The alternative to Apple Watch Ultra 2

HUAWEI has recently launched several new smartwatches, including two versions of the popular WATCH FIT. The HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 is the direct successor to the WATCH FIT 3 I reviewed last year. Additionally, there’s the new HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro, which introduces some intriguing features and aims to compete directly with the Apple Watch Ultra 2. It’s obviously also more expensive than the WATCH FIT 4. But does it perform well enough? Is it a viable alternative to the Apple Watch Ultra 2? Read this review to find out:

HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro: Who is it good for?

This smartwatch is a great choice for:

• People looking for an affordable alternative to the Apple Watch Ultra 2
• Fitness enthusiasts who want to track outdoor sporting activities
• Those who want to keep an eye on their health and focus on their heart’s health
• Users who want a smartwatch with good battery life

Pros and cons

Here are the things I like about the HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro:

• Its light weight makes it super comfortable to wear
• Introduces ECG, heart rate variability (HRV), and emotion tracking
• Well designed outdoor sports tracking (including golfing, trail running, and freediving)
• Improved fast charging compared to the WATCH FIT 3
• Unlike the Apple Watch Ultra 2, it’s compatible with iOS, Android, and HUAWEI devices

Here is what you may not like:

• Limited app ecosystem and connectivity with other devices
• Too many prompts for agreeing to terms and conditions
• NFC payments are available in a small number of countries

Verdict

The HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro is a compelling alternative to the Apple Watch Ultra 2, especially for users who don’t own an iPhone and want a similar device at a lower price. Its strengths include a lightweight design, robust build quality, good battery life, and comprehensive health tracking features, such as electrocardiograms (ECG), heart rate variability, and emotion tracking. I consider it an excellent companion for those interested in monitoring their health and emotional well-being, as well as for individuals who enjoy outdoor sports. If you’re looking for a smartwatch that’s compatible with today’s most important mobile ecosystems (iOS, Android, and HUAWEI) and don’t require a wide variety of third-party apps or integrations with other fitness devices, the HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro is a great smartwatch that provides a lot of value at a reasonable price.

Unboxing the HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro

HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro comes in an elegant, white cardboard box, featuring a picture of the device on the top cover, alongside its product name and the company logo.

HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro comes in a small, white, cardboard box

There’s little information printed on the sides of the box, and the only interesting details are the exact model number, the color you bought, the material used for the strap, and the serial number of your specific smartwatch. Open the box, and you immediately see the HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro nicely tucked inside.

Opening the box reveals the smartwatch

When you take it out and open everything, you should find the following items: the HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro smartwatch, its charging cradle (which provides much faster charging than the previous versions), the warranty card, a quick setup guide, and product safety information.

HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro comes with a new charging cradle

As always, I like unboxing HUAWEI smartwatches. The experience is quick and pleasant, making you feel you just bought a good-quality product.

Design and hardware specifications

The HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro isn’t shy about the device it wants to compete with: the Apple Watch Ultra 2. This is evident first and foremost from its design, which is similar to that of its competitor. On the left side, you get a rotating crown that also acts as a button, a microphone below the crown, and a second button, which is also an ECG sensor. The smartwatch has a size of 44.5 x 40 x 9.3mm or 1.75 x 1.57 x 0.37 inches, and without the strap, it weighs just 30.4 grams or 1.07 oz, which is half the weight of the Apple Watch Ultra 2. HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro has a 1.82-inch AMOLED display, a resolution of 480 × 408 pixels, and a pixel density of 347 pixels per inch (ppi). The display is protected by sapphire glass, and it has a peak brightness of 3000 nits, making it ideal for outdoor use.

Notice the red rotating crown?

On the right side, you find the speaker, which can be used to listen to music on your smartwatch or during calls. The body of the HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro is made from aluminum, while the bezel is made from titanium alloy.

The bezel is made from titanium

HUAWEI brags about the WATCH FIT 4 Pro, which provides IP6X certified dust resistance and can be used for diving up to 40 meters deep and 5 ATM. Alongside the ECG I’ve already mentioned, this smartwatch includes the following sensors: an accelerometer (for measuring speed), a gyroscope, a magnetometer, a barometer, an optical heart rate sensor, a temperature sensor, an ambient light sensor, and a depth sensor. One aspect to keep in mind is that the ECG is missing on the standard WATCH FIT 4.

HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro has more sensors than its predecessors

The HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro is available in three colors: black, blue, and green. The first two come with a fluoroelastomer strap, while the green version features a woven nylon strap. I saw all three during a local launch event, and appearance-wise, my favorites are the black and green versions.

The color options available for HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro

Image source: HUAWEI

When it comes to connectivity, we get Wi-Fi on the 2.4 GHz band, Bluetooth 5.2, dual-band GPS (through multiple positioning systems) using the company’s Sunflower Antenna 2.0 positioning system, and NFC for payments. The battery on the HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro has a capacity of 400 mAh, and it should last seven days of typical use, or four days, if the display is set to be turned on at all times.

The hardware specifications of the HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro position it above the WATCH FIT 4 in terms of sensors included and durability. It also outmatches the Apple Watch Ultra 2 in key areas like its size, weight, and battery life. If you want to know more about its specifications, visit its official product page: HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro.

Setting up and using the HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro

Before you can start using the WATCH FIT 4 Pro, you should install the HUAWEI Health app on your smartphone. It’s easy to install if you’re using a Samsung Galaxy, an iPhone, or a HUAWEI device. On other Android devices, you need to download an APK file with the app and install it manually. It’s not difficult, but it takes a bit more time. Once that is done, log in with your HUAWEI account or create one, and then connect your smartwatch. The process is quick and easy, and it involves giving HUAWEI a series of permissions so that you can fully utilize the WATCH FIT 4 Pro and all its features.

Welcome to HUAWEI Health!

The HUAWEI Health app is organized into several sections:

• Health – this is where you will spend most of your time and see all your health tracking data. Here, you find details about your heart rate, sleep quality, emotional wellbeing (yes, this smartwatch tracks this), blood oxygen level (SpO2), skin temperature, menstrual cycle (for women), and more.
• Exercise – you can create training plans, view workouts, set your workout goals, and a lot more. This is where you can access all the courses that HUAWEI has made available.
• Discover – the place where you find most of the premium content available through the HUAWEI Health+ subscription. This section includes weight management plans, meditation exercises, music to help you fall asleep, yoga meditations, and more. You can also use this section to link your smartwatch to third-party services like Komoot and Strava.
• Devices – here, you can manage your WATCH FIT 4 Pro and its features. This is where you can access watch faces for your smartwatch and the company’s AppGallery store to install additional apps. Unfortunately, the list of available apps is rather small, and it can’t compare to what you get when using smartwatches from brands like Apple, Google, or Samsung. This section of the Health app is also used for advertising, and HUAWEI regularly updates it to include the latest product launches and retail promotions.
• Me – is the place where you manage your HUAWEI account, access your medals and achievements, check for updates, review your privacy settings, and more.

Do you feel like working out?

One of the first aspects I liked about the HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro is the screen’s excellent visibility, both indoors and outdoors. The default watch face is data-driven, but people looking for something more elegant have many available options, both preinstalled and free, as well as paid ones.

This is the default watch face

Navigating the smartwatch is easy, and you can use both the crown and the side button, as well as the touch display. Although there’s no eSIM support, you can answer calls or send predefined text messages with the WATCH FIT 4 Pro. You can also use it to listen to music on the go, but you don’t get apps like Spotify, Deezer, or Apple Music. Use these apps on your smartphone instead and control music playback from the smartwatch. Another option is to store music files locally on the smartwatch itself and listen to them while running or doing other outdoor activities.

There are plenty of apps preinstalled on the HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro

The apps preinstalled on the HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro are varied and work well, meeting most users’ needs. Unfortunately, many of them require you to manually agree to their privacy terms. You don’t get a global terms and privacy policy that you can accept or refuse once; you have individual policies for each of the most important apps and features. Therefore, the first few days of using the WATCH FIT 4 Pro involve going through many prompts about privacy terms and conditions. I found this frustrating, and I hope that HUAWEI is going to change its approach and make navigating terms and conditions easier.

Agreeing to terms can become frustrating

I wore the HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro for ten consecutive days before writing this review, and one of the things I liked the most was its light weight. It is very comfortable to wear, including during sleep, and I’m sure many users will appreciate this aspect. It makes it a good choice for both men and women of all ages.

HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro is very comfortable to wear

Battery life is another strength of the HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro. Its manufacturer promises seven days of typical use. In my testing, it lasted eight days on a single charge. The charging speed has also been improved a lot. According to HUAWEI, the WATCH FIT 4 Pro should charge from 1% to 100% in just sixty minutes using the bundled charging cradle and a HUAWEI smartphone charger. In my testing, it charged completely in just 58 minutes, which is great and twice as fast as the HUAWEI WATCH FIT 3 that I reviewed last year.

Charging the HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro take less time than other smartwatches

Another change is that the WATCH FIT 4 Pro uses a charging cradle that’s compatible with other HUAWEI smartwatches, while the previous WATCH FIT 3 had a different type of charger that only worked with that model.

One last limitation I would like to mention is regarding NFC payments. While HUAWEI Pay is available in terms of the necessary sensors and apps, the feature works in a small number of countries (see the official list here). Unfortunately, at the time of testing, it doesn’t work in countries from the European Union and the USA. However, the company is working on expanding this feature and will probably have some good news to share in the coming months.

NFC payments are available in a few countries

When it comes to the smartwatch experience, the HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro does not differ significantly from its predecessor or the more affordable WATCH FIT 4. Therefore, if you evaluate the number of apps available, there is little difference to justify its higher cost. However, this is not the whole story, and there is much to appreciate about this smartwatch. Where it excels compared to its counterparts is in the number of sensors it offers and its health and sports tracking capabilities. So let’s explore these features in detail:

Health tracking with the HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro

The HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro introduces the ECG sensor to the FIT lineup of smartwatches. With the help of the Down button, you can get an ECG done in just thirty seconds. It can help you and your doctor identify arrhythmias, the signs of a previous heart attack, or the signs of blocked or narrowed heart arteries. An important aspect to keep in mind is that the ECG feature is not available in all countries, but the list is relatively long.

Recording an ECG is easy

The ECGs can be accessed in the HUAWEI Health app, downloaded as PDF files, and shared with your doctor. The WATCH FIT 4 Pro can also track your heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV), and blood oxygen level, for more complete monitoring. However, it’s not as accurate as the HUAWEI WATCH 5 that I reviewed recently.

I compared the HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro with a professional pulse oximeter with a medical certification valid in the European Union. I noticed this smartwatch tended to underreport the blood oxygen level (SpO2), and its heart tracking didn’t always agree with the pulse oximeter. However, the differences in heart rate were always small, and the WATCH FIT 4 Pro did a decent job of picking up the highs and the lows in my heart rate, even though with a bit of delay, compared to the pulse oximeter.

HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro monitors more aspects of your heart’s health

A new feature that some users will appreciate is the stress and emotion tracking introduced with the launch of the HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro. Not only does this smartwatch track your stress level like many similar devices do, but it also evaluates your emotions and identifies which ones are dominant throughout your day. Based on this data, it can offer tailored advice on how to relax, reduce your stress, and calm negative emotions. Those interested in enhancing their emotional well-being will surely appreciate this feature.

Did you know that it can track your emotions?

The sleep tracking offered by HUAWEI is the most comprehensive to date. Not only do you receive a sleep score, but you can also see how you progressed through all the sleep stages and how long you spent in each stage. There’s also data for various health parameters, including the variability of your heart rate during sleep, your average respiratory rate, and the blood oxygen level. For instance, I recently had an emotionally challenging day, and the smartwatch quickly indicated that I had less deep sleep than usual and a significantly lower HRV, suggesting that I was experiencing high emotional stress.

The sleep analysis is very thorough

HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro is a smartwatch for both men and women. Therefore, it also includes a feature to help women track their menstrual cycles. In the HUAWEI Health app, women can view information on their current, previous, and upcoming menstrual cycles and record their symptoms. They also get recommendations for suitable exercises and workout plans with adjusted intensity, that consider the onset of the menstrual period.

Even though it’s not perfect, I liked the health tracking experience offered by the HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro. It has more sensors than the more affordable WATCH FIT 4 and can record electrocardiograms. If you want to track and evaluate your health and well-being thoroughly, the WATCH FIT 4 Pro is the best choice available in its family of smartwatches.

Sports tracking with HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro

The HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro can monitor over 100 sports, and it also introduces a golf mode, which is not available on the standard WATCH FIT 4, as well as freediving with real-time insights, trail running, and terrain map tracking with route navigation. Before tracking a sport you like, however, you need to add it to your Workout list on the watch. And scrolling through so many sports can take quite a bit of time. Still, once that is done, starting a workout is easy.

You can track over 100 sports with the HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro

When tracking outdoor activities, I noticed that the HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro locked its GPS location relatively quickly, usually in under ten seconds. The accuracy of its tracking, while not the best I’ve seen in my years of testing smartwatches, is one of the better ones. Most people won’t have any issues with it, and it will allow them to get the data they expect.

HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro gets its GPS location in a few seconds

I have some medical restrictions on the types of physical activities I can engage in, and I’m looking forward to going hiking again. However, I still have a couple of months of physical recovery to complete before I can do this. Therefore, during my time with the HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro, I limited myself to the activities my doctor recommended: outdoor walks, indoor and outdoor cycling (in safe settings), strength workouts, and pilates. During my outdoor activities, I was happy with the amount of data provided by this smartwatch. The added barometer, which was lacking on the WATCH FIT 3, makes the new models a better choice for people who love outdoor activities, as it helps provide more comprehensive data, including for niche activities such as trail running.

A report I got for outdoor cycling

The weak spot of the sports tracking available on the HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro is indoor workouts. You can’t connect the smartwatch to other fitness equipment, such as stationary bikes, and you can’t edit your indoor workouts to add manual data. For instance, you can’t input the distance cycled on a stationary bike, the weights you’re using during strength training, etc. As a result, after each indoor workout, the HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro provides you with the same basic data set for different activities: the workout duration and your heart rate data. Some smartwatches from other brands can be connected with other fitness equipment to gather additional data, and they allow users to input manual data relevant to their specific workout to get more accurate statistics at the end of it.

Indoor sports tracking offers less data than you may want

On the upside, the HUAWEI Health app can be synchronized to share data with popular platforms like Komoot and Strava, which extends its usefulness. And to make the experience even more complete, the HUAWEI Health+ subscription (you get a free 3-month membership by purchasing this smartwatch) can be used to create personalized Stay fit plans to help you achieve your health and fitness goals. For example, HUAWEI can create a plan for losing weight, based on your data and specific fitness level. And you don’t get only exercise plans, but also the ability to log the food that you eat and recommendations for how many calories you should eat at each meal.

HUAWEI Health+ can help you lose weight and improve your fitness

While not perfect, the HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro is the best sports-tracking smartwatch in its lineup. It’s especially useful to outdoor enthusiasts, and for niche activities such as golfing and freediving. If you love the great outdoors, this smartwatch is on par with what you get from similar devices from other brands.

Do you like the HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro?

You have arrived at the end of my review. Thank you for reading it until the end. Few people do that. I hope that you found it helpful and that I answered the questions you had about this product. Before closing, I’m curious what you think about the HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro: Do you like what it has to offer? Do you consider it a good alternative to the Apple Watch Ultra 2? Comment using the options below and let me know. 🙂 I’m curious to read your perspective.