Sorry, Apple. I've been using a smartwatch that I like more than yours.
I’ve seen many smartwatches in my 15 years as a mobile reviewer for CNET. From Samsung’s first Galaxy Gear back in 2013 to Apple’s latest Watch Series 12 with its advanced health-tracking features, I’ve put all kinds of wearable gadgets on my wrist. While most were subsequently taken off and put away in a drawer, there’s one smartwatch that I’ve donned again and again. And it’s probably not what you’d think.
I’ll cut to the chase: It’s the Huawei Watch Ultimate, a smartwatch the Chinese company launched in the UK back in 2023 for the princely sum of £800, or roughly $1,000. Even today, that would make it among the most expensive smartwatches around, but it wasn’t the price that caught my eye.
The first thing that got me was the look. With a titanium link strap, butterfly clasp, multiple buttons and a diver’s watch style, it looked just like any other luxury watch you might find from the likes of Rolex or Omega. By eschewing the square minimalist look of the Apple Watch, Huawei’s wearable didn’t look like a gadget. It appears traditional yet stylish and doesn’t look out of place when paired with a nice suit.
I generally don’t wear watches at all — smart or otherwise — but when I do, I want to make sure they complement whatever I’m wearing, especially if I’m attending an event. While the black Milanese loop strap on an Apple Watch is fairly innocuous, the best I can hope for is that it blends in.
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