The new Huawei Watch 2 is a Google-powered 4G smartwatch that weighs a claimed 40g and runs Android Wear 2.0 for use with apps like Strava.
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Coming in sport and classic styles, the Huawei Watch 2 runs GPS and Glonass, connects on Bluetooth and WiFi, offers wrist-based heart-rate monitoring, and boasts 4GB of Flash memory plus 768 RAM.
Much like top Garmin computers and multi-sport watches, the Huawei Watch 2 has a VO2 max feature
With its own software, the idea with the Huawei watch is to not only track the basic metrics of exercise — time, distance, pace, etc. — but also the physiological effects and gains.
To build the smartwatch, Huawei partnered with Firstbeat, which does heart-rate analytics for sports and general health — and for many Garmin computers like the Garmin Edge 820 and Edge 520 .
Much like top Garmin computers and multi-sport watches, the Huawei Watch 2 has a VO2 max feature. To ascertain one’s exact VO2 max — a measurement of the body’s ability to process oxygen — lab testing is required. However, Huawei uses an algorithm that looks at speed and heart rate to calculate a number it calls VO2 max. Garmin does something similar, but with data from a power meter as well as a heart rate monitor.
Another feature on the Huawei Watch 2 is ‘Training Effect’, courtesy of Firstbeat. It shows in real time the effect your workout will have on your VO2 max, according to Huawei. Training Effect can even indicate if you are overtraining, the company claims.
Another similar feature to Garmin — again, courtesy of Firstbeat — is ‘Recovery Time’, an educated guesstimate as to the number of hours you’ll need to recover from the recorded workout.
The Huawei Watch 2 will go on sale in the UK this month and the US and Australia in April.
For now, the prices are only in euros: €329–€399 depending on the model.
