Review: Huawei Watch GT 7 Pro

The line between traditional premium watches and advanced health computers continues to blur. As Huawei now launches its latest flagship, Huawei Watch GT 7 Pro, it does so with a clear ambition: to offer top-tier materials and features without breaking the bank or compromising on battery life. I have had the watch on my wrist day and night over the past few weeks to see if it can compete with the absolute best on the market, and how it really measures up against its own predecessor.

Design and Display: A Tank in a Tuxedo

The first thing that strikes you is how incredibly well-built the watch is. The case is made exclusively of aerospace-grade titanium and the screen is protected by sapphire glass, making it – certainly not impossible – but difficult to scratch during normal everyday use. The back is covered in nanocrystalline ceramic that feels cool and is also said to be hypoallergenic. The watch weighs 55.5 grams without the strap, providing a pleasant weight without feeling bulky. Furthermore, the 1.47-inch AMOLED screen is fantastic; with a maximum brightness of 3000 nits, it is crystal clear regardless of how strong the sun is glaring outside (something we have been blessed with quite a bit this summer).

A small minus in the design column, however, goes to the included plastic strap (made of fluoroelastomer – yes, that is a real word). Although it is quick-drying for showers, swimming, and sweat, as well as durable for sports, it becomes a bit more intrusive and airtight during very long-term use – especially when sleeping with the watch – compared to a soft, breathable nylon strap. I rarely experience irritation from watch straps, but this time some itching occurred, which means I wouldn’t wear this watch day and night (unlike the Watch Fit-series). Furthermore, the Watch GT 7 Pro only comes in a 46 mm version, which for most slender female wrists will be too large. This is a shame as surely just as many sporty women as men would benefit from this model (women and those with more delicate frames should instead look at the base model GT 7, which also offers a 41 mm dial and other colors).

Health and Sport: From Golf to Freediving

Inside the movement sits the brand-new HUAWEI TruSense system, something we have also seen earlier this year on the editorial favorite Watch Fit 5 Pro. The optical heart rate monitor is very accurate, and the watch can now also perform ECG measurements, detect arterial stiffness, and continuously monitor blood oxygen levels (SpO2). For the active athlete, the selection feels, in a word, massive. In addition to news such as virtual power metering for cyclists and advanced G-force measurement (!) for alpine skiing, the watch is a dream for golfers with over 17,000 built-in 3D maps of courses. Do you like to swim and dive? Just go for it; the watch is EN13319-certified with a built-in depth sensor for freediving down to a depth of 40 meters. A literal gold mine for the sporty user, then.

Is it Worth Upgrading from the GT 6 Pro?

If you already have last year’s model, the Huawei Watch GT 6 Pro, the upgrade might not be entirely obvious for the average person. Both watches largely share the same fantastic premium design in titanium, similar dimensions, and to some extent, the phenomenal battery life. What distinguishes the GT 7 Pro from its predecessor is primarily the sensors and the software. The new TruSense system brings medically oriented measurements (such as warnings for stiffness in your arteries), and the new dual-band GPS system offers faster and higher precision. The functions for golf and off-piste skiing are also a big step forward. If you are an advanced sports user or enjoy greater clinical data accuracy (and who doesn’t?), the upgrade is a given, but for the average and perhaps design-focused user, the GT 6 Pro still holds up well.

Battery Life, Smart Features, and Payments

So, let’s talk about the big promise: battery life. My impression is that the battery life is incredibly good. Huawei promises up to 21 days with light use, and that is actually no exaggeration. I measured 65% battery remaining after a week of normal use, including training, so another two weeks on top of that is certainly not unrealistic. Even with regular workout tracking and sensors active, you easily get closer to two weeks. Compared to competitors like the Apple Watch Ultra 2 or Samsung Galaxy Watch 9, which must be charged every other day or every day, this is completely superior – best in class.

But – the enormous endurance also comes with a (major) compromise, which is admittedly not new but makes a direct comparison with competitors somewhat unfair: this is not a “true” smartwatch. Because it runs Huawei’s power-efficient RTOS system, it lacks the ability to install real third-party apps like Spotify or Google Maps; instead, you are limited to Huawei’s own selection already available on the watch.

A very welcome piece of news for us in Sweden is that Huawei’s watches now support Curve Pay, which works excellently for contactless payments. While it does involve an extra setup step compared to direct integration of Apple Pay or Google Pay (a bit like having a PayPal link to Curve), it is a long-awaited and smooth solution.

When it comes to integration with iOS (Apple iPhone), this is unfortunately still limited, but it is important to point out that this is entirely Apple’s fault. Apple applies strict software rules (sandboxing) in iOS that block Huawei Health and other third-party manufacturers from gaining deep system access – for example, to external input (virtual keyboard). This means that, for example, you cannot reply to SMS or iMessage directly from the watch if it is paired with an iPhone, as Apple locks this integration exclusively for its own Apple Watch. However, it works excellently if you use an Android phone, such as Google Pixel or Xiaomi.

Summary

Huawei Watch GT 7 Pro is an exceptionally well-built health and fitness watch, and many, myself included, can surely hardly wait until the ski season is here again so we can take it to the slopes. For those who also want extreme battery life, clinically advanced sensors, and absolute luxury-class materials, it is a given purchase and a solid evolution from the GT 6 Pro. But if you are looking for a smartwatch with an open app ecosystem and full interactivity, especially with your iPhone, Apple’s restrictions and the watch’s OS will unfortunately limit you somewhat.

I highly recommend the watch to serious sports enthusiasts – especially skiers and golfers who will love the new features. For my own, highly personal part and everyday use, however, I will likely stick to my favorite, the Watch Fit 5 Pro.

Huawei sent review units for this test. Senders of material have no editorial influence on our tests; we always write independently with you, the readers and consumers, in focus.