Review: Huawei Watch GT 7 Pro boasts epic battery life and fitness features

A smartwatch that can last for days rather than hours between charges

Many smartwatch makers fall into the trap of trying to be all things to all people. However, Huawei appears determined not to be one of them, with the Watch GT 7 range primarily focused on two things: fitness tracking and battery life.

Available in 46mm and 41mm versions, the watch combines a bright AMOLED display, extensive health monitoring and dual-band positioning with the kind of multi-day power that is often hard to find among full-featured smartwatches.

The result is a smartwatch that can last for days rather than hours between charges, yet still packs in a surprisingly comprehensive set of features.

I tried out the Watch GT 7 Pro, and it certainly looks the part. The round design makes it look more like a traditional timepiece than a fitness tracker, while the rotating crown and secondary button provide useful alternatives to poking at the touchscreen. Build quality is excellent, with the titanium-alloy case making it sufficiently robust for home or on a run.

The large 1.47-inch AMOLED display comes with a 466 x 466 resolution with peak brightness of up to 3,000 nits, meaning it’s sharp, colourful and remains readable outdoors.

It looks rugged, and it is. The watch has 5 ATM water resistance and an IP69 rating, supporting freediving to depths of up to 40 metres.

Fitness is at the heart of the GT 7 Pro. Its sensor array includes optical heart-rate monitoring, ECG, temperature, barometric, accelerometer and gyroscope sensors, along with a depth sensor. GPS support is also comprehensive, with dual-band GPS.

For everyday activity tracking, it covers the essentials such as steps, heart rate, sleep and exercise, while more serious users get access to a wide range of workout modes and detailed training information. The watch is well-suited to runners, cyclists and outdoor enthusiasts who want more info than a basic smartwatch gives you.

The built-in ECG is a useful addition for users interested in keeping a closer eye on their cardiovascular data, while the combination of temperature and other sensors allows Huawei to provide a broader picture of health and recovery.

The GT 7 Pro works with both Android and iOS, and the built-in microphone and speaker allow it to handle Bluetooth calls from the wrist. NFC is built in, too, though setting up contactless payments is not straightforward.

This hints at the big caveat with Huawei devices; the hardware shines brightly, but the software ecosystem has limitations. There simply isn’t the same breadth of third-party apps available on Google’s and Apple’s platforms.

Looking at it another way, the lack of apps slowly draining your watch does mean you get an extra boost in battery life. This is arguably the GT 7 Pro’s biggest advantage. Huawei says it can get up to 21 days with light usage, up to 12 days with typical usage, and up to seven days with the always-on display enabled. Testing this in the real world, the claims aren’t far off the mark.

The Huawei Watch GT 7 Pro is an impressive premium smartwatch that ticks a lot of boxes. If you deal with the lack of apps, it’s an attractive choice at the price point.

The Huawei Watch GT 7 Pro is currently available from the Huawei website for £379.99.

What reviewers say

“The Huawei Watch GT 7 Pro is an impressive smartwatch that can do a lot, but, like other Huawei wearables, it has weaknesses. If you don’t mind working around these, it will repay you big time in other areas.”

“Health app isn’t quite as slick as the very best alternatives, and other smartwatches still integrate better with Android and iOS. They also have more third-party apps to pick from and have a smoother setup process – but those will ultimately be minor niggles for anyone wanting maximum bang per buck.”

Alternatives

Apple Watch Series 12

Polar Ignite 3 GPS Fitness & Wellness Smartwatch