Huawei's smartwatch lineup caters to different needs, from luxury diving to everyday fitness tracking. The Watch Ultimate represents the pinnacle of Huawei's wearable technology, while the Watch 4 offers a more accessible and feature-rich experience. Let's break down the key differences to help you decide which one is right for you.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Huawei Watch Ultimate is a luxury diving smartwatch with exceptional build quality and depth capabilities. The Watch 4 is a more versatile, everyday smartwatch with a powerful processor and comprehensive health tracking. For divers, the Ultimate wins; for most users, the Watch 4 offers better value.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | N/A | N/A |
| 3G bands | N/A | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 / 800 |
| 4G bands | N/A | LTE |
| EDGE | No | - |
| GPRS | No | - |
| Speed | No | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | No cellular connectivity | HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2023, March 23 | 2023, May 10 |
| Status | Available. Released 2023, March 31 | Available. Released 2023, June 22 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Sapphire crystal front, cerramic bezzel, zirconium front case, ceramic back | Glass front, ceramic back, stainless steel frame |
| Dimensions | 48.5 x 48.5 x 13 mm (1.91 x 1.91 x 0.51 in) | 46.2 x 46.2 x 10.9 mm (1.82 x 1.82 x 0.43 in) |
| SIM | No | eSIM |
| Weight | 76 g (2.68 oz) | 48 g (1.69 oz) |
| | Swimproof/diving (EN13319, ISO 22810:2010)
100m water resistant
10 ATM
IP68
ECG certified | 50m water resistant
5 ATM
Compatible with standard 22mm straps |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 466 x 466 pixels (~311 ppi density) | 466 x 466 pixels (~310 ppi density) |
| Size | 1.5 inches | 1.5 inches |
| Type | LTPO AMOLED | AMOLED |
| | - | * the display resolution is unconfirmed
Always-on display |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | - | Quad-core 1.7 GHz Cortex-A53 |
| Chipset | - | Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 (4 nm) |
| GPU | - | Adreno 702 |
| OS | HarmonyOS 3.0 | HarmonyOS 3.0 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 32GB | 32GB 2GB RAM |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | No | No |
| WLAN | Yes (only for Bluetooth transmission acceleration) | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n (market/region dependent) |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, heart rate, barometer, compass, SpO2, thermometer (body temperature) | Accelerometer, gyro, heart rate, barometer, compass, SpO2, thermometer (body temperature) |
| | BDS Satellite Message | - |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | Wireless | Wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 530 mAh | Li-Ion 530 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Expedition Black, Voyage Blue, Green | Black |
| Models | CLB-B19 | ARC-AL00 |
| Price | About 740 EUR | About 450 EUR |
Huawei Watch Ultimate
- Exceptional build quality (titanium, sapphire crystal)
- Advanced diving features (depth sensor, water resistance)
- Longer battery life
- Premium design and aesthetics
- Larger, brighter display
- High price point
- Less versatile for everyday use compared to Watch 4
- Potentially limited app ecosystem compared to Wear OS
Huawei Watch 4
- Powerful Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 chipset
- Comprehensive health tracking (SpO2, ECG, heart rate)
- More affordable price
- Smooth performance and responsiveness
- Harmonious OS offers good functionality
- Shorter battery life than Watch Ultimate
- Less premium materials
- Design less striking than Watch Ultimate
Display Comparison
The Watch Ultimate boasts a larger, more premium AMOLED display, often with sapphire crystal glass for enhanced scratch resistance. The Watch 4 also features an AMOLED display, but it's slightly smaller and may use a different glass type. Expect vibrant colors and sharp details on both, but the Ultimate's display is generally considered superior in terms of brightness and clarity.
Camera Comparison
Neither watch has a built-in camera. This is a common omission in smartwatches, relying instead on smartphone connectivity for photography.
Performance
The Watch 4's Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 chipset provides a significant performance boost over previous Huawei watches. This translates to smoother animations, faster app loading times, and improved overall responsiveness. The Watch Ultimate, while capable, may not offer the same level of raw processing power, prioritizing battery life and specialized features over peak performance.
Battery Life
The Watch Ultimate typically offers longer battery life, especially in non-diving modes, due to its larger battery capacity and power-saving optimizations. The Watch 4's battery life is still respectable, but it will likely require more frequent charging, particularly with heavy usage of health tracking features.
Buying Guide
The Huawei Watch Ultimate is ideal for serious divers, luxury watch enthusiasts, and those seeking a premium, durable wearable. The Huawei Watch 4 is perfect for fitness enthusiasts, health-conscious individuals, and anyone looking for a feature-packed smartwatch at a more reasonable price point.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Huawei Watch Ultimate waterproof?
Yes, the Huawei Watch Ultimate is exceptionally waterproof, designed for recreational and serious diving, with a rating of 10 ATM (100 meters) and supporting depths up to 100 meters.
❓ Does the Huawei Watch 4 run Wear OS?
No, the Huawei Watch 4 runs HarmonyOS, Huawei's proprietary operating system. While it offers many smartwatch features, it doesn't have access to the full Wear OS app ecosystem.
