Huawei Watch GT Runner review – Light, Speed

We reviewed the rough and ready Huawei Watch 3 GT (46mm) recently and were impressed with the ruggedisation job done to the stylish OG Watch 3 design. Huawei Watch GT Runner is another adaptation of the Watch 3 Series, this time losing a little more weight, and adding a little fit and comfort. There’s also enhanced sensors for use at pace and with some adjustments to software to match.

Huawei didn’t reinvent the wheel with Watch GT Runner, sticking to a few key principles rather than an overhaul. And it works.

GT Runner keeps the best bits from the adventurous Watch GT 3 and stylish Watch 3 while making it road-ready.

Watch ‘n Run

Like Watch GT 3, Huawei Watch GT Runner moulds its aesthetic to fit its purpose. In keeping with the brand’s style, it’s a huge round face on a traditional-style chronometer.

The crown and ‘Lap’ lower button have been sportified to fit the device’s visual goals. The use of lightweight plastics probably necessitated the third leg of the strap interface but it’s been well blended in with the look.

The strap feels lighter and more flexible that Watch GT 3’s Active Edition strap, the closest comparable model. This is the sort of attention to detail you almost expect from Huawei – to design a fractionally lighter strap when the same one would have done.

Another absolutely needless but neat change is in the styling of the band. It features ribs along the long axis and recessed cuffs in the adjustment holes.

Whether or not these features add strength so that material could be taken away is unknown but it looks lighter. And this is the section where we salivate over industrial design.

Bright Face

The AMOLED display of the Watch 3 Series still stands out as bright, detailed and colourful on its third outing.

The 466×466 resolution represents a 326ppi pixel density that allows for fine detail to be resolved on the rounded 1.43″ display.

At this point the Watch Series ecosystem of faces is thousands deep. Each new watch drags us back into the market for new faces and each time we find a new thread of styles to run down. Or a new trend in face functionality has emerged.

Huawei added a few more Always-On Display faces by default. This is a welcome addition seeing as we are AOD fans here but there still aren’t enough.

It’s still not possible to easily tell if that beautiful face you have found on your smartwatch’s Huawei Health app comes with an AOD.

Taking the Low Load

Huawei’s mission was to take the powerful innards and comprehensive suite of their premium Watch 3 Series and make it very comfortable to sling around while running.

Doing so meant reducing the weight. It also meant altering the bottom half of the watch unit itself to allow it to be simultaneously a more secure fit but allow a full range of motion in the wrist joint.

Huawei say that Watch GT Runner’s rear cover is specifically designed around a human wrist helping that feeling of security in place.

At just over 38 grams, Huawei Watch GT Runner (46mm) is about 10% lighter than Watch GT 3 (46mm) at 42.6g. Watch GT 3 itself lost around 10 grams from Huawei Watch 3.

While it’s a fraction wider, about half a millimetre, it’s not noticeable.

A polished aluminium rim that runs around the circumference of the glass face that offers protection to the display against the high-frequency chaffing of long-sleeves while on the run.

This rim is around 1mm deep so Huawei Watch GT Runner would be a shade slimmer than Watch GT 3 without it. Though it looks the part and certainly fulfils it protective functions well.

To otherwise save weight, the machined stainless steel frame has been replaced by a lightweight plastic frame and that aluminium rim will wear harder than plastic under a sleeve all day.

Tech Runner

The ability to stay in situ for better measurements on the run is joined by a host of mobile monitoring considerations. For one, the rear blocks more light during wear so the light sensors used in heart rate monitoring can work more consistently.

Huawei also rearranged the sensors into a circle lensed on to the point most likely to contact the user’s skin at all times. In practice, the device does allow heart rate measurements (+/-10 BPM) to be taken at strides and terrains that are not possible on other Watches.

The arrangement also allows for comprehensive SpO2 measurements to be taken while remaining still like Watch 3 and 3 GT. It also allows for dynamic tracking like with heart rate measurements which is an impressive feat.

Huawei Watch GT Runner also boasts Running Ability Index (RAI) to evaluate the user’s running performance.

RAI calculates running performance based on historical heart rate, pace, distance, frequency, and other data to accurately classify the runners’ ability.

Huawei Watch GT Runner is also equipped with what they call an intelligent dynamic adjustment plan.

Professional data gathered by Huawei’s own research, such as fatigue level, training index, aerobic/anaerobic training pressure are applied to the user’s RAI and training/development plan to offer personalised data-lead advice.

Marathon Watch

A water resistance of 5ATM will see you hit depths of up to 50 metres if you fancy it.

The battery life is mostly impressive depending on what a user is doing with the device.

Huawei’s skill for keeping devices awake long after their competitor’s bedtime means Watch GT Runner’s promises the 14-day battery mode of its fitness ancestors.

With an AOD, vibration off and a few notifications on the go, I got a week from it Huawei Watch GT Runner.

Response Restated

Huawei Watch GT 3’s addition of simple response templates to messages or emails read on the device was a milestone for the brand. The same range of pre-defined template responses and emoji are here in Watch GT Runner.

It’s a simple implementation but one that potential Huawei Watch buyers had clamoured for for a while. In the context of the device to operate on the move, the lean template-based response suite is even more justified.

Specifications: Huawei Watch GT Runner 46mm

A Strong Runner

With two well-received watches built on the same platform, Huawei Watch GT Runner had a head-start in some respects. But Huawei did from there is nonetheless impressive.

The lightness of the device as well as the augmentations to comfort sell the ‘Runner’ suffix. And this is only bolstered by the strides made in making measurements robust enough to track on the move.

Huawei went the extra mile in making their 3 Series into a Runner and it shows.

Review unit provided by Huawei. Watch GT Runner is currently available at €299.