The Huawei Watch GT 3 Pro looks to stand apart from the Apple Watch by going niche

Date:
Tue, 26 Apr 2022 09:34:56 +0000

Description:
The Huawei Watch GT 3 Pro will land on April 28, and it has an unusual
selling point.

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Perhaps its because I spend all day writing about them, but very few new smartwatches excite me. Huawei though is about to announce a new wearable
that does at least a little, and while I definitely wont be buying it, thats okay, because its not for me.

The company has announced that it will be unveiling the Huawei Watch GT 3 Pro on April 28, and its teasers for the watch are all focused on one thing the wearables water resistance.

According to Huawei, its upcoming wearable has all sorts of certifications
and water resistance ratings, including IP68, 5ATM, and an EN13319 diving certification. Indeed, its diving credentials are the most notable part of
all this water resistance, as the Huawei Watch GT 3 Pro is apparently
suitable for deep-water free diving to depths of up to 30 meters.

Thats an upgrade on the Huawei Watch GT 2 Pro , which was only rated for shallow-water activities. Its also an upgrade on the vast majority of other smartwatches, which tend to have reasonable water resistance, so you can take them in the shower or in many cases even a pool, but which in general arent suitable for use deep underwater. (Image credit: Huawei) I dont want it, but someone will

As someone who hasnt even set foot in a swimming pool in the best part of a decade this feature doesnt interest me at all, but it will be of interest to divers, and likely also to surfers, sailors, and anyone else who just wants a little bit more reassurance that their smartwatch can save an encounter with the ocean.

Thats still probably a very small percentage of people, but its a percentage of people who probably wouldnt have looked twice at the Huawei Watch GT 3 Pro without this feature, so its probably a smart approach for Huawei to take. In fact, Id argue most smartwatch makers could learn from this, as too few smartwatches stand out.

With few exceptions, they all have basically the same sets of features notifications, music controls, timers, and in some cases access to apps and voice-activated assistants like Google Assistant or Siri.

Some high-end models such as the Apple Watch 7 and the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 add additional features into the mix, such as an ECG, and these models inevitably stand out more. But even then, theyre rarely alone in offering those features, and their makers wont add significant new features with every new model.

So we end up with a few vaguely interesting (if slow to evolve) smartwatches at the top end, and then a sea of largely interchangeable devices below that. But if more of that sea aimed to fill a niche, like the Huawei Watch GT 3 Pro does, then theyd have a USP, and stand out to at least some people. The
Huawei Watch GT 3 is a great smartwatch but has factors working against it. (Image credit: Future) Huaweis hurdle

While any company could learn from Huaweis approach here, its especially sensible in the case of Huawei itself, as the companys smartwatches arguably have an extra hurdle to pass in order to stand out.

Huawei's wearables often impress, with the Huawei Watch GT 3 and the Huawei Watch GT 2 Pro for example both scoring four stars in TechRadars reviews, but like other Huawei devices they arent available in the US, which already
limits their potential audience.

On top of that, they dont run Wear OS or watchOS the two main smartwatch operating systems, which can mean they're limited in terms of apps and familiarity.

So Huawei really needs something to catch a potential buyers eye, and in the case of the Huawei Watch GT 3 Pro that something is diving credentials. But even if you dont dive, dont write this smartwatch off yet, as there may yet
be other USPs. Well find out on April 28. Take a look at all the best smartwatches



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/news/the-huawei-watch-gt-3-pro-looks-to-stand-apart- from-the-apple-watch-by-going-niche/


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