Huawei Watch 3 Pro and Samsung Watch 4 Classic smart watches are equipped with a new operating system, with outstanding health monitoring functions. The former has a handy surface sliding operation and long battery life; the latter is easy to use and has more application options.
Huawei and Samsung recently launched their latest flagship smartwatches, the Watch 3 Pro (classic) and the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic, respectively. Coincidentally, both "classic" smartwatches are equipped with a new operating system - the Watch 3 Pro uses Huawei's Hongmeng system, while the Galaxy Watch4 uses Google's Wear OS. What is the difference between the two flagship smart watches?
The dial of the Huawei Watch 3 Pro has a diameter of 48mm and is paired with a brown leather strap that looks stylish and upscale. Although the dial is not small, because the watch body is made of titanium and weighs only 63 grams, it will not feel cumbersome to wear on the hand.
The Watch 3 Pro uses a 1.43-inch AMOLED touchscreen with a maximum brightness of 1,000 nits, making it very clear under the sun. The screen has a delicate look and feel, and the colors are vivid. The sliding operation on the surface is handy, and the precise clicking operation is basically no problem.
The rotating crown on the upper right is a major design highlight. For the first time, Huawei has adopted a rotating crown with tactile feedback, and the vibration feedback is simply and neat. Adjusting various values, sliding the interface, viewing options, etc. can be achieved by turning the crown, which is very efficient and convenient. The crown is exquisitely designed, the outer ring has fine tooth patterns, and the words "HUAWEI WATCH" are engraved on the surface, which makes the watch look more classy.
The Samsung Watch4 Classic continues the minimalist style. There are two buttons on the right side. The watch body is made of stainless steel, available in black and silver. It weighs 52 grams and is comfortable to wear. The watch uses a 1.4-inch AMOLED touch screen, with clear and sharp visual effects.
The Watch4 Classic comes in 42mm and 46mm sizes, my test watch was 46mm. The Watch4 Classic has Samsung's iconic rotating bezel, which is a design point I like very much. It is similar to the rotating crown of Huawei's Watch 3 Pro. When turning the bezel, there is a mechanical gear-type feedback, which can quickly start various application functions.
Watch 3 Pro has a built-in eSIM function, which can play music, make calls, download apps, etc. without a mobile phone, but it should be noted that texting from the watch is not possible. The watch can also connect directly to Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Since it is equipped with the Hongmeng system, users can download third-party applications through the Huawei AppGallery application market, but there are not many choices at present. Some of the more practical applications include maps, local radio stations, and bus arrival timetables.
Samsung announced a partnership with Google earlier this year to combine its Tizen operating system with Google Wear OS, hoping to compete with Apple's smartwatches. The Watch4 Classic is therefore equipped with Google Maps, and users can also download various third-party applications through the Google Play Store, with more choices than the Huawei Watch 3 Pro.
Both smartwatches stand out when it comes to health monitoring features. In addition to monitoring heart rate, sleep quality, stress, etc., Huawei Watch 3 Pro also adds a temperature detection sensor, which can measure the user's wrist skin temperature and record body temperature changes for a long time. In addition, the watch also supports fall detection and SOS functions. When it detects that the user has fallen, it will automatically enter the distress mode. This is the same feature that the Apple Watch introduced a few years ago.
The Samsung Watch4 Classic has greatly improved the health monitoring function. It is equipped with three-in-one sensors (PPG, ECG and BIA). In addition to monitoring heart rate, electrocardiogram, blood oxygen, etc., it can also perform body composition analysis for the first time, which can detect body fat, muscle mass, and water content. Wait. The measurement method is very simple, just put the middle finger and ring finger on the two buttons of the watch. The process is very fast. After entering the weight, the sensor will give data within 15 seconds, which is not far from the physical analysis data I did in the gym.
Then there is the stronger sleep detection function. In addition to the original REM sleep and deep sleep monitoring, Watch4 Classic also adds snoring detection. With blood oxygen detection, users can know whether they have sleep disorders. According to reports, one-third of locals have sleep disorders, but most of them don't know it, so I think this feature is very useful.
In terms of sports monitoring, both watches are similar and can monitor many common sports. The Watch 3 Pro supports more than 100 sports modes, while the Watch 4 Classic supports more than 90 sports. Both watches can also automatically detect certain movements.
The Huawei Watch 3 Pro has a built-in 790mAh battery that supports wireless charging. If all functions are activated, the battery life is about five days. If you enter the power saving mode, the Watch 3 Pro can be used for about three weeks, which is quite "longevity". With a charger, a full charge takes about three hours, which is a bit long.
The Samsung Watch4 Classic also supports wireless charging and has a smaller 361mAh battery. Samsung says the watch can last up to 40 hours of continuous use, or a day and a half. I tried turning on the always-on display (AOD) and the watch lasted about a day, so it had to be charged every night. If you're in a hurry, a 30-minute charge provides about 10 hours of battery life.
Considering various aspects such as comprehensive design, materials, functions, battery life, etc., the above two smart watches are both top-notch and not cheap. The Watch 3 Pro is a good choice if you like a larger and typical case design, or extra long battery life. If you value comprehensive health monitoring features, or want to use Google and third-party apps, the Watch4 Classic is for you.
Watch 3 Pro (Classic): $698 Watch4 Classic (46mm): $598 (Bluetooth), $748 (LTE)
