Huawei Watch 2 review: Time out

Introduction

Huawei unveiled the Watch 2 next to the P10 flagship smartphone duo. Although the handsets took most of the attention in Barcelona, the watches - yep, multiple versions here too - didn't completely go unnoticed either. After all, it's been two years since the original Huawei Watch.

Huawei's second generation of wearables is aptly among the first to get Android Wear 2.0 right out of the box. The latest OS version was officially released in early February and it took quite a while too. By the looks of it though, the wait might have been well worth it.

Huawei will offer its watch in two distinct options for different demographics. The Huawei Watch 2 Classic is the dressed up, ceramic-on-leather, SIM-less version for the style-conscious while the sporty Huawei Watch 2 is the connected, outdoorsy gadget for a more active lifestyle.

Huawei opted for a mix of metal and plastic - with a touch of ceramic for the crown of the Watch 2 Classic. The SIM compartment - only available on the basic Huawei Watch 2 - is accessible when one piece of the 20mm standard rubber strap is detached. The variety of bold paint jobs and color accents for the Watch 2 makes a strong case for the device's main target being power users and outdoor enthusiasts.

Huawei Watch 2 key features

• 1.2" Circular AMOLED display, 390 x 390 pixels, 326 ppi, 45mm in diameter
• Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100, quad-core 1.1GHz, 768MB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage
• 420mAh battery
• 48.9 x 45 x 12.6mm, 57g / 60.5g (Classic)
• Android Wear 2.0
• iOS support
• Heart-rate sensor, 3-axis gyroscope, 3-axis compass, barometer
• IP68 certified for water and dust resistance
• Wireless charging

Huawei Watch 2 main shortcomings

• The plastic strap looks cheap
• Slow GPS positioning, not the best choice for activity tracking

Now, it's the basic Huawei Watch 2 we're reviewing today - and that's clearly a different device from the Classic variety. The overall look and feel, the finish, the Classic's leather strap - you'll have no trouble telling the two apart. The Classic is bigger too. Mind you, we even caught a glimpse of a Porsche Design option at the MWC, but that's yet to get a wider release.

Anyway, we're gonna focus on what's at hand and that's the sporty, LTE-capable Huawei Watch 2. Follow us on the next page to find out what the smartwatch can do for you.