Huawei is a dominant force in the fitness tracker and smartwatch market, consistently holding a top global sales position. In the second quarter of 2025, Huawei surpassed Apple to secure the global lead with an approximate 21% market share, compared to Apple’s 17%.
Following our previous review of the health-focused Huawei Watch Fit 4 Pro, we now examine the latest addition to the GT series, the Huawei Watch GT 6.
Huawei highlights several key features, including extended battery life, a comprehensive sensor array, and new cycling functionalities. This review will assess the watch’s overall performance and capabilities.
Design and Build Quality
The Huawei Watch GT 6 is available in multiple variants and sizes. The 46mm model we tested features a stainless steel construction and the distinctive octagonal bezel, a hallmark of the GT series. The build quality is robust and premium. The watch is not only IP68-rated but also boasts IP69 certification, indicating resilience against powerful water jets and higher temperatures.
On the side of the watch, there is a rotatable crown and a control button. Despite its relatively substantial size at 46mm and 51.3 grams, the watch remains comfortable for extended wear, including during sleep and exercise, without causing significant awareness.
The model we tested came with a green composite woven strap that is soft and flexible against the skin. For users wishing to change straps (e.g., to a leather option for a more formal aesthetic), Huawei has implemented a highly user-friendly quick-release mechanism. As shown above, a prominent button on the strap’s attachment point facilitates easy detachment. This design represents a significant improvement over many conventional, less convenient strap attachment mechanisms.
Display
The display is a standout feature. It is a 1.47-inch AMOLED panel with a maximum brightness of 3,000 nits. This translates to excellent screen readability even in direct sunlight, a crucial attribute for a device designed for extensive outdoor activities.
The display offers vibrant colors, crisp text, and excellent responsiveness during menu navigation. It stands as one of the most impressive smartwatch displays currently available.
Setup
To use the watch, installing Huawei Health on your phone is required. On our editorial iPhone, the process was straightforward, requiring only installation from the App Store. However, the experience on Android proved considerably more complex.
Huawei Health is not available on Google Play; instead, installation requires scanning a QR code on the box. This initiated a series of complications. On our editorial Google Pixel 10 Pro XL running Android 16, scanning the QR code directed us to a page offering direct installation of either AppGallery, Huawei’s app store, or Huawei Health.
We began by attempting to install AppGallery.
Initially, a warning regarding potential file harm was displayed, yet we opted to proceed with the installation.
The installation failed and was subsequently blocked. We then attempted the installation directly for Huawei Health, bypassing AppGallery. This approach still triggered a warning that Huawei Health might be harmful, but upon acceptance, the installation completed successfully.
Overall, the setup process on Android was notably cumbersome.
Battery & Charging
The watch charges via the included magnetic charging puck. Curiously, the charging puck features a fixed USB-A cable. A USB-C port or cable would have been a more contemporary and convenient choice, especially given current industry standards in 2025.
A notable, though less publicized, convenience is the Watch GT 6’s compatibility with standard Qi wireless chargers. This means if the proprietary charging puck is unavailable, any Qi charger can be used (though the strap might need to be detached for optimal placement).
However, the watch’s most compelling feature is its exceptional battery life. It performs remarkably well. Huawei advertises up to 21 days with light usage and up to 14 days with normal usage. In our tests, we consistently achieved between 10 and 14 days with all features enabled, including multiple GPS workouts per week and active notifications.
Even with the Always-On display activated, the battery still lasts over a week. The requirement to charge the watch only two to three times per month is a highly impressive achievement.
When the battery eventually depletes and a suitable USB-A charger is located, a full charge takes approximately 90 minutes.
Fitness and Health
The Watch GT 6 incorporates Huawei’s new “TruSense” system, an impressive suite of sensors. The watch is equipped with an accelerometer, gyroscope, optical heart rate sensor, barometer for altitude and pressure measurement, skin temperature sensor, and an SpO2 sensor for blood oxygen saturation. For positioning, Huawei’s new “Sunflower Positioning System” is utilized, combining multiple GNSS bands (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, and QZSS).
We rigorously tested the positioning accuracy against other smartwatches across various activities including walking, running, and cycling on familiar routes. The results demonstrated exceptional precision, surpassing all other watches we have evaluated. Its positioning capabilities proved highly accurate in diverse environments, from dense forests to urban settings, and the watch exhibits rapid satellite acquisition.
The companion app allows users to generate engaging video summaries of their workouts for sharing. The example above, derived from a leisurely bike ride, illustrates that these videos can be customized for various activity tempos, not solely high-intensity sessions.
For cycling enthusiasts, Huawei has incorporated a suite of distinctive features. The watch supports external power meters that connect to your bike, but it also includes its own virtual power meter. This virtual meter estimates power in watts by analyzing data such as speed, heart rate, and incline, eliminating the need for an expensive external sensor.
While perhaps not essential for casual or commuter cyclists, this functionality is a notable differentiator for the GT 6 series.
Beyond this, the watch supports over 100 distinct sports modes, encompassing common activities such as running and cycling, alongside more specialized options like jazz dance and darts.
We compared heart rate measurement with a chest strap from Polar, renowned for its accurate readings, and the Watch GT 6 yielded almost identical results across walking, running, and cycling activities.
An appreciated feature is the watch’s automatic heart rate recovery assessment following each workout, providing valuable insights into post-exertion physiological responses.
Sleep tracking functionality is also robust. While the precise accuracy of individual sleep stage detection can be challenging to objectively verify, the watch reliably records sleep onset, wake-up times, and nocturnal awakenings.
Smart Features?
While the GT 6 functions competently as a fitness tracker, its performance as a full-fledged smartwatch is comparatively less robust. Operating on Huawei’s proprietary OS, the watch’s third-party application support is notably constrained, lacking popular services such as Spotify, Google Maps, or Gemini, which are commonly found on competing smartwatches.
While some partial solutions exist, such as controlling Spotify playback (without local offline functionality) or utilizing Huawei’s proprietary Petal Maps for navigation, and the option to transfer MP3 files for phone-free music listening, these capabilities feel somewhat dated, akin to the inclusion of a USB-A charging cable, rather than reflecting contemporary smartwatch expectations.
Essential smartwatch features, including calendar, weather, notifications, and call/message management, are present. However, when contrasted with a Wear OS device such as the OnePlus Watch 3, the GT 6 offers a significantly more limited smart experience.
NFC support is included, though a functional payment solution is not yet available in Sweden. Huawei has indicated future implementation, but specific timelines and provider details remain unconfirmed.
Conclusion
After nearly a month of comprehensive evaluation, the Huawei Watch GT 6 presents a nuanced impression. As a dedicated fitness tracker, it excels: featuring a world-class display, remarkably accurate sensors, and unparalleled battery life. However, its smartwatch capabilities are less comprehensive, notably lacking a payment solution and robust third-party application support. Despite these limitations, its core smart functionalities operate effectively.
Nevertheless, for serious athletes who prioritize precise data, can accommodate essential smartwatch features, and particularly seek extended battery autonomy, the Huawei Watch GT 6 stands out as a premier choice in the market. For users who appreciate its strengths and acknowledge its limitations, it represents exceptional value.
The recommended retail price is 2,999 SEK; however, a special launch offer, valid until October 19th, reduces the price to 2,699 SEK.
Huawei provided review samples for this test. Material providers exert no editorial influence on our evaluations; we consistently maintain independent journalistic integrity, prioritizing the interests of our readers and consumers.
