Metro journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission – learn more
I may not be a marathon runner, or a Hyrox hun, but I try to work out every now and again and track my steps on a daily walk.
Admittedly, when it comes to wearable tech I typically lean towards gadgets that can offer me health insights around my sleep and menstrual cycle. But, I have found a gadget that can do all the above, and more – it’s the Huawei GT6 watch.
Over the last few weeks I swapped my Amazfit smart watch for Huawei’s new GT6 watch, which started with a trip to the Huawei’s flagship store in Paris, followed by a cycle around the French capital.
The first thing I learnt about Huawei is it is the leading brand for wearable tech around the world, which is a bold statement to make. So, how does it fair, and does the GT6 live up to the claims?
Let’s start with the design features. The GT6 watch is available in two sizes the 46mm or 41mm, and I opted for the latter, which looked more versatile for casual wear as well as when working out.
And even though the watch has only recently launched for £229.99, which we think is a reasonable sum – it’s set to be reduced to £176.99 using the discount code HUAWEIUK10 ahead of Amazon’s Prime Day. Better yet? You’ll also get a £30 voucher at the checkout too!
The watch has been crafted from stainless steel for extra durability, but it is ultra lightweight on the wrist. There are five straps to switch between, and while the chain iteration looks ultra chic for day and night, the fluoroelastomer is arguably most suitable for sweaty workouts as it is comfortable and breathable against the skin for hours of wear. In the past I have had smart watches break my skin out into a rash, or flake, because the fabric isn’t breathable or moisture wicking and the skin gets clammy after a workout, but Huawei’s design hasn’t done that after a month of wear – bonus!
The round watch face features a bezel detail, a button and wheel ‘Crown’ to manoeuvre around the watch face, as well as a lower button, though you can swipe the touch screen to select your settings. It is also fitted with two loops, which the detachable straps fasten onto. The straps are easy to interchange simply flick a very small switch to detach and clip another watch strap on – it really couldn’t be easier.
While I opted for the smaller face, let me reassure you it is not a super small face like some female watches. Trust me! I actually prefer masculine watches and larger faces because I think they look really chic, it’s easier to tell the time, and I simply love accessorising. The 41mm watch face fits my wrist perfectly, it doesn’t swivel around my wrist or get caught on my clothes because it’s too cumbersome, nor does it get swallowed up by my arm.
The 1.47 inch AMOLED display is crystal clear and bright, which is a detail Huawei has modified in the new design to ensure it is easy to see the screen in outdoor sunlight.
HUAWEI WATCH GT 6 41 mm
Crafted from stainless steel, this watch is extra durable, lightweight and ultra chic.
The watch face is attached to two loops to fix the interchangeable straps too. The 1.47inch AMOLED screen provides a clear and bright picture. The touch screen is easy to alternate between settings, alternatively utilise the button and scroll “crown” on the side.
It features numerous health and wellbeing features to monitor your workout, heart rate, pace, route, as well as sleep, menstrual cycle and emotions.
You can receive messages, calls, play music, take photos as well as tell the time, and much more.
The 41mm watch is compatible with five coloured straps, including black, white leather strap, lilac fluoroelastomer, brown composite leather and gold milanese to suit your style preference.
Buy Now for £229.99 (use code HUAWEI10 TO BUY FOR £176.99 – and a £30 coupon applied at checkout)
While the design is one factor that impressed me, as the GT6 bridges the gap between a functional wearable and chic fashion accessory to complement your day or night outfit, it boasts a number of other useful functions.
Yes, the GT6 tells the time, and as it connects to your smart phone – whether it’s iOS or Android – it syncs to the time zone you’re in automatically, which was helpful for me because I am always paranoid I’ll miss my alarm especially when I’m in another country.
You can also sync your watch to connect to your messages, Whatsapp, calls, emails and social accounts, if you want to stay in the know all the time. But I tailored this so I’m not constantly distracted by emails trickling through. Not only can you read, answer and respond on your watch, but you can also play music through the device, take photos, screenshots, and voice record memos, which is extremely handy for my overactive brain that tries to store hundreds of mental to-do lists that fly out of my head quicker than I can say ‘boo’.
The GT6 has top quality health and fitness features, which we can’t forget to mention.
Yes, most smart watches measure your heart rate, step count, calories burned, and distance, but the GT6 has levelled up its health functions beyond other wearables. Huawei has modified its Sunflower Positioning System to improve the positioning accuracy through its GNSS algorithms, which means when you walk, run, cycle, it detects your workout instantly, pauses when you stop, and measures the route accurately. This watch marks your route as close to the perimeter of buildings to get a more accurate reading of your route and distance, which is critical if you are trying to amp up the mileage in training.
An innovative feature I loved is you can download a route before working out, and the watch will keep you on track, even if you are off the beaten track or lose signal. This function was set up before my cycle around Paris, and the directions were played aloud so I didn’t have to keep stopping to look at maps on my phone, which makes for a seamless workout. Genius!
The watch also features pre-programmed workouts, such as indoor or outdoor cycling, indoor or outdoor running, skipping, and much more. When it came to the bike ride it gave me the option to select the style and weight of the bike to better track my workout, which is a feature I have never come across before.
While the GT6 functions as a watch, item of jewellery, phone, and laptop, it also doubles up as your personal trainer as it measures your key health metrics and can suggest plans or programmes to help achieve your fitness goal.
The standout feature in my books is Huawei’s Multi-Dimensional Emotional Wellbeing functions, which takes wellness tracking in the wearable tech space to new heights. I have an Oura ring to track my sleep cycle, body temperature and wellbeing, but the metrics are not as in-depth as Huawei’s GT6. Yes, the GT6 does the same, as it tracks my heart rate, menstrual cycle, blood oxygen levels, sleep stages, as well as wake up rate and respiratory rate, which allows me to understand the contributing factors to a restless night sleep and ways to improve it. But this watch goes one step further.
The GT6 is fitted with some sort of sorcery that divides your emotions into 12 categories, unpleasant, pleasant and neutral moods, and within that are four levels, relaxed, satisfied, confident, excited, calm, peaceful, focussed, surprised, or discouraged, upset, worried, and anxious. The ability to detect 12 emotions is impressive, and unlike anything I have seen in rival products. Depending on your mood you can select breathing exercises to relax your mind and body, or take stock of what is triggering those feelings. Using the app you can monitor when those emotions show their head, and how to combat it.
Alongside these health features is the Pulse Wave Arrhythmia Analysis, which can detect your heart health and is extremely useful for those with certain conditions.
The 41mm GT6 promises 14 days of light use after one charge, or seven days of typical use. While it is super speedy to fully charge, I have noticed my battery life, even after moderate use doesn’t quite see me through the week. The 46mm offers a longer battery life spanning 21days of power with light use and 12 days of typical use.
It’s safe to say there is little Huawei’s GT6 watch can’t do. It’s a therapist, doctor (almost), wellness guru, PT and PA in one, it’s a hybrid between a laptop, phone, watch, camera and numerous health devices in one.
Follow Metro across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Share your views in the comments below
MORE: From H&M boots to Mango coats – here’s everything our shopping expert is buying this weekend
MORE: These H&M snakeskin trainers look identical to a designer brand’s — and they’ll save you £372