At a Glance
Expert’s Rating
Pros
- Stylish and comfortable design
- Enhanced feature set
- Comprehensive fitness and health tracking capabilities
- Price-friendly
Cons
- Basic smartwatch functionality is hit or miss
- NFC availability limited to one color option
- Screen does not fit flush against the case
Our Verdict
The Huawei Watch Fit 4, while lacking certain high-end features of the Watch Fit 4 Pro, offers an impressive array of enhancements over the Fit 3. It’s an ideal budget smartwatch choice, providing substantial value with only a few drawbacks.
Price When Reviewed
Not currently available in the US
Best Prices Today: Huawei Watch Fit 4
The Huawei Watch Fit 4 marks a refreshing update to the brand’s most budget-friendly smartwatch, making it increasingly appealing to fitness enthusiasts.
It forgoes the luxe materials found in the Watch Fit 4 Pro and the advanced health features present in the Huawei Watch 5. However, it borrows useful functionalities from these higher-end models, making for an attractive package at a reasonable price.
Notable additions include full-color map access, improved GPS capabilities, enhanced health monitoring features, and a wider selection of watch faces.
Having previously enjoyed the Watch Fit 3 and tested the premium Watch Fit 4 Pro, my expectations for the Watch Fit 4 were significantly high before diving into this review.
Design & Build
- Available in four attractive colors
- More compact design compared to the Watch Fit 3
- Water-resistant up to 50 meters
The design of the Watch Fit 4 builds upon the groundwork laid by the Fit 3, focusing on refining an already solid foundation.
Photo by Mike Sawh
The compact square case remains at a 43mm size and does not mimic the Pro’s distinctly rugged Apple Watch Ultra-esque design. Instead, it features softer edges that enhance its elegance and decreases its thickness compared to the Fit 3, presenting a sleeker profile.
The body is constructed from a durable aluminum alloy, striking a balance between weight and sturdiness. Notable improvements to the button and crown ensure they sit better against the case, enhancing overall aesthetics.
If you were hoping for a premium look akin to the Fit 4 Pro, you’ll be pleased to find that the Fit 4 maintains a delightful design appeal.
Photo by Mike Sawh
The watch’s straps are easily changeable, which is a great feature. The more common variant of the strap features a fluoroelastomer. However, if you opt for the grey model, you’ll receive a nylon strap as a bonus. It’s worth mentioning that strap replacements are available for purchase.
Addionally, Huawei retained a traditional watch clasp for the strap, resulting in a secure fit and easy removal.
Screen & Audio
- Same resolution as the Fit 3
- Brighter display than its predecessor
- Equipped with a speaker and microphone for calls
Huawei opted to maintain the display specifications from the Fit 3. The smartwatch hosts a 1.82-inch AMOLED screen with a resolution of 480 x 408. Users can keep the display illuminated around the clock.
This time, however, brightness has been increased from a max of 1500 nits to an impressive 2000 nits.
Photo by Mike Sawh
The display is vibrant and colorful, presenting rich blacks that allow for excellent viewing angles. The thick black bezel surrounding the screen is somewhat noticeable but does not detract significantly from the AMOLED experience.
A downside is that the screen doesn’t sit entirely flush against the case, which can be felt during touchscreen use.
Photo by Mike Sawh
On the right side of the device, you can find a microphone and speaker, supporting Bluetooth calls and music playback. The audio performance is satisfactory, though, while it may not compete with high-end audio devices, it suffices for call handling.
Software & Features
- Compatible with both Android and iOS
- Allows quick replies to messages and voice memos
- Customizable watch faces with stickers
The software on the Watch Fit 4 runs on Huawei’s HarmonyOS, closely resembling features found in the Watch Fit 3.
Photo by Mike Sawh
This smartwatch displays notifications from your phone seamlessly and includes quick response functionalities. It enables Bluetooth calling capabilities as previously mentioned.
If you choose the grey variant, it will come equipped with NFC functionality, although this feature is not supported in all regions where the Fit 4 is sold.
Photo by Mike Sawh
The AppGallery available on the watch features various applications, though it is substantially less expansive than premium Huawei smartwatches. Notable apps include Spotify controls and air quality monitors.
Fitness & Tracking
- Upgraded dual-frequency GPS
- Offline maps available for navigation and route import
- New emotional well-being tracking
In terms of fitness and health tracking, the enhancements made in the Fit 4 are substantial.
Huawei has introduced dual-band GPS, improving outdoor tracking capabilities significantly compared to previous models. Furthermore, it now has a barometer for precise elevation readings.
The device even includes storage for color maps and the ability to import routes for guided navigation.
While it doesn’t include the ECG functionality of the Pro 4, the Fit 4 still provides ample tracking capabilities across heart rate variability and stress monitoring.
Photo by Mike Sawh
The accuracy of dual-band GPS is commendable and comparable when tested alongside other smartwatches of similar capability. Results were consistent in terms of distance and pace readings.
Heart rate monitoring during exercise and continuous tracking displayed reliable performance, especially when activating the enhanced heart rate setting in the Huawei Health app.
The addition of support for external heart rate monitors is also beneficial for users seeking more precise readings.
Photo by Mike Sawh
The mapping functions on the Fit 4 are impressive and quite uncommon in this price range. Users can sync and download region maps through the Huawei Health app for convenient navigation with a user-friendly map interface.
Sleep tracking has also shown reliable performance, with results comparable to data obtained from dedicated sleep-tracking devices.
Photo by Mike Sawh
However, data presentation in the app can feel cluttered at times. While it houses a wealth of health insights, navigating through the metrics to identify trends may prove cumbersome.
The health app also includes features aimed at tracking emotional well-being based on physiological data, offering personalized recommendations such as breathing exercises to improve mood.
Battery Life & Charging
- With usage, expect up to 10 days on a single charge
- 7 days of efficiency even with extensive features
- 4 days if always-on display mode is active
The battery life is competitive and mirrors that of the previous iterations, ranging from 7 to 10 days depending on use intensity.
Photo by Mike Sawh
When making adjustments, such as turning off the always-on display feature, reaching near the maximum 10-day life becomes more plausible. Conversely, continuous activation significantly diminishes longevity, resulting in daily depletion.
The proprietary charging cradle is relatively efficient, taking approximately 75 minutes for a full charge from empty.
Price & Availability
The Huawei Watch Fit 4 is presently limited to distribution in the UK and Europe, with no anticipated US availability at this time.
Launched at a price point of £149, it is slightly above the initial release cost of the Watch Fit 3 (£139.99), now available at £99.99.
For comparison, the Fit 4 Pro retails at £249, revealing a significant leap in price for additional features.
The device can be purchased via Huawei, as well as retailers like Amazon and Argos.
At under £150, the Huawei Watch 4 is positioned alongside budget options such as the Xiaomi Watch S4 (£129.99), the Amazfit Active 2 (£149.90), and the Garmin Venu Sq 2 (£149.99).
To explore more options, check our list of the best budget smartwatches.
Should You Buy the Huawei Watch Fit 4?
The Huawei Watch Fit 4 stands out as a fantastic budget smartwatch, especially noted for its robust fitness and outdoor tracking capabilities.
When comparing it to others in the same price bracket, few devices can equal its performance and features.
This represents a worthwhile upgrade from the Fit 3, offering enhanced functionality in exchange for a modest increase in price. Considering the common practice of Huawei reducing prices rapidly on their products, the Fit 4 presents a very attractive offer.
Drawing a parallel with Huawei’s offerings, view the Fit 4 as their equivalent to the Apple Watch SE: while it is less expensive, it still encompasses a broad array of desirable features and a refined design.
Ultimately, this smartwatch remains one of Huawei’s most appealing devices, effectively competing within its market segment.
If you’re in the market for an aesthetically pleasing budget smartwatch equipped with robust health and fitness features, the Huawei Watch Fit 4 is undoubtedly worth considering.
Specifications
- Color options: black, grey, white, and purple
- Aluminium alloy casing
- Battery life of up to 10 days
- Compatible with both Android and iOS
- Built-in microphone and speaker
- 1.82-inch AMOLED display
- 5 ATM water resistance rating
- NFC functionality for grey version only
- Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity
- Advanced dual-frequency GPS
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