Huawei Watch D2 Review – Advanced Health Tracking in a Smart Package

The Huawei Watch D2 is a smartwatch with a strong emphasis on health monitoring, particularly with its standout feature: a built-in inflatable airbag for accurate blood pressure measurement. 

While it maintains Huawei’s signature smartwatch capabilities, it places a higher priority on functionality over fashion. From our hands-on experience, this watch provides an impressive blend of health tracking and smart features, though it does have its quirks.

Design and Build – Functional Over Fashionable

The Watch D2 departs from Huawei’s traditional round smartwatch design, opting instead for a rectangular frame with rounded edges. Made from an aluminum alloy, it offers durability without excessive weight, coming in at around 40g without the strap. 

The strap options include fluoroelastomer and synthetic leather, ensuring comfort for prolonged wear. However, its thickness, necessary to accommodate the blood pressure airbag, might make it less comfortable when worn close to the wrist bone.

We found that while the design isn’t as sleek as some other smartwatches, the comfort level is excellent for extended use. The rotating crown and function button make navigation seamless, and despite its bulkier size, it never felt overly cumbersome on the wrist.

Performance and Features – A Health Powerhouse

The Huawei Watch D2 is packed with health-centric features that we found highly reliable and practical:

• Blood Pressure Monitoring: Uses an inflatable airbag for accurate readings, and in our testing, the results were quite consistent.
• ECG Measurement: Monitors heart rhythm irregularities; we appreciated the ability to export reports for medical reference.
• Comprehensive Health Tracking: Includes heart rate, SpO₂, skin temperature, stress levels, arterial stiffness, and sleep monitoring. The sleep tracking, in particular, provided insightful data that matched our experience well.
• GPS and Compass: Ideal for tracking outdoor activities. We tested it on hikes, and the accuracy was spot on.
• Sports Modes: Supports over 80 sports with automatic detection for walking, running, elliptical training, and rowing. The automatic detection worked well, though we had to manually enable it as it’s turned off by default.

While the watch excels in health tracking, its lack of a dedicated app store limits third-party integrations. Additionally, the notification system can feel intrusive, and the absence of an on-screen keyboard for replies is a drawback that we felt keenly in daily use.

Battery Life – Impressive Longevity

Huawei claims up to 6 days of battery life under typical usage, which includes six blood pressure readings and five ECG tests per day. With the Always-On Display activated, battery life drops to 3-4 days. In our testing, these claims held true—we managed nearly a full workweek without needing to charge it. Even with ambulatory blood pressure monitoring at 15-minute intervals, it lasted a full day, which we found quite impressive.

However, charging takes approximately 1 hour and 39 minutes, which felt slightly long compared to competitors.

User Experience – Intuitive but Limited

The watch interface is intuitive, with a 1.82-inch AMOLED display that provides excellent visibility even in sunlight. The rotating crown and function button allow easy navigation. However, Huawei Wallet is limited outside China, and voice assistant functionality is exclusive to Huawei phones, which limited our ability to use some smart features.

Notifications were clear, but we found them a bit overwhelming at times, especially since they group only by app rather than by conversation. Additionally, the lack of a keyboard made it harder to respond to messages directly from the watch, something we missed.

Conclusion – A Smartwatch for Health-Conscious Users

The Huawei Watch D2 is a feature-packed health-focused smartwatch with impressive blood pressure monitoring and ECG capabilities. While it falls short in third-party app support and design finesse, its battery life, fitness tracking, and health insights make it a solid choice for health-conscious users.

Who Should Buy It?

• Users who need accurate blood pressure monitoring and ECG tracking.
• Fitness enthusiasts looking for a comprehensive health-tracking smartwatch.
• Those who prioritize battery life and don’t mind a bulkier design.

Who Should Skip It?

• Users looking for a stylish smartwatch with a slim profile.
• Those who rely on third-party apps and extensive smartwatch customization.
• People who frequently respond to messages directly from their smartwatch.

Technical Specifications

Alternatives

1. Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 – A stylish smartwatch with excellent app support and robust health tracking but lacks built-in blood pressure monitoring.
2. Apple Watch Series 9 – Offers seamless iOS integration, a strong app ecosystem, and advanced health features but requires daily charging.
3. Garmin Venu 3 – Best for fitness enthusiasts, offering detailed workout analytics, better water resistance, and a longer battery life.