Huawei Watch D2
Huawei’s second-generation Watch D2 watch is arguably generations ahead of the competition in how it can measure one key health stat: blood pressure.
Its primary upgrade over 2022’s Watch D is the Huawei Watch D2’s ABPM ability. That stands for ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.
In other words, it can analyze your blood pressure while you walk around and take part in daily life, not only when you set aside a chunk of time to take a measurement.
The Huawei Watch D2 does this by, roughly speaking, combining the strategies employed by the original Watch D and those of rivals like the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7.
Huawei’s Watch D stood out so clearly in 2022 (and continues to do so) because of its inflatable cuff, employing a mini pump, an airbag and a pressure sensor. It effectively has an integrated traditional-style blood pressure monitoring device.
Other mainstream watches estimate blood pressure using the optical heart rate sensor hardware on the back of the watch, and typically have to be given regular readings by another blood pressure monitoring device in order to stay on track.
Huawei appears to use these two approaches in the Watch D2, which is smart and obvious at the same time.
“Health Data Integration uses not only BP measurements, but also your sleep data and workout data for better ABPM results,” says Huawei. However, it can also capture readings from the inflatable cuff while you walk, advising you place the watch arm diagonally across your chest while supporting that elbow with your other hand whole doing so.
The Huawei Watch D2 also has the other health and fitness features typically expected of a higher-end smartwatch.
It can provide blood oxygenation readings, take an ECG, and has GPS for accurate location tracking. You’ll see GNSS referred to on Huawei’s website, though, as that’s the country-agnostic term for the tracking satellite arrays in Earth’s orbit, where GPS refers specifically to the array maintained by the U.S. government.
And, as followers of tech will know, Huawei and the U.S. government don’t get on so well these days.
That is perhaps the biggest issue for those in the U.S. interested in the Watch D2. It won’t be released there, although Huawei has confirmed it will come to the UK and Europe on September 19, for £349.99 — equivalent to around $463 in today’s direct currency conversion.
Other core Huawei Watch D2 specs include its 1.82-inch 1500-nit brightness OLED screen, and more than 80 exercise modes. Its battery life is rated at six days, or one day when running in its ambulatory blood pressure monitoring mode.