Huawei Watch GT 2 and GT 2e can now download apps via big software update

March update also brings new sports features including sunrise and sunset displays
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Huawei is rolling out some pretty major software updates to its Watch GT 2 and Watch GT 2e series smartwatches, which brings over features from its GT 3 and Watch 3 watches including the ability to download third party apps.

For owners of a 42mm or 46mm Huawei Watch GT 2 or the Watch GT 2e, you're looking out for version number 11.2.15.10 as the update that's bringing these latest features, which seem to be rolling out to China first and we hope will be making its way to other countries soon too.

Essential reading: Huawei Watch GT Runner review | Huawei Watch GT 3 review

In terms of what's landing, all watches will get access to Huawei's App Market to download third party apps and will now have its Auto Navi map app (China only) preloaded.

There's new health and sports features with sunrise and sunset displays now added, the ability to see pace intervals during runs, support to connect the watches to sports equipment (in China only) and you can now keep the screen in always-on mode when tracking workouts to see real-time stats without waking up the screen.

Huawei is also adding its heart health research application and is bringing women's health tracking support here too.

To download the March update, you'll need to go to Huawei's Health companion phone app, select your paired device and then select firmware update to check to see if it's available.

These are some pretty sizeable new features for Huawei's older generation watches, which do run on the same HarmonyOS operating system, which officially debuted on the Huawei Watch 3 and has since appeared on the Huawei Watch GT 3 and the Huawei Watch GT Runner.

While it's great to see that app store access, we'd actually the say the new sports features are the real win here. A lot of what you get on the sports tracking front on the GT 3 and Watch 3 already features on the GT 2 series. Adding the ability to view real-time stats without waking up the display especially will make the already solid sporty smartwatch an even better one.

You can hunt out the Watch GT 2 and the Watch GT 2e for well under $200/£100, though it's a little harder to find in the US given Huawei's ongoing trade issues.

As mentioned, it looks like the March update is available in China first, so we hope it's not long before it starts showing up in Huawei's Health app further afield.

Via: Huawei Central

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Michael Sawh

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Michael Sawh has been covering the wearable tech industry since the very first Fitbit landed back in 2011. Previously the resident wearable tech expert at Trusted Reviews, he also marshaled the features section of T3.com.

He also regularly contributed to T3 magazine when they needed someone to talk about fitness trackers, running watches, headphones, tablets, and phones.

Michael writes for GQ, Wired, Coach Mag, Metro, MSN, BBC Focus, Stuff, TechRadar and has made several appearances on the BBC Travel Show to talk all things tech. 

Michael is a lover of all things sports and fitness-tech related, clocking up over 15 marathons and has put in serious hours in the pool all in the name of testing every fitness wearable going. Expect to see him with a minimum of two wearables at any given time.


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