Smartwatches - Organizer

I wore this rugged Suunto smartwatch for months, and I reckon Garmin’s got competition in the outdoor superwatch arena

1:30 pm | February 22, 2026

Suunto Vertical 2: One minute review

We’ve already waxed lyrical about the improvements Suunto has made to its one of premium, fitness-orientated smartwatches, with the latest Race 2 receiving a solid 4.5 stars out of a possible 5 late last year.

Without wanting to take the very easy route here, the Vertical 2 is essentially the same watch with a few additional rugged touches. The bezel is available in either a chunky Stainless Steel or Titanium finish, while the model itself adds a built-in flashlight and a number of new battery life modes. These help improve battery efficiency for those that like to venture off-grid for days.

Suunto has done away with the rotating digital crown of the Race 2, instead opting for three physical buttons. We assume this is because they are a little easier to operate with gloved hands (spoiler alert: they are), much like the best Garmin watches.

The Suunto Vertical 2 offers a plethora of built-in workout profiles, the ability to download and navigate via offline mapping, a digital compass and the ability to receive some smartphone notifications via a tethered device.

This, plus the enormous claimed 250-hours of battery life in its most efficient GPS-logging mode means this is one smart smartwatch that can handle the toughest trails.

Suunto Vertical 2: Specifications

Component	Suunto Vertical 2
Price	£529 / $599 / AU$999 (Stainless Steel) or £629 / $699 / AU$1,099 (Titanium)
Dimensions	48.6 x 48.6 x 13.6 mm / 1.91 x 1.91 x 0.54"
Weight	86g (Stainless Steel) / 74g (Titanium)
Case/bezel	Glass fibre reinforced polyamide case, stainless steel or titanium bezel, sapphire crystal glass
Display	1.5-inch AMOLED touchscreen, 466 x 466 resolution
GPS	Dual-band GNSS: GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BEIDOU
Battery life	Up to 20 days in Smartwatch mode, up to 20 days in Time mode, up to 65 hours in dual-band GNSS mode (extended modes up to 500 hours)
Connection	Bluetooth
Water resistance	100m (10 ATM)

Suunto Vertical 2: Price and availability

Two versions on sale: Stainless Steel and Titanium
Stainless Steel costs £529 / $599 / AU$999
Titanium costs £629 / $699 / AU$1,099

The Stainless Steel Suunto Vertical 2 actually comes in at the same price as the Titanium version of the Suunto Race 2, but adds the previously mentioned flashlight and clever battery modes. It’s also a chunkier watch in general.

Alas, opting for the range-topping (and better looking) Titanium version sees the price rapidly escalate to a figure that tips into Garmin Fenix 8 AMOLED territory, which is arguably the watch the Vertical 2 is chasing here.

Value score 4/5

Suunto Vertical 2: Design

Vertical 2 is slightly thicker than Race 2
Rotating digital crown is gone
Build quality looks and feels solid

Full disclosure, I really like the look and feel of the Suunto Vertical 2. It gives off the impression that it has been hewn from a solid piece of metal — in this case, a big old chunk of stainless steel.

Suunto provides a rubber strap that attaches to the watch itself via a pair of fairly standard pins. These are slightly fiddlier than bespoke systems found on the likes of the Apple Watch Ultra and most Garmin models, but it is a tried-and-tested fixture that works.

The rubber band itself is full of holes (many more than the Race 2), designed to increase airflow when worn on the wrist. But this is also a boon if you plan to take the watch into water, as it drains nicely and there’s no need to worry about drying it out afterwards.

Sitting 13.6mm proud of the wrist, this isn’t a discreet timepiece that can easily be worn under shirtsleeves, and at 86g for this steel version, it certainly feels very heavy.

For someone with skinny wrists, like me, it looks a little ridiculous. But I suppose that’s the point, it’s a rugged adventure watch that’s designed to look like something the Special Forces might wear. Unfortunately, there’s only one size to choose from.

Interaction is taken care of via three buttons mounted along the righthand flank of the toughened bezel, while the AMOLED display itself is touchscreen-enabled, allowing for swipes and prods to navigate the various widgets and menus.

Where the Suunto Race 2 uses a rotating digital crown to scroll through said widgets, it is a case of manually depressing the top and bottom buttons here. This is a much better system for operating with gloved hands, or for when precipitation makes interacting with a touchscreen impossible.

Design Score: 5/5

Suunto Vertical 2: Features

Upgraded optical heart rate sensor
Faster processing speeds than original watch
Massive battery life

When compared to the Suunto Vertical 1, which used a rather naff MIP-based display and solar ring to boost battery life, the difference really is night and day. That AMOLED display is bright and crisp, making it really easy to see all of the numerous data streams it is capable of processing.

We would need several pages and a great deal of your time to go through absolutely all of the features but suffice to say, the Vertical 2 can track pretty much every activity you can think of (115 sport modes in total), while keeping an eye on heart rate, location, elevation and much more.

There’s a built-in compass, the ability to download and navigate via offline mapping and a built-in flashlight for those treks that roll right through the night. The main widget panel on the watch can be customized to suit your specific needs by moving your most-used widgets to the top of the menu, but it is the dedicated battery modes that lend the Vertical 2 a more extreme, wilder personality.

With a 250-hour power-saving GNSS Mode, the watch can intermittently mark GPS locations on those longer hikes or trail runs, meaning you can get back to base camp without worrying about consulting a paper map.

During testing, I forgot to download offline maps during the first hike (it’s a fiddly process requiring Wi-Fi and requiring the watch to be placed on the charger), but there was still enough breadcrumb data to allow me to navigate back to the start with ease.

Of course, once you have successfully downloaded maps, the watch gives a crystal clear view of the surrounding terrain, with details on elevation and other obstacles that may require traversing.

There’s around 28GB of storage on the watch, with mapping for Great Britain taking up around 3.3GB, so you should be good to download a fair amount of offline data that covers vast expanses.

If simply used as a smartwatch, Suunto says the Vertical 2 will last up to 20 days before it needs recharging. On that subject, the USB-C charger is now a magnetic clip, which is far more robust and easier to use compared to its predecessor.

However, the smartwatch functionality isn’t quite up there with Apple, Samsung or even Garmin’s devices, as there’s no tap-to-pay wallet functionality, nor can you store Spotify and YouTube Music playlists offline. It will only control whatever is currently playing on a tethered smartphone. For that reason, the Suunto Vertical 2 is docked a point.

Features Score: 4/5

Suunto Vertical 2: Performance

Massive battery life
Bezel can take a beating
Superb display

Without wanting to create a carbon copy of our Suunto Race 2 review, we primarily subjected the Vertical 2 to plenty of outdoors exercise — strapping it to the wrist for a couple of gnarly gravel bike sessions and trail-running up a few monster hills to test its mettle.

Compared to its MIP predecessor, the AMOLED display is a million times clearer and easier to read in low-light conditions and bad weather. The touchscreen does still get a bit confused when it gets wet, but there are three pleasingly analogue buttons to navigate the simple UI.

When using the watch for the first time, an on-screen guide walks you through most of the key features and offers handy tips on how to get the most out of the numerous profiles.

GPS pin-pointing is fast, particularly when out in the wilderness, while it is possible to download a bunch of offline maps for free using the Suunto smartphone app. The app is also great for planning routes, as it’s as simple as prodding points on a map to create loops or out-and-backs. You can then send these to the watch for use later.

You do have to toggle turn-by-turn directions on, which seems weird to me, but if you pair bluetooth headphones, you can get audible prompts about upcoming directions piped into your skull, which is great for directional doofuses like me.

Suunto’s watch face also makes it very clear when you’ve strayed off the chosen route, navigating back to those trails quickly and easily. I found this particularly useful when on the bike, where I would actually strap the watch to my handlebars and use it as a sat-nav system.

There are lots of websites that go into granular detail about GPS performance, but I found it to be very accurate.

The same can be said for the wrist-based heart rate sensors. These can be a little hit-and-miss, in my experience, but Suunto’s latest effort is commendable. It only really comes undone if performing an exercise that requires grip strength or lots of wrist movement.

Strength training and even racquet sports can see it take confused readings, but it proved accurate (a Garmin chest strap was used to compare) when running, hiking and cycling.

As with lots of other modern smartwatches and fitness trackers, you can also use the Suunto Vertical 2 to track sleep and recovery cycles. Again, the accuracy was great (it largely aligned with an Ultrahuman smart ring) but it proved a very heavy and cumbersome watch to wear into bed. I whacked myself in the face a number of times with it while sleeping.

Finally, battery life is hugely impressive. While I didn’t subject it to a 250-hour hike through the Andes, I did wear it for a number of months. On average, I could easily run or cycle a couple of times a week with GPS tracking and mapping activated, hit the gym three times a week and generally use it as a smartwatch the rest of the time, and only have to charge it every 10 days or so.

Performance score: 4/5

Suunto Vertical 2 Screens — (Image credit: Future/Leon Poultney)

Suunto Vertical 2: Scorecard

Category	Comment	Score
Value	It’s pricer than the Suunto Race 2 and you only get a few additional features	4/5
Design	It’s a handsome watch and the bezel can take a battering	5/5
Features	An excellent outdoors fitness watch but it lacks some smartwatch features	4/5
Performance	Solid battery life, a crisp display and accurate tracking	5/5

Suunto Vertical 2: Should I buy?

Buy it if...

You want a reliable outdoors smartwatch that undercuts Garmin

The Suunto Vertical 2 costs less than the excellent Garmin Fenix 8 and offers many of the same features.

Build quality and usability are key

The Suunto Vertical 2 feels like it can withstand a hell of a beating, particularly in the Titanium guise.

Don't buy it if...

You want smartwatch features

There’s no tap-to-pay, the smartphone notifications are limited and there’s no offline music. All things some rivals offer.

You are integrated into the Garmin ecosystem

While Suunto’s smartphone app is perfectly acceptable, I’d argue it isn’t as good nor as all-encompassing as Garmin’s. The coaching programmes and long-term fitness-tracking are simply better.

Also consider

Garmin Fenix 8

A rugged outdoor watch that boasts the best bits of Garmin's smartwatch capabilities. It is expensive but it's only really the core smartwatch functionality that sets it apart from Suunto's offering.

Read our full Garmin Fenix 8 reviewView Deal

Apple Watch Ultra 3

Yep, the Californian tech company can also do rugged outdoors smart watches. The third iteration is a Garmin-rivaling powerhouse for adventurers, and a lovely daily driver.

Read our full Apple Watch Ultra 3 review hereView Deal

How I tested

As with all smart watches and fitness trackers, I like to slot these gizmos into my busy daily life, which means dragging them to the gym, taking them on runs, wearing them in the sea during frigid winter surfs and much more.

Seeing as the Suunto Vertical 2 is aimed at particularly outdoors-y types, I laced up the trail running shoes, slipped on hiking boots and dusted off the gravel bike to get it out into some properly horrible British winter weather.

This proved a good exercise in assessing the quality of the GPS tracking, the brightness and usability of the display in inclement conditions, as well as testing the claimed battery life

First reviewed: February 2026

Amazfit Balance 2 review: An outstanding fitness tracker, but so-so smart features

6:02 pm | February 18, 2026

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness Smartwatches | Tags: GPS | Comments: Off

Amazfit Balance 2: One minute review

Two years after the original Amazfit Balance was released, Amazfit has now released its follow-up, the Amazfit Balance 2. The new release represents a solid upgrade with a distinct focus on durability, battery life, and enhanced sensors/features. In real terms, that means a bigger battery, superior water resistance, a brighter display, a faster chipset, dual speakers, and sensor upgrades.

The watch itself is pitched as a multi-sport training partner. Direct competitors include the Garmin Venu 4, the Coros Pace 4 or the Huawei Watch GT 5.

With such fierce competition in the market, we're unlikely to see the Amazfit Balance 2 featuring in our best running watches guide, but that doesn't mean it's not worthy of consideration, as evidenced by our four-star rating.

The single most impressive feature of the watch is the multi-week battery life. With many watch alternatives forcing customers to choose between features and battery life, the Balance 2 delivers a flagship-level experience with remarkable longevity. This means less charging anxiety and better continuous tracking, especially for multi-day trips or long activity periods.

In terms of software, the addition of Zepp Flow AI is a significant step forward. Watches, for a long while, have supported voice assistants such as Amazon Alexa, Siri or Garmin’s native voice assistant, but these have required specific rigid commands. Zepp Flow AI, along with the most recent wave of Android watches which now use Gemini on Wear OS 6, understands and responds to conversational, natural speech.

Despite these upgrades, it’s a long way off the Apple Watch Ultra 3 or the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 as a smartwatch. But it’s not really looking to compete on the same plane. The Balance 2 is a middle-of-the-market smartwatch that is looking to push what is possible for under $300/£300.

Amazfit Balance 2: Specifications

Component	Amazfit Balance 2
Price	$299 USD / £299 UK / $479.99 AUS
Dimensions	47.4mm wide, 12.3mm thick
Weight	42g without strap
Case/bezel	Aluminum alloy and fiber-reinforced polymer
Display	1.5-inch AMOLED (480x480px)
GPS	Dual-band (L1 + L5) with support for GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BDS, QZSS, Navic
Battery life	Up to 10 days of heavy use, or 21+ days of typical use
Connection	Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, NFC
Water resistance	10 ATM

Amazfit Balance 2: Price and availability

$299 USD / £299 UK / $479.99 AUS
Sits comfortably in the middle of the market
An impressive feature set considering the price

At $299 USD / £299 UK / $479.99 AUS, the Balance 2 sits comfortably in the middle of the smartwatch market. It’s more expensive than the Amazfit Active 2 ($99 / £99.98 / AU$149.99) but not as pricey as the Garmin Venu 4 ($450 / £450). In terms of features, specs, and price, the Balance 2 is probably most comparable with the Samsung Galaxy Watch8.

The Balance 2 offers a respectable set of features considering its sub-$300/£300 price tag, but it's not as mature or refined as the Garmin Venu 4. If you care deeply about advanced fitness analysis and reliable structured workouts, then you'll want the more premium Garmin. If, on the other hand, you care little for these more advanced fitness tracking features, then the Balance 2 serves up a reasonable alternative with an equally impressive display and fantastic battery life.

Value score 4.5/5

Amazfit Balance 2: Design

Small and lightweight design
1.5-inch AMOLED display with 2,000 nits brightness
10 ATM (100-meter) water resistance

The Balance 2 offers a classic circular watch design. In terms of materials, there’s an aluminum alloy alongside a fiber-reinforced polymer case, and this blend of materials is about as premium as you're going to get at this price point, similar to the Garmin Vivoactive 6. .

The watch is 47.4mm wide and 12.3mm thick. It also weighs a minimal 42g without the strap. As a result, the Balance 2 sits comfortably without overpowering the wrist muscles or looking unnecessarily bulky. I'm looking at you, Huawei Watch Ultimate 2. The orange silicone strap creates a gorgeous contrast with the black case while delivering the added benefits of water resistance, a comfortable feel, and easy cleaning after a sweaty run.

The Balance 2 boasts a 1.5-inch AMOLED display, which is protected by highly scratch-resistant sapphire glass. This is a significant upgrade over the standard tempered glass of its predecessor and means users don't have to worry while engaging in some activities which might damage the watch. Maybe most impressive is its peak brightness of up to 2,000 nits, which puts it towards the elite end and equal with the Apple Watch Series 11. As a result, I had no problems using the watch even under direct sunlight, not that there was a huge amount around during winter in the UK.

For those engaging in water sports, the Balance 2 offers substantial ruggedness with a 10 ATM (100-meter) water resistance rating. This goes beyond standard swimming and showering, making it suitable for high-speed water sports and even shallow scuba diving, which is an impressive level of durability for a smartwatch positioned outside of the ultra-premium or dedicated dive watch category.

The watch includes a digital crown for tactile scrolling through menus, although it feels a little on the cheap side. Additionally, dual speakers and a microphone contribute to the design, enhancing the ability to take clear Bluetooth calls and use the Zepp Flow AI voice assistant.

Design Score: 4/5

Amazfit Balance 2: Features

Zepp Flow AI for natural voice controls
21-day battery life
Improved sensors and dual-band GPS

With a middle-of-the-range set of health and fitness tracking features, I was actually more intrigued by the Zepp Flow AI, which offers a natural way to interact with the watch. Through natural language, it is possible to engage the watch, perform health queries, and control activity tracking. I didn't have to memorize a set of predefined commands but could instead treat it like I treat any other AI engine, such as ChatGPT or Gemini.

Then there's the advertised 21-day battery life that is possible with typical usage. This is an upgrade from 14 days in the original Balance and reduces the need for regular charging. The three-week battery life drops to around 10 days with heavier usage, or if you want to perform continuous GPS tracking, then you'll get 33 hours. For real-world results, I get into battery performance in the next section.

In terms of sports and health tracking, the Balance 2 incorporates a newer BioTracker 6.0 PPG optical sensor, which Amazfit claims has a specific benefit on the accuracy of measured heart rate and sleep data. There's also dual-band GPS, which is known for its higher accuracy and improved reliability, especially in challenging environments like cities or dense forests.

The Balance 2 features 32GB of onboard storage, which is essential for anyone wanting to exercise, navigate routes and listen to locally stored music without needing their phone with them.

Features Score: 4/5

Amazfit Balance 2: Performance

Exceptional battery performance
Accurate tracking
Solid and reliable GPS

Let's begin with one of the best-performing elements of the Balance 2—the battery life. I had no problems achieving the advertised 21 days of battery life when using the device to track the occasional workout alongside regular health checks. When I increased my GPS use and switched over to the Always-On Display, the battery life dropped to just a week, but that’s still very impressive. Whatever your smartwatch habits, the Balance 2 is streets ahead of more powerful watchOS or Wear OS alternatives such as the Apple Watch or Google Pixel Watch, making it more like Garmin or Coros: a top low-power choice for multi-day hiking, long cycle rides, or more demanding adventures.

As for charging, the proprietary charging cradle has a USB-C attachment. During testing, I only had to recharge the watch a handful of times, but when I did, I was able to achieve 0 percent to 100 percent in a little under two hours. Faster recharging is available on other smartwatches such as the OnePlus Watch 3, but Amazfit has opted, instead, for a steadier power delivery to preserve the battery's long-term health.

In terms of tracking performance, Amazfit has updated the BioTracker from version 5.0 to 6.0 which boasts significant improvements in terms of accuracy, certification, and Zepp OS support. The watch delivered accurate heart rate and blood oxygen readouts with comparison tests run on the demonstrably accurate Huawei Watch Ultimate 2.

Additionally, the watch features an improved six-satellite GPS system with a new Huangshan 3 chipset and upgraded antenna and signal processing. In real terms, the watch locked onto a strong signal as soon as I moved out of my house and maintained it while tracking through a number of tricky environments, including a built-up city, forest area, and rural areas. To test accuracy, I compared a number of bike rides and runs against onthegomap.com and my benchmark-accurate smartwatch, the Huawei Watch Ultimate 2. I found the Balance 2 to be accurate with very little drifting, even when traveling long distances.

Map interaction left a lot to be desired, unfortunately. Despite the upgraded chip, the Balance 2 struggled to render high-resolution maps and labels in real time. The presence of a lag meant I quickly lost interest in using the map feature.

The watch is powered by Zepp OS 5, which is one of the most fluid and responsive operating systems I've experienced. I also loved using Zepp Flow, which is the AI-driven voice assistant. With it I was able to perform actions hands-free, including starting and stopping workouts, as well as interact with notifications. This was a big time saver and super handy at times when I couldn’t easily operate the watch’s menus.

As good as the Balance 2 is for health and fitness tracking, it's seriously let down by its lack of third-party apps such as Spotify, Apple Maps, and Strava. Even Garmin has integration of sorts with apps like Spotify via the Garmin Connect IQ store. This lack of deep ecosystem integration means that the watch remains largely isolated from everything else you might interact with on a daily basis. There's also no LTE/cellular option, which means it's unable to work independently from your phone.

Performance score: 4/5

Amazfit Balance 2: Scorecard

Category	Comment	Score
Value	A sub $300/£300 smartwatch with specs to match.	4.5/5
Design	A good-looking design that utilizes mid-range materials for a semi-rugged look.	4/5
Features	A respectable set of features with improved sensors and dual-band GPS.	4/5
Performance	Outstanding battery life, accurate tracking, and reliable GPS.	4/5

Amazfit Balance 2: Should I buy?

Buy it if...

You want a watch that will just keep on going

With a 21-day typical usage battery life, the Balance 2 is a fantastic performer.

You need accurate health tracking

With Amazfit's latest BioTracker 6.0 PPG sensor, the Balance 2 delivers reliable metrics.

Don't buy it if...

You value a rich app selection

The Zepp OS app store is very limited, and you might find that your favorite apps are missing.

You need an LTE/Cellular Option

As a result, your phone must remain near you if you want to receive calls and text messages and benefit from data synchronization.

Also consider

Garmin Venu 4

The perfect blend between a dressy smartwatch and a fitness tool. We love the accurate metrics, the smart design, and the new health tools.

Read our full Garmin Venu 4 reviewView Deal

Huawei Watch GT 5

This is Huawei's best mid-range offering so far and a smartwatch that covers all the bases with accurate tracking and measurements thanks to Huawei TruSense. Designed for casual exercisers rather than devoted runners.

Read our full Huawei Watch GT 5 reviewView Deal

How I tested

I wore the Amazfit Balance 2 for over a month, and in that time I measured almost every single health metric available on the watch. Some of these I tracked over a number of days so that I was able to build up a reasonable picture of the watch's accuracy over time. I also wore the watch while carrying out a range of different exercises, including running, cycling, and walking. During these tests I checked the accuracy of health metrics and GPS using the Huawei Watch Ultimate 2, which has itself been tested against the Apple Watch Ultra series.

First reviewed: February 2026

Sick of charging your Apple Watch every day? The Coros Pace 4 offers up to 19 days of battery, and costs less than an SE 3

4:00 pm | February 15, 2026

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness Smartwatches | Tags: Apple Watch, Garmin Forerunner, Garmin Vivoactive, SE | Comments: Off

Coros Pace 4: One minute review

The Coros Pace 4 continues its predecessor’s mantle as one of the best cheap running watches and is a marked improvement upon the previous-gen Coros Pace 3, which was also one of our best running watches overall. There's a lot to like about the smartwatch, including runners wanting to make an upgrade.

The most significant change between the two models is the movement away from a fairly basic Memory-in-Pixel screen to a vibrant 1.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen. The resolution has also been increased from 240x240 pixels to 390x390 pixels. This makes the text and graphs substantially sharper, and despite this having an impact upon battery drain, Coros has directly addressed that by increasing the battery capacity.

The watch is aimed at runners, triathletes, and cyclists desiring speed and simplicity. At just 32g (with nylon strap), the Pace 4 is incredibly lightweight and unassuming. The tracking of accurate distances was not pinpoint-sharp, but pace, heart rate, cadence, and other metrics were measured accurately.

That said, this is not a smartwatch for the masses. The lack of everyday smarts, such as music streaming and NFC payments, makes it rather limited for anyone looking for more than a training tool. I wouldn't say this is a negative, though, as not every wearable is for everyone. The Pace 4 sticks close to its running credentials, and at a budget-friendly price of $249 / £229, this makes it a very enticing proposition indeed.

Coros Pace 4: Specifications

Component	Coros Pace 4
Price	$249 USD / £229 UK / $479.95 AUS
Dimensions	43.4 x 43.4 x 11.8 mm
Weight	32g (with Nylon band) / 40g (with Silicone band)
Caze/bezel	Fiber-reinforced polymer (Plastic)
Display	1.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen 390 x 390 pixels
GPS	Dual-Frequency GNSS
Battery life	Up to 19 days or 41 hours for High GPS Usage
Connection	Bluetooth and Wi-Fi
Water resistance	5 ATM

Coros Pace 4: Price and availability

$249 USD / £229 UK / AU$479.95
A fantastic price for a smartwatch with dual-band GPS and an AMOLED display
Competes well with the Garmin Forerunner 165

The COROS Pace 4, priced at $249 / £229 / AU$479.95, is a lightweight performance running watch that balances high-end features like a vibrant AMOLED display and industry-leading battery life (up to 41 hours of GPS) with a competitive entry-level price tag. The 4.5-star-rated Apple Watch SE 3 is comparably priced, although more targeted at general users rather than runners.

Similarly specced alternatives include the Garmin Forerunner 165 and Suunto Run or if you're looking for a more rugged, outdoor-focused build, then the Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro is a good alternative.

Value score 4.5/5

Coros Pace 4: Design

Lightweight build feels basic but comfortable to wear
Bright, high-resolution AMOLED display
Hybrid three-button system

The Coros Pace 4 is small, lightweight, and has a distinctly budget plastic feel. No-one would describe the watch as premium, but that doesn’t mean the choice of materials doesn’t have any benefits. At 32g (with nylon band), it’s beautifully light on the wrist, and a thickness of 11.8mm means it easily slips underneath the sleeve.

At the heart of the Pace 4 is a small 1.2-inch AMOLED screen that is comparable with the Garmin Forerunner 265 and Apple Watch SE 3. With a 1,500-nit brightness and a 390 x 390px resolution, the Pace 4 lacks nothing in outdoor visibility and image sharpness. To keep the device charged, Coros provides a proprietary charger which magnetically attaches to the watch. The charger also contains a built-in keyring, which reduces the chance of losing it.

While Garmin sticks to a traditional five-button layout and Apple relies on a single digital crown and side button, the Pace 4 uses a hybrid three-button system. This includes the signature Coros digital dial plus an Action button, similar to the Apple Watch Ultra 3. These deliver reliable navigation through menus even when your hands are sweaty or you're wearing winter gloves.

At the back of the watch, you'll find a flush-mounted sensor that is flat enough to avoid skin irritation during long periods of wear. I also found it more stable than a lot of smartwatches that I've tested recently. Additionally, its integrated dual-microphone system is a rare design find in this price bracket.

Design Score: 4/5

Coros Pace 4: Features

19 days of daily training and sleep
An innovative voice recording tool
Built-in GPS

The Coros Pace 4 boasts a voice recording tool, excellent battery life, and a dual-frequency GPS system. Beginning with the voice functionality, it's fair to say that most other smartwatches provide a general-purpose voice memo tool, but the Pace 4 is unique in that its voice features are specifically integrated into the athletic training workflow. More specifically, Voice Pins can be added mid-run to specific locations on your route, while Voice Notes are better suited to capturing subjective information after an activity has been completed.

As you’d expect with a running watch, the Pace 4 utilizes an advanced All-Systems dual-frequency GNSS chipset, allowing it to communicate with five major satellite networks (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou, and QZSS). The ability to connect across two frequencies is designed to improve positional accuracy in challenging environments such as cities and forests.

The lack of full offline maps is a little disappointing, although breadcrumb-style navigation with turn-by-turn directions for the planned route is available. Another notable feature is its ability to route sync from platforms like Strava.

And finally, battery capabilities. The Pace 4 continues a growing trend of offering long-lasting performance. In terms of advertised numbers, that looks like 19 days of continuous daily use and 41 hours when using the All Systems (High) GPS mode. This is roughly equivalent to the latest Amazfit Balance 2, which features 21 days of continuous daily use and 33 hours of GPS use.

Features Score: 4/5

Coros Pace 4: Performance

Fast and responsive interface
Accurate health tracking
Reasonable GPS performance for a budget-smartwatch

The Coros Pace 4 features an Ambiq Apollo 510 processor, which, compared to its predecessors, is a significant leap in internal processing power and efficiency. This results in a responsive interface that shows no sign of lag when carrying out health measurements or activity tracking. The interface is basic but simple to navigate, with Coros opting to display all non-activity features inside a 'Control Center' interface that displays everything inside one single face of the watch rather than cycling up and down long lists, as is more common with other watch brands.

The advanced processor also powers voice pins and training logs, which form a key part of the Coros Pace experience. Recording these audio notes is simple and quick and a far better solution than using a separate app or paper-based alternative. A next-step improvement would be to introduce an AI feature that is able to transcribe these notes and summarize progress.

In terms of positional precision, the Pace 4 utilizes an all-satellite, dual-frequency GNSS chipset that has been refined to maintain a lock in difficult environments. I had no problems finding a strong enough signal, even in rural areas and when surrounded by tall buildings.

In distance traveled benchmark tests against the extensively tested Huawei Watch Ultimate 2, I found the Pace 4 to be within 200 meters, not super-accurate but good enough for casual runners. We'll be batch-testing the Coros Pace 4, along with other watches, to better assess accuracy over longer distances in the near future – watch this space. However, it's safe to say the Pace 4 offers a good GPS distance estimation, with a margin for error.

Biometric tracking has also seen a hardware overhaul with a redesigned optical heart rate sensor featuring five LEDs and four photodetectors. This updated array provides reliable health data when compared to the Watch Ultimate 2. That said, I did have to make sure that the watch maintained a snug fit to my skin; otherwise, light leaking onto the sensor caused measurements to jump around.

Despite the move to a 1,500-nit AMOLED screen, the battery efficiency remains a standout, providing up to 41 hours in High GPS mode and 31 hours in Dual-Frequency mode. While using the device to track a few runs and bike rides per week, I was easily able to achieve between ten and fourteen days of usage. The 5 ATM water resistance rating held up when using the watch in wet conditions as well as when submerged in a bowl of water for over a minute.

The Pace 4 is a perfect weight and size for runners and athletes who want their smartwatch to blend into the background. It'll track your vitals and activities to a reasonable accuracy, especially given the price point.

Performance score: 4/5

Coros Pace 4: Scorecard

Category	Comment	Score
Value	A budget-friendly watch with some higher-end features.	4.5/5
Design	Lightweight and compact but with an unmistakable budget feel.	4/5
Features	Some innovative features are designed around activities, but nothing that’s going to set the world alight.	4/5
Performance	Reasonably accurate health and activity tracking, especially for the price.	4/5

Coros Pace 4: Should I buy?

Buy it if...

You’re a runner who loves logging their activities

With voice logging and pins, the Pace 4 is ideally suited to recording your experiences.

You like a lightweight smartwatch that blends into the background

At 32g (nylon strap) the Pace 4 is one of the lightest options on the market.

Don't buy it if...

You like a watch with everyday smarts

There’s no music streaming, NFC payments, and no ability to reply to texts.

You need offline maps

If you’re regularly following complex trails or like to go off-route, then you’ll have to look elsewhere.

Also consider

Garmin Forerunner 165

With premium training features, a good-looking AMOLED touchscreen, and 13 days of battery life, the Forerunner 165 is a similarly priced alternative to the Coros Pace 4.

Read our Garmin Forerunner 165 reviewView Deal

Garmin Vivoactive 5

A smartwatch with more sports and health tracking metrics than most will need while staying compact and easy to see with that stunning AMOLED display. Also reasonably priced.

Read our full Garmin Vivoactive 5 reviewView Deal

How I tested

I used the Coros Pace 4 across the period of several weeks, focusing my activities on running, cycling, walking, and gym cardio. I was specifically, although not exclusively, interested in seeing how much use I would genuinely make of the voice recording features. This is a relatively unique feature that I was keen to check out. I also put it through its paces in terms of GPS accuracy and the effect of its use on battery life. The smartwatch shipped with both nylon and silicone straps, so I tested both. Finally, despite it not being a core feature of the watch, I also tested its sleep tracking abilities.

First reviewed: February 2026

I wore the Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro for a month, and at half the price of an Apple Watch Ultra 3, it gets top marks for value

4:17 pm | February 9, 2026

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness Smartwatches | Tags: AI, Garmin Fenix, NFC | Comments: Off

Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro: One minute review

Amazfit has been on a hot streak recently. Fresh off the release of the Bip 6 and Active 2, the company has now released the latest version of its most capable outdoor watch, the Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro. The watch is showcased by the super successful ultrarunner and official commercial partner Ruth Croft, who says that Amazfit “gives her the tools she needs without getting in the way of the run."

The Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro is pitched as a value alternative to premium rugged watches like the Garmin Fenix 8 and Apple Watch Ultra 3. While it costs significantly less, it packs very competitive hardware, making it a compelling option for outdoor athletes and budget-conscious consumers.

With a military-grade (MIL-STD-810H) rating, a titanium bezel, and sapphire crystal glass, the T-Rex 3 Pro is seriously rugged, built to withstand extreme temperatures and is 10 ATM water-resistant, certified for scuba diving up to 45 meters. In addition to its already excellent diving features, the T-Rex 3 Pro has a dedicated dive computer mode like the Garmin Fenix 8 and Apple Watch Ultra 3.

The 1.5-inch AMOLED display is also impressively specced, with 3,000 nits of peak brightness to compete with the latest crop of Apple Watches. Beyond that, the watch offers up to 25 days of typical use on a single charge, a very good feat considering Garmin’s battery lives have been creeping downwards. When tracking outdoor activities, it still delivers up to 38 hours of continuous, high-accuracy dual-band GPS (which connects to six satellite systems). This endurance sets it apart and makes it ideal for multi-day treks or ultra-races.

The main trade-off is the software. It runs on Amazfit's proprietary Zepp OS. While Zepp OS is smooth, fast, and feature-rich for health and fitness tracking, it operates on a closed ecosystem. This means there are no major third-party apps, including Spotify, Google Maps, or Strava. There's a lot to commend the T-Rex 3 Pro, but this lack of integration is its most egregious downside.

Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro: Price and availability

$399 USD / £399 UK / $600 AUS
Incredibly affordable given its rugged qualities
Cellular connectivity will require upgrading to a more expensive smartwatch

At sub-$400 / £400 / $600 AUS, the T-Rex 3 Pro is an incredibly affordable alternative to the more expensive Garmin Fenix 8 and Apple Watch Ultra 3 (the Ultra 3 costs $799 in the US, so the T-Rex 3 Pro is fully half the price). It’s missing a number of features, including ECG support, crash detection, third-party apps and other integrations. If you’re not concerned about this, then the T-Rex 3 Pro delivers an awful lot of smartwatch for not a lot of money.

Value score 5/5

Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro: Design

Rugged and premium build
High-end AMOLED display
Two size options

The Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro is a rugged and outdoors-focused smartwatch that embraces a deliberately chunky and robust aesthetic. You could even call it a delightful homage to the classic digital sports watch, the Casio G-Shock.

The overall design aesthetic is probably more reminiscent of the Garmin Fenix 8 series, with both watches boasting circular, rugged designs and a blend of physical buttons (four on the Amazfit, five on the Garmin) and touchscreen operation. Personally I don't think you can beat the tactile experience of physical buttons.

The fiber-reinforced polymer case is combined with a Grade 5 titanium bezel and buttons for a tough yet lightweight construction. The case contains a high-resolution 1.5-inch AMOLED display that is capable of an impressive 3,000 nits. As a result, I had absolutely no problems using it out in direct sunlight. The display is inset slightly and protected by scratch-resistant sapphire glass.

In addition to everything you'd expect from a typical smartwatch, the T-Rex 3 Pro features a built-in LED flashlight located at the top of the case, just like the best Garmin watches. This offers adjustable brightness and a dual-color mode, with the red light designed to preserve night vision during camping or late-night navigation.

While the T-Rex line used to be one-size-fits-all, and that size was huge, the Pro 3 introduces a second option. As a result, you can now choose from the original 48mm model (tested and photographed) and a more compact alternative 44mm model. The latter retains the rugged titanium/polymer build but fits much better on smaller wrists or under jacket sleeves.

Design Score: 4/5

Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro: Features

180 sports modes including skiing
10ATM water resistance
NFC enabled

The Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro offers an extensive set of features covering over 180 sports but with a distinct leaning towards more adventurous activities, including skiing and snowshoeing. The ski mapping feature enables users to find their nearest ski resort and navigate with detailed maps. According to Amazfit, these maps include "cable cars, color-coded slopes, and clear route guidance for groomed runs as well as off-piste, backcountry, or telemark routes."

While taking part in icy-cold endeavors you'll be glad to know that the T-Rex 3 Pro is resistant to temperatures as low as -40℃ and includes a smart Low Temperature Mode that keeps vital software functions of the watch operational in environments as cold as -30℃.

If you're planning on showing the water who's boss, then the 10 ATM water-resistance capabilities will come in handy. That means the watch is certified for diving to a depth of 45m and therefore ready for all your freediving and scuba diving excursions.

Tracking is taken care of by the new BioTracker sensor that delivers highly accurate heart-rate tracking even in challenging outdoor conditions. For pro-grade precision, the watch can also be paired with an Amazfit Helio Strap.

When you fancy a coffee or high-protein shake while on the slopes or on a long run, the inclusion of Zepp Pay takes advantage of NFC technology so you don't need to go rifling through your stuff in search of your phone or bank card. Up to eight bank cards can be stored with password-protected contactless payment, keeping your transactions secure.

Features Score: 4/5

Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro: Performance

Excellent health and activity tracking
Fantastic battery life
Poorly implemented AI assistant

The T-Rex 3 Pro performs well when it comes to health and fitness tracking. I tested it alongside the more expensive and trusted Huawei Watch Ultimate 2 and found it reported very similar health metrics, including measuring heart rate to within a single beat. It also measured the same 96 percent reading for blood oxygen, which is very impressive considering the Watch Ultimate 2 features a dedicated X-Tap sensor for accurate readings.

I used my normal cycle route to test the GPS accuracy of the T-Rex Pro. This route includes both rural and built-up environments, which makes it an ideal test for GPS performance. GPS locking was almost instant, even when still in my house. GPS lock was maintained throughout the 4km ride, with no dropouts experienced. I compared the distance on both the Huawei Watch Ultimate 2 and onthegomap.com and found that the watch was within an impressive 50m of both, a statistically insignificant 1.25% difference.

The watch also delivers exceptional battery performance, lasting 9 to 10 days in my testing even with the Always-On Display and continuous health tracking active, which would qualify as ‘heavy use’. For those prioritizing longevity, disabling the AOD stretches performance to nearly 3 weeks. During high-accuracy GPS tracking, the battery proves its rugged credentials by draining only about 3% per hour, making it a reliable companion for multi-day adventures.

I’ve tested a few Amazfit watches now but haven’t yet delved deep into the Zepp Flow AI functionality. Getting hold of the T-Rex 3 Pro provided the ideal opportunity to change that. Zepp Flow is a conversational AI assistant and one of the first tools of its kind for smartwatches. I’ve always found navigating through smartwatch menus a bit laborious, and so I was eager to see if Amazfit was able to deliver a more intuitive hands-free experience.

After checking online for some of the commonly accepted commands, I began by saying, “I want to go for a run.” Zepp Flow recognised my words perfectly and immediately launched the run activity. There was no need to select “Go” as the activity began straight away. With my impressed face on, I then asked Zepp Flow if it will rain this afternoon. The watch responded with “I cannot provide weather information for past times” even though it was only 1.30pm.

A little more unsure than I was after launching the run activity, I set about seeing if Zepp Flow could help me access the watch’s smart features. I therefore gave the device access to my contacts and asked it to call my wife. Unfortunately, it kept thinking that I was saying Hutton rather than Hatton. I understand that these misunderstandings can happen, but rather than asking me to say it again or “Did you mean Hutton” it just stopped listening, end of conversation.

I find that if my experience of an AI assistant stutters a few times, then I quickly stop using it, and that was very much the case with Zepp Flow. Alongside a lack of third-party apps, I was left a little disappointed by the limited smartwatch features on offer.

Performance score: 4/5

Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro: Scorecard

Category	Comment	Score
Value	At this price point it doesn’t get much better than this.	5/5
Design	A solid titanium-built case featuring a 3,000-nit display and pro-dive durability.	4/5
Features	A set of impressive features aimed at outdoor enthusiasts and adventurers.	4/5
Performance	Highly accurate health and fitness tracking, but Zepp Flow lets the watch down.	4/5

Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro: Should I buy?

Buy it if...

You want a rugged build and great battery life on a budget

At sub-$400/£400, the T-Rex 3 Pro offers a very impressive set of specs.

Specialized outdoor and safety utilities

With advanced navigation, a built-in speaker and microphone, and an integrated flashlight, you'll have everything you need when you need it most.

Don't buy it if...

You need cellular connectivity (LTE)

For that you’ll need to upgrade to something like the Garmin Fenix 8.

You rely on third-party app integration

As is the case with all Amazfit watches, you won’t find the likes of Spotify, Google Maps, or WhatsApp.

Also consider

Garmin Fenix 8

This is the ultimate watch for adventure enthusiasts, with a smorgasbord of hardware and software features and a battery that lasts for weeks.

Read our full Garmin Fenix 8 reviewView Deal

Apple Watch Ultra 3

A powerhouse of a wearable, adding 5G, satellite connectivity and new screen technology to an already-winning formula. The Low Power Mode can stretch its runtime to a remarkable 72 hours, and its fitness metrics are accurate against a leading chest-mounted heart rate monitor.

Read our full Apple Watch Ultra 3 reviewView Deal

How I tested

During my month-long testing of the T-Rex 3 Pro, I took part in a range of different activities, including cycling, running, football, aerobics, and more. Unfortunately I didn’t have a skiing holiday planned during the testing phase, so I wasn’t able to try out the dedicated skiing features. There were plenty of other features to keep me occupied, though, including health tracking, water resistance, Zepp Flow, messaging, and battery life.

First reviewed: February 2026

Garmin Vivoactive 6 review: A feature-stuffed pocket rocket

9:04 pm | November 20, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness Smartwatches | Tags: Garmin Forerunner, Garmin Vivoactive | Comments: Off

Garmin Vivoactive 6: One minute review

The Garmin Vivoactive 6 is a great fitness watch, which isn’t something I was necessarily expecting from Garmin’s slimmer, more budget-friendly offering. It’s stuffed with features such as PacePro, Garmin’s virtual pacing system for runners, which generally belong on more expensive, more specialist watches like Garmin’s Forerunner series.

Still, the Vivoactive series is a lifestyle watch for active people. It shares a lot of DNA with Garmin’s other lifestyle watch, the Venu 4, but it’s cheaper and made from less premium materials. If the Venu 4 is like an Apple Watch, the Vivoactive 6 is more like an Apple Watch SE: there have been some compromises made to lower the price, but it’s still a really effective, comfortable activity watch I enjoyed wearing.

Like the Apple Watch SE 3, the Garmin Vivoactive 6 is very light, weighing in at just 36g with a band, and slim at just 10.9mm thick. This means it’s comfortable for all-day wear, and you can go from the gym to the office and even to bed and basically forget about wearing it. It slipped easily under my shirt cuff during daywear when other Garmin watches would bulge. Any sleep tracker has to be comfortable to wear throughout the night, and this was the case with the Vivoactive more so than the Venu, which is a milimeter or so thicker and much heavier due to its metal construction.

Smart wake alarm, a new feature for Garmin, was long missing from its lineup, and I was pleased yet surprised to see it in the Vivoactive line. It wakes you up with haptic vibrations at the lightest point in your sleep cycle, within a 30-minute window. Having tried it for a few days, I found it a much more pleasant way to wake up than my usual alarm, and I feel anecdotally less groggy in the mornings.

I enjoyed the Auto Activity Start feature too, which I set to start recording after one minute of road running. It really contributes to a seamless, super-light smartwatch experience when you don’t have to toggle around to get to the running settings – just run. It’s a nice-to-have, but it adds to the overall ‘virtual assistant’ experience many smartwatches are now striving for, to anticipate your needs without you having to wade through menus. I do wish the Vivoactive 6 had a microphone and voice assistant, but I can accept shortcomings at this price point.

It’s not necessarily the watch I’d recommend to adventurers or serious runners due to missing features from other Garmin watches, and it’s packing the older Elevate V4 heart rate sensor, which is functional but not as accurate as the upgraded Elevate V5, and my tests against the Polar H10 heart rate monitor corroborate that. But it’s a great fitness tool and the best cheap Garmin watch of 2025.

Garmin Vivoactive 6: Price and availability

Garmin Vivoactive 6 white — (Image credit: Future)

$299.99 / £279.99 / AU$549
Affordably priced compared to other Garmins
Comparable to most smartwatches from Apple and Samsung

The Garmin Vivoactive 6 retails at $299.99 / £279.99 / AU$549, although can be found on sale for slightly less.

That's very comparable with the likes of the Samsung Galaxy Watch8 and Google Pixel Watch 4, and slightly more expensive than the Apple Watch SE 3. Although it's perhaps leaning more towards fitness enthusiasts than those all-rounder watches, I'd say this is a great price for the amount of features on offer.

Garmin Vivoactive 6: Scorecard

Category	Comment	Score
Value	Cheap and most certainly cheerful, stuffed with premium features for the price.	5/5
Design	Two buttons and a touchscreen, nice and light, with a redesigned UI.	4/5
Features	Tons if you like your fitness, but lacking some modern smartwatch amenities like a microphone.	4/5
Performance	Accurate enough, comfortable to wear and lasts ages. I do wish it was packing Garmin’s more accurate HR monitor though.	4/5

Garmin Vivoactive 6: Should I buy?

Buy it if...

You want an Apple Watch SE alternative

The Garmin Vivoactive 6 is an excellent value package, with an AMOLED screen and loads of training tools.

You’re a runner

PacePro, automatic run tracking, and Garmin’s advanced suite of fitness and recovery tools make it a comprehensive run tracker ideal for most people.

You struggle with comfort

Bulky, heavy watches are difficult to wear at night. The Vivoactive 6 is practically invisible on-wrist, and ideal for slimmer wrists.

Don't buy it if...

You want an adventure watch

The Garmin Instinct 3 is a little bit more expensive and packs lots of outdoor-focused navigation features.

Accuracy is everything

If you need the latest Elevate V5 heart rate sensor for pinpoint precision rather than an estimate, go for the Venu 4.

Also consider

Garmin Forerunner 570

The best Garmin watch for runners: it’s more expensive, but ideal if you love pounding the pavement.

Read our full Garmin Forerunner 570 review

Apple Watch SE 3

The best Apple Watch for most people, with some smartwatch features the Vivoactive 6 is missing.

Read our full Apple Watch SE 3 reviewView Deal

How I tested

I wore the Garmin Vivoactive 6 for 10 days, performing different kinds of workouts, sleeping with it on, and draining the battery down. I tested its various functions, including the new Smart Wake alarm, and tested its Elevate V4 heart rate sensor against a Polar H10 chest-mounted heart rate monitor.

First reviewed: November 2025

Garmin Vivoactive 6 review: A feature-stuffed pocket rocket

9:04 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness Smartwatches | Tags: Garmin Forerunner, Garmin Vivoactive | Comments: Off

Garmin Vivoactive 6: One minute review

Garmin Vivoactive 6: Price and availability

$299.99 / £279.99 / AU$549
Affordably priced compared to other Garmins
Comparable to most smartwatches from Apple and Samsung

The Garmin Vivoactive 6 retails at $299.99 / £279.99 / AU$549, although can be found on sale for slightly less.

Garmin Vivoactive 6: Scorecard

Category	Comment	Score
Value	Cheap and most certainly cheerful, stuffed with premium features for the price.	5/5
Design	Two buttons and a touchscreen, nice and light, with a redesigned UI.	4/5
Features	Tons if you like your fitness, but lacking some modern smartwatch amenities like a microphone.	4/5
Performance	Accurate enough, comfortable to wear and lasts ages. I do wish it was packing Garmin’s more accurate HR monitor though.	4/5

Garmin Vivoactive 6: Should I buy?

Buy it if...

You want an Apple Watch SE alternative

The Garmin Vivoactive 6 is an excellent value package, with an AMOLED screen and loads of training tools.

You’re a runner

PacePro, automatic run tracking, and Garmin’s advanced suite of fitness and recovery tools make it a comprehensive run tracker ideal for most people.

You struggle with comfort

Bulky, heavy watches are difficult to wear at night. The Vivoactive 6 is practically invisible on-wrist, and ideal for slimmer wrists.

Don't buy it if...

You want an adventure watch

The Garmin Instinct 3 is a little bit more expensive and packs lots of outdoor-focused navigation features.

Accuracy is everything

If you need the latest Elevate V5 heart rate sensor for pinpoint precision rather than an estimate, go for the Venu 4.

Also consider

Garmin Forerunner 570

The best Garmin watch for runners: it’s more expensive, but ideal if you love pounding the pavement.

Read our full Garmin Forerunner 570 review

Apple Watch SE 3

The best Apple Watch for most people, with some smartwatch features the Vivoactive 6 is missing.

Read our full Apple Watch SE 3 reviewView Deal

How I tested

First reviewed: November 2025

Huawei Watch Ultimate 2 review: A deep dive with the first ever smartwatch to feature sonar communication

7:24 pm | November 11, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness Smartwatches | Tags: AUS, US | Comments: Off

Huawei Watch Ultimate 2: One-minute review

In recent years, Huawei has dedicated itself so aggressively to wearables that in 2025 they shipped more watches than any other brand – including Apple. In the past year I’ve reviewed a number of the best smartwatches from Huawei, including the GT5, the D2 and the Fit 3. I awarded all three an impressive 4.5 stars, which just goes to show what a good track record Huawei has created thus far.

The Ultimate 2 represents Huawei’s most advanced smartwatch to date and is perhaps the pinnacle of what is currently possible with smartwatch technology. It’s packing sonar communications, a world first for a smartwatch, and an X-Tap feature for measuring blood flow through the finger. Huawei has aimed high, and as far as specs on paper go, they’ve achieved exactly what they set out to do. Look out, Apple Watch Ultra 3.

This is not a smartwatch for the casual user but rather a dedicated device for professional athletes and serious recreational fitness enthusiasts. The primary focuses are diving and golfing, although Huawei promotes the watch as being ideal for a much broader range of activities. As you’d expect, there’s also a full set of health tracking capabilities.

As well as rugged and premium materials, performance across the board is very strong, indeed. The display is super-bright, even when being used in direct sunlight. The interface is fast, responsive, and finely tuned for an optimum user experience. GPS tracking is quickly found and always accurate. Extreme waterproofing is engineered to perfection. The positives go on. I think if it could have been made slightly smaller and dealt with the pesky Huawei app side-loading issue, Huawei would have had the perfect package.

Huawei Watch Ultimate 2: Specifications

Component	Huawei Watch Ultimate 2
Price	£899.99 (Blue) / £799.99 (Black)
Dimensions	47.8 x 47.8 x 12.9 mm (Blue) / 48.5 x 48.5 x 12.9 mm (Black)
Weight	80.5g without strap
Caze/bezel	Zirconium-based Liquid Metal (Amorphous Alloy) / Nanocrystal Ceramic
Display	1.5 inch AMOLED (466 × 466 pixels)
Operating System	HarmonyOS
GPS	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BeiDou, and QZSS
Battery life	4.5 days typical usage, 11 days in power saver mode
Connection	eSIM (for phone-free calls), Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi, and NFC
Water resistance	20 ATM

Huawei Watch Ultimate 2: Price and Availability

Blue: £899 / Black: £799
Not available in the US or AUS
It’s expensive, but very advanced

There’s no getting away from it. The Ultimate 2 Blue, at £899, is one of the most expensive smartwatches on the market, only beaten by the likes of the Garmin Fenix 8 Pro, which retails for £1,119. If you’d like the Black version, then that retails at £799.

The most similar price is the Apple Watch Ultra 3, which costs £749 and will always be a winner amongst Apple fans. If you’re not concerned about sonar communication but want a premium rugged offering, then the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra for £599 is a great shout and works well with Android phones, being compatible with Google’s Play Store.

Value score: 4.5/5

Huawei Watch Ultimate 2: Design

One of the largest smartwatches on the market
Premium and rugged materials throughout
Bright and high-resolution AMOLED display

It’s difficult to make any mention of the design without first stating that this is one of the largest smartwatches I’ve ever worn. With a 47.8mm case diameter and a 12.9mm thickness, it’s in the realm of the chunky Garmin Epix Pro (although they range up to 51mm) and the Apple Watch Ultra 3. I get that this is a rugged smartwatch packed full of innovative hardware, but this size of watch won’t be for everyone. I, for one, didn’t like wearing it while exercising. You can see it in the photos, but even on my reasonably sized wrist, the watch looks and feels odd. Slender-wristed folks, you’ve been warned.

That being said, everything else about the design of this watch is incredible. Beginning with a zirconium-based liquid metal case, the Ultimate 2 packs high-performance materials for a premium and rugged build. This metal is strong, hard, and allegedly more corrosion-resistant than stainless steel, which means users will have no problems exposing this watch to saltwater environments, even for long periods of time.

The bezel (blue and white on mine) is nanocrystal ceramic (sometimes dual-color) which is smooth, durable, and most importantly, scratch-resistant. If I'm honest, I think it looks a little too much like a plastic finish, which detracts from the overall premium feel.

The display is a 1.5-inch LTPO AMOLED screen made of sapphire glass. You'll be hard-pressed to find a harder or more scratch-resistant material when it comes to smartwatches. I experienced zero scratches or cracks during my few weeks of testing, and I do not expect to have any problems in the future either.

The strap I've been testing is a durable fluoroelastomer strap with a blue/white color combo. It suits the overall watch aesthetic and is flexible enough to get a comfortable fit. It’s ideal for adventuring and exercising, but if you'd prefer a more polished and professional look, then there's also a metal link strap in the box. Huawei also throws in a longer diving strap when you purchase the blue package.

Design score: 4.5/5

Huawei Watch Ultimate 2: Features

Industry-leading waterproof rating
New X-TAP for PPG and ECG
No third-party apps

One of my biggest bugbears with all Huawei watches is the copious number of legal agreements that have to be agreed to. Rather than providing a single agreement that users consent to before using the watch, Huawei has determined that it's better for users to provide specific consent at the point of using each individual feature. This is the only smartwatch company that seems to do this, and I think it significantly interrupts the user experience.

The diving and water-related features are by far the biggest selling points of the Ultimate 2, and the 20ATM waterproof rating means it can be subjected to rain, swimming, diving, snorkeling, and high-speed watersports. It also boasts a diving certification of 150m.

Despite not being able to test the more extreme parts of these claims, I can confirm that I had no performance issues after submerging it for several minutes. By way of comparison, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 tops out at a waterproof rating of 10ATM, which makes the Ultimate 2 the industry leader at the time of writing.

The Ultimate 2 is also the first smartwatch to feature a sonar-based underwater communication feature, which lets two Ultimate 2s exchange messages up to 30 metres apart. You can say goodbye to traditional forms of underwater communication, although the requirement for both users to need the exact same Huawei watch is limiting. It'll be interesting to see whether the diving industry begins to adopt this technology or whether Huawei has gone more niche than they needed to.

Aside from these groundbreaking features, the Ultimate 2 includes top-level health tracking. It centers around a Distributed Super-Sensing Module that is paired with Huawei’s TruSense system. This combines multiple sensor types (optical, electrical, acoustic, and mechanical) to improve health tracking accuracy.

Huawei has integrated a sensor, named X-TAP, on the side of the watch which measures blood flow through the finger, making it capable of taking ECG and PPG readings. Taking health readings from the wrist has always been notoriously inaccurate, so a feature like this that uses more reputable sensor technology is very welcome indeed.

Features score: 4.5/5

Huawei Watch Ultimate 2: Performance

Accurate metrics
Between three and eight days of use
Too bulky

We've recently seen a rise in silicon-carbon battery technology that adds silicon to the graphite anode and thereby increases the capacity of the battery. Huawei has brought this new tech to their Ultimate 2 smartwatch, although it's labeled the battery technology 'high-silicon'.

As a result, we're looking at an 867mAh battery rather than the 510mAh battery that was found in the first version of this watch. That's quite the upgrade considering the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra sit just below 600mAh batteries.

While testing the watch, I achieved between three and eight days of use depending on how intensely I was using it and whether I was using GPS on a regular basis. Having always-on-display activated significantly reduced the battery life, but there are no surprises there. My normal smartwatch habit involves performing daily GPS tracking for around 30 minutes, tracking health metrics regularly, and actioning dozens of notifications each day. Doing this drained the battery in just under five days.

The specs state that normal use will result in 3.5 days of use on iOS and 4.5 days on Android. The additional life on Android is on account of having to perform less frequent refreshes to maintain the connection. Either way, having a smartwatch that can last several days between charges is fine by me, especially given the rich feature set.

After comparing it to other Huawei smartwatches and my Suunto Race S during activity tracking, I have to say I was very impressed with both the responsiveness and the accuracy while tracking metrics, including heart rate, SpO2, and ECG.

Huawei has upgraded its Sunflower GPS technology. I tested its GPS capabilities in built-up urban areas as well as in dense woods, and it was capable of finding a signal quickly, with and without fuss. There was absolutely no inaccuracy or drift while tracking my runs and bike rides. If you need GPS that you can rely on, then there are very few watches on the market that will match it.

As accurate as the Ultimate 2 is in terms of tracking exercise, I actually think the watch is just too bulky to make it comfortable for most types of exercise. You certainly wouldn't want to wear it for long periods of time while running, swimming, or when in the gym. As a result, I'm not quite sure who this watch is designed for. If Huawei could reduce it by a few grams and slim it down a little, I'd be giving it a five-star rating without reservations.

If you can cope with the size, you'll be pleased with the user experience. The software, HarmonyOS, is fast and well laid out and integrates surprisingly well with Apple and Android phones. I especially like the addition of text labels to icons, which significantly helped me find features quickly and efficiently. Interaction with calls, texts, and other types of notifications was equally seamless.

Performance score: 4.5/5

Scorecard

Category	Comment	Score
Value	An expensive smartwatch but the technology is very advanced.	4.5/5
Design	It's large but there are premium and rugged materials throughout	4.5/5
Features	A range of innovative features set it apart, including sonar communications.	4.5/5
Performance	Accurate health metrics and solid fitness tracking alongside a reasonable battery life.	4.5/5

Huawei Watch Ultimate 2: Should I buy?

Buy it if...

You’re a serious diver that needs the tech to back you up

With a range of diving-specific features, including sonar communication, the Ultimate 2 is hands down the go-to product for divers.

You want finger-based health measurements

The sensor on the side of the watch is capable of measuring blood flow through the finger, a type of measurement that is regarded as more accurate than through the wrist.

Don't buy it if...

You have a slender wrist

It’s big, chunky, and not always that comfortable. This is a watch for larger wrists or medium-sized wrists at a push.

You’re not into diving

With cheaper and more lightweight alternatives, the Ultimate 2 is not ideal for runners and gym enthusiasts.

Also consider

Component	Huawei Watch Ultimate 2	Apple Watch Ultra 2	Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra
Price	£899.99 (Blue) / £799.99 (Black)	$799 / £799 / AU$1,399	$649 / £599 / AU$1,299
Dimensions	47.8 x 47.8 x 12.9 mm (Blue) / 48.5 x 48.5 x 12.9 mm (Black)	49 x 41 x 14 (mm)	47.4 x 47.4 x 12.1mm
Weight	80.5g without strap	61g	60.5g
Caze/bezel	Zirconium-based Liquid Metal (Amorphous Alloy) / Nanocrystal Ceramic	Titanium	Titanium
Display	1.5 inch AMOLED (466 × 466 pixels)	49mm poly-silicon always-on OLED Retina Display	480 x 480 full-color AMOLED
Operating System	HarmonyOS	watchOS	Wear OS
GPS	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BeiDou, and QZSS	Dual-frequency (unspecified)	Dual-frequency GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo
Battery life	4.5 days typical usage, 11 days in power saver mode	36 hours	590mAh, up to 100 hours
Connection	eSIM (for phone-free calls), Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi, and NFC	Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi, LTE	Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi
Water resistance	20 ATM	Yes, WR100 (diveproof)	10ATM + IP68

Apple Watch Ultra 2

The best all-rounder running smartwatch for iPhone users.

Read our full Apple Watch Ultra 2 review

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra

As above, but for Samsung and Android phone users.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra review

How we tested

I tested the Huawei Watch Ultimate 2 in much the same way as we test all smartwatches here at TechRadar. Over the period of several weeks I wore and interacted with the watch on a daily basis. This included daily activity tracking using the built-in GPS and regular health metrics monitoring, as well as responding to dozens of notifications each day.

In addition to this, I also ran tests on numerous other features found in the watch, including listening to music and playing games. One of the biggest selling points is the set of diving features, including tech that allows for diving down to 150 meters. Unfortunately I didn't have the opportunity to verify Huawei’s claims that the watch can cope with the pressure at this depth, but I did test its ability to cope with water submersion.

The CMF Watch 3 Pro by Nothing is an expensive-looking, super-cheap smartwatch

11:00 am | October 11, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness Smartwatches | Tags: Australia, UK, US | Comments: Off

CMF Watch 3 Pro by Nothing: One minute review

The CMF Watch 3 Pro is Nothing's latest budget smartwatch, and no, that's not a typo. Bizarrely, the naming scheme has changed slightly, and the successor to the CMF Watch Pro 2 is the CMF Watch 3 Pro.

Naming confusion aside, the latest CMF watch brings with it some upgrades. The screen is now 1.42 inches up from 1.32 inches, and it's also slightly brighter, with slimmer bezels. In addition, there's now dual-band GPS onboard for improved workout tracking, a slightly bigger battery and it pairs to the new Nothing X app.

It's not all good news, though. The larger size makes the screen easier to use, but it also means that it may be too large for some wrists, with only one size available. Nothing has also ditched the swappable bezels on this model, and unfortunately, it costs more, too.

Overall, it's a stylish smartwatch with great software, extremely long battery life and plenty of features. Despite the higher MSRP, it's still very affordable. This higher price brings with it tougher competition, and unless you're a huge fan of the CMF styling, this one could be a tough sell.

It certainly doesn't seem worth a buy if you already own the CMF Watch Pro 2, but if you're coming from the original CMF Watch, this is a substantial upgrade. It's not perfect, but I've thoroughly enjoyed using it.

CMF Watch 3 Pro by Nothing: Specifications

Component	CMF Watch 3 Pro
Price	$99 / £99 / AU$179
Dimensions	54 x 47 x 15.2mm
Weight	47g including strap
Case/bezel	Aluminum alloy
Display	466 x 466px AMOLED
GPS	Dual-band GPS / GLONASS / Galileo / QZSS / Beidou
Battery life	Up to 13 days
Connection	Bluetooth 5.3
Water resistance	IP68

CMF Watch 3 Pro by Nothing: Price and availability

£99 in the UK
$99 in the US
AU$179 in Australia

The CMF Watch 3 Pro carries an MSRP of £99/$99, making it £30 more expensive than the Watch Pro 2, which launched at £/$69 last summer. That increase could be a tough pill to swallow, especially considering the value proposition was one of the key selling points of previous models.

That said, the CMF Watch 3 Pro is already discounted to £79 in the UK, and considering how new it is, you might expect that price gap to close even further in the coming months. Either way, it still remains very affordable for such a feature-packed watch.

Value score 4/5

CMF Watch 3 Pro by Nothing: Design & display

1.43-inch AMOLED display
Dark Grey, Light Grey and Orange options
Replaceable liquid silicon wrist strap

The CMF Watch 3 Pro features a 1.43-inch circular AMOLED display, a big increase over the last generation's 1.32-inch display. It also has slimmer bezels, and it's slightly brighter, rated at 670 nits up from 620 nits. This size increase is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it makes the display nicer to look at and easier to interact with. But it also makes the watch very large.

It's still super lightweight, weighing only 47 grams with the strap attached, but it's a chunky unit. I'm a pretty big guy, and I think it looks nice on my wrist, but I certainly wouldn't want to go any bigger. Those with dainty wrists need not apply.

The CMF Watch Pro 2 was a dramatic redesign compared to the original CMF Watch, but with the third iteration, the design feels very familiar. It still has a minimalistic circular design with a single rotating crown that can be pressed like a button on the right-hand side.

One thing that has changed, though, is that the bezel is no longer swappable, so it's crucial that you pick the style that you like best when you buy it. Like before, there are flatter, more angular bezel options, as well as a more curvy version. The Light Gray model I have in for testing has the textured curved bezel: the raised lip should help keep the screen free from scratches, and it looks quite fetching, too.

The body of the watch is made from aluminium, and I think the bezel is too, but it looks and feels a little plasticky, which detracts from an otherwise premium experience.

As for the display itself, it's pretty great. It has a 60Hz refresh rate, which looks smooth enough when you're swiping around the OS, and while most of the OS is black, white and orange, colours look very vibrant when they appear. It's not the brightest display around, but I never had trouble reading it, and given the budget price point, I think the performance is acceptable.

One thing I didn't like so much, though, was the brightness of the always-on display. I usually like to keep the always-on display active, as it means I don't need to raise my wrist to glance at the time. However, this one is so dim and hard to read that it doesn't really seem worth the battery drain.

Like its predecessor, the Watch 3 Pro has an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance. This means it's well protected against dust, and it can be fully submerged in freshwater, but Nothing doesn't recommend using it for swimming or in the ocean.

Design score: 4/5

CMF Watch 3 Pro by Nothing: Features

131 sport tracking modes
Nothing X app for Android and iOS
Essential News and Recording Transcription

The CMF Watch 3 Pro runs Nothing's proprietary software, just like previous models, and the way that it functions is largely unchanged. As with the older models, Nothing's unique design language is present throughout the OS, and if you're a fan, you're sure to love the library of monochromatic minimalist watch faces.

What has changed is the companion app. The CMF Watch 3 Pro pairs with the Nothing X app, rather than the old CMF Watch app. The experience feels more polished, and the app looks nicer, in my opinion, but functionally, it's not that different. I was pleased to see that there are more options for health monitoring now. Rather than just being able to toggle on or off all-day heart rate tracking, you can now choose how frequently the sensor reads your heart rate.

Nothing has continued to add additional exercise tracking modes to the watch, and there are now 131 different options to choose from. This includes extremely niche activities like parkour and parachuting, as well as some sports I've never even heard of, like sepak takraw (a volleyball-like game from Southeast Asia). No matter what you're into, there's a good chance it's here.

There's a new feature called Essential News, which is supposed to read you a daily summary of your preferred news topics using AI, but I just couldn't make it work. That's a shame, as it seems like a cool feature, but I tried on a couple of different phones, and it would always say "Playing", but nothing would happen.

Recording Transcription is another new feature, and thankfully, this one actually worked. Essentially, you can record a voice memo on your watch, and then you can transfer it to your phone, where it will be transcribed into text.

It seems very accurate, but I'm just not really sure what the purpose of it is. I guess if you have a brilliant idea while you're away from your phone, you could use this, but I think there are very few people who will find this feature useful.

Another slight tweak is the music controller now displays album artwork, which is a nice touch. Keep in mind that there's no onboard storage with this watch, though, so you'll need to be paired to your phone to take advantage.

Features score: 3/5

CMF Watch 3 Pro by Nothing: Performance

Up to 13 days of battery life
Heart rate, sleep, stress and blood oxygen monitoring
Built-in dual-band GPS

One of the biggest functional changes with the Watch 3 Pro is that it now has dual-band GPS rather than single-band. How much this matters to you will depend on where you train, but whether you're in the built-up city streets or deep in the woods, you should be able to enjoy more reliable GPS tracking.

In my experience, mostly tracking walks and bike rides, the GPS was rock-solid. In fact, it was so accurate that it knew which side of the street I was on when I zoomed in on the map. Otherwise, while the array of sensors may have had some hardware upgrades, they perform the same functions as previous CMF releases.

Based on my heart rate readings from my other watches, my average and maximum BPM seemed to be correct. That said, there were a few times when the reading seemed way off, usually when I was wearing the strap slightly loose for comfort. I think you need this cranked down for the best tracking results.

The real star of the show here is the battery life. Nothing says it'll last up to 13 days on a charge, or around 4.5 days with always-on display enabled. I enabled as many features as possible, and used the watch extensively to test all its features, and I still managed well over four days per charge, so these estimations seem very accurate.

I usually wear the Huawei Watch GT5 Pro, so I'm used to exceptional battery life, but even still, the CMF Watch 3 Pro managed to impress with its longevity. If you hate charging your watch, this is an excellent choice.

Charging doesn't take too long either; it's around an hour and a half from flat to full. However, the magnetic charging puck could use a redesign thanks to an extremely flimsy connection, as the slightest of knocks can cause the watch to disconnect. It gets the job done, but it's among my least favourite charging cables.

Performance score: 3/5

CMF Watch 3 Pro by Nothing: Scorecard

Category	Comment	Score
Value	It's more expensive than its predecessor, but it's still a very affordable smartwatch, with a more premium build than much of its competition.	4/5
Design	Stylish, minimalist design, solid build quality, and a spacious OLED panel. However, it may be too large for some.	4/5
Features	Loads of tracking modes, a decent app and some novel additions that may or may not work.	3/5
Performance	Incredible battery life, smooth performance, and fitness metrics that are good enough for casual users.	3/5
Total	It looks the part and it performs well, but with a significant price hike, it's up against some stiff competition.	4/5

CMF Watch 3 Pro by Nothing: Should I buy?

Buy it if...

You want a stylish watch that doesn't break the bank

The CMF Watch 3 Pro is very affordable, but it still looks very premium. That's true of both the software and the hardware. If you want to make a statement without spending a fortune, it's a good option.

You want long battery life

The battery life on this smartwatch is phenomenal. If you're a light user, it's certainly possible to go 13 days between charges, and if you're coming from a WearOS watch or Apple Watch, that's a serious luxury.

CMF Watch 3 Pro by Nothing: Also consider

Component	CMF Watch 3 Pro	Amazfit Active 2	Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro
Price	$99 / £99 / AU$179	$99 / £99	£62.99 / $75 / AU$99.99
Dimensions	54 x 47 x 15.2mm	43.9 x 43.9x 9.9mm	43.27 x 32.49 x 10.8mm
Weight	47g including strap	29.5g	24.5g
Case/bezel	Aluminum alloy	Stainless steel bezel, polymer frame	Aluminum frame, high-strength fibre polymer
Display	466 x 466px AMOLED	1.32-inch AMOLED touchscreen	1.74-inch AMOLED touchscreen
GPS	Dual-band GPS / GLONASS / Galileo / QZSS / Beidou	Yes	No
Battery life	Up to 13 days	Up to 10 days	Up to 21 days
Connection	Bluetooth 5.3	Bluetooth 5.2	Bluetooth 5.4
Water resistance	IP68	5ATM	5ATM

Amazfit Active 2

The Amazfit Active 2 has the exact same MSRP and yet comes with some seriously advanced features, including an on-board AI assistant, seriously advanced tracking modes and sleek, slim design.

Read our full Amazfit Active 2 review

Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro

While not as advanced as the CMF Watch 3 Pro, the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro offers a big, beautiful display and lots of fitness features at a significantly lower price.

Read our full Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro review

CMF Watch 3 Pro by Nothing: How I tested

Our reviewer wore the CMF Watch Pro as his primary smartwatch for over a week, while travelling, commuting and during regular workouts. It was paired with the Oppo Find X8 Ultra for the majority of the testing period, but was also tested with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 to compare.

The tracking results were compared to historical results from the Huawei Watch GT5 Pro, as well as the built-in step counter on the smartphone and the Strava app for GPS accuracy.

Huawei Watch GT 6 Pro review: a sumptuous, well-priced wearable

2:00 pm | October 4, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness Smartwatches | Tags: GT | Comments: Off

Huawei Watch GT 6 Pro: one-minute review

Huawei as a brand isn’t a strong one in the US, UK and Australia right now – particularly not in the phone stakes, considering the US ban on Huawei telecomms equipment is still in place. However, the company is making outstanding smartwatches and reports record global sales. Serving up high-quality fitness kit in a classic dress-watch package like this, at a relatively low price, I can see why. There’s an awful lot to like about the Huawei Watch GT 6 Pro.

For one thing, it’s a fitness powerhouse. The battery life, which in the 46mm version is said to last for up to 21 days, lasted a full two weeks in my testing with multiple GPS-enabled workouts, and those workouts were full of comprehensive, actionable metrics. I wore the Huawei Watch GT6 Pro in the gym, and tested its GPS credentials during outdoor runs and walks.

In a stationary cycle fitness test, I compared the Huawei Watch GT 6 Pro to both an industry-standard heart rate monitor (the Polar H10) and the Apple Watch Ultra 3. Its heart rate graph matched the Polar’s without any statistically significant differences, and its average heart rate reading was only off by 1bpm, matching that of the Ultra. I was certainly satisfied with the accuracy from the TruSense heart rate monitoring system.

Heart rate is the foundation of on-wrist wellness – the lynchpin of health, wellness, sleep and stress tracking. I found Huawei’s TruSleep algorithm very representative of how I felt each morning, wearing it to bed each night over a four-day period. It’s so accurate, that after a rough night full of very vivid dreams, the watch even stated “REM sleep accounted for 32% of your overall sleep, which is a little high and may indicate excessive dreaming”. Spot on. I’ve been testing wearables for many years, and it’s rare I get caught off-guard with an immediate level of insight.

HUawei Watch GT 6 Pro after sleep — (Image credit: Future)

The Huawei Watch GT 6 offers battery life of 10 days or 14 days, depending on whether you choose the smaller or larger model, while the Huawei Watch GT 6 Pro (which I tested) offers, can run for up to 21 days on a single charge. It’s a lot longer than the Ultra 3’s 42 hours, at any rate, and worthy of any of the best Garmin watches.

I also tested the watch's skin temperature tracking, blood oxygen detection, arrhythmia analysis, and even emotional wellbeing feature, which attempts to interpret your various metrics as indicators of your current mood. I found this a little woolly, but generally accurate: it certainly never mistook workouts as extreme stress, or told me I was having a panic attack during a Sunday morning rerun of Frasier.

The display, a 1.47-inch AMOLED screen, is bright and clear even in intense sunlight, reaching an Apple Watch Ultra 3-rivalling exact brightness of 3,000 nits, and is sensitive to ambient light, adjusting based on brightness. Its case and bezel is made of titanium, while the non-pro versions of the watches are comprised of stainless steel.

What’s stopping me from scoring it higher is not the quality of the device itself, nor the total value of the package; it’s Huawei’s awkward ecosystem. Most people are using a phone that runs Android or iOS operating systems, and thanks to the US ban, Huawei struggles to work seamlessly with either one. Huawei Health can be downloaded through AppGallery on your phone’s browser, but you can’t use Google or Apple’s Maps, Wallet, emails, or products from App stores on Huawei’s HarmonyOS. Instead, you only get basic notification and call functionalities.

You can get notifications from WhatsApp messages, but can’t install a WhatsApp app for the watch. Huawei’s own functionalities are limited, too. You have to download a separate Petal Maps app from your phone’s browser if you want to use its Maps functionality, and you can’t use the wallet functionality without a Huawei phone with proprietary software.

While Huawei Health can interface with Strava, Komoot and other third parties, being unable to use third-party apps on-watch to their fullest extent causes the watch to fall down a little as a communication extension or convenience tool. However, if you’re looking for a top-flight fitness tracker at a low price and you don’t mind skimping on apps such as WhatsApp or Spotify, the Huawei Watch GT 6 Pro is easy to recommend.

Huawei Watch GT 6 Pro: price and availability

Huawei Watch GT 6 Pro black on wrist — (Image credit: Future)

£329.99 in the UK (around $445 / AU$670)
The vanilla GT 6 starts at £229.99 in the UK (around $300 / AU$465) for the 41mm version
Same price for the 46mm version

The Huawei Watch GT 6 Pro is available for £329.99 in the UK (around $445 / AU$670). The Huawei Watch GT 6 starts at £229.99 in the UK (around $300 / AU$465) for the 41mm version and 46mm version alike.

It is currently unavailable in the US due to the communications ban, although some Huawei products are available in Australia.

Scorecard

Category	Comment	Score
Value	A very well-priced fitness watch.	4/5
Design	Looks great, with wonderful build quality.	4/5
Features	Frustrating compatibility issues mar a great wellness experience.	2.5/5
Performance	Very accurate metrics and long battery life.	4/5

Huawei Watch GT 6 Pro: should I buy?

Buy it if...

You want a fitness tracker first

As a fitness tracker experience rather than a complete smartwatch, it’s hard to beat.

You like the look

The Huawei GT series look like dress watches, and are made of premium materials such as titanium and stainless steel.

You crave accuracy

During my tests, the Huawei Watch GT 6 Pro was as accurate a smartwatch, in terms of metrics, as I’ve ever used.

Don't buy it if...

You need a smartwatch loaded with apps

You’re better off looking at a smartwatch to match your phone through Google, Samsung or Apple.

Also consider

Garmin Venu X1

The best Garmin smartwatch for most people, a system-agnostic gem.

Read our full Garmin Venu X1 review

OnePlus Watch 3

The best system-agnostic Android Watch, operating via the OHealth app instead of Google.

Read our full OnePlus Watch 3 review

How I tested

I wore the Huawei Watch GT 6 Pro for around two weeks, sleeping with it, training with it and using it day-to-day. I tried as many features as I could, and rode a stationary bike wearing it alongside an Apple Watch Ultra 3, and a Polar H10 heart rate monitor as a comparison test to determine accuracy.

First reviewed: September/October 2025

I wore the Apple Watch Ultra 3 for 5 days – and it’s a Garmin-rivaling powerhouse

3:00 pm | September 16, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness Smartwatches | Tags: UK | Comments: Off

You could say I’ve had a busy past few days – between rocking the AirPods Pro 3 and fully reviewing the Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch SE 3, I’ve also been daily-driving the Apple Watch Ultra 3.

It’s finally a proper upgrade for the most rugged, go-anywhere, climb-every-mountain Apple Watch. In 2024, it got a slight spec bump and a fresh paint job, but for 2025 Apple’s really rounding out the Ultra 3 in a way that makes it a compelling upgrade for folks with the first or second generation Ultra, especially the former.

I’m still in the midst of testing, so consider this my review-in-progress, and my early impressions of the Apple Watch Ultra 3, beyond the environs of Apple Park and the launch event. TechRadar’s Senior Fitness & Wearables Editor Matt Evans – himself a smartwatch aficionado – will also be weighing in soon, putting the Ultra 3 (and himself) through a battery of fitness, health, and exercise tests.

Apple Watch Ultra 3: Price and availability

$799 in US
£749 in UK
AU$1,399

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is available for $799 / £749 / AU$1,399. This is the same price as its predecessor in most regions, although the Ultra 3 is slightly cheaper in the UK – the Apple Watch Ultra 2 cost £799 in the UK, so the Ultra 3 is better value there.

Apple Watch Ultra 3: Design

Apple Watch Ultra 3 Review — (Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)

Same 49mm case as Ultra 2
Slightly larger screen
Recycled Natural or Black Titanium finishes

In the same way that Apple is sticking with the rounded 'squircle' look of previous iterations for its Series 11 smartwatch, it’s clear that the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is sticking with its tried-and-tested design here. It still offers a supersized 49-millimeter display in a thicker, more durable titanium body.

The Ultra 3 comes in Natural Titanium or Black Titanium, and I’ve been testing the latter, which looks especially sleek. You can pair it with a custom-match Ultra Milanese Loop – a personal favorite band of mine – with one of the new 2025 options, like the Trail Loop, which now features reflective material on the edges, or with older bands that fit the 49mm / 46mm / 44mm sizes.

One change Apple made here is using a 3D printing process to build the case from recycled titanium, though you won’t notice any difference in appearance. The display, however, is seriously improved. Like the Series 11 – and the Series 10 before it – the Ultra 3 now boasts an always-on Retina OLED display with an LTPO3 panel, giving it finer control over the refresh rate for additional smoothness in motion. This shines with watch faces like the new Flow, Waypoint, or Exactograph.

It also enables wide-angle viewing, so even when glancing to the side you have a better chance of reading what’s on the display – I’ve found this especially helpful when checking notifications with my arm extended or in low brightness. Apple has also slimmed down the bezels by 24% all around. While noticeable when comparing the Ultra 3 to the Ultra 2 side by side, it’s most apparent when viewing maps – like hiking trails – or photos on the 49mm display.

The Ultra 3’s display can flex its brightness from as high as 3,000 nits in peak sunlight to as low as 1 nit in darkness. Much of the interface uses the Liquid Glass design language introduced in watchOS 26; and even though it looks snappy, it’s also plenty fast for handling actions thanks to the S10 chip inside.

It still charges with the same magnetic puck included in the box, but now supports faster charging.

@techradar
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Apple Watch Ultra 3: Features and performance

Emergency SOS instructions intuitive
Satellite connectivity genuinely useful
I'm loving the new Sleep Score software update

Satellite connectivity for communication makes a lot of sense on a device that you’re likely to be wearing into areas without cell service, and the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is the first Apple Watch to support satellite connectivity.

The headline feature Apple announced at its September launch event was Emergency SOS via Satellite, and while I hope you never need it, I did get a demo at Apple Park. Much like the iPhone’s satellite connectivity, it walks you through the process of sending an alert: identifying the issue, guiding you on how to point your wrist for a satellite connection, packaging the info, sending it into orbit, and beaming a response back down.

In the demo, we triggered SOS on the Ultra 3 by dialing 911. Once it realized there was no grid connection, it began sending an emergency text via satellite. The watch guided us through a questionnaire – we selected “lost or trapped,” confirmed it was just us, and noted no active injuries. This is especially handy if you’re lost on a trail. As a final step, you can also notify emergency contacts.

The watch then instructed us to move our wrist left until it locked onto a satellite. At that point, it packaged the watch’s location, questionnaire details, and the linked medical ID. A relay center receives this data and can send messages back down.

This was, of course, a demo, but it shows how impressively the system works. Notably, it can sometimes transmit data without you moving your wrist, which could be helpful if it’s triggered as a backup during crash or fall detection.

Emergency SOS via Satellite is available for free for two years in the United States – though Apple has a history of extending that – and in the UK and Australia, it’s also free, along with the additional Find My features, which also operate via satellite. I was able to test Find My myself, but in the US, Find My and Messages require an active cellular plan.

With Find My, you can send a basic message (with a character limit) via satellite and even update your Find My location. You’ll go through the same process of moving your Ultra 3 into the right path of a satellite as it passes overhead. With Find My, you’ll know the location was updated this way via a satellite icon on the map next to the person.

Satellite connectivity is a genuinely useful addition to the Ultra 3, and I’m keen to test the Messages and Find My functions more. Beyond this, the Ultra 3 also gets a number of new features as part of watchOS 26, including the Liquid Glass interface, new apps like Notes, and a new Wrist Flick gesture.

Just like the Series 11 and SE 3 – as well as some older models that can run watchOS 26 – the Ultra 3 also gets the new Sleep Score. This builds upon the watch’s ability to track sleep and detail time spent in each stage but now quantifies it with a score from 0 to 100. I’m really enjoying this feature so far, and it feels like it’s about time it arrived here.

The Ultra 3 also adds Hypertension Notifications, meaning that on a rolling 30-day basis, the watch can alert you to potential hypertension (high blood pressure) and recommends you see a doctor for a full diagnosis. This feature is FDA-approved for use in the US.

While the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is technically getting an upgrade to the S10 chip, it’s mostly a repackaged version of the S9 chip found in the Ultra 2. The good news is that the Ultra 3 still feels just as responsive as the other new Apple Watches and competing smartwatches on the market. I think you’d be hard-pressed to slow it down.

This is paired with a new 5G antenna and redesigned antenna band visible around the outer lip of the watch. Apple says it’s more efficient than the previous onboard antenna, and can use two bands at once when needed to improve reception.

Apple also redesigned the internals of the Ultra 3, and thanks to that, there’s a bigger battery inside. Apple rates the Ultra 3 for up to 42 hours with normal use, and I’ve easily been hitting a long day and a half with sleep tracking before noticing a meaningful drop in battery life. It’s simply a powerhouse, and I’ll be testing it more, including the Low Power Mode that can stretch runtime to a remarkable 72 hours.