Huawei Watch Ultimate smartwatch review

The Watch Ultimate is Huawei's new flagship smartwatch and it's out to impress with premium materials, exceptional sports functions and accurate health data. However, the price for this much smartwatch expertise is steep. The asking price for the review model in Voyage Blue with a titanium strap is £799 (UK) meaning the Watch Ultimate finds itself in the same price ballpark as the Apple Watch Ultra.

Alternatively, Huawei offers the Watch Ultimate in "Discovery Black" with a hydrogenated nitrile rubber strap, costing £699. The manufacturer doesn't offer an LTE variant. Nevertheless, alternative straps matching the Watch Ultimate's clasps, made of rubber, leather or textile can be found on the manufacturer's online store.

The Watch Ultimate's case is made from an amorphous zirconium-based alloy. According to Huawei, the material is also used in space travel and is said to be 4.5 times more stable and 2.5 times harder than stainless steel. Accordingly, the watch ought to be especially robust. The silver Watch Ultimate's link bracelet consists of a titanium alloy and is a slightly lighter color than the case. Both parts are matte.

A blue, shiny bezel (not rotatable) sits on the silver part of the case. The bezel is emblazoned with white numbers and markings which are spaced five minutes apart. Regarding the chosen material, Huawei has spoken of nano-tech ceramic. The display is protected by sapphire glass and the underside of the watch, facing the wearer's arm, is finished in ceramic.

The case houses two buttons and a rotatable, pressable crown. The crown can be found at the top right with both buttons positioned on the bottom and top left. All three buttons can be told apart by their milling. Additionally, the bottom button is also fitted with a sensor.

All the buttons protrude from the case and are fitted securely. Likewise, the pressure point is also clearly defined. When it comes to operating the buttons and the crown, they have an exceptionally premium feel to them. On the right-hand side, underneath the metal frame, Huawei has integrated a speaker. The left-hand side is home to pressure sensors behind a metal mesh. Two openings for microphones are on the underside of the case directly next to the upper bracelet link.

Huawei states the case is 48.5 millimeters in size and the Watch Ultimate can definitely be called a large watch. However, weight-wise, the case is acceptable at 76 grams and 121 grams, with and without the titanium strap, respectively. The straps are in accordance with the 22-millimeter standard, are easy to replace, and don't require any special tools.

Huawei has included some additional titanium links with the Watch Ultimate to help adapt the watch to fit the wearer's wrist. The box contents also include two different-sized rubber straps intended for sports use.

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As with other Huawei smartwatches, the installation of Huawei's health app is necessary in order to be able to set up and operate the Watch Ultimate. The app cannot be found on the Playstore due to limited trade relations between Google and Huawei. A workaround via Huawei's AppGallery - Huawei's own App Store - is necessary. Once this is installed, the Huawei health app can be downloaded. Likewise, the app receives updates via the AppGallery.

The health app is not only available for Android but iOS devices too.

After the installation, the Watch Ultimate is immediately recognised and paired. Various authorizations are required, for things such as telephoning and receiving messages.

The health app is divided into five categories: Health, Training, Discovery, Devices and Account. "Health" provides an overview of the various health parameters in the form of cards. The cards show the most important information in each category such as heart rate, sleep, stress, blood oxygen saturation and skin temperature. It is possible to customize which data is displayed and in which order.

The watch's settings can be made under "Device". On top of that, this section also offers the option of transferring music and apps to the watch. The Huawei Wallet payment service is also listed here but is currently unavailable in Germany. Music stored on the user's smartphone can be easily copied to the watch. A slimmed-down AppGallery offers additional software for the watch. These offerings range from third-party sports apps to calculators, calendars and messaging services as well as Huawei's maps solution, Petal Maps.

Many of the watch's settings can be undertaken via the smartphone such as how often health parameter data should be requested, and which apps are allowed to send notifications or set an alarm. Other functions can only be done directly via the smartphone such as the always-on display, display brightness or button assignment.

The Huawei Watch Ultimate is controlled via the 1.5-inch touchscreen, two buttons and a rotatable and pressable crown. Pressing the crown opens the watch's app overview. The apps are presented in the form of a grid and rotating the crown magnifies or shrinks the displayed area.

A short press on the bottom button opens the training menu. A long press opens Celia, Huawei's voice assistant. The top left button opens the new expedition mode. A long press has no function here. Assigning the bottom button can be done via the watch but not the other buttons. Rotating the button can be done in menus for scrolling. Additionally, the buttons have other functions in the submenus or "Training" such as pausing or continuing a training session.

A swipe from top to bottom leads to the quick menu and access to the alarm clock, screen lock or flashlight. Swiping from right to left scrolls through the software's icons. The factory settings include heart rate, blood oxygen saturation activity overview, weather, lunar cycle and sleep. Pressing on the overview opens the submenu from the according theme. Content and icon order can be customized in the settings.

Swiping from left to right leads the user to Huawei's Today assistant. This is where access to the voice assistant, the weather and the current media playback are located. In addition to watch-based music, other forms of media are displayed and can be controlled via the smartphone. This allows the watch to control a film which is being streamed on a tv. A swipe from bottom to top opens the message overview.

The Huawei Watch Ultimate has speakers and a microphone meaning it has the necessary hardware to make and take calls. However, with its own SIM card, the watch must always be connected to a paired smartwatch. The watch's voice quality is pleasingly good. The wearer is also easily understood even if the watch is not held close to the mouth, such as when placed next to a car's steering wheel. The speaker is loud enough for conversations in quiet surroundings and is not in any way distorted.

It is possible to initiate calls directly on the smartwatch. However, the watch doesn't display all contacts that are stored on the smartwatch. A maximum of ten contacts can be saved in the Huawei health app. In addition, the Watch Ultimate can display the call list. The contacts and numbers listed here can be called by clicking on them.

The Watch Ultimate reliably displays notifications, showing not only text but also many emojis. However, photos and voice messages cannot be displayed.

On opening the messages overview, the software displays the incoming notifications, sorted app by app. A short tap opens the app's chats accordingly, but longer chats are shortened and when it comes to emails, the watch only displays the sender and the subject line.

Replies are only possible in the form of emojis and pre-formulated short replies. These short replies can be customised in the health app. By contrast, voice or keyboard inputs are not possible.

With its Watch Ultimate, Huawei has opted for its in-house voice assistant, Celia. This can be activated either via the Huawei Assistant, Today, or a long button press but opening the function via a voice prompt is not possible. However, the assistant only works when paired to a smartphone with EMUI 10.1 or higher. This, therefore, limits the function to Huawei smartphone users. In tests, connection to an Honor Magic4 Lite was successful.

If the right smartphone is paired, voice commands are quickly put into action and the voice assistant also works with a German language version. Nevertheless, Celia's functionality is limited compared to Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa. Replies are communicated via the speaker as well as the display.

Fitness and data are gathered and displayed in the Huawei health app. If desired, the app can continually measure heart rate, stress levels, blood oxygen saturation levels and skin temperature.

The respective values are not only measured and broken down by hour but also evaluated. On the one hand, this is done by colors and on the other, numerical values. Stress levels are displayed in the form of a value between 1 and 99 and divided into the categories of low, normal, medium and high. The software also provides the daily average and the maximum values. In the stress category, a calibration and stress test is possible.

The values for each individual category can be displayed not only for hours or days but also weeks, months and years.

One of the Watch Ultimates' special features is measuring arterial hardening and is said to be able to help identify a hardening of the arteries. The results are listed in m/s and in accordance with the wearer's age. The measurements can be augmented by filling in a questionnaire. However, Huawei states that the values should not be used as a medical diagnosis.

For this measurement, just as with the ECG measurements, a sensor inside the bottom right button is used. This button is touched by the user's index finger. The Watch Ultimate's ECG function is medically certified, unlike its arterial hardening measurements.

Additionally, the health app offers integrated fitness courses. The selection at hand is quite large and ranges from gymnastics and stretching to relaxation exercises for the office, fat loss, running classes, building muscle as well as skipping. The courses are divided into different levels of difficulty. The videos are mostly free of charge and all run on the paired smartphone. When a workout starts, the smartwatch automatically begins to record the fitness parameters.

Synchronisation with Google Fit is not possible without third-party apps.

Huawei uses two systems to provide information regarding daily goals. On the one hand, there are familiar circles with info concerning steps, time spent moving and standing time. The watch also determines the number of calories burned throughout the day and sets the according daily value in relation to the previous week's average values.

Additionally, the software provides information in the form of health clover leaves. These three leaves are said to represent the relationship between movement, stress and sleep. The leaves grow, depending on how well the goals for the appropriate category were reached. Their colors change as every goal is reached. This representation also guides you through the day with the most suitable time to get up, breathing, activity, step goals and the ideal sleep windows.

The Huawei Watch Ultimate can measure the wearer's heart rate and blood oxygen saturation. In order to be able to better evaluate the measured data, we compared it with measurements from a reference device. For the heart rate measurements, we took the Watch Ultimate on a bike trip together with a Polar H10 chest strap.

The Watch Ultimate's measured values were impressive. In the area of resting pulse measurements, both devices' results were only one beat per minute apart. We measured the active pulse at three different time intervals. The average difference between the measurements was only 0.03 percent.

The blood oxygen saturation measurements were similarly impressive. Our reference device in this discipline was the Braun Pulsoximeter 1. The deviation between the devices from the average of three measurements sat at a mere 1.37 percent. The Watch Ultimate's measurements were always higher than those found on the reference devices.

The Huawei Watch Ultimate can record various sleep phases. It differentiates between deep, light and REM sleep. Additionally, the smartwatch reliably records waking phases. The individual phases are presented graphically on a time axis. In addition, the time for each phase is given as a number and then evaluated as either low, normal or high. The software then calculates a points score, combined with a star evaluation for the previous night's sleep, based on these parameters.

This data can be provided for a night, week, month or even a year. However, this detailed information is only available via the health app. Otherwise, on the smartwatch itself, it's only possible to obtain the previous night's total sleep.

With the help of a paired smartphone, it is also possible to record sleep noises such as talking during sleep. This is not possible via the smartwatch itself. The app offers various sounds to help the user fall asleep. Unfortunately, the smartwatch doesn't offer an alarm based on sleep data.

The Watch Ultimate supports the tracking of more than 100 types of sports. A goal can be set for any sport such as a specific distance that should be reached. In addition, the smartwatch can display intermediate statuses after certain times or distances such as the current heart rate, average speed during the previous kilometer or the current training load. On the one hand, this interim report is a pop-up notification on the display and also a voice announcement via the speaker or paired headphones.

It's not only possible to set goals on the smartwatch but courses and training plans can also be compiled. A total of 13 running workouts are stored on the watch itself. Additional customized training plans can be created and completed.

However, the Watch Ultimate has two special sports functions: diving and expedition mode. The Watch Ultimate is intended and approved for diving at greater depths. According to Huawei, it can survive for 24 hours, undamaged, at a depth of 100 meters and complies with the ISO 22810 standard for diving equipment. The watch supports various modes such as scuba diving, technical diving and free diving.

The Watch Ultimate can indicate the Gradient Factor (GF value), apply the Bühlmann decompression algorithm and also set 20 reminders for dive monitoring. After a dive, the smartwatch makes suggestions for no-fly times. Due to a lack of diving experience and equipment, we were unable to test this area. However, the Watch Ultimate survived extensive bathing in seawater without complaints. The manufacturer recommends rinsing the watch with freshwater after coming into contact with seawater.

Another special feature is the expedition mode. The smartwatch records the user's activity and, in addition to pure training data, provides further information regarding the watch's position and status, such as battery level. Additionally, using the user interface, simple markers can be set in various colors. These markers can be controlled later, for example, the starting point for a hike. A special dark mode is said to improve legibility under poor lighting conditions and save battery.

The smartwatch can also automatically recognize and record training sessions, at least when walking, jogging, rowing and on a cross-trainer. Unfortunately, cycling is not supported. Unlike previous Huawei smartwatches, the Watch Ultimate's automatic recording is unreliable.

The Huawei health app can be linked to accounts such as Strava, Adidas Running and Komoot.

In order to measure the satellite connection, we took the Watch Ultimate on a bike trip, together with a reference device, Garmin Venu 2, The results were surprising because although the Watch Ultimate is proficient in achieving a dual GNSS connection with all the common satellite networks, the recording is very inaccurate. The direction gets recognized but the displayed radii hardly correlate with the routes.

In addition, it takes a relatively long time before a connection is created with a network. In tests, we also experienced two breaks in connection. That's all the more surprising considering how heavily Huawei relies on the Watch Ultimate's GNSS connectivity in, for example, the expedition mode.

Completed routes can be exported with the software outputting them as gpx, tcx or kml files. On top of this, gpx files can be imported and completed as training sessions.

The display in the Watch Ultimate is a real feast for the eyes. The panel is a 1.5-inch LTPO AMOLED with a resolution of 466 x 466 pixels. The displayed contents are presented sharply and are framed by a thin bezel.

In addition, the panel is suitably bright. We measured a maximum brightness of 638 cd/m² with the ambient light sensor activated. Without the sensor, the panel manages 545 nits. The minimum brightness sits at 10.19 cd/m². In everyday use, as well as during sports activities, the display is legible, regardless of the time of day. The viewing angle stability is very good.

The measured values represent a higher maximum brightness than something like the Huawei Watch GT 3 Pro. However, the Samsungs Galaxy Watch5 Pro or the Google Pixel Watch get even brighter. Our measurements also revealed PWM at an average frequency of 60 Hz with the extreme values sitting at 28 and 155 Hz.

Huawei offers an always-on display, which is very economical due to its LTPO technology. In everyday use, the display impressed us with many details and good legibility. The type of AoD is customizable and, additionally, the function can be limited to specific times so that the display doesn't illuminate a bedroom at night.

If the watch is used with the AoD, the accelerometer ensures reliable activation of the display when the wearer rotates their wrist.

* ... smaller is better

The display backlight flickers at 60 Hz (Likely utilizing PWM) .

The frequency of 60 Hz is very low, so the flickering may cause eyestrain and headaches after extended use.

In comparison: 54 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18961 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

Unfortunately, Huawei has not provided any information with regard to the installed SiP. Likewise, details are missing when it comes to the onboard memory. Since a browser cannot be installed on the Watch Ultimate, benchmark measurements are not possible. In everyday use, the system's performance is convincing and no stutters are present when operating the UI. Switching between maps and apps was done without problems or waiting times.

The watch's memory can be used for apps, music and routes.

Huawei promises a battery life of 14 days for its Watch Ultimate but this is a figure we were unable to achieve in tests. With all measurements and the AoD activated, the Smartwatch ran out of juice after six days of continued use. Now and again, the watch has to track a training session. With the same use but with always-on tracking deactivated, 10 days of continued use are possible.

By contrast, The Watch Ultimate's charging times are exactly those claimed by Huawei. The smartwatch goes from 0 to 100 after a charging time of one hour. In tests, we used the included, wireless charging pad in combination with a 24-watt charger. Thanks to the Qi standard, the watch can be charged by using other chargers or also be used to charge reverse-wireless capable smartphones.

With the Watch Ultimate Huawei would like to offer the ultimate smartwatch. In terms of materials, build quality and design, the manufacturer has done everything right. The watch has an exceptionally premium feel and is also wonderful to wear.

Likewise, the Watch Ultimate shines in everyday use with solid performance, an excellent, large display, reliable notifications as well as superb telephone functionality. Our only wish would be a virtual keyboard for individual replies and emails to be displayed in their entirety.

When it comes to training, the Watch Ultimate impressed us with its customizable display, many different supported sports and new German voice output. The new diving mode is a unique selling point, above all, in connection with its classification for depths of up to 100 meters. The expedition mode's usefulness is currently rather modest because the Watch Ultimate's GPS doesn't function reliably, thereby robbing this mode of its greatest strength.

The fragile satellite communication is the Watch Ultimate's biggest weakness but it shines in every other category.

Additional points of criticism are the unreliable automatic recording of training sessions and the lack of a smart alarm clock.

If you can live with these limitations, you get a wonderful smart watch that, however, comes at a cost.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch5 Pro offers more apps, and a brighter display but also comes with shorter battery life. The Huawei Watch GT 3 Pro is similarly elegant but a little smaller.

In the EU, the review variant of the Watch Ultimate has an RRP asking price of €899 and can be purchased on Huawei's online store, or alternatively, on Amazon UK for £799.

The present review sample was made available to the author as a loan by the manufacturer or a shop for the purposes of review. The lender had no influence on this review, nor did the manufacturer receive a copy of this review before publication. There was no obligation to publish this review.