Hands-on with the Huawei Watch 3

Posted On August 10, 2021

The Huawei Watch 3 has impressive features for running and cycling. I have been using it for my runs and bike rides for two weeks. It has accurate GPS tracking, smooth and user friendly controls, and awesome Dynamic Tracking to share with friends after the run.

Here’s my hands-on experience while wearing the Huawei Watch 3.

Starting the activity

Running and cycling are among the sports modes available in the Huawei Watch 3.

For running, I can use the quick start option. I’ll just select Outdoor Running from the menu and start the run. If I follow a training plan, I can also set the target distance based on the plan.

A great feature of the Huawei Watch 3 are the Running Courses. These are pre-programmed activities that I can choose on the watch. There are courses from beginners to advanced levels to choose from. If you are new to running, or a seasoned marathoner, there is a running course that matches you.

Fast GPS fix

Before starting the run, the watch needs to lock into a GPS signal. This can take a while. I had watches that can take minutes before it can attain a GPS fix.

Good thing, the Huawei Watch 3 has a fast GPS fix. It consistently locks in the signal within 10-20 seconds despite not being in an open space. It avoids the boring wait time before the start of the run. I can start my runs and rides quickly once I select the activity from the watch.

Voice Lap Updates

The watch has a built-in speaker at the sides. It is through this speaker that the Huawei Watch 3 provides an update every lap during the run.

The voice updates are quite loud. It can be heard by others. The voice updates can be disabled if you feel uncomfortable by the updates.

I once ran with a friend who was using the Huawei Watch 3 too. We would be getting the voice updates almost at the same time. Thus, we get people glancing at us every kilometer.

For cycling, the voice updates is every five kilometers instead.

The location tracking has been accurate. My usual running or cycling route would register the same distance. There would be some variation but it is within a few hundred meters only.

Activity Summary

After the run, all the summary are neatly presented on Huawei Watch. I can check my total distance, time, calories burned, average pace, heart rate, elevation gain, and more.

It also shows my fatigue level and a recommended Recovery Time. Rest is also important for training and the Fatigue analysis from the Huawei Watch 3 gives me a good reminder.

All the data is automatically synced with the Huawei Health App. The app further expands the summary from the watch. It now shows the time splits every kilometer, charts for heart rate, pace, altitude, and cadence. The app saves all previous activities to keep track of my progress.

Dynamic Tracking

It is nice to share my runs after a workout. Previously, it will just be a picture with the usual running stats on it like the distance, time and average pace.

The companion Huawei Health App has the Dynamic Tracking feature. Instead of just a photo, it will show a video of my route from start to finish. I can add photos and captions anywhere in the video. Plus a good selection of pumped up music to complete video.

The finished Dynamic Tracking video looks cool and sophisticated, and can be done in less than 5 minutes.

Battery Life

The Huawei Watch 3 has a long battery life. A 1-hour run used up about 15% from the battery level. At this rate, a full charge will be good for running up to 6-7 hours. This is more than enough for a marathon distance.

The watch can even last longer if other features are reduced or disabled like the brightness, Bluetooth connectivity and continuous health monitoring.

Hands-on Summary

The Huawei Watch 3 is a smartwatch with great features for sports activities. It is easy to use and has the important running metrics to track and improve my runs. The GPS fix is fast and the battery life is more than enough for a long run.

Huawei Watch 3 is priced at 18,999 PHP. It is now available at the official Huawei stores and online in Lazada and Shopee.