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In an Apple Watch market, finding a quality alternative can be complex for Android users. We have tested Huawei and Samsung’s connected watches in depth to determine which is positioned as the best rival of the apple watch. Our analysis is based on several years of daily use of Huawei Watch GT 3 and Watch 4 Pro models, as well as Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro.
Test based on Marc’s experience, 37 years old, IT frame and regular user of Huawei and Samsung watches
The first impression counts, and on this point, Huawei takes advantage. Huawei watches, especially GT 3, offer superior comfort thanks to lighter weight and less bulky design. More than just a technological gadget, they look more like traditional watches with a premium finish that seduces at first glance.
Samsung offers designs that are certainly functional, but which betray their nature of connected watches more. One point to watch: the silicone bracelet supplied by Samsung can cause slight skin irritations during intense sports, a problem that is less present at Huawei.
The quality of the original bracelets also leans in favor of Huawei, especially for leather or steel versions. In all cases, the customization option with third -party bracelets remains essential, with a preference for Milanese steel or leather models depending on the use.
If a criterion radically distinguishes these two competitors, it is indeed autonomy. Huawei largely dominates with an impressive period of use of 5 to 7 days in real use, when Samsung is struggling to reach 2 full days. This difference becomes crucial during prolonged activities: a Galaxy Watch 4 found itself short of battery in the middle of a 3 -hour trail, an unthinkable scenario with a Huawei.
The recharge time is certainly faster at Samsung, but this “quality” paradoxically becomes a defect since it is made necessary much more frequently. In the long term, the Samsung battery also shows earlier signs of degradation than that of Huawei, which maintains stable performance even after two years of use.
In comparison with the Apple Watch which is struggling to hold a full day, the autonomy of the two brands remains superior, but Huawei stands out as the undeniable reference in this area.
See the Huawei Watch GT 3 Pro and opinions on Amazon
In terms of responsiveness, the Galaxy Watch powered by Wear OS offers a more fluid experience. Huawei’s interface, although slightly less reactive, compensates by exemplary stability and an almost total absence of daily bugs.
The real ditch widens at the level of the application ecosystem. Samsung, thanks to Wear OS, offers a rich application store to install Spotify, Komoot and many other services. Huawei, with its owner ecosystem, offers an almost empty application store, which considerably limits the possibilities of extension.
For users who mainly rely on native functions, this drawback remains minimal. But for those who wish to enrich the experience with third -party applications, Samsung becomes the default choice.
Health side, Huawei clearly surpasses Samsung in the precision of the measures. Sleep monitoring is particularly remarkable, with less false positives and better detection of sleep phases. Likewise, monitoring of the heart rate is more stable and reliable, especially during sports activities where Samsung sometimes shows unexplained fluctuations.
Practical experience confirms this superiority: the Huawei has issued an abnormally high relevant heart rate alert, testifying to the reliability of its sensors. For sports activities such as fast walking, cycling or HIIT, Huawei watches keep better monitoring of heart rate.
Samsung, however, offers exclusive features such as ECG and the measurement of blood pressure, but their daily utility remains limited in the face of the higher precision of Huawei sensors for essential measurements.
See the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 and the opinions on Amazon
In terms of companion applications, Samsung Health is more complete and offers more analysis options than Huawei Health, simpler and refined. Data synchronization also reveals an advantage for Samsung, which is effortlessly integrated into the Android ecosystem. Huawei, on the other hand, may have difficulties in synchronization on Android devices without HMS services (Huawei Mobile Services).
Integration with other health applications such as Google Fit, Strava or MyfitnessPal is significantly simpler with Samsung. Huawei often requires complex manipulations to share its data with third -party services.
For an accessory worn daily and exposed to the vagaries of everyday life, sustainability is essential. On this point, Huawei impresses with its robustness. Its more resistant glass and thicker chassis allow it to better take everyday shocks. Samsung watches tend to scratch more easily during activities such as DIY.
Faced with water, the two brands offer satisfactory resistance, supporting swimming pools and use in the shower without problem.
In a revealing way, the desire to change the watch occurs after only a year for Samsung, while a user of Huawei always declares himself satisfied after two years of use.
If Huawei excels in the equipment, Samsung takes up the advantage on the software side. Updates are more frequent in the Korean giant, with notable improvements such as a gain in autonomy and fluidity after certain updates.
Samsung customer support is also more responsive, offering a quick exchange service in the event of a problem. Huawei, in comparison, offers a slower and less transparent support.
A point to watch with Huawei: some features can be limited if you do not use a smartphone from the same brand, an absent restriction at Samsung.
For iPhone users, none of the two alternatives can really compete with the perfect integration offered by the Apple Watch. The recommendation is clear: if you have an iPhone, stay on the Apple ecosystem to avoid a significant loss of features.
However, for Android users, the situation changes radically. The ridiculous autonomy of the Apple Watch (barely a day) is pale in the face of the performances of Huawei and even Samsung in this area.
In terms of value for money, Huawei takes down the palm With its Watch GT 3, offering a set of essential features, excellent autonomy and remarkable reliability at a more accessible price than competition.
The price difference between premium and standard models is not always justified by functionalities truly useful for everyday life. Autonomy and reliability remain much greater criteria than rarely used gadgets.
At the end of this in -depth analysis, Huawei stands out as the best global alternative to Apple Watchparticularly with its Watch 4 Pro which combines exceptional autonomy, premium finishes and specific health sensors.
Samsung remains relevant for users who favor the application ecosystem and integration with third -party services. The Galaxy Watch 5 Pro represents their best option with notable improvements compared to Watch 4.
Ultimately, your choice will depend on your personal priorities, but one thing is certain: these two brands now offer credible alternatives to the Apple Watch for Android users, with a marked advantage for Huawei in terms of value for money and autonomy.
Real experience return:
Marc, 37, an executive in the IT, has been using watches connected on a daily basis for over 5 years. Former Apple Watch user, he tested several models at Huawei and Samsung. Large lovers of sports, tech and hikes, he is looking for a reliability, autonomy and comfort of use above all. All the responses of this article come from his personal experience.
