Smartwatches with iPhones: These features are missing from Honor, Xiaomi, and Huawei

The Honor Watch 6 can be connected to an iPhone via the Honor Health app. Basic functions then work as expected. For example, the watch syncs workout and health data with Honor Health, displays notifications, and allows for Bluetooth phone calls via its microphone and speaker.

However, limitations quickly become apparent when it comes to integration with the Apple ecosystem. In our test, we were unable to sync the iPhone’s calendar with the Watch 6. It’s also not possible to reply to incoming messages on the iPhone. Honor reserves some additional features for its own smartphones. These include, among other things, certain voice memo functions as well as the ability to consolidate notifications from two smartphones on the watch.

This is particularly frustrating for users who have been tracking their health data with Apple: We were also unable to sync the Watch 6 with Apple Health. Recent user reviews on the App Store also mention this limitation. While the Watch 6 works with an iPhone in principle, your health data largely remains in Honor Health. Anyone who switches back to an Apple Watch later or uses multiple fitness devices will have to deal with separate data sets.

Things look much better with the Xiaomi Watch S5. It also requires its own app, in this case Mi Fitness. However, Xiaomi explicitly supports data sharing with Apple Health on iOS. According to the manufacturer, heart rate, blood oxygen, and sleep data can be synchronized. This requires that Mi Fitness be granted the appropriate permissions for Apple Health.

Xiaomi also has an advantage when it comes to the calendar. The Watch S5 can import appointments from the iPhone. To do this, you can enable event synchronization in Mi Fitness. The watch then displays appointments from the system calendar. There is one important limitation when it comes to messages: While WhatsApp, SMS, and other notifications appear on the watch, you cannot reply to them. The keyboard, voice input, or quick replies are not available.

Bluetooth calls, on the other hand, work even when paired with an iPhone. As a result, Xiaomi offers comparatively good iOS compatibility, though it doesn’t quite match the deep system integration of an Apple Watch.

The Huawei Watch GT 7 can also be paired with an iPhone via Huawei Health. Most of the fitness and health features are available. The watch also displays messages and other notifications from the iPhone.

Huawei draws the line when it comes to replying. When paired with an Android smartphone, the Watch GT 7 can respond to text messages and various messaging app notifications. Huawei lists WhatsApp, Telegram, Messenger, and Instagram, among others. When paired with an iPhone, this capability is completely unavailable. You can read incoming messages, but you must reply using your smartphone.

The calendar, on the other hand, works even on iOS. There are further differences in the app selection. The AppGallery is not available on the Watch GT 7 when paired with an iPhone. As a result, additional apps such as Petal Maps cannot be installed. Navigation via this app is therefore not possible. Bluetooth calls, however, work with the iPhone as long as the smartphone is within range.

The reason isn't solely due to the watch manufacturers. Apple doesn't allow third-party smartwatches the same level of deep integration with iOS as it does for its own Apple Watch. For example, manufacturers can forward iPhone notifications to a paired watch, but the options for interaction remain limited.

At the same time, some restrictions are a decision made by the respective manufacturer. This is particularly evident with the calendar: While Honor does not offer calendar synchronization on the Watch 6 running iOS, Xiaomi and Huawei support this feature.