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Better a smartwatch or a smartband? In reality, a single answer to this question cannot be given, it all depends on your needs. In the case of Huawei Watch Fit, however, it is difficult to define well where one begins and where the other ends, because the new wearable from Huawei is exactly in the middle, thanks to its small size, which makes it suitable for both male and female audiences. . Huawei has been good at creating a hybrid that can suit a wide range of potential customers, all without raising the price too much, of 129 euros.
A design halfway between two worlds
Huawei Watch Fit is a very particular smartwatch, which
makes its small size a strong point . The packaging is rather sparse, in fact
we only find the charging cable, which connects to the smartwatch via two
magnetic pins. The smartwatch is made partly of metal, used for the case, and
partly of glass, to protect the display. There is also plastic in the sensor area,
in contact with the skin, while the strap is made of rubber. On the right side
there is a button to control the smartwatch, which paired with the touch screen
does not make you regret more advanced systems.
What is striking are the small size, at least if you
consider it a smartwatch, but above all the weight, of only 21 grams. Once worn
it is like not having it, comfort is one of the elements that convinces the
most of this product, a particular not just, given that it is worn for many
hours a day. Even at night it doesn't bother the wrist, Huawei has done a great
job from this point of view.
With our test sample we have done everything from use in the
gym to running, passing through the bike, and it has never been uncomfortable.
Unfortunately, after about two weeks of use, a few lines appeared on the metal
body, probably due to some bump, but it is better to pay more attention to
avoid similar situations.
Technical specifications
Despite its small size, Huawei Watch Fit is equipped with
everything you need for sports use, starting from the display, a 1.64 inch
AMOLED with a resolution of 456x280 pixels , definition of 326 PPI and a
surface occupied on the front of 70%, even if the edges are clearly visible.
Huawei certifies the device for a resistance of up to 5 ATM and has integrated
all the sensors and technologies you could want. In addition to the detection
of the heartbeat we find a sensor for SpO2, which measures the level of oxygen
in the blood, GPS, for tracking while running for example, and the barometer,
but there is also no lack of sleep monitoring.
The software manages 96 different sports, from swimming to
running, cycling and weightlifting. We had no problems installing it on the
Note 20 Ultra we used during the test, thanks to the Huawei Healt application .
On the other hand, NFC is absent, no payments with the smartwatch therefore,
but also microphone and speaker, calls cannot be managed. Note the presence of
Bluetooth, the standard chosen for connecting to the phone, but not Wi-Fi.
A concrete smartwatch with LiteOS
One of the most important element in a smartwatch is the
display, which must guarantee perfect viewing even outdoors in direct sunlight.
Huawei Watch Fit does well in this task, thanks to five brightness levels and
the ability to activate automatic brightness. The always on display can be
activated from the menus , it consumes more battery but is still present, while
the general dimensions of the panel have proved to be optimal for this type of
product.
As we will see, since there is no advanced notification
management, no more was needed, from this screen you can perfectly do all the
tasks that the Watch Fit was designed to complete. In all, six dials are
available (plus others that can be downloaded from the smartwatch), which can be
customized in terms of information, and the same number can be set for the
always on display.
The screen size does not limit usability, thanks to a simple
interface and with a relatively small number of options, similar to the one we
have seen in Huawei's smartwatches, after all the operating system is the usual
LiteOS . The good news is that the DK3.5 + ST processor offers better
smoothness than the more advanced products we tested with this OS,like Honor's
Watch GS Pro , although the fluidity could be even better.
About LiteOS we find the pros and cons, seen with other
models, but in this case there is some more limitation given by the absence of
microphone and speaker. In fact, the customization of this operating system is
reduced to a minimum, all the various functions of the smartwatch can be
activated, from workouts to heart rate detection, but only basic notification
management remains .
The smartwatch shows text messages but cannot be answered,
calls are displayed but even in this case you have to switch to the phone to be
able to talk. The flexibility offered by products such as Apple Watch is
lacking, but on the other hand with LiteOS you have a very high autonomy ,
which easily reaches about ten days if workouts are not used often. Another
point in favor is the charging speed, in about an hour the smartwatch reaches
100%, a very positive result, especially for those used to the times of Apple
Watch.
Lite OS also gives access to other functions, from sleep
monitoring to stress levels, for an operating system that is certainly not very
versatile but perfectly calibrated for the characteristics of the Watch Fit and
for use in tandem with the Huawei Healt application from the smartphone. .
This incorporates the features also seen on the smartwatch,
from monitoring workouts to information on heart rate and SpO2 , but displayed
in greater detail and in a more usable way than the smartwatch display.
Returning for a moment to the smartwatch, it is interesting the possibility of
activating guided workouts, complete with animations to explain the exercises,
unsuitable for professionals but excellent for approaching the world of
fitness.