We have spent the morning with Huawei testing the new devices that were presented during HDC 2020, as well as being able to test them in sync with the entire ecosystem of the company. We also had the opportunity to learn about some of the future plans of the Chinese giant, especially in the wearable sector.
Do you want to know our impressions about the new products and some interesting aspects about the future of the brand? Join us in this article.
New Huawei Watch GT2 Pro, Watch Fit and Freebuds ProAfter presenting its software novelties, Huawei has just presented its new accessories, the Huawei GT2 Pro, Watch Fit and Freebuds 3 Pro.
The new Huawei product that we liked the most: Freebuds Pro
At first glance they seemed like just another copy of Apple’s excellent Airpods Pro, and although Huawei has insisted on creating an iconic design, the differences are obvious, at least in the part that goes inside the ear.
The “stick” that sticks out of our ear has a more industrial finish, with straight lines and the brand’s logo. We have been able to observe the 3 colors, and although the ones that stain the least are the white model, the metallic gray ends up being the most differential and attractive.
Beyond the physical aspect, the best thing has been to put them on and start enjoying music. They are extremely comfortable and the surround sound is spectacular. Active noise cancellation is a bit strange, as it applies intelligent scene recognition to override the background sound, but letting through certain powerful sounds, such as an alarm, we assume that also with dog barking and baby crying, but we have not been able to prove it. If someone speaks to us, they will also let part of the voice pass through, so that we realize that they speak to us.
The headphones have low latency, and it also applies to non-Huawei mobiles, and the case supports wireless charging and is capable of linking to 5 devices and being connected to two at the same time, although you can only listen to one of the two devices. We could not ask for less as it is a high-priced product, it must also be said.
Being a Huawei product, they should have some exclusive advantage if your mobile is also from Huawei. In this case, we will have quick pairing (apopup if we open the case next to the mobile) and if we already had a previous generation of Freebuds, we can continue to have our equalization profile.
Another one that looks very good: Huawei Watch Fit
In an almost coordinated way, Huawei and Honor have released two very similar sports bracelets, and we look at the data sheet is practically the same product. Huawei’s is a bit more expensive, but it also denotes a high level of finish.
The bracelet is capable of identifying up to 96 types of exercises and is capable of measuring heart rate, stress and sleep among many other metrics. All these exercises included rowing and in the same room they had a device for us to try to burn a few calories. I don’t know what kind of person is thinking about making tech journalists row, but it was fun.
What is surprising about the Watch Fit is how light and comfortable it is to wear. Huawei indicates that despite its size the battery lasts about 12 days, but it will be necessary to test it on a day-to-day basis to see how that experience is.
In a first impression outdoors it has given us the feeling thatmaximum brightness may fall short, and it is practically what worries us most about this device. During these days we will test it more thoroughly to see if it really fits or not.
The Huawei Watch GT2 Pro and the key unknown
We have also been able to touch the latest Huawei watch, the Watch GT2 Pro. At the level of specifications it is a watch that has not excited us much, since at a technical level it is practically the same as the GT2 and GT2e, with the difference that these now themselves are much more expensive.
The GT2 Prois luxury in build quality, with titanium chassis, sapphire crystal and the internal part in ceramic. It has very nice straps and is also compatible with standard 22mm straps.
The disproportionate price of this watch beyond an exquisite build quality has an extra in technology compared to its smaller brothers, and it is the addition of wireless charging. Contrary to what happens with watches like the Apple Watch or Galaxy Watch, the Huawei watch is compatible with any wireless charger on the market and the same one on your mobile is valid to charge the watch.
The most interesting news on Huawei watchesit’s mobile payments. The GT2 have NFC but today they are not used to pay.Huawei has confirmed The Free Android who are currently working on incorporating their NFC payment platform into the watch. Great news for when it ends up arriving, because this technology is key in premium watches.
The most curious headphones
Huawei has active noise canceling wireless headphones for sports with a strap to avoid losing them in high-motion activities.
These headphones have a curiosity that has caught our attention, and that is that when you remove one of the two, a USB C port appears to connect it to the mobile and charge its battery. The idea is cool and saves us carrying one more cable.
Future ideas for Huawei
In the workspace they have shown us two scenarios in which they show us a PC as the working environment of the present and tools such as being able to control the mobile from the computer and drag and drop files between one device and another.
In Huawei’s vision, the future of the PC is for your own mobile to connect to the screen and be your only computer. A very ambitious proposal.
Another aspect that we have been able to know is the Hilink platform, from which we can control home devices with the smartphone. Although the platform is from Huawei, the technology is open so that any appliance manufacturer can integrate it into their devices so that we can control them from any smartphone without the need for it to be from Huawei.
We were able to see a water heater from a Chinese manufacturer that they already sell in their country. It is not a device to freak out but it is curious.
Another smart device in this ecosystem that Huawei is trying to reach Europe is a toothbrush that analyzes how well or badly we brush our teeth.
And although we have not been able to test them, they had a prototype of virtual reality glasses, which are very comfortable. This comfort is given by the absence of ambitious hardware inside, since they require a connection of an external device via USB C (for example, the mobile) that is the one that performs all the intense calculation.
A future connected and independent from Google
Despite the fact that Huawei’s mobile ecosystem has been badly affected by the absence of Google’s mobile services, the company is going to great lengths to excel in virtually every area when it comes to consumer electronics.
All the devices that we have been able to test, without being perfect, show that Huawei is willing to do anything to remain a leader with ambitious projects such as Harmony OS, a system that transcends beyond the smartphone. Whether or not she will succeed is something we will see over time.
Harmony OS 2.0 is official: this is Huawei’s alternative to AndroidHuawei has presented at HDC 2020 Harmony OS 2.0, Huawei’s complete alternative to Android for mobiles and any smart device.
The entry We tried everything new from Huawei: smart watches, headphones and a couple of unexpected surprises appears first in The Free Android.
