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Huawei Watch 3 initial review: Unboxing and first impressions

The Huawei Watch 3 is the latest premium smartwatch from Huawei. The wearable comes with an updated design, a functional crown, eSIM compatibility, and up to 14 days of battery life. While it does have a similar feature set to Huawei’s other wearables, it is running on the new HarmonyOS 2.0.

We have the Huawei Watch 3 in for evaluation. And as we work our way up to a full review, we’re here to share our initial impressions along with a quick unboxing.

Huawei Watch 3 Initial Review: Unboxing and Initial Impressions

Inside the Box

Unlike most smartwatches that come in a long narrow box, the Huawei Watch 3 does the opposite, going with a big square box instead. This was likely done on purpose as the larger packaging does a good job of giving the impression that this is a premium device.

Upon lifting the lid, you’ll be greeted by the wearable itself. Admittedly, I was taken a back by how good it looks. The smartwatch comes with a magnetic charger with the charging cable attached and the usual documentation.

In the box

  • Huawei Watch 3
  • Charger with attached charging cable
  • Documentation

First Impressions

The Watch 3 is gorgeous device with a very appealing design. The 1.43-inch touchscreen AMOLED display is stunning with deep blacks, blending almost seamlessly with the watch’s stylish black frame.

Huawei Watch 3 Initial Review: Unboxing and Initial Impressions

The watch casing measures 46mm and is made from 316L stainless steel. The back plate is made from a ceramic material. It has a 22mm fluoroelastomer strap with a smooth surface that feels soft to the touch. It can be detached using a switch that easily unclips it, should you decide to replace it.

There’s a functional rotating crown on the 2 o’clock position and a Side Button on the 4 o’clock position. The watch provides haptic feedback when you turn the crown, otherwise it just rotates smoothly with no clicks or resistance whatsoever. You can also assign an app for the Side Button, functioning like a quick shortcut.

To connect to the Watch 3, you would need to install the Huawei Health app. It is available on the Play Store and the App Store. I paired it with my iPhone 12 with no issues so far. The process is quick and easy. Just scan the QR code with the app and follow the onscreen instructions.

Huawei Watch 3 Initial Review: Unboxing and Initial Impressions

The Watch 3 runs on the all new HarmonyOS 2.0. The interface was revamped with the addition of a WatchOS-like grid of apps as opposed to a list. The OS itself looks and feels very refined. It is intuitive and surprisingly responsive, plus the animations are silky smooth.

Swiping downward from the top of the screen will bring up the quick menu. Swiping from the left shows the weather app, while swiping from the right will bring up the health apps, which you can customize depending on your needs.

Huawei Watch 3 Initial Review: Unboxing and Initial Impressions

When it comes to features, the Watch 3 has plenty. Just to name a few, it has all-day health management including a heart rate sensor, SpO2 monitoring, and skin temperature, among others. You also get up to 3 days battery life on smart mode, and up to a 14 days battery life under the ultra-long battery life mode. And of course, there’s the new eSIM cellular calling technology.

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The eSIM service I find interesting. With it, you can make and receive calls, read and send messages, and access some apps without a phone. You can even conduct Mee Time calls.

Huawei Watch 3 Initial Review: Unboxing and Initial Impressions

Wrap Up

It is often said that making a good first impression is important. And in the case of the Watch 3, Huawei did not disappoint.

Out of the box, it is easily one of the most beautiful smartwatches right now. The combination of the clean and sleek design, together with the seamless display and the silky smooth HarmonyOS left a very positive mark.

At this point, it’s hard to pass on the Huawei Watch 3 if you’re in the market for a premium wearable right now. But if you’re not yet convinced, stay tuned for our full review.

Price and Availability

The Huawei Watch 3 is priced at Php 18,999. It is now available online on the Huawei Store, Shopee, and Lazada, and offline on Huawei Experience Stores and authorized retail stores.

Bryan is a geek at heart and a tech enthusiast by choice. He has a strong background in corporate communications, marketing services, and customer relations having worked in the telecommunications and banking sectors for over two decades. In his spare time, he enjoys watching clips on YouTube and binge watching shows on Netflix.

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