MWC 2017: Huawei Watch 2 Is The Light, Enduring Wearable We Hoped For

If you’re still looking for a reason to join the “wearable crowd”, Huawei is giving you a compelling one this year at MWC 2017. Huawei Watch 2 Classic or Sporty managed to tick all my smartwatch boxes: lightness, sturdiness and durability #objectmagic

We’ve all known for weeks now that it’s going to run Android Wear 2.0, the latest software update from Google. This makes it a direct rival for the recently showcased LG Watch so you might be thinking: which is the right fit for you? Well, after playing with all the features Huawei Watch 2 comes with and getting a feel of the wearable, I’d say this should come out on top.

Let me tell you why. First of all, the sportier version of Huawei Watch 2 looks great while feeling light. It’s still sturdy and masculine but it comes with an added weight you’ll forget about in minutes. The strap is removable, so if the black, orange or speckled model doesn’t float your boat, you can look for other options. It’s hard not to notice that, unlike LG Watch, this one lacks a rotating crown that would have suited the new interface perfectly. I had to navigate with my fingers but well, all my other devices run the same way, so I can’t say it bothered me much.

Plus, Huawei Watch 2 has other useful options that made me oblivious of this detail. It comes with its own Fit feature that recommends unique workouts depending on your preferred activity – running, cycling or sweating on the treadmill. By the way, you won’t have a problem with the latter since the watch is water-resistant. A nice add-on I wasn’t expecting is the NFC support for Android Pay and I was pleased to see they included a heart-rate sensor on both models.

Best of all? The generous battery, a 420mAh cell that Huawei says can keep it running for up to two days. This interval is further extended to 25 days by the Watch Mode, a setting that disables all features but the watch face and pedometer.

With a Snapdragon 2100 chipset and LTE support in certain regions, Huawei Watch 2 is going to sell for €329 (about $350) in March (Europe) and April (US).

Our verdict: Huawei Watch 2 is definitely in our top smartwatches this year. The combination of light AND premium materials, top-notch software, LTE connectivity and long battery life makes it a great choice for travelers and fitness addicts.