Not so long ago, the most advanced Huawei smartwatch, the Huawei Watch Ultimate, was launched in China. It is an expensive and truly unique model that stands out from the rest of the brand’s watches. And it is a direct competitor to the Apple Watch Ultra. We managed to get acquainted with the new product even before its premiere, so we share our impressions!
Why is Huawei Watch Ultimate interesting, price
First of all, it should be said that we are looking at a real breakthrough. The company calls the new gadget the “Ultraflagship Smartwatch”. In the last 2-3 years, Huawei watches have not changed much. There was a successful OS that did not develop much, the company released only models in different designs and with different functions (ECG, cuff pressure measurement), sometimes diving into “game” (watches with a removable case, watches with built-in headphones…). Watch Ultimate is an upgrade at both the software and function levels.
In short, the Ultimate has the most advanced screen in the line, the most powerful battery, and a case made of innovative “liquid metal”. The watch can withstand diving to a depth of 110 metres, which makes it suitable for divers. It has new modes just for diving, as well as an expedition mode for lovers of long and active hikes.
The model is available in two versions: black with a polymer strap and silver and blue with a metal strap. There is no difference between them, but the second one is much more expensive, apparently because of the same strap.
At the presentation, Huawei compared the new product with the previous generation Watch GT 3 model, as you can see, absolutely everything is better (screen, materials, functions…), only the operating time remained the same (excellent). Even the vibration mechanism has become more pleasant and tangible.
As for the prices, they are simply outrageous… At the presentation where the watch was announced (I attended it in Warsaw), Huawei representatives noted that watches like the Watch 3 and Watch GT 3 are selling very well, the average check is growing, so why not introduce an even more expensive model? There will be those who will pay for it. After all, someone buys the same Apple Watch Ultra. The price tag is exactly the same.
In Ukraine, the watch will cost approximately ∼$1100. Clearly, this is not a device for everyone. Some people consider such a price to be overkill even for a smartphone, but a watch…
Well, let’s get acquainted with the impressive features of Huawei’s new product.
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Huawei Watch Ultimate specifications
- Dimensions: 48.5 x 48.5 x 13.0 mm
- Screen: LTPO AMOLED 1.5 inch, 466×466 pixels (311 ppi)
- Weight (without strap): approx. 76 g
- Construction:
Watch face: sapphire crystal
Bezel: nanocrystalline ceramic
Front case: zirconium-based liquid metal
Case back: nanocrystalline ceramic - Works at temperatures of -20°C – +45°C
- Water resistance: 10 ATM (depth up to 110 m), complies with ISO 22810:2010, EN 13319, IP68 standards
- Strap: Voyage version – titanium strap + HNBR (acrylic-butadiene rubber) strap included, Expedition version – HNBR strap, wrist 140-210 mm
- Battery: 530 mAh
- Maximum operating time: 14 days in normal use, 8 days in active use
- Charging: wireless
- Navigation: GPS L1/L5 / GLONASS / BeiDou / Galileo E1/E5a / QZSS L1/L5
- Speaker and microphone: Yes, calls via Bluetooth
- Sensors: Accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer, optical heart rate sensor, barometer, temperature sensor, depth sensor
- Communications: Bluetooth 5.2, 2.4 GHz, BR+BLE, NFC (in-store payment not supported)
- System: HarmonyOS 3
- Compatibility: Android 6.0+, iOS 9.0+. For iOS, there is no possibility to quickly respond to messages (SMS, WhatsApp, Telegram, FB Messenger, Viber, Instagram), no app store for the watch and no voice assistant
- Push buttons: Three physical buttons, rotating crown
- Functions: Sports: 20 professional + 100 basic modes; heart rate monitoring; scientific sleep tracking; stress monitoring; SpO2 (blood oxygen level); menstrual cycle tracking; skin temperature; ECG
Package contents
In the box you will find the watch itself, a charger (a typical “tablet” with a USB-C cable) and documentation (quick start guide, warranty).
As for the straps, each model comes with an elongated diver’s strap made of a special HNBR material (more details below). Also, the Voyage version has two straps of standard size – titanium and HNBR. And the Expedition version has only HNBR (+ diver’s piece).
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Huawei Watch Ultimate design
Huawei has done everything to make the new watch look expensive and elegant, it is made of the most expensive and modern materials.
There are two versions: Expedition (black case) and Voyage (silver case with a blue bezel). We tested the second version, but had a chance to get to know the first one in person.
It should be noted right away that the watches do not differ in any way – neither in terms of materials nor software. The only difference is in the straps – the Expedition version has a bundled hydrogenated nitrile rubber (HNBR) strap, while the more expensive Voyage has a titanium strap + an additional HNBR strap included. The difference in price is ∼$230, but the straps made of advanced materials are probably worth it.
By the way, in its Polish online store, Huawei also offers to buy the Expedition version with a steel strap included for ∼$880. That is, you get exactly the same kit as the Voyage version, but with a different case colour and cheaper by ∼$120. It’s hard to understand Huawei’s pricing, perhaps the company believes that the silver body with a blue rim is more beautiful and therefore worth the overpayment.
The titanium bracelet looks expensive and statusy, but Huawei does not recommend exercising or swimming in it (as the material does not like sweat and water). And the strap made of hydrogenated nitrile rubber, according to the manufacturer, is shockproof and wear-resistant, and it is also 30% lighter and more flexible than a similar strap made of fluoroelastomer (the material most commonly used to make straps).
I should add that the straps are attached as standard with a system of “telescopes”, their width is 22 mm. You can buy any other replacement for a change.
As for the material of the watch itself, Huawei Watch Ultimate has a case made of liquid metal (yes, that’s what it’s called – liquid metal). Many people are surprised by this term, and I can understand it – it’s quite a marketing term, but in general, it’s an amorphous alloy based on zirconium. This is not the first time this material has appeared on the market, as it is used to make expensive ordinary watches, and now there is an advanced smartwatch. The manufacturer claims that the “liquid metal” is 4.5 times stronger than steel, 2.5 times stronger than titanium, and 17.5% lighter than steel.
The watch passed many tests before entering the market. For example, for the corrosion resistance test, Huawei Watch Ultimate was tested for 30 days in a closed environment. It was exposed to high humidity, sea water, various acids and alkalis. The result: no corrosion!
The scratch-resistant sapphire crystal that protects the display is 2.35 mm high, so it’s particularly durable.
The screen rim (bezel) is made of ceramic material, and not just any ceramic material, Huawei calls it ceramic with nano-particles. The material is not afraid of scratches.
In general, the manufacturer has done everything to ensure that this expensive watch retains its “presentation” even under the most extreme use. We did not conduct crash tests, but during a month of use in preparation for the review, not a single scratch appeared on the Watch Ultimate case.
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Water resistance
The Huawei Watch Ultimate has 16 waterproof structures (according to the manufacturer, whatever that means), which allows the gadget to withstand extreme pressure at a depth of up to 110 metres (even a little more than 10 atmospheres). The device complies with the ISO 22810 water resistance standard and has been tested according to the EN13319 standard for diving equipment.
The Apple Watch Ultra also complies with the ISO 22810 standard, but is only suitable for recreational diving (up to 40 m), while the Huawei device offers opportunities for more serious technical diving.
The highest standard of tightness is supported by advanced software – there is a special dive mode that takes care of the diver’s well-being, keeps statistics, and gives recommendations. So we have not just an advanced smartwatch, but also a full-fledged diving computer.
Ergonomics
The watch is huge (case size 48.5 mm, thickness 13 mm), but in the style of a regular luxury watch.
Solid, made of expensive materials, for a large and confident man’s hand. On a woman’s hand, the model looks inappropriate, even on the promo photos I didn’t see any women.
However, the almost equally large (due to the built-in headphones) Huawei Watch Buds model looked acceptable on a woman’s wrist, so if a lady chooses the Ultimate and makes it an element of her style, why not?
But on a man’s wrist, the Watch Ultimate looks good. Although the watch is thick, it is also heavy (65 g without the strap, and much heavier in the case of the Voyage version with the titanium strap), and the bezel visually makes it look more massive.
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Location of the elements
Unlike previous Huawei smartwatches, the new product has not two, but three buttons on the case. Just like the Apple Watch Ultra.
Firstly, there is a rotating head that allows you to switch the watch on/off with a long press, rewind lists, performs the function of returning to the home screen, and also calls up the grid from the application menu and allows you to zoom in or out. In short, it’s just like the Apple Watch again, with a very pleasant tactile feedback when using the crown.
Secondly, there is a function button that calls up the training menu by default, but it can be reconfigured. A long press of it wakes up the voice assistant. It should be noted that this assistant is available only when connected to Huawei smartphones based on Harmony OS.
And the third, new “Ultimate Mode” key allows you to launch new diving and expedition modes. It is located on the top left side of the watch. There are holes for sensors and a speaker nearby.
The three buttons also come in handy when swimming and diving, when the screen touchscreen is blocked – then the control is carried out only by the keys.
On the back of the watch are standard TruSeen sensors protected by ceramic glass – for monitoring heart rate, blood oxygen levels, stress, and sleep quality. Nearby, you can see the microphone holes.
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Screen
Huawei Watch Ultimate has the largest 1.5-inch LTPO AMOLED display among all the brand’s watches – an energy-efficient display that supports refresh rates from 1 Hz to 60 Hz. The screen has a peak brightness of up to 1000 nits, so it remains readable even in bright sunlight. At the same time, it doesn’t blind the eyes in the dark either, and the automatic brightness adjustment works perfectly.
The display is of great quality, with perfect viewing angles, excellent colour reproduction, perfectly smooth and clear picture, in general, many smartphones would envy it.
It is convenient to perceive information from such a screen even when looking at it from a certain distance, the elements and fonts are large. It’s also perfectly readable underwater.
As with other Huawei watches, there is an AoD mode, with special versions of the watch faces adapted to display within the “always active screen”. With a minimum refresh rate of 1 Hz, Huawei Watch Ultimate provides power savings when using AoD.
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Hardware part
HUAWEI does not publish data on the processor and RAM in its watches, apparently, it does not consider it important, and perhaps nothing has changed there. In any case, the Watch Ultimate works quickly, smoothly, without delays.
The watch has built-in memory, but how much is a mystery. The manufacturer does not share information, and I did not find it in the settings either. But I think it’s 4 GB, like the Watch 3 Pro. You can download your favourite tracks to the watch using a mobile app and go jogging without a smartphone, wearing wireless headphones.
For some reason, there is no information about eSIM versions, which should be a common thing for a top-of-the-line model. Perhaps information about them will appear later.
The Bluetooth version is 5.2. NFC is in the list of features, but it’s not needed – you can’t use Huawei Watch for contactless payments.
The watch has a microphone and a speaker, which means it can be used as a hands-free headset. It’s handy if you don’t have your phone at hand or it’s inconvenient to get it out, for example, while cycling or running. I’ve tried it – the voice is transmitted without any problems, and I can hear the other person well. Contacts and call list are available right from the watch.
Huawei Health app
The watch can be connected using the Huawei Health app. It allows you to update your gadget, install additional software, change watch faces, activate sleep tracking, enable continuous heart rate/SpO2 monitoring, set an alarm or enable notifications for specific apps, set up quick replies, and more. Of course, Health is primarily designed to track sports activity.
Important: download the app from the Huawei website, the version on Google Play is outdated due to sanctions. For this purpose, you can also scan the QR code from the box or from the screen of the watch itself when you switch it on for the first time.
The watch works with both Android and iOS, but in the case of iPhones, the functionality will be somewhat reduced – there is no way to reply to messages, install additional software on the watch, and no way to use the voice assistant. However, I doubt very much that anyone with an iPhone will go broke on a top-of-the-line Huawei watch instead of an Apple Watch.
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Watch software
The novelty runs on Huawei’s HarmonyOS version 3. In this regard, nothing has changed from the Watch 3 or Watch GT 3 models. I won’t describe the interface, settings, and functions in detail, as I did so in the Huawei Watch GT 3 SE review.
I would only note that Huawei has an excellent operating system – smooth, with a user-friendly and beautiful interface, and wide capabilities.
The disadvantage is that the selection of third-party software is too small (all available on the screenshot below!), but not everyone cares about this at all, as the pre-installed features are enough for many.
Among the innovations of the current version of the OS is the ability to reply (using ready-made templates or emoticons) not only to SMS, but also to messages from WhatsApp, Telegram, Line and Instagram. Unfortunately, this list does not include FB Messenger, which is popular in Europe, but it is possible that it will appear soon.
Unfortunately, you can still reply only with pre-prepared phrases or emoticons, there is no keyboard to write something, and no voice input. There is still no support for previewing received photos or even emojis.
The choice of dials is huge, new versions have been released with the Ultimate model, and in the phone app you can find options for every taste, even paid ones.
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Watch experience and functions
To a certain extent, everything is about the same as in other models of the Huawei Watch 3 and GT 3 / GT 3 Pro series, there are more than 100 training modes, and 20 of them are at the professional level. However, in most modes, only basic indicators are measured – your heart rate, cadence, and location on the map.
There is also a Healthy Living utility that reminds you of healthy habits and useful activities such as drinking water, taking medications, and exercising.
There is an option to create individual training plans, a virtual running coach (which can even help you prepare for a marathon), goal setting, automatic activity recognition, and more. During training, a lot of useful information is available, and afterwards, you can analyse it and look at statistics.
You can read more about how the watch tracks sports activities in my review of the Huawei Watch GT 3, nothing has changed since the end of 2021. By the way, for those for whom this is important, the smartwatch allows you to upload training data to other apps, such as Strava.
Now let’s move on to health monitoring. Again, everything is the same as in the case of GT 3 and GT 3 Pro. There are advanced TruSeen 5.0+ sensors that monitor your health – continuous monitoring of heart rate, oxygenation (SpO2), stress levels, even atherosclerosis risk assessment. In general, all the data obtained by the watch is accurate and reliable, one might say, reference, since it uses new generation sensors.
If you decide to sleep in such a heavy and large watch, Huawei TruSleep 3.0 technology is at your service to track your sleep quality in detail with tips on how to correct and improve it. A new feature is the tracking of short naps (if you decide to take a nap, even on a plane, for example).
The watch also allows you to record an ECG – and this is not a toy, it has happened more than once that doctors have been able to draw attention to problems in the patient’s body based on the data from the watch.
There is also a function to measure skin temperature. It’s the skin, not the body, so don’t mistake the smartwatch for a thermometer, as the readings may vary depending on the environment. But in general, the watch is able to give you an approximate indication of the temperature rise.
There is no pressure measurement option, but it was not available in regular Huawei watches, because measuring it only on the basis of the pulse (as is the case with cheap fitness bracelets) is, in fact, a “finger in the sky”. Therefore, for those who value accurate blood pressure measurement, the manufacturer has released a watch with a special cuff, like a blood pressure monitor (and we have already tested the Huawei Watch D).
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Expedition mode
A new and interesting feature of Huawei Watch Ultimate is the expedition mode. It’s designed specifically for outdoor enthusiasts, whether it’s hiking in the mountains or forest (including running), ultra-marathons, or off-road/desert trips. In this mode, the watch changes the way it displays information on the screen, showing the most important information, and also provides lower power consumption without giving up GPS monitoring.
In expedition mode, the Watch Ultimate adapts to your tasks and can operate for up to 75 hours without recharging, provided that GPS is active and your body’s key metrics are monitored.
The expedition mode uses dual-band GPS and other navigation systems (five in total) to determine the most accurate position and record the track. You can mark waypoints if you are somewhere far from civilisation, and the gadget will help you find your way back if necessary.
The updated GPS module determines your location faster than other Huawei watches, even if your smartphone is not nearby. It should be noted that the Chinese version of the Watch Ultimate is capable of using satellite communication to send an alarm even without access to a mobile network (like the Apple Watch Ultra), but unfortunately, this option is not available in other markets.
The watch is also able to constantly monitor the level of oxygen in the blood when you are at altitude, in the mountains.
Watch Ultimate is also ready to inform the traveller about tides, sunrises and sunsets, moon phases, altitude, atmospheric pressure, and warns of a sudden change in weather. All in all, useful information will be at the fingertips of every adventurer with this “ultimate” watch.
In addition, in the expedition mode, you can activate the night mode with an orange interface (just like on the Apple Watch Ultra) – it does not irritate the eyes and the information on the screen is easier to read in the dark.
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Diving
As we have already mentioned, the watch is fully waterproof to 10 ATM, which means that according to the standard, it can withstand a 100-metre immersion without any consequences. During the tests, the gadget was lowered even a little deeper – to 110 metres and kept there for 24 hours – no problems.
Thanks to the ISO 22810 and EN 13319 certifications, the new Huawei watch is suitable not only for swimming in the pool and recreational diving, but also for technical diving (with more serious requirements).
Huawei Watch Ultimate acts as a diving computer in this case. It offers 4 modes: recreational diving, technical diving, free diving, and deep diving (with scuba). The watch controls decompression levels using the Bühlmann algorithm, constantly monitors heart rate and SpO2 levels, and sends notifications to the user to ensure their safety through sounds and vibrations. The gadget tracks not only the duration of the dive, but also the current depth, ascent rate, and water temperature.
Just like after regular workouts, you can analyse your dive data, and the smartwatch “draws” beautiful dive and resurfacing curves.
I also liked the apnoea training, which is useful not only for divers but also for anyone who would like to train their lungs.
I am writing theoretically, as I had nowhere to test the dive mode. Not all owners of new watches will need this function. But it is quite possible that someone will buy the Watch Ultimate because it also works as a diving computer.
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Huawei Watch Ultimate battery life
The large case made it possible to accommodate a 530 mAh battery: according to the manufacturer, the watch can live up to two weeks without recharging during normal use. If you’re a very active user, you’ll still get at least 8 days of use.
The company describes what “normal” and “active” use means on its website in the section on Watch Ultimate specifications. In short, normal mode means a few calls, some GPS training, some music via Bluetooth, constant heart rate and sleep tracking, and notifications. Active mode is mostly the same, but more time is devoted to GPS training and the active screen.
The Ultimate model has a new way to manage power saving that depends on activity. For more details, see the picture, but in short, the watch adapts the tracking of your indicators and functions (even GPS ranges) so that you receive only the information you need, and the watch lives as long as possible. Therefore, Watch Ultimate will easily help you cope with marathons, ironman and other extreme activities up to running or riding up to a maximum of 168 km and a maximum of 75 hours!
How many hours will the watch work for you? Everything is individual. It depends on how often you train, whether you use GPS or not, how often you receive calls from the watch, how many notifications you receive, whether you use the built-in apps, how much, and so on.
In any case, the Watch Ultimate has a solid advantage over competitors like the Apple Watch Ultra and Google Pixel Watch, which can barely survive for 1.5-2 days. Huawei will provide a maximum of two weeks of operation! Even if you turn out to be a super-active user, it will definitely last more than 2-3 days.
During the month-long test, I charged the watch three times. I use it as usual – I wear it (without AoD), often receive notifications, answer them, sometimes take calls on the speakerphone, and track my workouts every day – one day I do weight training in the gym, the other day I go for a run with GPS. One charge lasts me 12-14 days.
Huawei Watch Ultimate supports wireless charging. A magnetic tablet pad is included. You need to have your own network adapter, any one will do, for example, from a smartphone.
The new model charges faster than its predecessors. From zero to 25% in 10 minutes. From zero to 100% – in 60 minutes. The watch can also be recharged from a smartphone with reverse wireless charging if necessary.
Conclusions
The new beautiful and reliable smartwatch from Huawei will be chosen primarily by adventurers, travellers and divers. At the same time, they are very wealthy, as the watch costs the same as a top-end smartphone. The emphasis is on deep-sea diving, so divers should be particularly pleased with the device. On the other hand, are there enough of them to make the Watch?
Huawei Watch Ultimate can also be bought by business people who are not inclined to trade meeting rooms and first class on planes for a forest, a tent, or 100-metre depths. But they will buy it simply because it is the most expensive watch in the lineup and the most status one – I’m talking primarily about the Voyage model with a titanium strap.
Huawei Watch Ultimate features a premium design and the latest durable materials, a gorgeous large display, advanced sensors for activity tracking, intelligent training modes, accurate heart rate and SpO2 monitoring, ECG and skin temperature measurement, they monitor sleep with high quality, allow you to answer calls with a speakerphone, show notifications from any apps without delay, and allow you to reply with blanks or emoticons (so far, it is impossible to dictate text to be recognised in a notification, as in Wear OS). The battery life is good – you can forget about charging for at least 7-8 days. Hiking enthusiasts will like the new expedition mode, and diving enthusiasts will like the dive computer functions.
There are also disadvantages. The most important is the inability to use NFC for payment. For this kind of money, it’s sad, even a penny Mi Band can.
And the software, although beautiful, smooth and thoughtful, is still more of an advanced fitness bracelet than a full-fledged smartwatch. There are a ridiculous number of third-party applications, no full-fledged responses to notifications (from the keyboard or by voice), no photo previews or even emojis in notifications, and the ability to export training information is limited. There is no version with eSIM for offline use, which is surprising, because this is a top-of-the-line model.
Well, unlike a “full-fledged” smartwatch, the Huawei Watch Ultimate will delight you with a really long battery life, so even in the midst of crazy and far-from-civilisation activity, you won’t worry about where and how to recharge the watch.
The price is still too high for a smartwatch, even the most advanced. Apple can charge so much – fans will still buy it, Huawei – well, I don’t know… I have some doubts.
As for the Watch Ultimate’s competitors, there are essentially none. More precisely, there is the Apple Watch Ultra, but there is no point in comparing them directly, because the Apple Watch does not work with Android. And the Pixel Watch or even the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro are not competitors – the design is not at the same level (the Apple Watch Ultra is not either), the functionality is simpler, and the battery life is shorter. Although, of course, they also have valuable advantages, such as a huge selection of third-party software and the ability to pay with NFC.
You could also mention a Garmin watch here, but it looks too “sporty” and the operating system is far from as user-friendly as Huawei’s. The Huawei GT 3 Pro line of smartwatches can also be considered a competitor. They offer 80% of what the Watch Ultimate has, but for half the price or even less. They come in two different sizes and different materials (steel, nano-ceramic) to choose from.
What do you think about Huawei’s Ultraflagship Smartwatch? Let us know in the comments!
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