Design and options
Huawei’s watch family now includes another member. The GT line’s essential concept remains the same, but its exterior has been updated. The new Watch GT 6 Pro has a robust build and is both wearable and presentable.
Since the GT 5 generation, the GT series has adopted a more classic watch appearance. That strategy is continued here, with the GT models aiming to work in both ordinary and more formal circumstances while tracking lifestyle and activity. Sport tracking is commonplace at this point, but this upgrade pays special attention to cyclists.
Watch GT 6 watches come in a variety of sizes and trim levels. The review unit is a 46-millimeter Watch GT 6 Pro. That Pro variant is available in three finishes: brown (seen in the photographs), black, and a titanium-bracelet version. The titanium model costs 499 euros, while the two non-titanium choices cost 379 euros each.
The basic Watch GT 6 series comes in 41 and 46 mm sizes. The larger variant is available in black and green for 269 euros. The smaller version is available in white and purple for the same 269 euros, while the gold variant costs 299 euros.
What’s in the box?
The retail box includes the watch, a wireless charger with a connected cable, and a booklet including warranty and product information. The band’s quick-release design allows for convenient switching.
Build and comfort
The GT 6 Pro adheres to current trends, with controlled angles and a slightly flashy appearance. The polish is convincing enough to belong on more expensive timepieces; Huawei did quite well here. The brown strap is more casual, but the black alternative is appropriate for those seeking a more classic style.
The strap attachment is a standard 22 mm width, allowing you to swap in third-party bands. The Pro’s chassis is made of titanium alloy, which keeps the watch light at 54 grams without the strap and gives it a luxury feel.
The screen area has increased since the previous iteration, thanks to smaller bezels. The display measures 1.47 inches. The resolution remains 466 × 466 pixels, producing approximately 317 ppi. As is typical of AMOLED displays, blacks are deep, and daytime legibility is excellent, with a peak brightness of 3,000 nits.
To accentuate the watch-like appearance, the screen enables always-on display modes. Preinstalled watch faces include AOD variations, which simplify the dial when activated. The always-on face intelligently dims or shuts off at night to avoid disrupting sleep.
Case, strap, and durability
The bezel has an octagonal design, and the case has delicate chamfers that extend to the lugs. A seconds scale runs along the bezel’s outer edge. Everything feels well-executed.
The review unit features a hybrid strap made of fluoroelastomer and a textile surface. It works perfectly, but it can get steamy during workouts. The nanoceramic back was comfortable to use regularly. The strap’s unusual appearance will divide opinion, but it is the simplest component to replace.
After almost six weeks of heavy use, the casing and glass exhibited no indications of abuse.
Setup and connectivity
Setup requires the Huawei Health app. We utilized a beta version for the review because it was the only one that supported the unreleased device when testing began. On Android, the Health app is not available on Google Play and must be downloaded from Huawei’s website, AppGallery, or Samsung’s Galaxy Store. The software is also available on Apple’s software Store.
The watch only connects to phones via Bluetooth; it lacks Wi-Fi and LTE capabilities. It does include NFC. Huawei claims that payments are enabled by a Wallet app, although the system requires a Quicko intermediate app. The Quicko integration refused to cooperate during testing, so contactless payments remained untested.
The Health app is simple enough, but a touch disjointed. Health data is gathered in one location and is reasonably complete.
Fitness tracking and sensors
GT improvements contain cycling-related features. The watch can display training metrics for rides and includes a virtual power estimator, which Huawei claims may function similarly to a specialized power meter without the need for additional sensors. The watch can also communicate with an external power meter or bike computer. We didn’t have a power meter or a bike computer during testing, so we couldn’t evaluate such characteristics firsthand.
Golfers receive vector course maps for speedier zooming and a real-time distance tool. Trail runners benefit from better elevation info and easier route transfers to the watch.
Huawei’s Trusense sensor suite returns in its most recent incarnation. The vendor claims that is the most recent version, although no significant physical modifications were identified. Algorithmic advancements have continued.
We primarily compared the GT 6 Pro’s heart rate and GPS data to the Watch Fit 4 Pro and the Samsung Galaxy Watch8 Classic. There were no dramatic deviations. The most noticeable change was a significantly faster heart rate response at the beginning of runs and when the pace changed. The difference was minor, but obvious. Overall, the optical heart-rate sensor performed reasonably well.
During brisk hikes, the HR measurement occasionally generated weird, flat readings, whereas the comparison watches had greater beat-to-beat variability. Under greater severe exercise, that behavior did not occur.
GPS locking was faster, and location monitoring seemed more accurate than previously. Post-activity routes revealed no significant deviations, and performance in densely populated regions was at least mid-tier for wrist GPS.
Sleep tracking is useful. The Health app’s textual feedback can be uneven; a “mediocre” night may have a considerably higher score. Competing smartphones represented subjective sensations after a bad night more consistently than Huawei.
The watch keeps track of exercise, stress, SpO2, and skin temperature. The Pro model includes EKG and vascular stiffness readings. There is a feature that attempts to categorize mental well-being as pleasant, neutral, or unpleasant. This did not correlate well with stress, heart rate, or subjective sensations during testing.
Software and daily use
The GT 6 Pro was running HarmonyOS 6.0.0 during the review. Existing Huawei Watch users will be familiar with the user interface. Swipe down to customize fast toggles, and up to receive notifications. Lateral swipes display the smart assistant and customisable fast views.
The lower button can be configured to launch a specific function. When spun, the crown scrolls, and pressing it opens the app grid. The grid displays nine larger app icons and the remainder as smaller thumbnails. A double press returns you to the previous screen. The interface feels clean, and the controls are snappy and responsive.
Preloaded apps include a calculator, flashlight, timer, alarm, stopwatch, weather forecast, compass, and exercise summary. You can install additional programs through AppGallery. Third-party app support exists, however, it is limited compared to the Apple Watch and Wear OS ecosystems.
Battery life and charging
Huawei boasts that its batteries can last up to 21 days and 40 hours of continuous vigorous sports activity. In actuality, the GT 6 Pro ran for 16 days of mixed daily use without recharging. During that time, it remained connected to a phone, tracked sleep, enabled core functionality, and utilized GPS for approximately two days of three-hour stints. With the always-on display activated, the watch lasted 11 days.
These figures are fine for everyday usage, but they made extensive long-term testing of various feature combinations problematic over the evaluation time.
The bigger battery capacity (867 mAh) is likely to contribute to the high endurance. Charging is reasonably fast: 40 minutes to 50% and 1.5 hours for a full charge, which is somewhat faster than Huawei’s specifications. The included charger is somewhat bulky and has an old-school USB-A connector.
Technical specifications
| Price | 379 € (titanium 499 €) |
| Display | 1.47-inch AMOLED, 466 x 466 pixels |
| Memory | Not disclosed |
| Battery | 867 mAh |
| Dimensions, weight | 45.5 x 45.6 x 11.3 mm, 54 g (without strap). Strap width 22 mm |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 6.0 (BLE/BR/EDR), NFC, GPS |
| Heart-rate sensor | Optical heart-rate sensor (TruSeen) |
| Water and dust resistance | IP69K, 5ATM (up to 50 meters) |
| Charging | Wireless charging dock |
How does the non-Pro GT 6 compare?
We briefly tested the regular Watch GT 6 (seen on the right in the photographs). It closely matches the Pro feature set, with a few exceptions.
The Pro features sapphire glass and a titanium case, whilst the regular model has toughened coated glass and a steel case. The Pro contains an EKG, although the standard model does not. Pro also has more complex golf and trail-running modes, as well as a dive depth rating of 40 meters. The non-Pro is the less expensive alternative, and it is the only one available in the smaller 41 mm size in the colors shown.
If advanced features aren’t necessary, the base GT 6 is an excellent value.
Pros and cons
Good
- Class-leading battery life
- Watch-like styling
- Comprehensive sport and activity tracking
- Expanded cycling features
- IP69K rating
Bad
- Thin third-party app selection
- Few changes versus the last model
- Health companion app not on Google Play
Verdict
The Watch GT 6 series builds on Huawei’s previous smartwatch offerings. Broad activity tracking and an impressive battery life are among its strengths. The timepieces withstand a wide range of situations thanks to their IP69K protection and 5ATM rating for up to 50 meters.
The display is bright and crisp, and daily engagement is seamless. Weaknesses include a limited third-party app ecosystem and relatively minor upgrades from the preceding generation. The Health companion app’s distribution is also fragmented on Android.
The GT 6 Pro’s more classic appearance will be a major selling point for many. The review strap’s personality may divide opinions; I liked it, but more conservative purchasers might prefer quieter finishes.
At 379 euros, the Watch GT 6 Pro is priced in the sensible midrange of the smartwatch market. Materials and features are appropriate for that price point. It’s a competent everyday watch that shines at battery life, activity tracking, and a watch-first design—as long as you don’t rely on a large number of third-party apps.
