Huawei Watch Ultimate vs Apple: Review
The smartwatch market is brimming with options, but few brands command attention like Huawei and Apple. When it comes to premium smartwatches, both the Huawei Watch Ultimate and Apple Watch are frontrunners in the race. Each offers its own unique set of features and capabilities, designed to appeal to different types of users. Whether you’re in Australia or anywhere else, choosing the right smartwatch can feel overwhelming with so many great options available.
In this comprehensive comparison, we’ll break down the Huawei Watch Ultimate and Apple Watch to determine which one stands out. We’ll focus on key aspects such as performance, battery life, features, fitness tracking, pricing, and user experience to help you make an informed decision.
1. Design and Build Quality
Huawei Watch Ultimate Design
The Huawei Watch Ultimate offers a premium design crafted with durable materials like titanium and sapphire crystal glass. The watch has a large, sleek display, providing a modern and sophisticated look that will fit well with both casual and formal attire. Its 1.5-inch AMOLED display is crisp and vibrant, with a high pixel density that makes it perfect for both indoor and outdoor use.
What sets the Huawei Watch Ultimate apart is its waterproof design. It’s rated to withstand depths of up to 100m (IP68 rating), making it an excellent option for swimmers or those who enjoy water sports. The build is solid, lightweight, and comfortable for all-day wear, with a variety of band options available, from silicone to leather.
Apple Watch Design
The Apple Watch is famous for its clean, polished look and variety of customizable styles. It comes in several sizes, ranging from 41mm to 49mm, with both aluminium and stainless steel variants. The screen is made of Ion-X glass or sapphire crystal, depending on the model, and features a Retina display that is easy to read even in bright sunlight.
Apple offers more flexibility when it comes to customization, with a wide range of bands and colours available to suit your style. The Apple Watch is also water-resistant, with a 50m depth rating, making it suitable for everyday water activities like swimming.
2. Display and Screen Quality
Huawei Watch Ultimate Display
The Huawei Watch Ultimate is equipped with a 1.5-inch AMOLED display, which provides vibrant colours, deep blacks, and excellent contrast. The screen is crisp and detailed, making it easy to navigate through apps, notifications, and settings. The always-on display feature is available, allowing users to see key information without having to raise the wrist.
Apple Watch Display
Apple has always led the way with its Retina displays, and the Apple Watch Series 8 (and higher models) feature an always-on display that is bright and responsive. The LTPO OLED display is smooth, sharp, and highly energy-efficient, adapting brightness levels based on usage. The 41mm and 45mm models offer more size options, catering to a broader range of wrist sizes. Apple’s display is one of the brightest on the market, making it easy to use in direct sunlight.
3. Fitness and Health Features
Huawei Watch Ultimate Fitness Tracking
The Huawei Watch Ultimate excels in health and fitness tracking, offering an array of features for both casual users and athletes. It comes with a built-in heart rate monitor, spO2 sensor, and sleep tracking capabilities. The watch also includes workout modes tailored for various activities, such as running, cycling, swimming, and hiking. For swimmers, it offers special swim-tracking features, including stroke recognition and distance measurement, which is a big plus for those who enjoy the water.
Huawei’s TruSeen 5.0 technology provides continuous heart rate monitoring, and the sleep-tracking feature is quite advanced, offering detailed insights into your sleep patterns and quality.
Apple Watch Fitness Tracking
The Apple Watch is arguably one of the most popular choices for fitness enthusiasts, thanks to its comprehensive health monitoring features. It includes an ECG monitor, blood oxygen level monitoring, heart rate tracking, and fall detection. The Activity rings feature is a unique Apple trait, helping users track their movement, exercise, and standing goals. The watch also features a Sleep app for monitoring sleep quality and a Fitness+ service for guided workouts, if you’re looking for extra motivation.
Apple also offers workout-specific tracking, such as running, cycling, yoga, and swimming. The integration with the Health app allows you to see a detailed report of your daily activity, which is great for users who want to monitor their progress over time.
4. Battery Life and Charging
Huawei Watch Ultimate Battery Life
One of the standout features of the Huawei Watch Ultimate is its impressive battery life. With a 530mAh battery, it can last up to 14 days on a single charge, depending on usage. This is a significant advantage for those who prefer not to charge their smartwatch every day. Huawei also provides a fast-charging option that gives you a full charge in under an hour.
Apple Watch Battery Life
The Apple Watch typically offers 18 hours of battery life, depending on usage. This is less than half the battery life of the Huawei Watch Ultimate. However, Apple’s watch supports fast charging capabilities, allowing you to charge it up to 80% in around 45 minutes, which can be a lifesaver for users on the go. Battery life is generally adequate for most users, but if you’re looking for longer battery life, Huawei has the upper hand in this area.
5. Software and Compatibility
Huawei Watch Ultimate Software
The Huawei Watch Ultimate runs on HarmonyOS, which is Huawei’s proprietary operating system. While it doesn’t have the extensive app store that Apple’s WatchOS offers, it does have a solid range of pre-installed apps for fitness tracking, weather, and notifications. It pairs seamlessly with Huawei Health for tracking data, but it may not have the same level of third-party app support that Apple Watch users enjoy.
Apple Watch Software
The Apple Watch runs on WatchOS, which is known for its seamless integration with iOS. If you’re an iPhone user, the Apple Watch is easily the best option, offering tight integration with Apple’s ecosystem, including features like Apple Pay, Siri, Find My, and more. The App Store on the Apple Watch is robust, with thousands of apps available for a variety of needs, from fitness to productivity.
6. Pricing and Value
Huawei Watch Ultimate Pricing
The Huawei Watch Ultimate typically retails at a lower price point than the Apple Watch, making it an attractive option for those on a budget. Prices usually start around AU $1,499 for the base model, but this can vary depending on where you buy it and any current promotions. Given the long battery life, premium design, and solid health features, the Huawei Watch Ultimate offers good value for its price.
Apple Watch Pricing
The Apple Watch Series 8 starts at AU $649, with the more advanced Apple Watch Ultra priced at AU $1,199. While the Apple Watch is generally more affordable than the Huawei Watch Ultimate, users will need to factor in additional costs for bands or other accessories. If you’re an iPhone user, the integration with Apple’s ecosystem might justify the price for many, especially if you value seamless user experience and app support.
7. Conclusion: Which Smartwatch Comes Out on Top?
The choice between the Huawei Watch Ultimate and Apple Watch ultimately depends on your priorities and what you’re looking for in a smartwatch.
- If you’re an iPhone user and want a seamless experience with tons of third-party app support, then the Apple Watch is the clear winner. It offers excellent fitness tracking, an outstanding user interface, and long-term software support, all while integrating perfectly with the Apple ecosystem.
- If you’re after a premium design, extended battery life, and robust fitness tracking features, particularly for swimming, the Huawei Watch Ultimate may be a better choice. It offers fantastic value for money, especially for those who don’t mind the HarmonyOS limitations.
In conclusion, both smartwatches are exceptional, and your decision will depend on your specific needs, brand loyalty, and budget. Whether you’re in Australia or elsewhere, both the Huawei Watch Ultimate and Apple Watch bring powerful features to the table—just choose the one that best fits your lifestyle and tech ecosystem.
