using the watch in bright daylight outdoors.
It's pretty comfortable to wear, despite its 46mm casing.
In fact, I've been wearing the watch 24/7, only taking it off when showering. Though it's water resistant, I just don't appreciate wearing something wet on my wrist.
I personally feel the watch looks good, even on my dainty baby wrists. Wearing it to sleep, like any wearable, takes some time to get used to. But in terms of comfort, once I was asleep, I forgot it was even on my wrist.
I was only reminded of it when the alarm I set in the watch (using the HUAWEI Health app) buzzed me awake with its vibration motor.
Speaking of sleep, I found that the sleep tracking was pretty accurate. I normally get seven to eight hours of sleep every night, and the GT 2 Pro was showing me the same figures.
Battery life for days. Actually, more like two weeks.
Most smartwatches are notorious for having incredibly bad battery life. Today's most common offerings, both in budget and flagship form, can only offer you two-to-three days of juice.
But battery life is precisely where the GT 2 Pro excels. From the day I got my review unit, up until now (two weeks later), I have yet to charge it. I'll probably need to toss it on my wireless charger by tomorrow perhaps. Currently it's sitting at 10 percent.
Aside from the quick five-second charging test I carried out with my smartphone and wireless charger, this unfortunately means I can't share with you my own experience charging the watch up. But I guess that's a testament to the wearable's excellent battery life, isn't it?
It wasn't like I babied the smartwatch either. I made sure to link up notifications from WhatsApp, Slack, Instagram, Gmail, Twitter, and Facebook. I also made full use of the watch's ability to control music in Spotify playlists.
Furthermore, I thoroughly enjoyed using the GT 2 Pro's ability to make and receive phone calls. Callers on the other end reported that my voice sounded crystal clear when I spoke into the watch. Listening to callers through the built-in speakers of the GT 2 Pro was also a breeze.
This feature is more than useable; it's actually pretty good. Sure, you may look weird speaking to a watch in public, but it sure is useful while driving.
If I had to be nit-picky, there are only a couple of features the GT 2 Pro is missing.
Smartwatches in the flagship range allow users to reply to text messages with simple, pre-prepared messages like 'Okay' or 'On my way'. Unfortunately, the GT 2 Pro lacks this feature, just like the GT 2 did.
Is it a deal breaker? Most certainly not. But it would be a welcome feature. Who knows, maybe the next iteration in the GT2 lineup might feature it.
Another thing I wish the smartwatch had was a stronger processor. This would allow the use of third-party apps, even if I could only get them from HUAWEI's App Gallery as opposed to other app stores.
But the fact that these are the only two gripes I have with the GT2 Pro is telling of its real-world usability.
I'd gladly use it as my daily driver. If only I didn't have to return it to HUAWEI.
In Malaysia, the HUAWEI Watch GT 2 Pro retails for RM1,199.
If you're contemplating on getting a smartwatch, then I have no problems recommending this one to you.
Follow Mashable SEA on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Cover image sourced from Danial Martinus / Mashable Southeast Asia.
