Huawei Watch D3 hands-on: This could be Huawei's most peculiar smartwatch yet, but it may also be its most intelligent.

      There are numerous smartwatches available that can track your steps, monitor your sleep quality, and check your heart rate for anomalies. However, the Huawei Watch D3 takes a different approach, focusing on a more specific question: “That’s great, but what’s your blood pressure?”

      Varun Mirchandani / Digital Trends

      After using the Watch D3 for several days, I find it to be one of the more intriguing smartwatches I've tested recently. It's not necessarily because it outperforms other devices, but rather because it targets a different health issue. This smartwatch prioritizes cardiovascular health above all else.

      A sleeker design with the D3

      One of the first things you’ll notice about the Watch D3 is that it appears less bulky than its predecessor. Huawei has reduced its thickness from 13.3mm to 11.4mm, which might not seem significant, but you can feel the difference when wearing it.

      Varun Mirchandani / Digital Trends

      It’s also much more comfortable to wear overnight. This is crucial because the D3 is not just meant for checking notifications. A key aspect of its appeal lies in its continuous health monitoring, which is much more effective if you can easily forget you’re wearing it. The larger 1.92-inch display also enhances readability for blood pressure readings and other health metrics.

      The innovative feature is embedded in the strap

      The unique feature of the D3, absent in standard smartwatches like the Apple Watch or Galaxy Watch, is an inflatable cuff integrated into the strap. This cuff is inflated by a small pump within the watch, allowing it to measure blood pressure directly instead of relying solely on optical sensor data.

      Varun Mirchandani / Digital Trends

      The measurement process is surprisingly quick and painless. Simply lift your wrist to heart level, start the measurement, and about 30 seconds later, you’ll have your reading. While the cuff does inflate and create some pressure, it’s not uncomfortable. After a few uses, it becomes just another convenient task to perform with your wrist.

      How the inflatable airbag strap on the Huawei Watch D3 functions. Varun Mirchandani / Digital Trends

      However, this feature does come with some limitations. The Watch D3 has an IP68 rating, but its design means it isn’t meant to be used as a dedicated swimming device. Extended water exposure, swimming, hot showers, and similar activities are not ideal for this specific piece of equipment. This is a small trade-off for the innovative blood-pressure cuff integrated into the strap.

      Blood pressure insights are more valuable

      The main advantage of measuring blood pressure in this manner is that the D3 can offer a distinct perspective on your health. Most smartwatches derive stress and wellness insights from metrics like heart rate, heart-rate variability, and sleep patterns. The D3, however, adds actual blood-pressure readings to the mix.

      Varun Mirchandani / Digital Trends

      Huawei has enhanced the blood-pressure functionalities compared to the previous D2 model. The D3 can record blood pressure readings both before and after exercise, and Huawei claims it maintains accuracy even at elevated heart rates. It also includes contextual reminders to check blood pressure during events like sudden temperature changes or high-altitude stays.

      This aspect is particularly notable as it adds a layer of intelligence to monitoring. Instead of just gathering data to be analyzed later, the D3 can suggest when a blood-pressure check might be beneficial, which adds a sense of purpose to the entire monitoring process.

      This isn’t competing directly with the Apple Watch

      What makes the Watch D3 more interesting is that it doesn’t aim to compete directly with devices like the Apple Watch, Galaxy Watch, or Garmin. It lacks some sports modes, has stricter water resistance, and its design is influenced by the necessary hardware that other smartwatches don’t accommodate. However, focusing on these factors misses the core purpose.

      Huawei Watch D3 is certified by TUV Rheinland for MDR Compliance Varun Mirchandani / Digital Trends

      Instead, the D3 targets a more specific audience: individuals concerned about cardiovascular health, those managing hypertension, adults over 40, or anyone for whom regular blood-pressure monitoring is more crucial than having the most versatile sports watch.

      Huawei highlighted this medical focus when it previewed the D3 at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress in Munich, where it garnered positive attention from healthcare professionals. Huawei states that the D3's CE-MDR certification in the EU covers individual blood-pressure measurements, ambulatory monitoring, and pre- and post-exercise assessments.

      A surprisingly effective niche

      Having spent a few days with the Watch D3, I’m still assessing how beneficial the added health data will be in the long run. I’ll need more time to evaluate its accuracy in different scenarios, battery longevity, and whether the novelty of measuring blood pressure will become a lasting habit.

      Varun Mirchandani / Digital Trends