Huawei Watch D2 on test: watch and medical device in one

For a long time, we lacked important data that would allow us to measure whether we did enough today, yesterday, and the day before yesterday for our health or better well-being. With the advent of smartwatches, we finally got access to at least approximate information about what is happening to our body, how many steps we have taken, whether we are stressed, is there something wrong with our heart rate, and the like. Smartwatches have covered the field of sports well (some better, others a little worse). Most watches allow us to monitor our progress in 100 different sports, and we also have quite a bit of information available to us that can fairly accurately measure whether we are making progress in physical exercise.

Health is an area where there has been less visible progress in recent years. Yes, we have every measurement imaginable. The most common are heart rate, stress, and blood oxygen saturation (SpO2), and on rare occasions even an ECG. But blood pressure measurement is almost always missing from the list.

Is this true? You may have noticed that some popular watches claim to measure blood pressure, and they do, but using optical sensors and pulse wave analysis, and requiring monthly calibration with a dedicated blood pressure monitor. For most, this is accurate enough. Those with confirmed health conditions want more than that—accuracy that is (almost) identical to medical devices.

There are not many such watches. Omron, which makes medical devices, has one, and Xiaomi also introduced the Xiaomi H1 watch in China a year ago, which has an inflatable strap for measuring blood pressure. The list is very short, and we also find Huawei, which introduced the Huawei Watch D two years ago. Now we have its successor, the Huawei Watch D2, which is the world's first smartwatch for ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and has also received all the relevant certificates for this in China and, more importantly for us, in Europe.

Huawei Watch D2 price?

• Huawei Watch D2: €429 (black or gold)

Huawei Watch D2 – a surprise lurks beneath the classic look

In terms of appearance, I wouldn't say that the Huawei Watch D2 is significantly different from other watches, except that it doesn't follow the design guidelines of other Huawei watches. The more square design initially reminds you of the shape of the Apple Watch, but that's where the similarity ends. Compared to other watches, the Huawei Watch D2 also has a few more grams and millimeters around the waist, but for good reason (more below).

On the right side of the case there is a button for quick access to a specific application that you set in the settings and a rotating crown for control, quick return to the home screen and access to all applications/measurements. In the middle is a 1.82-inch AMOLED display with beautiful colors, excellent brightness (1500 nits) and clear sections. In short, a classic Huawei experience.

The strap is rubber, and its special feature and uniqueness of this smartwatch lies in the cushion that is filled with air to measure blood pressure. This extra layer makes the watch a little thicker, and you can feel it on your wrist at first.

Measuring health factors can be life-changing for the right user

If you have a smartwatch, then you are probably already intimately familiar with how the sensors work and how measurements of heart rate, stress, SpO2, etc. are taken. For a refresher, you can read an article about how smartwatch sensors work.

These measurements are actually always performed in the background unless you use your smartwatch in power saving mode, which turns off all non-essential functions. ECG and arterial stiffness detection are features that you have to consciously decide to turn on. That's why many people don't use them often, even though they are very useful for monitoring and early detection of potential symptoms.

Blood pressure measurement on the Huawei Watch D2 falls into the first and second groups. You can use the function only when you want to, or you can set up 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. By default, the measurement starts every 30 minutes, but in the settings you can change it to repeat every 15, 20, 30, 45 minutes or once an hour. You can adjust the settings for measurements during the day and at night. Measuring every 30 minutes is quite annoying because you don't always have time to calm down, put your arm in the correct position, etc. Especially since the measurement doesn't necessarily work on the first try.

If you want the measurement to be successful, the right placement is very important. Both the placement of the watch on your wrist (tighten it well) and your hand on your body. You should place your hand on your shoulder, the strap should not press on your chest, and your hand should be at heart level. Of course, you should be as still as possible, without talking or other movements. During the day, this is still possible, but at night it often happens that the measurement is not successful, especially if you are lying in unusual positions.

When everything works as it should, you get very accurate data. I have a blood pressure monitor at home and I also generally know what my average is, so I was able to compare the results with the watch. The accuracy is really good. I also checked my partner's blood pressure, which is much lower on average, and the watch confirmed this as well.

If there was a category for the best watch that also has a blood pressure monitor, the Huawei Watch D2 would be at the top. For anyone with health issues, blood pressure issues, and looking for a device that will always be with you, there is currently no better choice than the Huawei Watch D2. Installing a mechanical blood pressure monitor in a watch was a brilliant idea two years ago, and today it makes even more sense to buy such a device.

Huawei watches are generally among the most accurate watches on the market, so you can be sure that you are getting the most reliable data for other measurements. As always, the watch should be helpful in detecting any symptoms. If you notice any unusual deviation, especially for several days in a row, consult your doctor first before making any decisions.

The battery is great, but we already know the software limitations

The battery lasted a whole week without any problems. The first few days, when I mostly performed the entire set of measurements, the consumption was understandably higher. However, in purely classic use and passive measurements, the consumption is normal, as I am used to with Huawei.

You still can't pay with the watch, and the apps are limited, like Spotify and similar apps. But it's compatible with both Android and iOS, which isn't always a given with smartwatches. And none of the features are locked into Huawei's ecosystem, so you can use everything on all phones and no subscription is required. There is, however, a paid Huawei Health+ app that gives you access to personalized workouts with famous faces, relaxing music, and similar content. It's not necessary for most people, especially since you can get similar content online for free.

More on the Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro review.

Huawei Watch D2 – more than just a smartwatch

The Huawei Watch D2 is more than just a smartwatch. I've never written that before, but this watch deserves it. The Huawei Watch D2 fully fulfills the mission that all smartwatches set out to do at the beginning - to help the user lead a healthier lifestyle - and at the same time has the ability to detect potential health problems.

One of the few devices where there is no doubt about the feasibility of purchasing it if you really need such a device.