Earlier this month, Huawei held a little get-together in order to give us the first hand look at its Watch GT4 series. I’ll be honest, I never actually got acquainted with the previous generation GT3 Series, so seeing these new models up close gave me the chance to see just how much the brand has improved its wearable line.
Then as now, the GT4 Series comes in two face sizes 46mm and 41mm. The 46mm models are the ones that exudes that air of masculinity, hinting at whom these electronic timepieces are catered towards. The exteriors of these faces look and feel intricate enough and the good news is that there are also a few choices for you to pick from as well.
And it’s not just the immediate shell of the 46mm GT4 Series that comes in a variety. Huawei also showed off a range of wrist straps that can be paired with said watches. For the 46mm models, specifically, you get a choice between the leather, braided composite, or even the more premium stainless steel clasp. My colleague and I tried them all on our wrist and of the lot, the leather version was hands down the most comfortable of the lot.
For the 41mm GT4 Series models, they basically handle the same as its 46mm counterparts, the obvious difference between the two being their sizes. Compared to the latter, however, the former size looks and feels a lot more elegant, and even comes with its own set of thinner straps.
As for navigating the watch, the onboard Harmony 4 OS that runs on the GT4 Series feels really fluid and less janky than I initially remember with, not the 3rd generation of watches, but the very first generation Watch. Back then, the swiping and transitional animations looked and felt chunky, not to mention laggy.
With the GT4 Series, everything swipes in one smooth motion, whether you’re searching for the app with your finger or the dedicated navigation dial. Speaking of, the dial is yet another integrated tool that, again, helps to speed up the navigation. With it, I can easily zoom in and out from the device’s onboard app drawer, though I will warn you, it may take a period of adjustment for some of you. Especially for those that aren’t used to a top-down navigational method.
Just like Apple and Samsung, Huawei has placed and increased focus on health, and it shows. While briefly wearing it, the heart rate sensor at the back of each watch is able to give me an accurate reading of my heart rate. For the ladies, the brand also added in a Smart Cycle Calendar on to the watch, which is just a fancy name for an app that helps them keep track of their menstrual cycle.
Again, my time with the GT4 Series smartwatches was brief, so I will not be able to give a more thorough breakdown of my experience with the watch here, but the good news is that Huawei has said that it will be providing us with a unit for review. So, keep an eye out for it.
Photography by John Law.
