Simon Wittenberg takes the time to get to know the latest wearable technology from HONOR.
Who is HONOR?
You may not have heard of HONOR, but they are actually a brand owned by the Chinese conglomerate Huawei. Founded in 2013, they tend to focus their products on the younger demographic and are now the largest smartphone e-brand in China.
What is the HONOR MagicWatch 2?
Made from aerospace-grade refined 316L stainless steel and weighing in at only 41g, the MagicWatch 2 is HONOR’s latest generation ultra-thin smartwatch, launched at the end of last year.
There are two versions, the 42mm (coming out at some point this year), and the larger 46mm – the subject of our test. The RRP of the 46mm is £159.99, which is very reasonable, considering that the timepieces of other close competitors can be more than double this price.
The HONOR Magic Watch 2 comes in a Charcoal Black or Flax Brown shade, and as with many mainstream digital watches, it is waterproof and is submersible to a depth of 50 metres. There are also various options when it comes to the strap material, with metal, elastic rubber and leather all available.
The MagicWatch 2 needs to be paired by Bluetooth to the free Huawei Health app for iPhone or Android smartphones, as this is needed for connectivity and the transfer of data between the two devices. This is, in fact, the only app that can be downloaded for this device, so some might find this a bit limiting.
What is the display like?
The circular HONOR Magic Watch 2 features an ‘Always-On’ 1.39-inch, 454-by-454-pixel touchscreen AMOLED display, which means that it stays lit so you don’t have to wait for the interface to brighten before using one of the functions or simply read information, such as the time, the date and the remaining battery life.
The layout of the watch face can actually be changed via one of the presets on the display menu within the main settings, or if you have an Android phone, you can customise the background picture with one of your own photos via the Huawei Health app.
As well as having a ‘swipe-able’ screen, the HONOR Magic Watch 2 has a double crown, meaning there are two buttons on the right-hand side of the device. The top one, which has a red centre, displays the main functions, whilst the lower one effectively illuminates the screen and the display of text messages.
What health and fitness modes does this wearable have?
The HONOR MagicWatch 2 is very much geared around health and fitness and keeping you in shape. Your heart rate and steps can be displayed on the main screen, but swiping right will also reveal this information, as well as the stress test (if set).
When hitting the ‘Workout’ symbol via the top push button, there are 15 goal-based fitness modes all in all, so it’s not quite a mobile gym instructor, but it’s not far off.
These are geared around eight outdoor sports (running, walking, hiking, climbing, trail runs, cycling, open water swimming and triathlons) and seven indoor categories (running, walking, cycling, pool swimming – you can adjust the exact pool length e.g. to 25 or 50 metres, free training, elliptical and rowing).
For these 15 modes, the watch provides monitoring, data recording and professional advice. To get a ‘Workout Status’, you will have needed to have exercised for at least a week.
Furthermore, the HONOR MagicWatch 2 supports dual-satellite positioning, including GPS and GLONASS, to detect more satellites with higher accuracy, offering users real-time location tracking and positioning.
Can the watch monitor your sleep patterns?
Yes, through Huawei’s TruSleep technology, the MagicWatch 2 can monitor your sleep patterns and can detect what state you’re in, i.e. REM sleep, light sleep, or when you’re awake.
This function can be enabled via the Huawei Health app, and data is shown when you select the pink ‘Sleep’ option after hitting the top push button.
What other functions does the HONOR MagicWatch 2 offer?
Pushing the top button on the watch and scrolling through the menu reveals another whole plethora of options for fitness.
The watch can store up to 500 songs, or you can stream music directly from your smartphone via the speaker or via Bluetooth headphones (Earbuds) if paired.
There’s also a compass, a stopwatch, the ability to buzz your paired phone if you’ve misplaced it nearby, a torch, weather and air pressure readouts, alongside some breathing exercises to help stay relaxed.
Can you answer calls and read text messages?
When paired, the watch will ring at the same time as the phone, allowing you to take calls on your wrist via the speaker if you don’t have headphones. The sound quality is excellent for such a small device, and we found that people on the other end of the line had no qualms about any elements of the conversation appearing muffled.
Although we didn’t test it, there’s also the option of pairing the Magic Watch 2 with some Earbuds for more private conversations.
To read your latest text unread text messages, all you need to do is swipe up on the main display. Once you have clicked on these on your phone, they will then disappear off the watch, or you can equally clear them off the screen at the touch of a button.
We didn’t have any e-mails coming through the watch, so we cannot provide any constructive views on this particular option.
How easy is the HONOR Magic Watch 2 to use?
We wouldn’t say it is 100% intuitive, and you can sometimes end up doing lots of swipes to find your way around if you forget where a particular function or menu is stored. The watch only comes with a small instruction booklet, but there are plenty of user guides on the web and on the Huawei website if you do end up getting stuck.
How long does the battery last?
The battery life is actually very good, with power lasting up to two weeks on a full charge, subject to usage. This is all thanks to Huawei’s all-new Kirin A1 chipset, which processes data faster, whilst using less power to operate the various functions.
The battery can be easily replenished via the USB-C cable and magnetic dock that slots straight onto the back of the watch.
Is the watch comfortable to wear?
The black rubber strap on our watch was easy enough to adjust to get the right fit, but it does feel quite bulky to wear if you have a small wrist (the MagicWatch 2 is 1cm thick).
The only other annoyance is that if your phone is not in the Bluetooth range, the display will not have the latest data on it e.g. the weather. An alert can be set via the app to inform you when the connection has been lost.
What do we think about the HONOR MagicWatch 2?
If you’re a gadget lover and are very much into wearable tech or don’t mind sacrificing the look and feel of a traditional horological timepiece, the 46mm HONOR Magic Watch 2 would definitely be worthy of gracing your wrist (as long as it’s substantial enough!).
It’s got plenty of functions that have been cleverly packaged into a stylish device, and for those who love their fitness especially, the Magic Watch 2 delivers very good value for money versus the competition.
HONOR MagicWatch 2 – Where and How?
For more information on the HONOR MagicWatch 2, visit www.hihonor.com/uk.
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