HONOR showcased its first-ever rugged smartwatch, the Watch GS Pro at IFA 2020. The smartwatch went on sale in Europe a couple of days ago. The company also announced that it will be getting two new colors – Camo Blue and Camo Grey, which will be made available later this year. Now, the company has teased its arrival in India.
Honor took to Twitter to reveal the latest development. The smartwatch will be an exclusive product launch on Flipkart. It will be a part of the eCommerce platform’s popular The Big Billion Days sale.
The HONOR Watch GS Pro comes with a rugged design with 316L stainless steel bezel, high-precision metal finishing technology. It offers navigation capabilities including a GPS Route Back Function to guide you safely back to your starting point, as well as weather alerts and sunrise and sunset notifications, ideal for ambitious adventurers on longer treks. Additionally, it supports more than 100 workout modes including mountain climbing, hiking, skiing, indoor and outdoor running and more.
The smartwatch is being available in Charcoal Black and Marl White color options with fluoroelastometers in Europe. The Fluoroelastometers are highly resistant to heat, sweat and oil, and less likely prone to induce any allergic reaction. It features a 1.39-inch circular AMOLED display, MIL-STD-810G certification, HiSilicon Kirin A1 chipset, GPS, built-in speaker and mic for calls.
This is not even surprising anymore – A Pixel device leaking ahead of the Google event. The much-awaited Google Pixel 5 has appeared online in hands-on images. For reference, the smartphone has already had its specs, price and everything there is to know leak in the recent times. All that’s left is Google to announce the actual phone. The Pixel 5 launch event will kickstart at 11 AM PT / 2 PM ET / 11:30 PM IST. It will be livestreamed on YouTube. Moreover, you can watch it here.
The latest leak comes from tipster Jon Prosser, who took to Twitter to reveal the front and back of the device. The Pixel 5 sports a flat display with a punch-hole notch at the top-left. Looking closely, you can notice how thin the chin is! It is almost as thin as the side bezels. On the back lies a dual rear camera setup and the fingerprint sensor.
The Google Pixel 5 will reportedly feature a 6-inch FHD+ ( 1080 x 2340 pixels) display with a 90Hz refresh rate. It is said to come with a 19.5:9 aspect ratio and a pixel density of 432ppi. The display could be covered by a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 6. It is likely to support HDR certification and offer 24-bit color depth. The smartphone could be powered by Snapdragon 765G SoC, paired with 8GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage. Moreover, it is tipped to have a stereo speaker setup, NFC chip, and dual-SIM (nano-SIM + eSIM) functionality.
In the optics department, the Google Pixel 5 is reported to sport a dual rear camera setup – a 12.2MP primary camera with an f/1.7 aperture that supports both EIS and OIS. Plus, it might support 4K videos at 60fps and 1080p slo-mo videos at 240fps frame rate. The second camera is tipped to be of 16MP wide-angle with 107-degree field of view. The smartphone could pack a 4,500mAh battery with support for 18W fast charging, wireless charging as well as reverse charging. It is rumored to cost €629 (~ $735) and come in green and black colors.
Spotify is giving its Collaborative Playlist feature a meaningful upgrade that will not only ease the process of adding more people, but will also make it more convenient to check everyone’s contribution. The new features will soon be rolled out via an update. Talking about the new tools being added by Spotify, the first one is an Add User button in the playlist header that will make it easier to invite others to contribute on a Collaborative Playlist.
Additionally, users will now be able to see everyone who is contributing to a playlist in a single place, thanks to a new list that displays user avatars in the playlist header. The third change, and probably the most useful one if you really care about your playlists, is that each track or episode that appears in a Collaborative Playlist will now show the avatar of the person who added it. This will make it easier to spot folks who make meaningful contributions and also those who are just creating a musical ruckus.
How to create a Collaborative Playlist on Spotify?
Open the Spotify app on your phone and tap on Your Library.
Now, select Playlists and then tap on the playlist that you want to make accessible for collaboration.
Once you open a playlist, tap on the Add user button you see in the header. Keep in mind that you can invite people to collaborate only on a playlist that you’ve created.
Now, invite people who you think can make some valuable contributions to your playlist.
And if you want to take your music listening and sharing experience to the next level, you can try out Spotify’s Group Session feature will let you remotely host a listening party with up to five friends. You can listen to a podcast or enjoy a playlist remotely with friends via synced playback. But do keep in mind that the Group Session feature is available for Spotify Premium users only.
Google is all set to launch its Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G smartphones today. The company is a virtual event titled ‘Launch Night In’. It is also tipped to introduce a new smart speaker and Chromecast. The Pixel 5 launch event will kickstart at 11 AM PT / 2 PM ET / 11:30 PM IST. It will be livestreamed on YouTube and users from all over the world can access it on any browser or the YouTube app. You can also watch the Pixel 5 launch livestream below:
Almost everything regarding the Pixel 5 has already leaked online. The device is tipped to feature a 6-inch FHD+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate. It could be powered by the inch FHD+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate, paired with 8GB RAM. It is rumored to sport a 12.1MP primary camera with f/1.7 aperture, and that it will be able to capture 4K videos at 60fps and 1080p slo-mo videos at 124fps. The device could pack a 4,500mAh battery with support for 18W fast charging. It might also include an IP68 rating. The smartphone is said to arrive with a $700 price tag in its 128GB configuration.
On the other hand, the unannounced Google Chromecast is already available at Home Depot stores in the US. It is selling for $49.99. The retailer already had Sabrina available, two days ahead of the official launch. Coming to the Google Pixel 4a 5G, it is likely to be priced at €499 and will be up for grabs in black and white colors.
OnePlus will be launching its T-series smartphone in India on October 14. The company is teasing OnePlus 8T 5G features one by one as we move closer to the launch. It has already confirmed the presence of 120Hz refresh rate and support for 65W fast charging. Now, OnePlus has revealed that its upcoming phone will run Android 11 out of the box. Further, it has also been spotted on Geekbench.
According to the listing, OnePlus 8T 5G with come equipped with 12GB RAM. It is likely to be made available in more RAM variants. The smartphone scored 3,843 and 11,714 points in single-core and multi-core tests respectively.
OnePlus 8T 5G leaked specifications
The OnePlus 8T 5G will feature a flat display, as confirmed by Pete Lau himself. It will come with a 120Hz refresh rate display of 6.5-inches. The smartphone will be using a 2.5D flexible screen that is said to offer an improved light permeability and can reach a maximum brightness of up to 1100 nits. Moreover, it will come with a 91.9% screen-to-body-ratio, which would be the highest ever on an OnePlus smartphone.
The handset is tipped to be powered by Snapdragon 865, and not Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 865 Plus. In the optics department, the OnePlus 8T 5G is rumored to sport a quad rear camera setup of 48MP primary camera, a 16MP wide-angle shooter, a 5MP macro lens, and a 2MP portrait camera. It might house a 16MP selfie shooter. Further, it could pack a 4,800mAh battery with support for 65W fast charging technology. The company is teasing “A day’s power in 15 minutes.” It will ship with OxygenOS 11 based on Android 11.
According to a tipster, the OnePlus 8T 5G will arrive in Europe in two options of 8GB RAM + 128GB storage and 12GB RAM + 256GB storage. The price of these variants is said to be 799 euros and 899 euros, respectively.
The guys over at MacRumors have been searching for clues about what to expect on Apple’s next event in the iOS 14.2 code, and it seems that they have found a minor code tweak that confirms the lack of EarPods in the box of the iPhone 12 models.
Previous iOS versions mentioned “reducing exposure to RF energy by using the supplied headphones,” which is now changed to: “To reduce exposure to RF energy, use a hands-free option, such as the built-in speakerphone, headphones, or other similar accessories.” Apple deliberately removed the “supplied” part of the statement, suggesting that Apple will no longer supply headphones to its users with the new iPhone 12 lineup.
The first time we heard this rumor was back in June when we also heard rumors claiming that the devices will also drop the power adapters. Apple has recently ditched this accessory with the recent launch of the Apple Watch Series 6. The company decided to stop using power adapters, as “Apple is also helping the environment by removing the AC adapter that could become electronic waste from Apple Watch Series 6 packaging, and helping its Apple Watch manufacturing partners transition to renewable energy,” even though, the truth about this decision may be focused on trying to reduce costs.
Looks like the Apple Watch titanium and Hermes models still have the power adapter. So the more expensive versions keep it. Makes it seem like its less of an an environment thing and more cost-driven.
Whatever the case, it seems that Apple will have more than enough iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini devices ready for purchase. According to a tweet posted earlier today by well-known leaker Jon Prosser, Cupertino’s distributors could get the first iPhone 12 batch as soon as next Monday. And according to the South China Morning Post, Foxconn employees are working non stop to have enough devices ready, with or without power adapters and wired EarPods in the box. The report says:
“Employee Wang Guofeng said overtime work had increased since summer and most workers were allowed to take only four days off per month.
“You can earn 5,000 yuan to 6,000 yuan (US$880) per month, and if you work at the factory for more than 90 days, there’s a handsome amount of special pay,” said the 33-year-old who has worked at the factory for over four years.
“Another employee surnamed Ma said the company had started night shifts, with production lines running 24 hours a day.
“We have been kept so busy for the past weeks because of the iPhone 12,” Ma said, referring to the new model that is expected to be unveiled next month.”
We are just days away from October, and we are still waiting for Apple to reveal the date of its next event. Said event is expected to be focused on the launch of the new iPhone 12 lineup, and rumors claim that we may also get an iPad Pro refresh, and even Apple Silicone Macs. Now, a new rumor suggests that Apple is almost ready for the launch of its new iPhones, as its distributors may get their hands on these devices as soon as next Monday.
Rumors suggest that the launch of the new iPhone 12 lineup may take place on October 13, and a recent tweet posted by Jon Prosser would make this rumor easier to believe. According to Prosser, Apple may have the first batch of iPhone 12 devices delivered to distributors on Monday, October 5. This would mean that Apple wants to assure the availability of its new devices before its possible announcement.
Apple’s first shipment of final iPhone 12 units is going out to distributers on October 5th
The shipment includes:
iPhone 12 mini 5.4 (Definitely the final marketing name) -64/128/256
He also goes as far as to confirm that the smaller 5.4-inch model will indeed launch as the iPhone 12 mini, with 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB storage options. The 6.1-inch iPhone 12 variant would also be available, with the same storage options as the iPhone 12 mini. Now, he also mentions that the iPhone 12 Pro and the 12 Pro Max will start at 128GB storage space. Still, it seems that we may have to wait a bit longer for the higher-end variants.
Let’s remember that the iPhone 12 Pro Max is rumored to be the only iPhone in the next lineup to include mmWave 5G support since the other options would only support sub-6GHz 5G connectivity. We have also seen rumors mentioning the lack of 120Hz refresh rate displays in these new iPhone devices, but we are still expecting to receive a couple of them with LiDAR sensors, and who knows, we may also see the arrival of Apple’s first device with a mini-LED display.
We start today’s deals with some nice discounts applied to the latest iPad Pro models. We start with Amazon, as we find the 12.9-inch variant with 128GB in storage space. This WiFi-only variant is available in Space Gray, and it can be yours for $949 after a $50 discount. If you feel like more storage is necessary, you may want to go for the 256GB variant in Silver, which is getting a $59 discount, leaving this model at $1,040. You can also get the smaller 11-inch iPad Pro variant for $850, with 256GB in storage but no LTE.
For those of you who feel LTE is necessary, the 12.9-inch version with 64GB in storage is currently available at B&H for $799 with a $350 discount, while the 256GB version, also with LTE can be yours for $949. There are several options for you to choose from, so you should take a look and see if there’s something that catches your eye.
Amazon has recently launched a its new Echo smart speaker lineup, and we are getting several deals that make an upgrade quite compelling. First, the all-new Amazon Echo Dot 4th gen is selling for $50, or get two for $80 when you apply the DOT2PACK promo code at checkout. You can also get the new Echo Dot with clock for $60 or use the same code at checkout and get two for $100. The new Amazon Echo is also on sale; you can get one for $100 or get two for $170 when you enter the ECHO2PK code at checkout.
Other deals include the AUKEY Omnia 100W USB C charger, which is a 4-port PD charger with GanFast Technology. It is currently listed for $57, but if you enter promo code AJ3PGRG2 you can get yours for just $45.59. The AUKEY Omnia 90W charger is also getting a discount, as you can get it for $39.99 with promo code W6MHMVM2. Both of these chargers are compatible with your 16-inch MacBook Pro, the HP Spectre 15, the Razer Blade Stealth, iPhone 11 Pro Max, and more. AUKEY’s true wireless earbuds are also on sale, as they are listed for $30 after a $20 discount, but you can also apply an extra 30% savings coupon.
Google Meet went free for all users back in April, riding on an exponential growth triggered by a surge in remote working and online learning due to the coronavirus crisis. However, Google originally planned to offer an unlimited meeting duration (technically, the upper limit was 24 hours for each meeting) facility only until September 30, after which the maximum length of a meeting will be reduced to 60 minutes. However, it appears that the folks over at Google had a change of heart. The company has today announced that it won’t limit meetings to a 60-minute duration until March next yearfor users on the free tier. So, users still have another six months to enjoy (or suffer) online meetings on Google Meet that can last as long as 24 hours.
“As we look ahead to a holiday season with less travel and important milestones like family reunions, PTA meetings and weddings hosted over video, we want to continue helping those who rely on Meet to stay in touch over the coming months. As a sign of our commitment, today we’re continuing unlimited Meet calls (up to 24 hours) in the free version through March 31, 2021 for Gmail accounts,” Google Product Manager (Google Meet), Samir Pradhan, wrote in a blog post.
Those who are on the free tier of Google Meet can conduct meeting with up to 100 people, while the individual paid tier and G Suite Enterprise versions increase the number of participants to 150 and 250 respectively. You can check out the differences between the free, individual paid plan ($8/month) and G Suite Enterprise plans here.
A couple of days ago, Google also announced that the Google Meet app for Android and iOS has finally received the noise cancellation feature that was rolled out for the web version back in June. The tool intelligently suppresses background noise captured by the phone’s audio input such as typing, a door being shut, or the sounds coming from a nearby construction site.
LG has finally announced the price of its outlandish Wing smartphone for the US market. If you’ve been eager to lay your hands on the LG’s latest phone with a swiveling secondary display, you’ll have to fork out a cool $999. Pre-orders for the LG Wing kick off on October 1 and it will be up for grabs starting October 15 via Verizon. However, if you are hooked to another carrier, LG assures that the device will arrive on AT&T and T-Mobile as well in the fall season. Unfortunately, we don’t know if LG also plans to sell unlocked units via its own online store or retail partners such as Amazon and BestBuy in the US.
Before we talk about the device’s internal hardware, let’s quickly go through the new experiences that the LG Wing’s swiveling display brings to the table. When you swivel the main display at a 90-degree angle to reveal the secondary display, you can either expand an app’s UI to both screens or run separate apps on each one. For example, you can watch YouTube videos on the main screen while the secondary display will show the comments section. Additionally, you can create shortcuts for two apps that you use simultaneously such as Google Maps and Spotify. And in case you’re wondering, LG says the device can handle more than 200,000 swivels.
Up front, you get a 6.8-inch FHD+ P-OLED display while the secondary display measures 3.9-inch (1240×1080 pixels) diagonally and also doubles as a grip lock. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 765G SoC runs the show coupled with 8 gigs of RAM and up to 256GB of onboard storage. The Qualcomm chip also brings 5G compatibility to the table. Verizon says that the LG Wing will support its 5G Ultra Wideband network.
The triple rear camera setup includes a 64MP primary snapper, a 13MP wide-angle shooter and another 12MP wide-angle camera that uses what the company calls hexa-motion sensors for a gimbal-like functionality. Selfies are handled by a 32MP pop-up camera. A 4,000mAh battery keeps the lights on, while Android 10 handles things on the software side. If you are interested in buying the LG wing from Verizon, you can check out the financing offers and trade-in discounts here.
Facebook has long harbored plans of deeper integration and interoperability between all its properties viz. Instagram, Facebook, Messenger and WhatsApp. Instagram recently added a dedicated Messenger button, and earlier this month, a test started allowing some users to see Instagram Stories of people they follow directly on Facebook. Inching further towards its goal, Facebook has today introduced a new tool called Accounts Center that will allow users to cross-share their posts and stories from Facebook to Instagram. The Accounts Center will be added to the settings section of Facebook, Messenger as well as Instagram, and testing begins later this week.
But to make things clear early on, Accounts Center is an opt-in feature, which means you can stay away from it if cross-posting is not what you seek. The Accounts Center will let users control three actions – cross-posting, cross-platform login, and Facebook Pay credential syncing. Facebook is calling these three actions Connected Experiences.
The Accounts Center will also let users sync their username and profile photo across all three apps
Starting with cross-posting, users will be able to automatically share their Facebook stories and posts on Instagram without even switching apps. Facebook is also giving users the flexibility to sync their username and profile pic across the three apps, and changes made in one app will reflect simultaneously across Facebook, Messenger and Instagram. However, users can choose to keep their identities distinct across all three apps by disabling username and profile syncing.
Users will soon be able to automatically carry over their Facebook Pay credentials to Instagram
The second Connected Experience offered by the Facebook Accounts Center is Single Sign On, which allows users to log in across all three apps with a common credential and easily recover passwords. The third one is related to Facebook Pay and it will be enabled later this year for users in the US. It will allow users to enter their payment information only once on Facebook and then use Facebook Pay to do transactions on Instagram as well.
Earlier this year, Lenovo announced what it calls the world’s first foldable PC – the ThinkPad X1 Fold. As the name suggests, this device has a single touch-sensitive 13-inch 2K display that folds in the middle across the two halves of the device joined by a hinge, similar to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold2. Lenovo has priced the ThinkPad X1 Fold starting at $2,499 and it is now up for pre-order in the US, while shipping commences in the upcoming weeks.
Talking about the internals, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold can be configured with an Intel Core i5-L16G7 processor that employs the Intel hybrid technology. It ticks alongside 8GB of LPDDR4x RAM and up to 1TB of PCIe SSD storage. There is a 5MP camera at the top alongside an IR sensor for Windows Hello login. Lenovo is offering the foldable device in multiple configurations and bundles that include the Lenovo Mod Pen and the Lenovo Fold Mini Bluetooth keyboard.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano
Lenovo has also launched the high-end ThinkPad X1 Nano which the company claims to be the lightest ThinkPad ever, and also the first laptop from Lenovo to come with Intel Evo certification. The latter means wake time of less than one second, up to 9 hours of battery life, fast charging and Thunderbolt 4 connectivity. It comes equipped with a 13-inch 2K display that supports Dolby Vision. The wireless connectivity suite is covered by Wi-Fi 6 and 5G (optional).
Coming to the internal hardware, it can be equipped with up to an 11th Gen Intel Core i7 Tiger Lake processors with the new Intel Xe graphics. The Intel silicon can be paired with up to 16GB LPDDR4x RAM and up to 1TB of PCIe SSD. The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano also comes with an updated suite of AI and biometric ThinkShield security features that include voice recognition and presence detection for automatically locking the device. The ThinkPad X1 Nano starts at $1,399 and will be available in the next quarter.
Motorola recently unveiled its second foldable clamshell phone, the Motorola RAZR 5G. It packs a plethora of updates including a faster processor, and an improved imaging hardware. The cover display has more UI controls as well. Now, the company has unveiled its availability details and promotions. The Motorola RAZR 5G will be available to purchase starting October 2. The unlocked devices start at $1,199 ($200 off). Plus, there are more deals from carriers.
The new Motorola RAZR 5G will be available at AT&T and T-Mobile, as well as universally unlocked at Motorola.com, Amazon.com, Best Buy and B&H Photo starting October 2. Here are the limited time promotions on the device:
At AT&T, for a limited time, both new and existing customers who trade in an eligible device and purchase the Motorola RAZR 5G on a qualifying installment plan with an eligible AT&T unlimited wireless plan could qualify for one of the following offers:
New customers get up to $700 off (50% off) the device by bringing their number to AT&T.
Existing customers get up to $400 off by adding a line or up to $300 off by upgrading their device.
At T-Mobile, for a limited time, has two offers for new and existing customers:
Get the Motorola RAZR 5G for half off with 24 monthly bill credits when you activate a new line and trade-in an eligible device.
Get $400 off the Motorola RAZR 5G with 24 monthly bill credits and eligible device trade in.
At Motorola.com, Amazon.com, Best Buy and B&H Photo, for a limited time, customers can purchase the new razr for $200 off with no contract needed!
Boult Audio has today added another budget TWS earbuds to its portfolio – the Combuds. The new true wireless earbuds from the company borrow design elements from Boult Audio’s pricier PowerBuds. The Combuds come equipped with 10mm neodymium drivers, which is impressive for true wireless earbuds in this price bracket. Plus, they come with an IPX5 rating, which means they can handle sweat during workout sessions and accidental liquid spills as well. Boult Audio claims that its latest offering can last up to 15 hours on a single charge. However, this is most likely the combined playtime you get from the inbuilt battery inside the earbuds as well as the charging case. The egg-shaped earbuds charge via a microUSB port and have four LEDs to show the charging status.
Of course, the key selling point of Boult Audio’s Combuds true wireless earbuds is support for touch gestures, a convenience that you will rarely find in products under this price bracket from an established brand. The touch gestures can be used to control media playback and handle incoming calls, most likely via tap and hold gestures. Boult Audio says that the Combuds rock ergonomically designed ear pads for a more comfortable in-ear fit, and that their design also ensures a decent level of noise isolation. The company, however, has not shared details about codec support and the number of mic(s) on each earbud.
The new Boult Audio earbuds feature are claimed to offer ‘a healthy dose of extra bass,’ but we’ll have to test and find out how good they actually are. The Boult Audio Combuds are priced rather aggressively at just Rs. 1,499 and will be sold exclusively via Flipkart starting today. You can grab the new true wireless earbuds from Boult Audio in two colorways – White-Grey and Black-Grey. We recently tested the Snokor iRocker true wireless earbuds too, which are also priced at Rs. 1,499. You can read our review here.
We’ve been using the HUAWEI Watch GT2 Pro as our daily driver for close to one month. Usage scenarios detailed within the review below.
I was fortunate enough to live and train with the original HUAWEI Watch GT2, and then with the more affordable Watch GT 2e. They are great lifestyle and training companions, and I enjoyed my time with both of them long after my review period.
With the recently announced HUAWEI Watch GT 2 Pro, the company addresses a totally different target audience. If the base model GT 2 got a more affordable GT 2e companion, the GT 2 Pro is the watch’s premium version. You can not only wear it to the gym or dressed casually, but you can also dress up and still use the watch, which no longer looks like a sports-only accessory.
While most of the things are unchanged, there are some differences though compared to previous models. We’ll check those out in our HUAWEI Watch GT 2 Pro review below.
The looks
The Watch GT 2 e was aimed at the active users, so HUAWEI flattened the side buttons to avoid accidental presses if you’re bending your wrist during your workouts.
For the Watch GT 2 Pro, the manufacturer returned to the original rounded buttons that were featured on the initial GT 2. However, the GT 2 Pro being a more elegant accessory, HUAWEI replaced the numbers on the watch dial with a more discrete signage consisting of a triangle at 12 o’clock, and subtle lines at every hour mark.
While still rubber, the watchband nicely imitates a leather strap to keep the elegant look consistent. This is the first aspect of the premium materials HUAWEI has been using for the GT 2 Pro.
Next is the watch case itself. It is now made of titanium, which is lighter and more durable. The watch face itself is sapphire glass, which is also more durable and deals with scratches better, while the watch’s backside is ceramic.
Last but not least, still in the looks department, the default watch face is an elegant one, called “Black Tie” (there are 13 pre-installed on the watch), for obvious reasons. You can, however, easily change it from within the HUAWEI Health app. You’ve got endless options to choose from.
The display – a 1.39-inch OLED panel with 454 x 454 resolution and 462 PPI – is gorgeous, but it should come as no surprise since the entire line-up features the same, beautiful panel.
What’s new
While previous generation GT2 models were pretty damn accurate in determining your heart rate and blood level oxygen, for the GT 2 Pro HUAWEI upgraded the sensor on the back. It now features a TruSeen 4.0+ sensor, which, according to the manufacturer, offers better light transmission and utilization, it’s more power efficient and features AI-assisted intelligent heart rate algorithms.
The other significant change, which is a very welcome one, is the addition of wireless charging. Sure, if you’re using the supplied charging pad, it makes no difference whether it’s a pogo-pin approach or a wireless charging approach, but with this charging technology, you can use your smartphone’s reverse wireless charging capabilities to charge your watch.
HUAWEI claims that a 5-minute charge offers you 10 hours of usage, and we’ve verified that to be true.
The smarts
The HUAWEI Watch GT 2 Pro features, more or less, the exact same software (LiteOS) that powers the predecessors. Sadly, it comes with the same cons we’ve mentioned with the occasion of our past reviews.
You still can’t act on notification, aside from scrolling through them and dismissing them, so forget about replying to a text message. And, while still on the topic, the watch still doesn’t support the display of emojis, so if you get a text or a WhatsApp message that only contains an emoji, like a , the notification will be empty.
Also, no payment options are supported on the Watch GT 2 Pro, similar to the two predecessors, which, of course, makes sense since, aside from the differences outlined in the segment above, this is, in reality, the same watch.
Unlike the GT 2e, but similar to the GT2, the GT 2 Pro allows you to take calls on the wrist. The loudspeaker (and it’s pretty loud) is back, with a very subtle opening between the two buttons, with the microphone being on the opposite side.
The Kirin A1 chip does a great job of keeping things fluid and snappy, but the lack of cellular or Wi-Fi connectivity means that the watch relies solely on the smartphone for its needs.
You can, however, train without your smartphone, as the GT 2 Pro does feature its own GPS antenna for all your tracking needs. Not only that, but there’s a new “Route Back” feature that relies on the recorded GPS data to help you find your way back should you get lost while being out.
Out of the 4GB of storage, 2GB are available for local music storage. You can listen to music without your smartphone while training, and you can pair any Bluetooth headphones or earbuds directly to the watch in order to achieve that.
In terms of battery life, in our experience, it lasted the advertised seven days. This is with ten cardio sessions per week, 5 CrossFit and weightlifting trainings, and two sessions of shooting baskets. Also, heart rate monitoring is continuous, and considering that the aforementioned sessions all imply the use of GPS, charging the watch every Sunday evening is an excellent run, considering other competitors barely make it through the day.
Fitness and Health aspects
The HUAWEI Health App is the HQ for everything fitness, sleep, and health-related. That’s where all your data is synced, from your training sessions to your heart rate, from your sleep records to your blood oxygen levels. You can find more details on the HUAWEI Health App by checking out its section in our Watch GT2 review.
The HUAWEI Health App is the HQ for everything fitness, sleep, and health-related. That’s where all your data is synced, from your training sessions to your heart rate, from your sleep records to your blood oxygen levels. You can find more details on the HUAWEI Health App by checking out its section in our Watch GT2 review.
The Watch GT 2 Pro supports more than 100 workout modes (sadly, still no basketball, HUAWEI!). Of those, 17 are professional modes, and 85 are custom modes, and new is the addition of Golf Mode and Skiing and Snowboarding Modem in addition to Cross Country Skiing.
When it comes to training, the watch records your heart rate pretty accurately, as long as you keep the contact between the sensor and your skin clean. This means that if you’re pushing hard and you’re sweating a lot, you might need to occasionally wipe your wrist (and/or the back of the watch) dry.
If you’re walking or running, it will also calculate your VO2Max, and compare it to a general benchmark of people your gender, age, etc. SpO2 readings are on-demand, and the results are synced back to the Health App.
Sleep tracking is also pretty accurate, with the watch precisely detection your bedtime and wake-up moments, with everything in between (sleep stages and awake time).
You can also set a benchmark for your stress level readout, which your watch takes during the day, to see exactly how bad or good of a day you’ve had, and whether you need to calm down by taking some breathing exercises, also available on the watch.
You can also set a benchmark for your stress level readout, which your watch takes during the day, to see exactly how bad or good of a day you’ve had, and whether you need to calm down by taking some breathing exercises, also available on the watch.
Pricing and availability
€349 is what you’ll have to pay for this premium version of the watch, but if you are in the US, there’s no word yet on whether it will officially be available, or you might have to import it yourself.
The Watch GT 2 Pro is available in two options: Sport (with a black rubber band, the one you see above), and a Classic variant with a brown leather strap.
The Watch GT 2 Pro is available in two options: Sport (with a black rubber band, the one you see above), and a Classic variant with a brown leather strap.
– no NFC, Cellular or Wi-Fi – no payment options – notification system needs more work – iOS experience inferior to Android
Conclusion
The original Watch GT2 was already a great smartwatch, to begin with. For the current model, HUAWEI took the Watch GT 2 Pro to the next level by using premium materials, upgrading the main heart-rate sensor, and adding in the convenience of wireless charging. Because of the extreme battery life, accurate health and fitness features, gorgeous display, and premium/classy appearance, the HUAWEI Watch GT 2 Pro is our Editor’s Choice for the best smartwatch in terms of looks, performance, and insane battery life.
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