The smartwatch market offers a spectrum of choices, from feature-rich Wear OS devices to those prioritizing battery life and elegant design. We pit the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2, a well-established Wear OS contender powered by the Exynos 9110, against the Huawei Watch GT 2 Porsche Design, a statement piece focused on style and extended usage, to determine which reigns supreme for different user needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the user deeply embedded in the Android ecosystem and prioritizing app availability, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2 is the better choice. Its Wear OS platform offers broader compatibility. However, the Huawei Watch GT 2 Porsche Design excels in battery life and premium aesthetics, making it ideal for those valuing style and longevity over extensive app support.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | N/A |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 - Global | N/A |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20 - Global | N/A |
| EDGE | - | No |
| GPRS | - | No |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | No |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | No cellular connectivity |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2019, August. Released 2019, September | 2020, October 22. Released 2020, November 04 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass DX+), stainless steel frame 316L | Glass front (Sapphire crystal), ceramic back, titanium frame |
| Dimensions | 44 x 44 x 10.9 mm (1.73 x 1.73 x 0.43 in) | 46.7 x 46.7 x 11.4 mm (1.84 x 1.84 x 0.45 in) |
| SIM | eSIM | No |
| Weight | 42 g (1.48 oz) | 52 g (1.83 oz) |
| | - | 50m water resistant
Compatible with standard 22mm straps |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass DX+ | - |
| Resolution | 360 x 360 pixels (~364 ppi density) | 454 x 454 pixels (~326 ppi density) |
| Size | 1.4 inches | 1.39 inches |
| Type | Super AMOLED | AMOLED |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Dual-core 1.15 GHz Cortex-A53 | - |
| Chipset | Exynos 9110 (10 nm) | - |
| GPU | Mali-T720 | - |
| OS | Tizen OS 5.5 | Proprietary OS |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 4GB 768MB RAM, 4GB 1.5GB RAM | 4GB 32MB RAM |
| | - | eMMC |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.1, LE, EDR |
| NFC | Yes | - |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | No | No |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n | No |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, heart rate, barometer, VO2max | Accelerometer, gyro, heart rate, barometer, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | Wireless | Wireless |
| Type | Li-Ion 340 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 455 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Silver, Gold | Titanium Gold |
| Models | SM-R825F, SM-R835F, SM-R825U, SM-R835U | VID-B19 |
| Price | About 80 EUR | About 700 EUR |
Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2
- Wear OS offers extensive app compatibility.
- Exynos 9110 provides sufficient performance for most tasks.
- Wireless charging convenience.
- Battery life requires daily charging.
- Wear OS can feel sluggish at times.
- Limited customization options compared to some competitors.
Huawei Watch GT 2 Porsche Design
- Exceptional battery life – lasting multiple days.
- Premium Porsche Design aesthetic.
- Wireless charging capability.
- Limited app ecosystem compared to Wear OS.
- Performance may be less responsive for complex tasks.
- Reliance on Huawei’s proprietary ecosystem.
Display Comparison
While specific display details for the Huawei Watch GT 2 Porsche Design are unavailable, its positioning suggests a high-quality AMOLED panel. The Galaxy Watch Active2 features a Super AMOLED display, known for vibrant colors and excellent contrast. The Active2’s display benefits from Samsung’s display technology, but without knowing the GT 2 Porsche Design’s peak brightness or resolution, a direct comparison is difficult. However, the Active2’s smaller size (40mm or 44mm) may offer a more comfortable fit for users with smaller wrists.
Camera Comparison
Neither device features a camera, a common omission in modern smartwatches. This design choice prioritizes battery life and a sleeker profile over photographic capabilities.
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2 is powered by a dual-core 1.15 GHz Cortex-A53 CPU built on a 10nm Exynos 9110 chipset. This provides a solid, if not groundbreaking, level of performance for typical smartwatch tasks. The Huawei Watch GT 2 Porsche Design’s chipset is not specified, but Huawei typically prioritizes power efficiency over raw processing power in its wearables. This suggests the GT 2 Porsche Design will likely feel smoother for basic functions but may struggle with more demanding applications compared to the Active2. The Active2’s Wear OS platform allows for more complex app functionality, leveraging the Exynos 9110’s processing capabilities.
Battery Life
Both the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2 and the Huawei Watch GT 2 Porsche Design support wireless charging. However, the Huawei Watch GT 2 Porsche Design is renowned for its exceptional battery life, often lasting several days on a single charge. The Galaxy Watch Active2, running Wear OS, typically requires daily charging, especially with heavy usage. While the Active2’s 10nm Exynos 9110 is relatively efficient, Wear OS’s background processes and app ecosystem contribute to higher power consumption. The GT 2 Porsche Design’s focus on optimized power management gives it a significant advantage in this area.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2 if you need seamless integration with Android, access to a vast app library via the Google Play Store, and a versatile smartwatch experience. Buy the Huawei Watch GT 2 Porsche Design if you prioritize a luxurious design, exceptionally long battery life, and are less reliant on third-party apps, favoring a streamlined, focused experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Exynos 9110 in the Galaxy Watch Active2 overheat during intensive use, like GPS tracking for extended periods?
The Exynos 9110 is a relatively efficient chip, but prolonged use of power-intensive features like GPS can lead to some heat generation. However, it’s unlikely to cause significant discomfort or performance throttling under normal usage conditions. Samsung’s thermal management system is designed to mitigate overheating.
❓ How does the Huawei Watch GT 2 Porsche Design handle notifications compared to the Galaxy Watch Active2’s Wear OS integration?
The Huawei Watch GT 2 Porsche Design provides basic notification mirroring from your smartphone, but lacks the interactive capabilities of Wear OS. The Active2 allows you to respond to messages, manage notifications directly from your wrist, and utilize a wider range of notification-related apps.
❓ Is the Huawei Watch GT 2 Porsche Design compatible with iPhones?
While the Huawei Watch GT 2 Porsche Design can connect to an iPhone via Bluetooth, functionality is limited. You'll be able to receive notifications and view the time, but features like app installation and advanced data synchronization are unavailable.
