Huawei Watch 4 Pro: Unboxing & In-Depth Review (2024)
What's up, guys? Today, we are getting up close and personal with Huawei's latest flagship wearable, the stunning Huawei Watch 4 Pro. After weeks of testing, I'm ready to tell you if this sleek smartwatch lives up to the hype, especially with its groundbreaking new health features. So, let's dive in.
Table of Contents
- 1. First Impressions: A Stunning Premium Design
- 2. The Display: Brighter Than Your Smartphone?
- 3. Hardware Tour & Universal Straps
- 4. The Main Event: Groundbreaking Health Features
- 5. Software & Ecosystem: HarmonyOS 5.1
- 6. How Accurate Are The Sensors? A Real-World Test
- 7. The Final Verdict: Pros and Cons
- 8. Conclusion: Who Should Buy the Huawei Watch 4 Pro?
- 9. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. First Impressions: A Stunning Premium Design
Right out of the box, this watch is an absolute stunner. Huawei has truly outdone itself. The Watch 4 Pro comes in a 46mm size, and the build quality is impeccable. You have a choice between:
- Aerospace-Grade Titanium: The model reviewed here, finished in a beautiful silver.
- 904L Stainless Steel: Another premium option.
Both models are paired with an exquisite spherical sapphire glass that's incredibly scratch-resistant. The bezels are incredibly slim at just 1.8mm, making the display feel expansive and modern. With an IP68 and 5ATM rating, it's ready for anything from a downpour to a swim. Every detail, from the haptic rotating crown to the elongated oval button, screams premium.
Source: Huawei Official Website
2. The Display: Brighter Than Your Smartphone?
Let's talk about that screen. The 46mm model boasts a gorgeous 1.5-inch LTPO AMOLED screen. What truly stands out is the brightness. This thing can hit an incredible 3000 nits of peak brightness. That’s on par with the brightest flagship phones, making it perfectly readable even in direct, harsh sunlight. The colors are vibrant, blacks are deep, and the adaptive refresh rate (LTPO) makes every interaction feel buttery smooth.
3. Hardware Tour & Universal Straps
The watch case is a complete titanium shell with sapphire crystal glass on top. You have a satisfying rotating crown with excellent haptics, a customizable bottom button, and a powerful loudspeaker and microphone for Bluetooth calls.
One of my favorite features is the strap system. The included titanium strap is beautiful, but for workouts or sleeping, you might want something more comfortable. Huawei uses a standard 22mm quick-release mechanism, meaning you can use any third-party strap you like. Adjusting the titanium band is also tool-free, thanks to quick-release links. This user-friendly approach is a huge plus!
4. The Main Event: Groundbreaking Health Features
This is where the Huawei Watch 4 Pro truly tries to differentiate itself. The watch is jam-packed with sensors: an accelerometer, gyroscope, compass, optical heart rate sensor, barometer, ambient light sensor, body temperature sensor, ECG, depth sensor, and more.
The "Health Glance" Feature
The headline feature is the new multi-sensor array on the side, which includes a pressure sensor, an ECG electrode, and a fingertip PPG sensor. A simple press-and-hold for 3 seconds activates the Health Glance feature. This performs a 60-second health check, giving you insights into 11 different metrics:
- Heart Rate & HRV
- SpO2 (Blood Oxygen)
- Skin Temperature
- Stress Levels
- ECG (Electrocardiogram)
- Arterial Stiffness
- Respiratory Check (via a cough test)
It's an incredibly fast and convenient way to get a snapshot of your health. Plus, tapping the "i" next to any metric gives you a full explanation. This is a genuinely innovative feature that competitors will likely race to copy.
Fitness & Sports Tracking
For fitness enthusiasts, there are over 100 sports modes. The Huawei Sunflower positioning system with dual-band 5-system GNSS offers incredibly accurate GPS, even with offline maps—fantastic for runners and hikers. It also supports specialized tracking for swimming, golf course maps, and even lane-by-lane track running.
5. Software & Ecosystem: HarmonyOS 5.1
The watch runs on the latest HarmonyOS 5.1, and the interface is beautiful, intuitive, and highly customizable. You get all the standard features: notifications, music controls, calendar, weather, and even a camera remote. The watch also supports eSIM for phone-free calling and Wi-Fi 6 for faster connectivity.
However, there are two significant points to consider:
- Limited App Ecosystem: Outside of China, the AppGallery selection is not as vast as what you'd find on Wear OS or an Apple Watch.
- Restricted NFC Payments: NFC payments are generally limited to China-only services.
On the bright side, Huawei has introduced new gesture controls, allowing you to answer calls or dismiss alarms with a double tap or slide of your fingers, without touching the screen.
6. How Accurate Are The Sensors? A Real-World Test
To test the sensors, I compared the Huawei Watch 4 Pro against my Braun Oximeter, a medical-grade device. Here are the results:
- Heart Rate: The watch was incredibly in sync with the oximeter, with readings almost identical (e.g., 64bpm vs. 64bpm, 68bpm vs. 68bpm). It felt like they were using the same sensor.
- SpO2: The Braun Oximeter read 99%. The Huawei Watch 4 Pro also gave an exact reading of 99%.
The accuracy is truly impressive, giving confidence in the health data it provides.
7. The Final Verdict: Pros and Cons
✅ Pros
- Stunning, premium design and build quality (Titanium & Sapphire).
- Incredibly bright and vibrant LTPO AMOLED display.
- Groundbreaking "Health Glance" feature for quick check-ups.
- Excellent battery life.
- Highly accurate GPS and health sensors.
- eSIM support for cellular calling.
- Wide compatibility with both Android and iOS.
❌ Cons
- Limited third-party app ecosystem outside of China.
- NFC payments are not widely available globally.
- Automatic brightness can be a bit too conservative at times.
- Always-on display functionality was not consistently working during the test.
8. Conclusion: Who Should Buy the Huawei Watch 4 Pro?
The Huawei Watch 4 Pro is a fascinating and powerful smartwatch. It's a true health and fitness powerhouse wrapped in one of the most beautiful and premium designs on the market.
This watch is an excellent choice for you if:
- You prioritize cutting-edge health monitoring and sensor accuracy.
- You value premium materials, a stunning design, and a brilliant display.
- You want long battery life and seamless compatibility with both Android and iOS.
- You are not heavily reliant on a vast third-party app library or widespread NFC payments.
It's a strong contender for anyone looking for a premium wearable that excels in the fundamentals of design, health, and fitness.
9. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: Does the Huawei Watch 4 Pro work with an iPhone?
A: Yes, the Huawei Watch 4 Pro is fully compatible with both Android and iOS devices through the Huawei Health app. You get great functionality on either platform.
Q2: Can you reply to notifications like texts or WhatsApp messages?
A: No. As shown in the review, notifications are read-only. You can see your messages, but you cannot type or send a reply directly from the watch.
Q3: Is the NFC payment useful in the US or Europe?
A: Unfortunately, no. The NFC payment functionality is primarily tied to services in China, like AliPay or WeChat Pay. It is not compatible with Google Pay or Apple Pay, so its usefulness is very limited in Western countries.
Q4: What is the real-world battery life?
A: The review mentions "excellent battery life" as a pro. In typical usage, the Huawei Watch 4 Pro can last up to 4.5 days in standard mode. With heavy use or the always-on display active, expect around 2-3 days. There is also an ultra-long battery life mode that can extend it up to 21 days with limited functionality.
What do you guys think of the Huawei Watch 4 Pro? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
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