Huawei’s ‘Innovative Product Launch’ event in Barcelona yesterday saw the announcement of the Huawei Watch GT 5 series, the Huawei Watch D2, and a new green edition of the Watch Ultimate. The Chinese technology company continues to encroach on Apple’s market dominance in China and presumably aims to continue that trend in other parts of the world with its new wearables.
South African consumers can look forward to the local release of the Huawei Watch GT 5 and Watch Ultimate green edition. There’s no official word yet if we’ll get the medically-focused Watch D2.
Huawei Watch GT 5
The Huawei Watch GT 5 is the company’s new offering for those seeking a durable smartwatch with a professional look. Its angular geometric design makes it look more like a traditional chronograph than a smartwatch. With an IP69K rating – the highest possible ingress protection rating – the Watch GT 5 doesn’t just resist water damage but also long-term corrosion.
The series is available in two editions – the Watch GT 5 and Watch GT 5 Pro. The former is available in two sizes, 41mm and 46mm, while the Pro model is available in 42mm and 46mm sizes.
Following in the footsteps of last year’s Watch GT 4, the new 46mm wearables feature a similar octagonal dial, the same 1.43in AMOLED display, but now use more durable materials including sapphire glass and titanium. The 42mm GT 5 Pro features gold accents on a ‘nano-ceramic’ body while the non-Pro GT 5 features a stainless steel construction.
Also similar to last year’s model, the 46mm model has a claimed 14 days of battery life with the 41mm model lasting seven days, according to the company.
Huawei claims its TruSense system is the biggest software improvement in its new devices, boasting “industry-leading” tracking accuracy for heart and respiratory rates, and blood oxygen levels. Also new is the ’emotional wellbeing assistant’ which will supposedly approximate the wearer’s emotional state. While initially, this doesn’t sound too dissimilar to those mood rings that change colour when you’re sad, we’ll need to try it out for ourselves before we pass judgement.
The Huawei Watch GT 5 and GT 5 Pro are compatible with both Android and iOS devices and are already available for preorder at R5,000 and R7,000 respectively. The Watch GT 5 series launches in South Africa on 7 October on Huawei’s online platform and with certified retailers.
Not to be left out, the Huawei Watch Ultimate receives a new green edition colourway and a few new features, like an enhanced ‘expedition mode’ for outdoor enthusiasts and ‘advanced golf course features’ for lovers of the sport.
It will also be available in South Africa in early October 2024 through Huawei’s official channels.
Huawei Watch D2
The Huawei Watch D2 is the company’s new health-focused wearable and is the first smartwatch to support Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM) with an inflatable airbag integrated into the strap.
Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM) tracks blood pressure throughout a 24-hour sleep-wake cycle. This allows the Watch D2 to help hypertension patients monitor abnormal nighttime blood pressure fluctuations. Those without hypertension can use the watch to assess their risk.
The Watch D2 has a more traditional smartwatch design with a squarish 1.82in AMOLED display, a glossy bezel, a function and ECG button, and a rotating crown.
Unsurprisingly, it will still monitor, keep track of, and detect other health metrics or abnormalities, like heart rate, blood oxygen level, stress, skin temperature, ECG, vascular elasticity, pulse wave arrhythmia, and sleep apnea.
No official word on whether the Watch D2 will arrive in South Africa or how much it will cost if it does. But the fact that it is already up on Huawei’s online store can only be a good sign, right?