Huawei Watch Ultimate vs GT4

Watch Ultimate vs GT 4: Huawei timepiece face-off

December 27, 2023 Ivan Jovin Device matchup, Smartwatch 10 min read

In this article we bring you another side-by-side comparison. This time we are dissecting two Huawei devices, the Watch GT 4 series and the Huawei Watch Ultimate. Both launched in 2023, these watches are at the high-end of the company’s smartwatch lineup. The GT 4 series is aimed at the general consumer looking for a blend of style and functionality, and the Ultimate model targeting the more demanding needs of outdoor and sports enthusiasts.

Essential reading: Top fitness trackers and health gadgets

Read on to find out how exactly they differ.

Key takeaways

The Huawei Watch GT 4 combines a great blend of style and health tracking in something that won’t break the bank. The Huawei Watch Ultimate, with its higher price tag and masculine appearance, is tailored for outdoor adventurers and sports professionals, offering rugged durability and specialized features.

View on Huawei; View on Amazon (Watch Ultimate, Watch GT 4).

Jump to

Hardware
Technical specs
Features
Bottom line

Huawei Watch Ultimate vs GT 4: Hardware

Design & display

The Huawei Watch GT 4 series is available in 46mm and 41mm sizes. The Huawei Watch Ultimate, on the other hand, only comes in a robust 48.5mm size. All these models feature a circular design that blends traditional watch aesthetics with modern smartwatch functionality.

The GT 4 line is constructed with a glass front, stainless steel frame, and a plastic back, offering a sleek yet durable design. In contrast, the Huawei Watch Ultimate elevates the build quality. It comes with a sapphire crystal front, ceramic bezel, zirconium front case, and ceramic back. This build makes it not only visually striking but also exceptionally resilient.

Both the GT 4 models come with two physical buttons. One of these is a rotating crown, which provides a tactile and intuitive way to navigate the watch’s interface. The Huawei Watch Ultimate goes a step further with three buttons: an assist button, a rotating crown, and a function button. This offers more direct access to the watch’s features and enhancing the user experience, especially in outdoor or underwater environments.

Huawei Watch Ultimate vs GT 4 (46mm) vs GT 4 (41mm)

Huawei Watch Ultimate vs GT 4 (46mm) vs GT 4 (41mm)

Display, colour options, water-resistance

The AMOLED display on the GT 4 models and the LTPO AMOLED display on the Huawei Watch Ultimate offer vibrant colors and sharp visuals. The GT 4 models boast a resolution of 446 x 446 pixels. The Ultimate steps up with a higher resolution of 466 x 466 pixels. The larger screen size of 1.5 inches on the Ultimate model provides a more immersive viewing experience. This is especially useful for detailed data display during outdoor activities.

The GT 4 series offers color options like Gray and Silver, providing a classic and versatile look suitable for both casual and formal settings. The Huawei Watch Ultimate, on the other hand, is available in more adventurous colors. This includes options such as Expedition Black and Voyage Blue, reflecting its more rugged and outdoor-oriented design ethos.

The GT 4 models are equipped with a water resistance of 5 ATM. That’s pretty good. The Huawei Watch Ultimate, however, with its 10 ATM water resistance and dive-ready capabilities, is clearly designed for more extreme water sports and activities. This includes diving up to 110 meters thanks to an EN13319 rating.

Sensor technology

The GT 4 models and the Watch Ultimate come with an array of sensors. The lists consists of accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, optical heart rate sensors, barometers, and temperature sensors. The Ultimate model further includes ECG and arterial stiffness sensors, making it a more comprehensive tool for cardiovascular health monitoring.

As the more recent device, the GT 4 series introduces TruSeen 5.5+ heart rate monitoring technology. This is an upgrade from the GT 3’s TruSeen 5.0+, offering improved precision and efficiency in heart rate tracking through deep AI learning. Additionally, the GT 4 features TruSleep 3.0 for advanced sleep analysis. This provides insights into REM cycles and sleep quality, a step up from the GT 3’s TruSleep 2.0.

The Huawei Watch also features a five-band GNSS for precise location tracking, essential for activities like hiking and cycling. The GT 4 series boasts an upgraded dual-band five-system high-precision GNSS. This offers better positioning accuracy than the standard GNSS in the GT 3.

Both the GT 4 series and the Huawei Watch Ultimate support NFC. They also have built-in music storage capabilities, adding to their appeal.

Battery life

The Huawei Watch GT 4 and Huawei Watch Ultimate models showcase significant advancements in battery technology, reflecting Huawei’s commitment to enhancing user experience. Both the GT 4 (46mm) and the Huawei Watch Ultimate boast an impressive 14-day battery life under typical usage. The GT 4 (41mm) offers a slightly lower battery life of 7 days under maximum usage. A smaller watch fits a smaller battery, so this should come as no surprise.

Huawei Watch Ultimate vs GT 4: Technical specs

Here’s a detailed tech specs comparison table for the Huawei Watch GT 4 range and Huawei Watch Ultimate:

Specification	Huawei Watch GT 4 (46mm)	Huawei Watch GT 4 (41mm)	Huawei Watch Ultimate
Release Date	September 2023	September 2023	March 2023
Case Material	Glass front, Stainless steel frame, Plastic back	Glass front, Stainless steel frame, Plastic back	Sapphire crystal front, Ceramic bezel, Zirconium front case, Ceramic back
Number of Physical Buttons	2 (including a rotating crown)	2 (including a rotating crown)	Three buttons: assist button, rotating crown, function button
Shape	Circular	Circular	Round
Size	46 x 46 x 10.9 mm	41.3 x 41.3 x 9.8 mm	48.5 x 48.5 x 13mm
Display Type	AMOLED	AMOLED	LTPO AMOLED
Resolution	446 x 446 pixels	446 x 446 pixels	466 x 466 pixels
Screen Size	1.43 inches	1.32 inches	1.5 inches
Weight (without strap)	48 grams	37 grams	76 grams
Sensors	Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Magnetometer, Optical heart rate sensor, Barometer, Temperature sensor	Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Magnetometer, Optical heart rate sensor, Barometer, Temperature sensor	Accelerometer, Gyro, Heart rate, Barometer, Compass, SpO2, Thermometer, ECG, Arterial stiffness
Water-Resistance	5 ATM	5 ATM	10 ATM (Swimproof/diving)
Positioning	GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS	GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS	DUAL Band Five-system GNSS
Built-in Speaker	Yes	Yes	Yes
Microphone	Yes	Yes	Yes
NFC	Yes (market/region dependent)	Yes (market/region dependent)	Yes (market/region dependent)
Music Storage	Yes	Yes	Yes
Connection	Bluetooth 5.2	Bluetooth 5.2	Bluetooth 5.2
Cellular Connectivity	No	No	No
Battery Type	Li-po	Li-po	530 mAh Li-po
Battery Life	14-day (max usage), 8-day (regular usage), 4-day (AOD enabled)	7-day (max usage), 4-day (regular usage), 2-day (AOD enabled)	14 days typical use, 7 days heavy use
Operating System	HarmonyOS 4	HarmonyOS 4	HarmonyOS 3.0
Colors	Gray, Silver	Gray, Silver	Expedition Black, Voyage Blue
Typical RRP	$300	$300	$800

Huawei Watch Ultimate vs GT 4: Features

Both the GT 4 series and the Huawei Watch Ultimate come equipped with a variety of sensors for health and fitness tracking. As mentioned, the GT 4 models feature upgraded TruSeen 5.5+ heart rate monitoring and TruSleep 3.0 sleep analysis. These provide more detailed insights into a users heart health and sleep patterns. The Ultimate model takes health tracking a step further with the inclusion of ECG and arterial stiffness readings. These additions make it a more comprehensive tool for cardiovascular monitoring.

In terms of fitness tracking, the GT 4 series offers a range of sports modes and fitness tracking capabilities, suitable for everyday workouts and sports activities. The Huawei Watch Ultimate, with its 10ATM water resistance, dive-ready features, and over 140 sports profiles, is particularly well-suited for more extreme sports and outdoor adventures. Both devices come with a advanced GNSS system that ensures precise location tracking, essential for activities like hiking and cycling.

As far as smartwatch-type features, the GT 4 series and the Huawei Watch Ultimate offer NFC, built-in music storage, and connectivity options like Bluetooth 5.2. However, they lack certain features like wrist payments and a comprehensive app store, which might be a consideration for users looking for a more connected smartwatch experience.

Huawei Watch Ultimate vs GT 4: Price

In terms of pricing, the Huawei Watch GT 4 series and the Huawei Watch Ultimate are positioned very differently in the market. The GT 4 series, with a typical retail price of around $300 for both the 46mm and 41mm models, offers an affordable option for those seeking a feature-rich smartwatch with a focus on health and fitness. Its competition are the likes of the Apple Watch, Samsung Galaxy Watch and Fitbit smartwatches.

The Huawei Watch Ultimate, priced at around $800, is a premium offering, reflecting its advanced features and build quality, particularly suited for users who require a rugged watch for outdoor and diving activities. Its competition are the likes of the Garmin Fenix range.

Huawei Watch Ultimate vs GT 4: Final thoughts

The GT 4 series, with its elegant design, advanced health and fitness tracking capabilities, and a price point of around $300, strikes a balance between functionality and affordability. It’s an ideal choice for those who seek a versatile smartwatch for everyday use and fitness tracking.

On the other hand, the Huawei Watch Ultimate, priced at about $800, caters to a more niche market. Its robust build, dive-ready features, and advanced health monitoring tools make it a perfect fit for outdoor sports lovers and adventurers. The choice between these models ultimately hinges on individual lifestyle needs and budget considerations.

While both models excel in their domains, they do have some limitations, such as the lack of a comprehensive app ecosystem. However, these shortcomings are overshadowed by their strengths in health and fitness tracking, battery life, and overall build quality.