Huawei Watch 4 Review Philippines verdict: The Huawei Watch 4 finally arrives on Philippine shores, bringing with it a whole plethora of improvements and new features, including stand-alone eSIM functionality. It’s a bit more expensive than the previous generation, but Huawei is hoping that all the new features are enough to convince you to get it.

Pros

• Great looking screen
• Insane amount of health features
• eSIM functionality
• Promised Gcash functionality

Cons

• Expensive
• Battery life is not as great as in previous generations

It’s been 6 months since Huawei released the Watch 4 in other countries, but the Philippinesis finally getting the next-generation wearable from the company. In many ways, it is leaps and bounds better than the Watch 3, though it’s not perfect as it sacrifices one of the best things that made the previous iterating great. But we’ll get to that.

Huawei Watch 4 Review Philippines: Design and display

It’s hard to iterate on an already excellent design, but Huawei has managed to make the Watch 4 even more eye-catching than the previous generation. The stainless-steel 46mm case feels premium to the touch and lends the watch a bit of heft that you wouldn’t necessarily get on other smartwatches.

Iterative changes are what you get from the Watch 4 if you’re coming from the Watch 3. The lugs on the Watch 4 have this dew-drop mirror polish on them, and the glass that protects the display is more rounded. The bezels have been thinned down to just 0.9mm, making it almost non-existent, especially when you compare it to the previous generation.

If you’re a swimmer or a diver, you’ll be happy to know that the Watch 4 is rated for depths up to 30M – no need to remove it when you head to the seas or the pool.

Aside from the touch input on the 1.5-inch AMOLED LTPO display, your main means of navigation will be the rotating crown (that also functions as a button) and the configurable button below it.

One thing that I don’t like about the Watch 4 as it ships in the Philippines is the included strap. The flouroelastomeric black strap makes the watch look cheap and is generally uncomfortable to use, especially for people like me who develop a skin reaction to silicone straps. Thankfully you can switch out the straps for something else (Watch GT 4 straps are a drop-in fit) though I’m still a little confused why Huawei didn’t use something more premium in this watch.

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Ultra-smart HUAWEI Watch 4 Arrives In The Philippines
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Huawei Watch GT 4 Review Philippines: Fashion Icon

Huawei Watch GT 4 Review Philippines: software and tracking

Huawei has made several improvements to health tracking with the Watch 4. Aside from the usual features that you’d expect from a smartwatch including heart rate, spO2, stress, and sleep tracking, Huawei’s new feature for this model is a respiratory check function.

The feature does exactly what it says – it checks the condition of your lungs through a series of tests under the Health Glance Feature. The watch can check your pulmonary arteries via ECG and overall lung health via the Lung Function Assessment (where you basically cough into the watch’s microphone). That, combined with the spO2 information that the watch gets through its other sensors can generate a snapshot of your overall health. This isn’t meant to be a replacement for an actual doctor’s appointment when you’re feeling unwell, but it does have its uses, mainly as an indicator that you might need to get yourself checked out.

The Huawei Watch 4 runs Harmony OS 4, and in terms of usability, Huawei has made improvements, some new neat app dock features are accessed by pressing the second button, as well as a “floating bauble” that will return you to previous apps.

New for the Philippines this year is the ability of the watch to take an eSIM, so you’ll be able to take calls and get mobile data even if you don’t bring your phone along with you. The Watch 4 can also use the same eSIM on your phone, though that functionality is locked with Globe for now.

Unlike the Watch GT 4, you can actually answer messages with the Watch 4 via the screen, though typing on a tiny, 1.5-inch panel is an exercise in patience.

One thing we’re really excited about, but were unable to test as of press time, is GCash integration. Huawei says they’re almost ready to roll out GCash payment functionality using the watch, which would be a first for any smartwatch launched in the Philippines.

You’ll be able to keep track of your exercise progress via the accompanying Huawei Health App. This is where you can examine your metrics, as well as change out the Watch 4’s watch faces and more. Huawei Health is available to download for both Android and iOS devices.

Huawei Watch 4 Review Philippines: battery life

If there’s one thing I don’t like about the Watch 4, it’s battery life. It’s honestly Huawei’s fault, kind of – I’ve been so spoiled with the incredible battery life of their Watch GT 4 that I expected the same, two-week battery life on the Watch 4.

That’s not the case, since the Watch 4 has a lot more features and functionality than the brand’s middle-of-the-road offering.

While Huawei promises an optimistic 14-day battery life using ultra-long battery life mode for certain conditions, my experience was different using the watch as normal. Without an eSIM but with the watch connected to my phone and using the more battery-draining video watch face, the Watch 4 only lasted for around 3 days on a single charge.

I could probably add another day to that total if I switched to a less power-hungry watch face if I’m being honest, but that’s generally the kind of battery endurance you’re looking at.

Huawei Watch 4 Review Philippines: verdict and wrap-up

The Huawei Watch 4 is another solid wearable offering from the company, offering top-notch health-tracking features and sporting an elegant design that aligns it with a more traditional watch appearance-wise.

While I don’t like the cheap-looking strap that comes with it and less than stellar battery life when every single feature is turned on, it’s still a great wearable, though you’ll be paying a premium to get it on your wrist.

Huawei Watch 4 Review Philippines Price

The Huawei Watch 4 is priced at Php 22,999 in the Philippines, with customers receiving a free Huawei Sound Joy speaker worth PHP 6,999 with every purchase until supplies last.