Huawei Watch GT 6 Pro review: Elegant and sporty at the same time

Huawei is introducing the Huawei Watch GT 6 series today. We had the opportunity to test the Huawei Watch GT 6 Pro in advance. Read on to find out what the new watch has to offer—or rather, what its watch faces have to offer.

And finally ... With the Watch GT 6 Pro, Huawei has once again achieved a strong success in the wearable market: up to 21 days of battery life, compatibility with iOS, smooth operation, and a comfortable fit. Only on narrower wrists does the smartwatch appear rather bulky, yet elegant. The most notable features are the new pulse wave arrhythmia (PWC) detection, the trail running mode, and fall detection with automatic notification via Bluetooth. The only difficulty was encountered with the new PWC measurement, which didn't always work reliably right away.

At first glance

Picture: TechnikNews

The Huawei Watch GT 6 Pro is a visual eye-catcher – no question about it. Our test model comes in the version with a titanium case and a black fluoroelastomer strap. The display measures 1,47 inches in diameter, which is especially noticeable on narrower wrists. Here, the watch quickly appears oversized, even though the workmanship and choice of materials are certainly high-quality.

There is no rotating bezel like on Samsung.

At just under 55 grams (without strap), the watch isn't exactly lightweight, but it's still comfortable to wear as long as it fits well. The build quality is flawless, as is typical for Huawei. Buttons have clearly defined pressure points, and the strap is easy to change.

Display and operation

The 1,47-inch AMOLED display has a resolution of 466 x 466 pixels and is one of the better panels in the smartwatch segment. Colors are vibrant, blacks are deep, and brightness is sufficient – ​​even in direct sunlight. With up to 3.000 nits, that's no surprise. The automatic brightness adjustment responds quickly and reliably.

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It is operated via the touchscreen and two side buttons, the top one being rotatable. Navigation through menus is fluid. A neat gimmick: the bottom button can be assigned a variety of shortcuts. Returning to the previous menu is possible with a swipe to the right – relatively simple operation.

Software and Compatibility

The Watch GT 6 Pro runs Huawei's own operating system, HarmonyOS, currently in version 4. The system is lean, responsive, and devoid of unnecessary bulk. In terms of compatibility, the watch is open: Android and iOS users can use it equally. However, as with previous models, some functions are limited on iOS. For example, replying to messages is not possible. This isn't a Huawei flaw, but rather a general problem for other manufacturers as well—the ball is in Apple's court here.

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The "Huawei Health: Europe" app is required to set up the watch; it cannot be used without pairing it with the smartphone. A Huawei ID is also required to start the setup process – but this doesn't mean that all data is stored in the cloud. The manufacturer lets the user decide whether to synchronize it to the cloud or keep all data stored locally on the smartphone.

Caution – There's a fake Huawei Health app in the Google Play Store. Always download the app directly from Huawei.

• To download the Huawei Health App click here

The app selection on the watch itself is manageable, but covers the most important fitness and everyday functions.

Health functions: innovations and reliability

The focus of the GT 6 Pro is clearly on the new sensor functions. Pulse wave arrhythmia detection (PWC) is Huawei's answer to similar features from other manufacturers and is designed to detect potentially dangerous irregularities early on. However, the measurement doesn't run in the background; instead, it must be initiated manually and takes about 30 seconds. During the measurement, a finger is placed on the bottom button to establish contact. This didn't always work reliably in our tests—the finger was usually too dry.

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Other health features such as SpO2 measurement, sleep tracking, stress monitoring, and skin temperature measurement are also integrated. The measured values ​​seem plausible for everyday use, but (as with many wearables) deviate slightly from reference values ​​in individual cases. For a daily overview, they are perfectly sufficient.

Fall detection and safety

Another new feature is fall detection. If a serious fall is detected, the watch actively asks if everything is okay. If there is no response, a predefined contact is automatically notified via Bluetooth on the paired smartphone. In testing, this function was difficult to deliberately simulate (which is a good thing), so we can't really assess its functionality at this point.

Sports and Outdoors: More than Running and Cycling

The watch is also clearly aimed at sports enthusiasts. Over 100 training modes are integrated, from classic jogging to specific outdoor activities. New to the Pro model of the watch is, among other things, the Trail Running mode, which boasts automatic gradient detection and notifications for energy management. High Altitude Care 2.0 also supports this with intelligent reminders for safe off-road activities.

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There's also something practical for cyclists: The first virtual power meter on a smartwatch (Simulated Power) offers precise performance diagnostics while cycling without external equipment. Even better: This feature is coming to the entire Huawei Watch GT 6 series.

Automatic exercise detection works quite reliably for standard activities like walking, running, or cycling. Those who need more detailed training plans can create them directly via the Huawei Health app—including recovery times and VO2 max estimates.