Huawei Watch GT 4 vs. Huawei Watch 4

Though the flagship Huawei Watch 4 has only just been refreshed by the company, it's already got some stiff internal competition thanks to the new Huawei Watch GT 4. 

Both smartwatches have been given a fairly considerable overhaul from their predecessors, but they're also very different propositions when compared directly. 

If you're trying to figure out which is the better Huawei smartwatch for your wrist, then, understanding exactly where these two split - and what they have in common - is paramount. 

We've managed to spend a healthy amount of time with both, so dive below to discover all the key things to consider when comparing the Huawei Watch 4 and Watch GT 4. 

Price, availability, and versions

As ever with modern smartwatches, there are countless versions of each of these lines. 

For the Huawei Watch 4 series, you'll be choosing between the standard model and a 'Pro' edition. 

Essentially, opting for the Pro model nets you a bigger case size - 48mm, as opposed to the 46mm of the standard Watch 4 - and a slightly improved battery life. One downside, though, is the price. 

While the Watch 4 retails for £399.99, the price begins at £449 for the Watch 4 Pro's leather band option and extends all the way to £599.99 for the titanium equivalent. 

These are pretty lofty numbers, relative to the wider competition, and the Watch GT 4 is much cheaper, too. 

Also offered in two different case sizes - 41mm and 46mm - the bigger of the pair begins at £229.99 for the standard silicone band and progresses to £249.99 for the brown leather band.

It maxes out at £299.99 for the stainless steel bracelet - a full £100 cheaper than the base Watch 4. 

If you opt for the 41mm edition, you only have a leather band option (£229.99) and a Milanese metal band (£249.99) to pick between, but, again, both are much cheaper than any edition of the Watch 4. 

Design and display

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We've already touched on the broad differences in the two setups of these smartwatch lines by referencing the case sizes, but there are plenty of other things to be aware of, as well. 

Whichever you choose, you're getting a smartwatch that honors classic design; the sportier vibe of previous generations has been left behind for these fourth-gen editions. 

But this similarity in feel doesn't mean they're equals. As you would expect, the Watch 4 series has the premium edge - and this is perhaps the most noticeable in the display (shown above). 

While the display of the Watch GT 4 pairing is still a solid AMOLED, they miss out on the LTPO AMOLED boasted by the Watch 4 and 4 Pro. And when you consider the 4 Pro can also pump this out on a larger display, it's quite a different equation to what's offered on the Watch GT 4.

Both Watch 4 devices are also compliant with EN13319 standards, on top of being resistant to pressures equivalent to 5ATM, which makes them suitable for free diving to 30 meters. They also have a depth sensor built in, which will automatically record and display data when submerged.

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It's not all about display or water resistance, though, of course. 

The Watch 4 Pro may have the best display of the bunch (and be more resilient to deep water), but it's also incredibly hefty. Not only does it weigh a considerable 64g without a band, but it also measures 13mm thick. 

Compared to the 48g weight of the Watch GT 4 (or 37g of the 41mm model), this makes a big difference to comfort levels during exercise and sleep tracking.

We should also note that the Watch GT 4 is the only real option designed for women, given that the remaining three models are all at least 46mm and have much more masculine designs.

Tracking and health monitoring

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The health monitoring experience is another area where these two watch series differ considerably. 

It's something we were slightly critical of the Watch GT 4 in our full review, noting that the health features on offer are relatively stripped back when compared to the Watch 4 series. 

The more premium Watch 4 models are awash with the likes of the flashy and new arterial stiffness checks, as well as the ability to take ECG readings and offer the Health Glance feature that works similarly to Garmin's Health Snapshot. 

The Watch GT 4, by comparison, misses out on the above, as well as fairly standard insights like HRV and breathing rate - and, as a result, any kind of readiness metric.

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It's not all bad news, though. The Watch GT 4 series still offers a decent array of insights - including in-depth sleep tracking, heart rate and resting heart rate trends, and blood oxygen data.

In fact, likely by virtue of being slightly newer, it also has a couple of exclusives over the Watch 4 series. 

The first is a new TruSeen 5.5+ heart sensor, which the company indicates is a bit more consistent in challenging environments like extreme cold, while there's also slightly improved GPS tracking on account of what the company is calling 'Inew Sunflower GPS'. 

We wouldn't say these are huge reasons to upgrade, based on the differences we've seen in testing, but they are important to be aware of nonetheless.

Whichever you opt for here, you can't really lose. The accuracy across the board is very good in these watches, and insights compared well to our long-established baselines from Garmin, Oura, and Whoop.

HarmonyOS and smartwatch features

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Both of these fourth-gen models run on Huawei's own HarmonyOS 3.0, and the experience is very comparable - as you would expect. 

Unfortunately, this OS is still something we think is more of a limitation for the company's devices than a reason to pick them, with the AppGallery missing important third-party options and contactless payment support in western territories being scarce. 

All the Watch 4 and Watch GT 4 models boast integrations with the likes of Strava and Komoot, offer smart assistant support through Huawei's own Celia, and can mirror incoming notifications, but those who prioritize the smart experience are definitely better considering other options. 

For what it's worth, though, things are slightly better on the Watch 4 models. 

That's because the Watch 4 devices support eSIM, and can therefore be attached to a data plan and make untethered calls and send messages.

Without any major music/podcast streaming apps or email clients to link up with, however, its appeal is pretty diminished, in our view. 

Battery life

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With fewer premium features, the Watch GT 4 devices are superior to the Watch 4 models in the battery life department - even if they don't quite live up to Huawei's estimates in most scenarios.

In our testing of the 46mm, with settings like the always-on display enabled, we saw a daily dropoff that equated to around six days of battery life. 

Depending on use - and particularly how much you hammer that GPS with outdoor workouts - we think this is likely to last most users between 4-7 days. 

It's probably possible to make it to Huawei's quoted battery life of 14 days with battery-sapping features turned off, but we don't expect many to really use the watch this way. 

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We should also note we haven't managed to test the 41mm edition yet, though we would expect the story to be similar. 

If we use this 4 - 7 day average as the rough benchmark for what the Watch GT 4 series can manage, the Watch 4 models can't compete. 

In our very similar test conditions, the Watch 4 Pro was able to just about make it 3 days with the always-on display enabled, and around 4 days with it turned off. 

The standard Watch 4, meanwhile, could last around 3 days with the AOD turned off and just 2 days with it enabled. 

Which is best?

In our full reviews, we gave both of these devices 4/5 stars - and that means either is worth considering if you're on the lookout for a new smartwatch. 

Based on your needs, though, the answer to the question of which is best will be different. 

The Watch 4 models are defined by their more premium design, and also have fuller health insights and smart features on their side.

However, they're also considerably more expensive than the pair of Watch GT 4 watches, and the battery life is also a bit of a step down.

The Watch GT 4 devices, despite being more limited, are better value for money. And, potentially, depending on which versions you're comparing, you can get most of the Watch 4 experience for nearly half the price if you choose the Watch GT 4. 

We expect that this will prove decisive for most people - and particularly women, who are strongly nudged towards the Watch GT 4 lineup thanks to the overall case sizing and styling of these two lineups.