Huawei Watch GT 3 Pro review - Complete package in titanium

Huawei goes all out with the Watch GT 3 Pro. The material feel and workmanship are convincing all along the line. The watch looks and feels high quality. The 1.43-inch display is covered by sapphire glass, and the rest is made of brushed titanium with a matte surface. The case of the watch and the strap have exactly the same color. The link bracelet comes with individual links, so the circumference of the strap can be adjusted as desired. Thanks to small lugs on the elements, this adjustment succeeds without tools. The entire band can also be changed without tools. The connection corresponds to the 22-millimeter (~0.9 in) standard, which means that there are countless interchangeable straps on the market, regardless of the manufacturer.

Huawei states a weight of 54 grams (~1.9 oz) for the watch without the band. We measured with the band and arrive at a total weight of 95 grams (~3.4 oz). Thus, the watch weighs considerably more than other smartwatches, even from the company itself, such as the Huawei Watch GT Runner, which only weighs 55 grams with the band. The weight makes the watch noticeable when worn, but it does not become uncomfortable in the process. During the test period, the watch proved to be very robust; there were no scratches or signs of wear at any point.

The Watch GT 3 Pro does not have any charging contacts because it is charged wirelessly via the Qi standard. On the right side, there are two function keys, one of which is a crown. The casing also houses a speaker and a microphone. This makes phone calls possible as long as a paired smartphone is nearby, because the Huawei smartwatch does not accept a SIM card. An NFC sensor is also on board. However, the smartphone app reports that the watch does not currently support payments.

A suitable Qi charging cable (USB-A) is included, as well as individual links for extending the wristband and a quick start guide. However, a power adapter is missing.

The Huawei Watch GT 3 Pro has a 1.43-inch capacitive touchscreen that is used to operate the watch. A swipe from the bottom to the top opens the notification menu, all messages are displayed there, and they can be opened by tapping on them. A swipe from the top down opens the quick settings with access to the alarm clock and do not disturb mode. The screen can also be set to permanent mode for a few minutes or ring the smartphone if you are searching for it. A swipe from right to left leads through the individual tiles, which can show readings like heart rate or stress, the weather, moon phase, sleep quality and much more. Which content is shown at which position can be set both on the watch and in the app. A swipe to the right of the GT 3 Pro, from the home screen, takes the user to Huawei Assistant TODAY, where the voice assistant is started, the current weather and possibly running media on the smartwatch or paired smartphone are shown.

In addition, the watch offers two buttons on the right side, the upper one is designed as a pressable and rotatable crown. Pressing the crown opens the app launcher, which is designed as a grid. The user zooms in and out of the display by turning the crown. Pressing this button always takes the user back to the home screen when in the launcher or a menu. Turning the crown is also a very convenient way to scroll through menus. The lower button can be assigned in the menu itself. In the factory settings, pressing it opens the training menu. However, the button can also open a special app or a measurement, such as the heart rate. The button also has a sensor that is used to measure arterial stiffness, for example.

The positioning of the keys is good; there were no incorrect inputs in the test. The pressure point is also convincing, and the keys do not have any play. Turning the crown can be felt via the vibration motor if desired.

The Huawei Watch GT 3 Pro does surprisingly well during phone calls. The speaker of the watch is loud enough that you do not have to hold it directly in front of your ear when making a call. The voice transmission succeeds without delays or annoying background noise. The other person in the test could not tell whether the call was made from a smartphone or the Smartwatch in a quiet environment. However, communication becomes more difficult with increasing background noise. Incoming calls are displayed on the watch and can be accepted directly there. Making calls with the watch is a bit more difficult because there is no access to the full phonebook. Instead, the watch shows a list of recent calls, and the contacts listed there can be clicked and thus called. You can also create your own favorite contacts on the watch, which can be dialed directly.

The Watch GT 3 Pro is less convincing when it comes to notifications. The smartwatch informs about incoming messages and emails, but it cannot display pictures or emojis. On the other hand, the watch can display emails in full and not just the subject line, which we criticized in our review of the Watch GT Runner. However, nothing has changed in the answering options, which are very limited. The wearer only has the choice between emojis - the watch can display them when sending - and stored short responses. At least these short answers can be edited in the Health app in terms of content and order.

The Huawei Watch GT 3 Pro provides a good overview of steps run, time in motion, and training hours in the known circles. In addition, the watch also provides information about the stress level, blood oxygen saturation, sleep behavior, and heart rate. The step goal is created in the Health app, and the watch congratulates when the value is reached. In addition, the watch prompts for exercise after an hour of sitting.

The Health app also offers a separate overview on the topic of healthy living. Goals for the day are defined there, such as getting up in a certain time window, an appropriate stress level that can be lowered with breathing exercises, sufficient times for activity and rest breaks, taking a sufficient number of steps, and falling asleep in a certain time window. In this way, the app and watch aim to accompany the entire day. The achievement of the various goals is displayed with corresponding values as well as in color.

The Watch GT 3 Pro can also measure arterial stiffness, and the data is divided into three categories. The watch does not support an ECG measurement at the time of the test.

The Huawei Watch GT 3 Pro convinces with great accuracy in heart rate measurement. The comparison with the Polar H10 chest strap reveals a deviation of 0.9 percent in the performance measurements, and the resting pulse is indicated exactly the same in both devices. The test watch achieves this high accuracy despite the link wristband, which makes it a reliable companion for everyday use as well as sports.

The Huawei smartwatch's sleep tracking is convincing in the test. Wake times are recorded correctly, and the watch does not even miss a nap during the day. Sleep is divided into four areas: deep sleep, light sleep, REM sleep, and wake phases. The values can be displayed for single days or nights as well as for weeks, months and years. In addition to the total sleep time, the time in the individual sleep phases is also given, as well as a percentage breakdown of the phases and a classification of the values. Total sleep is also assessed, and the app also provides tips for improving sleep quality.

Unfortunately, the Watch GT 3 Pro does not use the collected data for a smart alarm function. The Watch GT Runner had this option, but the app does not offer a corresponding option for the test model.

Huawei uses a chip from STMicroelectronics in Switzerland in the Watch GT 3 Pro. However, further information about the SoC is missing. There is also no information about the internal storage, but Huawei installs 4 GB in the Watch GT Runner. This storage can be used for apps, routes and music.

The system performance is very good. Apps start quickly, and there were no stutters when using the watch during the test. Since the watch does not have a browser, benchmark measurements were not possible.

The Watch GT 3 Pro in titanium is Huawei's top model and has an MSRP of 499 Euros (~$505). It is sold via the manufacturer's store, but also from Amazon and other retailers. Those who can do without the titanium link bracelet and choose leather or plastic instead can save 150 Euros (~$152). The range of functions of the watches is identical.