Huawei Watch Buds: Your Ultimate Guide
The Huawei Watch Buds are a unique entrant into the smartwatch market, breaking new ground by combining a smartwatch with wireless earbuds in a single device. Launched in Europe in March 2023, the Watch Buds garnered significant attention for its innovative design and dual functionality. This introduction of truly integrated earbuds within a smartwatch offered a glimpse into the future of wearable tech, where convenience and streamlining might be key selling points.
Release Date and Pricing
The Huawei Watch Buds had a European launch in February 2023, with sales beginning in March of that year. There haven’t been any official announcements regarding a wider global release as of yet.
Pricing can vary depending on region and retailer, but in India, the Watch Buds launched at a starting price of ₹34,999 (approximately $415 USD based on current exchange rates). It’s important to note that this might be an expected price for a potential future launch in your region and not a confirmed price tag.
Comparison with Competing Smartwatches
While the Huawei Watch Buds offer a novel design, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 is a well-established player in the smartwatch market. Let’s see how they compare across key aspects:
Features:
- Fitness Tracking: Both offer comprehensive fitness tracking with heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and various exercise modes. However, the Galaxy Watch 5 boasts advanced features like body composition analysis (on higher-end models) and fall detection.
- Smart Features: Both provide notifications, contactless payments, and access to voice assistants. However, Galaxy Watch 5 integrates seamlessly with Samsung phones, offering features like controlling music playback or answering calls. Huawei Watch Buds might require additional app installations for similar functionality depending on your phone.
- Unique Selling Point: The Watch Buds’ clear advantage is the integration of wireless earbuds within the watch itself. This eliminates the need to carry a separate charging case and offers a convenient all-in-one solution. The Galaxy Watch 5 relies on a separate pair of earbuds.
Design:
- Watch Body: Both offer sleek designs with different styles. The Watch Buds have a round face with a unique mechanism to pop out the earbuds. The Galaxy Watch 5 comes in round or square options, with a more traditional look.
- Earbuds: The Watch Buds’ integrated earbuds are a major differentiator. However, their sound quality might not match dedicated earbuds. The Galaxy Watch 5 allows you to use any compatible earbuds you prefer.
Performance:
- Battery Life: Both offer good battery life, lasting for several days on a single charge (depending on usage). However, using the integrated earbuds on the Watch Buds might drain the battery faster.
- Operating System: The Watch Buds use Huawei’s HarmonyOS, which is still under development compared to Samsung’s Wear OS on the Galaxy Watch 5. This might affect app availability and overall user experience.
Choose the Watch Buds if: You prioritize convenience and a unique all-in-one solution with built-in earbuds.
Choose the Galaxy Watch 5 if: You value a wider range of advanced fitness features, seamless integration with Samsung phones, and a more established operating system with a broader app selection.
Ultimately, the best choice depends on your individual needs and priorities.
Waterproofing and Durability
Water Resistance:
The Huawei Watch Buds offer limited water resistance. Here’s a breakdown:
- Earbuds: The earbuds themselves boast an IP54 rating. This means they can withstand splashes and dust but shouldn’t be submerged in water. Avoid using them while showering or swimming.
- Watch Body: The watch body’s water resistance rating isn’t officially specified by Huawei, but reviews suggest it might share the IP54 rating of the earbuds. This means it can handle splashes and light rain, but submersion is not recommended.
Durability for Everyday Use:
For everyday activities, the Watch Buds should hold up well. They can likely handle sweat during exercise or getting caught in unexpected light rain. However, it’s best to avoid exposing them to excessive dust or direct water streams.
Durability for Sports and Outdoor Activities:
Here’s where the Watch Buds’ limitations become apparent. They’re not ideal for intense workouts or outdoor activities that involve a lot of water exposure. Here’s why:
- Limited Water Resistance: Swimming, diving, or showering with them is a bad idea.
- Earbud Compartments: The opening and closing mechanism for the earbuds might allow water to seep into the watch body if submerged.
- Sweat and Dust: While the IP54 rating offers some protection, heavy sweating or dusty environments could potentially damage the earbuds or charging contacts.
The Huawei Watch Buds are designed for everyday use, not extreme sports or outdoor adventures. If you prioritize a smartwatch for such activities, it’s best to consider models with a higher water resistance rating (like some Samsung Galaxy Watches with 5 ATM rating).
Noise Cancelling Technology
The Huawei Watch Buds boast an AI Noise Cancellation (ANC) system specifically designed to enhance call quality and provide a more immersive audio experience. Here’s a breakdown of how it works:
- Dual Microphones: Each earbud is equipped with two microphones. These microphones pick up ambient noise from your surroundings.
- Bone Conduction Sensor: This built-in sensor detects vibrations in your jawbone caused by your voice. This helps isolate your voice from background noise during calls.
- DNN AI Algorithm: This powerful algorithm analyzes the noise captured by the microphones and bone conduction sensor. It then creates sound waves that effectively cancel out the unwanted noise, leaving you with clearer audio.
Benefits of ANC in Watch Buds:
- Improved Call Quality: By suppressing background noise, the ANC ensures your voice is transmitted clearly during calls, even in noisy environments.
- Enhanced Audio Experience: ANC can significantly reduce ambient noise while listening to music or podcasts, allowing you to focus on the audio content.
Limitations of ANC in Watch Buds:
- Focus on Calls: The ANC system in Watch Buds seems primarily focused on improving call quality rather than offering the strongest possible noise cancellation for music listening. Reviews suggest ANC performance might be good, but not class-leading, compared to dedicated noise-cancelling headphones.
- Battery Drain: Enabling ANC will drain the battery of the Watch Buds faster.
The Huawei Watch Buds’ ANC technology offers a valuable feature, particularly for clear call quality. While it might not be the most powerful noise cancellation on the market for music listening, it provides a noticeable improvement in blocking out background noise.
In Crux
The Huawei Watch Buds represent a bold step forward in smartwatch design. Integrating wireless earbuds directly into the watch offers a unique and convenient all-in-one solution for users who prioritize portability and minimizing the number of devices to carry.
The Watch Buds’ innovative design has the potential to influence future smartwatch development. It highlights the growing trend towards multi-functionality and convenience in wearables. Whether other manufacturers will follow suit with similar integrated earbuds remains to be seen.
The Huawei Watch Buds are a fascinating glimpse into the future of smartwatches. They offer a unique user experience, but with some compromises. While not perfect for everyone, they represent an exciting step forward in wearable tech, pushing the boundaries of design and functionality. The success of the Watch Buds will likely depend on user reception and how effectively Huawei addresses potential limitations in future iterations.
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