Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
The Huawei Watch Fit 3 really realise me tempestuous . Not because of the way it works or anything it does , but because of its lazy design , which makes it look like anApple Watch .
It ’s not a passing resemblance , it ’s not insidious , and no one will need the similarities pointed out to get what I ’m talking about . It ’s a straight clone , and it ’s exceedingly dissatisfactory . What makes it bad is that the Huawei Watch Fit 3 is actually a very skillful smartwatch underneath — assuming you’re able to get past its Apple Watch “ divine guidance . ”
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
An undeniable Apple Watch clone
Huawei , the company responsible for many superb designs over the years — from theoriginal Huawei Watchto the most recentPura 70 smartphone — can do a lot full than copying the most popular smartwatch on the market for its latest fitness band . Before the Watch Fit 3 , Huawei ’s Fit serial useda rectangular flesh , which was n’t pretty , but at least it was n’t derivative . It could have kept the pattern fresh by move in almost any other direction , but it deliberately made the poor alternative to make the conniption 3 look like an Apple Watch .
Just how standardised is it ? It ’s rectangular , it has a rotating diadem ( which is as crimson as a goof ’s olfactory organ here ) , and there ’s a undivided action button on the side . It ’s even attached to a textile strap that ’s secure using a crotchet - and - iteration system . Several of the watch face up look like popular Apple watch faces , and the apps seem as tiny circles on the screen when you press the summit . It ’s as Apple Watch - like as you could get without using a photocopier .
Huawei will argue the flavorless sides and the way the screen sit on the chassis rather than veer into it separates it from the Apple Watch , and to a sure extent , it does . However , Huawei may also be trolling us here , as the Watch Fit 3 is extremely reminiscent of the controversial ( andgenerally disliked ) leakedApple Watch Series 7 redesignthat appeared a few years ago , butturned out to be inaccurate . Whichever way of life you cut it , the Huawei Watch Fit 3 looks like an Apple Watch — a lot — and it makes me not desire to wear it .
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Why ? It ’s the same reason I would n’t wear “ Adibas ” sneakers . The Huawei Watch Fit 3 mimic the design of the most recognizable smartwatch on the major planet , but if I wanted to wear an Apple Watch , I’dwearan Apple Watch and not a rip - off . I receive the ignominy firsthand because someone allege , “ You ’re using the Apple Watch again today ? ” to me over the weekend when they spotted the Huawei Watch Fit 3 on my radiocarpal joint .
I really dislike the Huawei Watch Fit 3 ’s design , but what about the rest of it ? Irritatingly , it ’s pretty good .
The Huawei Watch Fit 3’s technical specs
Now that I ’ve rave about the design , it ’s a good estimation to tattle about the technological side before going into why the Watch Fit 3 deserves a far more interesting design . It comes in a individual 36mm - all-embracing , 43mm - tall atomic number 13 case that ’s 9.9 millimetre thick , weighs 34 gm with the strap , and has a 5ATM water resistance valuation . The 1.82 - inch AMOLED screen is penetrative and colored , and I have had no issue check it outdoors in the daylight . It has a readable always - on video display context , too .
Huawei does n’t state what processor or computer memory capacity the Watch Fit 3 has , but you may transfer euphony to it from your phone , and it operates the company ’s own HarmonyOS 4.2 software rather than Google ’s Wear OS . I ’ve used it connected to aSamsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 , where it sync with the Huawei Health app that was download from Huawei ’s web site without the need to separately installHuawei ’s own App Gallery depot . This marks a skillful change to the movement expect to get a Huawei wearableworking with Android in the past .
notice have arrived dependably , the textbook is concise and promiscuous to read , and several have interactive factor let you to reply from your wrist . call can be have from the Watch Fit 3 , and the mike lets you take the call without grabbing your earphone .
Huawei HealthHuawei
There ’s a heart pace detector on the back of the Fit 3 , which also measures blood atomic number 8 levels , and because it ’s so wanton , it ’s idealistic to wear overnight to track rest . The software has receive a few updates over the old models , including a new design for the workout plan , a new sleep algorithm , new laminations for the guided fitness sessions , and a Global Positioning System - enabled running coach .
What it’s like using the smartwatch
I ’ve wear thin the Huawei Watch Fit 3 for five days . It started with 100 % of the shelling and now requires a recharge . I ’ve tracked a individual one - hour workout and fatigue the smartwatch overnight to track eternal sleep , plus I have blood oxygen tracking active , along with the always - on screen . This falls shortsighted of the seven twenty-four hours Huawei take the battery will last with “ heavy ” use . It also state the battery will last 10 day with typical usage , but you ’ll have to deactivate many features to achieve this .
During the workout academic term , it tight matched the results recorded by the Apple Watch Series 9 , and nap records were very similar to theOura Ring , too . While none are aesculapian devices , the general agreement between them indicates they are accurately reporting body process and restfulness . The software is debauched and well-to-do to use , but require some getting used to as some options are hidden away and hard to chance . I still ca n’t get slumber mode to faithfully activate automatically , for example .
I also do n’t like its clinical way of portray feedback on data or the terminology it use . It ’ll apply descriptions like “ fine ” for my performance and tell me there ’s “ a long way to go ” to reach a goal . I do n’t feel either motivational at all . The Health app presents information clear , though , and there are various training programme centered around run to stress out . There is an AI assistant that apparently supply information on how to best meet your goal while take away everything from the weather to sports you usually taste into account . However , this appears to only work when the app is connected to a Huawei smartphone .
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
It deserves a better design
Huawei has made cracking wearables for years , and if I entirely ignore the figure , the Watch Fit 3 continues the tradition . It ’s precise , light , simple to apply , and contains a range of utilitarian feature that act upon well . Its TruSleep platform rivals Oura ’s sleep tracking , and I ’m really proud of to see how it has refined the app installment process for Android . It ’s a very good physical fitness tracker . The Huawei Health app is also available for iOS , so you could also use it pair with an iPhone if — for some bizarre reason — you want to use it instead of an actual Apple Watch .
This brings us neatly back to the design . If it had an iota of uniqueness in the way it depend , I ’d be recommending the Watch Fit 3 . But it does not , so I really struggle with it . The Huawei Watch Fit 3 costs 140 British lb , or about $ 170 , putting it up against theFitbit Charge 6and theGarmin Vivomove Sport , both of which have a much better design that does n’t copy another product . The excellentXiaomi Watch S3costs even less than the Watch Fit 3 and has a unequalled swappable bezel that let you to cursorily change the feeling of the smartwatch .
I ’m sure some multitude wo n’t be gravel by the Huawei Watch Fit 3 ’s Apple Watch - like design , and some may even squeeze it . If that ’s you , then what ’s underneath the shape is up to Huawei ’s usual in high spirits standards for article of clothing . But for everyone else , there are several other health and fittingness article of clothing that wo n’t make you look like you ’re despairing to own an Apple Watch , but , for whatever reason , did n’t just go out and buy one .
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends