The article discusses the Huawei Watch D2, a smartwatch featuring medically certified blood pressure monitoring technology. It emphasizes the importance of monitoring blood pressure for individuals of all ages, not just seniors. The watch boasts a premium design, quality materials, and offers additional health functions like ECG, SpO2 measurement, and sleep tracking. Setup requires a Huawei Health app, and the watch is compatible with both Android and iOS, albeit with limited features on iPhones. Priced at €399, it is recommended for reliable health monitoring.
Monitoring your blood pressure is essential for everyone, not just the elderly or those under medical care. High blood pressure can stem from various factors unrelated to age, such as obesity, inactivity, or other unhealthy habits.
To address this, several brands have begun incorporating blood pressure monitoring features into smartwatches. Huawei has pioneered a clinically certified technology approved by the EU, now featured in the new Huawei Watch D2, building on its previous model, the Huawei Watch D from 2022.
Design and Build Quality
The Huawei Watch D2 presents a robust and premium appearance. Its aluminum casing, combined with the main dial and a singular functional button, suggests high quality. Design elements bear a resemblance to the Apple Watch Ultra, particularly with the distinctive orange-bordered button.
The black fluoroelastomer strap has a soft silicone-like feel, while the inner strap incorporates padding to accommodate the airbag used for blood pressure measurements. This padding adds to the comfort of the product.
What’s in the Box?
The Huawei Watch D2 package includes a charging cable that fits snugly within a dedicated case for the smartwatch. This cable features a USB output, so a separate charger is required for wall charging. Additionally, a handy measuring tape is provided to help you determine if you need the M or L wrist strap. The L strap comes attached, while the M strap is included in the box, removing the need for a separate purchase.
Currently, the Huawei Watch D2 is designed for wrist circumferences ranging from 13 to 21 centimeters. Unfortunately, the manufacturer does not offer straps for larger or smaller wrists that support the blood pressure measurement feature. While alternative decorative bands can be found from other retailers, they won’t facilitate blood pressure monitoring.
Getting Started
The Huawei Watch D2 arrived with a partially charged battery, allowing for immediate use post-setup, which included removing a display sticker. The sticker contains instructions for the proper blood pressure measurement posture and a QR code directing users to a guide video. However, we had difficulty scanning the QR code with our smartphone.
Upon powering the watch, users select their system language (we opted for German) and connect their smartphone via the Huawei Health app, which must be downloaded separately for both Android and iOS devices.
A Huawei account is necessary for setup, which can be created using either an email address or phone number. After pairing the Huawei Watch D2 with our iPhone 14 Pro, we skimmed the license agreement and proceeded to agree, but then were prompted for an update. This could be a hassle for those helping others set up their device.
While the update downloaded, the watch measured our heart rate, allowing us to explore available features like the calendar, alarm, and flashlight. After approximately 30 minutes, the update concluded, enabling us to proceed to our first blood pressure measurement.
Blood Pressure Monitoring
Just before we could take our initial blood pressure reading, notifications began appearing, as the watch hadn’t synced with the iPhone’s ‘Focus’ mode. This was a minor frustration, compounded by an unsolicited advertisement for shoes sent from the watch itself. Quickly switching to ‘Do Not Disturb’ mode allowed us to finally focus on our measurement.
The first blood pressure reading was straightforward and user-friendly: we received clear instructions on how to position the airbag strap properly on our wrist. To ensure accuracy, we were advised to sit still with the hand close to the heart, keeping the palm in a neutral position as the measurement commenced.
The wrist strap inflated noticeably but was not uncomfortable, especially when compared to traditional upper arm cuffs typically used in doctor’s offices. After about a minute, the watch vibrated, signaling the end of the measurement.
The Huawei Watch D2 produces silent readings, allowing for use even while sleeping, without the worry of disruptive sounds from the airbag. Users receive both the systolic and diastolic values along with a color-coded interpretation of their results: blue for low, green for normal, and red for high, with data automatically transferred to the Huawei Health app.
Blood pressure readings can be performed on demand or at designated intervals, making this feature especially beneficial for those needing regular monitoring for health reasons.
ECG and Heart Rate Measurement
The Huawei Watch D2 can also generate an ECG, which functioned seamlessly during testing. Accessing the ECG feature is as simple as selecting the dedicated app, which automatically measures heart rate. The accuracy of the results was comparable