Lightweight design – but features seem familiar
The Huawei Watch GT Runner has got a global launch, bringing new features targeted at runners.
The GT Runner was launched in China back in December 2021, but has quickly gone global, with availability for Europe and the UK. As ever with Huawei, there’s no official US release or pricing.
Many of the headline features are already part of the Huawei Watch GT 3, the design has been overhauled for runners. It features a new lightweight design, go-faster lugs and detail on the case that Huawei says channels “supercar” energy.
It boasts a 1.43-inch AMOLED display with Harmony OS is onboard, just like the Huawei Watch GT 3 series.
There’s a ceramic bezel and titanium crown to go alongside the polymer case, with weight saving and a premium feel the name of the game.
In terms of features, there’s no too much new – as the Huawei Watch GT 3 offers plenty of running-specific features. And many of the standout features of the Runner already exist on the GT 3.
The GT Runner puts more focus on some existing features such as the Running Ability Index (RAI) and AI coaching. This uses historic running data to offer recovery and training intensity advice, training plans, possible race finish times and an overall score of your running ability, which appears like a VO2 Max score.
While this is hidden away on the Huawei Watch GT 3, we’re expecting to see this more front-and-center on the GT Runner.
But there have been a couple of targeted additions. Huawei has apparently improved the GPS performance with an extra ‘floating’ antennae in the lugs rather than the main case, which is new for the GT Runner. That adds to the potency of the dual-frequency GNSS (already found on the GT 3) for improved lock-on times and better accuracy.
The GT Runner uses all five systems (GPS + Beidou + GLONASS + Galileo + QZSS) for a more reliable connection.
The upshot of the extra antennae is a quoted 135% boost in accuracy over standard GT smartwatches.
The GT Runner also boasts route sharing and trackback, which will navigate you to the start of a route, in case you get lost, which is included on the GT 3.
But the company has upgraded its TruSport system, which should improve the accuracy of metrics such as VO2 Max, Running Ability Index, Training Effect and Recovery.
It carries over the 14 days of battery life (although 7 days ‘heavy use’) and excellent smartwatch credentials of the standard GT 3 smartwatch. And you can also pair an external heart rate sensor, if you’re looking for an extra level of accuracy.
The Huawei Watch GT Runner is set to cost €299 when it goes on sale in April. UK price is TBC, and there’s no official US availability.
That puts it in the same price bracket as devices such as the Apple Watch SE, and dedicated devices such as a Garmin Forerunner 245.
It’s certainly an attractive running focussed smartwatch with plenty of benefits – although it seems as if the GT 3 has most of the key features for a lot less. The standard Huawei Watch GT 3 starts at £209 – so you’re paying for the go-faster design.