Rumored for quite some time now, Huawei has just launched the Huawei Watch 2 as it attempts another crack at the smartwatch market, this time with a focus on fitness, hoping to lure users away from the likes of Apple and Fitbit, both of which offer fitness-focused wearables.
Huawei Watch Has Two Versions
There's two Watch 2 variants, one's a "classic" version and the other is a regular model. Both devices were launched during this year's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Huawei promises the 4G smartwatch will be "your perfect workout companion" in a trailer promoting the device, with the hashtag #FreeYourSpirit.
Huawei is positioning the smartwatch as a total fitness and workout tech companion, and it makes sense as the device is loaded with a number of features that's deserving of its sport-focused category. There's real-time coaching, mapping running routes via GPS, heart monitoring, and more.
Users may also have access to a workout data report, to keep track of fitness levels and workout goals. There's a one-press button on the lower button which lets users bring up the workout app instantly, featuring quick training options, fat-burning run, and cardio run modes, as noted by International Business Times.
Huawei Watch 2 Specs
Other key features include NFC, an optional LTE version, and Android Wear 2.0, which means it'll come with Google's virtual assistant. The classic version is made of metal, features a 22 mm watch band, and looks very similar to the original Huawei Watch. The non-classic version, the "sportier" one, has a 20 mm watch band, and optional LTE. The band size, body material, weight, and LTE connectivity are the only significant differences between the watches.
Both devices have 768 MB of RAM, 4 GB of internal storage, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC, GPS, and IP68 water resistance. Huawei also promises "continuous heart rate, all day long, 24/7" monitoring, which is a stellar feature for health nuts, that is if the battery can support such an exhaustive, nonstop monitoring metric. It also features built-in speakers, for playing music on the go, which coupled with LTE functionality, essentially makes the wearable free from the constraints of smartphone tethering.
But here's a really unfortunate thing: the LTE version is not available in the United States, according to Ars Technica.
Both watches also have a 420 mAh battery, with an estimated 10-hour battery life even with GPS and LTE on, and more than two days with both off. The Watch 2 also features a low power "Watch mode" that only tells the time and track the user's steps. This mode lasts 25 days, as claimed by Huawei.
Huawei Watch 2 Pricing And Availability
The device is headed to China and some European countries in March, and should reach the United States and the UK by April. Huawei says it will sell the Watch 2 starting at 329 euros, or about $350. It'll come in a variety of colors, including carbon black, concrete gray, titanium gray, and dynamic orange.
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