HUAWEI has introduced the third edition of its entry-level smartwatch, the HUAWEI Watch Fit 3. It now sports a square design that may remind consumers of another widely recognized smartwatch on the market.

Despite any initial surprise about its appearance, the HUAWEI Watch Fit 3 boasts an impressive set of features given its affordable starting price of only Php6,499. The device features a vibrant display, long battery life, and a lot of health and fitness tracking capabilities.

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The packaging for the HUAWEI Watch Fit 3 is straightforward, with the product arriving in a simple white paper box. Inside, buyers will find the watch, already fitted with a silicon strap, and a USB-A charging cable equipped with two magnetic pins.

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While there are no other accessories like spare straps, it is understandable considering the smartwatch’s price point. The charging cable’s USB-A design, however, feels somewhat outdated amid the increasing prevalence of USB-C ports nowadays.

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The standout feature of the HUAWEI Watch Fit 3 is its display. The smartwatch has a sizable 1.82-inch screen with a resolution of 480×408 pixels, translating to 347 pixels per inch, which results to a visually appealing and crisp display.

Weighing just 26 grams without the strap, and sporting a 400mAh battery within its slim 9.9mm profile, the smartwatch has both portability and endurance for day-to-day usage.

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Design-wise, the HUAWEI Watch Fit 3 bears a strong resemblance to the 2nd generation Apple Watch SE. However, there are slight differences in the aspect ratio, frame shape, and button placement.

During my time with it, the similarity was notable enough that people mistook it for an Apple Watch. In fact, almost everyone thought it was an Apple Watch SE, but maybe because I was using the black version. The Watch Fit 3 comes in five color options: Gray, White, Green, Pink, and Black.

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The Gray and White variants feature a striking red crown, while the other colors have a matching tone for the crown. A more premium Leather option is available as well, featuring strap lugs and coming with either a white leather or gray nylon band.

The display is particularly praiseworthy, being a 1.82-inch AMOLED panel that remains clear even under intense sunlight. The high resolution contributes to a sharp and detailed viewing experience, which is really important for a screen this small.

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Users can personalize their watch with a variety of watch faces, many of which support an always-on mode, allowing for further customization of colors and features. Overall, the Watch Fit 3 strikes an elegant and high-end appearance, complemented by its lightweight and comfortable build.

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However, the aesthetic similarities to the Apple Watch SE may inadvertently draw attention away from the Watch Fit 3’s own merits and lead to comparisons that overshadow its unique offerings. And to be honest, most people will probably see it as just another Apple Watch copycat.

The HUAWEI Watch Fit 3 is a versatile smartwatch available in a single size, with dimensions of 43.2mm by 36.3mm by 9.9mm. Its square-shaped design is intended to fit comfortably on a variety of wrist sizes. We did try it on multiple people with varying heights and it fitted nicely regardless of their wrist size. But as expected, the watch would look smaller for tall people.

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In terms of wristbands, the standard options for the Watch Fit 3 are fairly straightforward. The regular models come with silicone bands in four colors: Green, White, Pink, and Black. The premium Leather edition offers a different approach, featuring metal lugs that accommodate two types of straps—leather and nylon.

For those interested in the Leather version, it’s worth noting that it supports standard 20mm straps equipped with pins and a quick-release mechanism. This could be a good choice for users who enjoy frequently changing their watch’s appearance.

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HUAWEI has announced plans to expand the selection of strap options soon. Upcoming choices will include Vibrant White, Vibrant Black, the sporty Vitality Activity Ring strap, and the Starlight Color strap, providing additional customization opportunities for users willing to wait.

On the software side, the HUAWEI Watch Fit 3 operates on Harmony OS (version 4.2.0) and pairs with smartphones using the HUAWEI Health app, which is readily available on both the App Store and Google Play Store. This accessibility addresses past concerns regarding software compatibility. I personally tried it on iPhones and it worked really well, too.

Interacting with the Watch Fit 3 is intuitive: swiping up reveals notifications, swiping down opens a quick settings menu, swiping left accesses a smart assistant, and swiping right cycles through customizable tiles (with a maximum of six active tiles).

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The rotating crown navigates to the main menu and returns to the home screen from other areas within the software. Additionally, the button below the crown can be programmed for various functions, defaulting to workout access.

HUAWEI Watch Fit 3 introduces several enhanced features:

Advanced Health and Fitness Tracking

  • TruSeen 5.5: Offers more accurate heart rate measurements utilizing AI algorithms and collaborations with Chinese health organizations, aiding in comprehensive workout and health analysis.
  • TruSleep 4.0: Provides detailed sleep insights including sleep structure, quality, and health, along with new metrics such as heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, and breathing rate during sleep. This represents an improvement over previous HUAWEI watch versions and delivers more effective sleep tracking.
  • TruSport: Adds four new sports modes—football, basketball, padel, and e-sports—to its existing roster of over 100 activity modes. It also features personalized training plans based on the user’s Running Ability Index (RAI), taking into account pace, heart rate, distance, and other vital parameters for tailored fitness guidance.

The latest addition to the fitness technology market is the Stay Fit app, a tool designed to assist users in managing their weight. This app aligns with the functionality of popular calorie-tracking apps like MyFitnessPal, offering features such as setting goal weights, logging meals, and monitoring daily caloric intake.

A useful integration automatically incorporates calories burned during exercise, providing a holistic view of one’s fitness journey.

WORKOUTS

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When it comes to activity tracking, HUAWEI has moved on from its Health Clovers system in favor of the new Activity Ring Tracker with the launch of the Watch Fit 3. This feature bears a resemblance to activity tracking systems found in other smartwatches, focusing on metrics that include movement, exercise, and standing time.

Although Health Clovers remains an option, users now have the simplicity of closing activity rings to monitor their daily progress.

In terms of storage, HUAWEI is somewhat secretive about the exact capacity of the Watch Fit 3, but the device does display a notification when its limit is reached, indicating that it offers approximately 1.5GB of space.

This should accommodate around 250-300 songs of decent quality, which is probably more than enough for those who rely on music to fuel their workouts. But with its sound quality, I don’t think anyone would use it to listen to music. It’s good to have, though.

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The performance of the Watch Fit 3 is mostly smooth, with only occasional minor delays. The GPS functionality is pretty fast, and navigating through the user interface is smooth. The watch also supports voice calls via Bluetooth, functioning similarly to a headset or speakerphone.

Call clarity is commendable, both for the wearer and the recipient, even in loud environments. As mentioned earlier, beyond calls, the watch’s speaker can play music and provide audio cues from virtual trainers as well.

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Haptic feedback on the Watch Fit 3 is robust and satisfying, with the rotating crown delivering a tactile response that enhances the navigation experience.

Notification vibrations are strong, though they can be adjusted to suit personal preference, with settings ranging from strong to soft, or can be turned off entirely.

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Battery life is a strong point for the HUAWEI Watch Fit 3. With a 400mAh battery, HUAWEI claims up to 10 days of use under typical conditions, or 7 days with more intensive usage.

During testing, the watch lasted five days under heavy use, including several hours of GPS-enabled exercise, phone calls, sleep tracking, and continuous heart-rate monitoring. With less GPS navigation, it can last for 7 to 8 days of light usage. I wasn’t able to come close to HUAWEI’s claim of 10 days, but a week is good enough for me.

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However, the charging mechanism could be improved. The magnetic pin connector requires precise alignment and can be easily dislodged by the weight of the cable since there’s nothing supporting the cradle.

A full charge usually takes more than an hour, almost 70 minutes based on our tests. Unfortunately, the device lacks wireless charging capabilities which is a real bummer.

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The HUAWEI Watch Fit 3 stands out for its impressive AMOLED display, which delivers vibrant clarity, as well as its good build quality and comprehensive suite of health and fitness tracking features. The device also boasts commendable battery life, ensuring that even with extensive use, it can last several days on a single charge.

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Overall, the HUAWEI Watch Fit 3 offers good performance that exceeds expectations for a Php6,499 smartwatch. However, this strength is somewhat offset by its aesthetic resemblance to the Apple Watch SE, which may lead to frequent misidentification. For those who don’t mind the comparison, this affordably priced smartwatch has plenty to offer and is worth the money.

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