Review: Huawei Watch 6 offers an attractive mix of good looks and health tracking

Huawei has been trying to muscle its way into the smartwatch game in the West for a few years now, and its latest offering seems to strike a happy balance between premium features and an affordable price. The Huawei Watch 6 does make a compelling choice, however, by not chasing extra-long battery life but instead concentrating on a whole raft of health-monitoring features and packing in a load of fitness tech. The headline of which is the company's X-TAP sensor. Available in 42mm and 46mm versions, which come in aluminium and stainless steel, respectively, the Watch 6 boasts sapphire crystal protection, giving the watch a reassuringly premium feel. The 46mm model I tried out is undoubtedly substantial, weighing around 60g without the strap, but it looks and feels more like a conventional premium timepiece than a piece of fitness equipment. The display is excellent. The 46mm version has a 1.5-inch LTPO 2.0 AMOLED panel. Peak brightness reaches 3,000 nits, making the screen easy to read outdoors. The screen is bright, colourful and responsive, while the relatively slim bezels give it a more luxurious appearance than many fitness-focused rivals. Health monitoring is where the Watch 6 shines. Huawei has upgraded the X-TAP sensor, which combines optical sensing with pressure-based measurements. The company says the new sensor is twice as responsive as the one in the Watch 5, and it enables an expanded range of health measurements and studies. The watch can monitor heart rate, blood oxygen levels, sleep, stress, and other metrics, while ECG functionality and Pulse Wave Arrhythmia Analysis provide more detailed cardiovascular information. Huawei is also introducing opt-in research studies on the risk of coronary heart disease, diabetes and hypertension. As always, these should be regarded as health-monitoring tools rather than substitutes for medical diagnosis. Fitness tracking is equally comprehensive. The Watch 6 supports more than 100 workout modes and includes dual-band GNSS for positioning, making it suitable for everything from running and cycling to swimming and gym sessions. GPS performance is particularly useful for anyone who wants to leave their phone behind during a workout. There's also the option of eSIM connectivity, allowing the watch to operate more independently from a smartphone where supported. That can be useful for making calls, receiving notifications and staying connected when exercising without carrying a phone. Huawei's HarmonyOS software is slick and visually appealing, even if its app selection can't compete with Android or iOS. This is the one drawback that you'll have to consider with pretty much any Huawei device, although the mobile app is available in either flavour. You do get NFC and, through Curve Pay, contactless payments. Battery life is OK. Huawei quotes up to 4.5 days of typical use for the 46mm model and up to three days with the always-on display enabled. This stacks up nicely against the Apple Watch, but nowhere near the endurance of Huawei's GT models. Charging itself is very quick; however, wireless charging supports up to 20W. The biggest question is, therefore, value. At £379.99, the Watch 6 sits in premium smartwatch territory. Its health technology, excellent display, elegant design and broad compatibility make a strong case for the price, but the loss of the titanium and ceramic options previously available on the Watch 5's equivalent tier is worth noting. Huawei has moved those more luxurious materials into the £599.99 Watch 6 Pro range. That makes the standard Watch 6 feel more like a sophisticated health-focused smartwatch than a luxury watch replacement. For users who value the new X-TAP capabilities, ECG, cellular connectivity and extensive health tracking, that is likely to be a worthwhile trade-off. Those primarily interested in notifications, exercise tracking and long battery life may find Huawei's own GT range more to their liking. The Huawei Watch 6 46mm is available from £379.99 from the Huawei website What reviewers say "Should you buy it? I would, if I needed a great all-around smartwatch that can do pretty much everything." "Limited app support keeps it from competing with the smartest wearables, however, and inconsistent sleep tracking undermines some of its fitness credentials." Alternatives Apple Watch Series 11 Garmin Forerunner Meanwhile, Huawei has launched the FreeClip 2 S Signature Edition, a premium evolution of its open-ear earbuds. While retaining the lightweight design, adaptive audio technology and all-day battery life of the FreeClip 2, the new model introduces a redesigned charging case inspired by fine jewellery, alongside two new colourways, Deepsea Blue and Space Silver, and expanded compatibility with custom clip-on accessories from French jewellery house Les Néréides. The case does fix one of the issues I had with the original version, although - beware - it's very bling and hardly subtle, but if this is down your street, they're a fun pair of earbuds. Easy to wear, the earbuds deliver 9 hours of playback and 38 hours with the charging case. The dual-diaphragm driver delivers detailed vocals and powerful bass, while the three-mic call noise cancellation gives you clearer calls. They certainly are distinctive and fun. The FreeClip 2 S Signature Edition are currently available from Selfridges for £179.99