Honor has released an interesting smartwatch that we tested for three weeks.
As with smartphones, Honor wearables are slightly simplified versions of Huawei devices, only for a younger audience and at a better price. The prototype of the Honor Watch Magic was the Huawei Watch GT - the devices are similar both in terms of functions and capabilities, as well as in terms of design. Let us immediately note that both gadgets do not support autonomous work with SIM cards and a mobile network, therefore they do not serve as smartwatches in the usual sense, but as advanced fitness trackers. If you want to answer calls and write SMS from a wrist device, pay attention to the Huawei Watch 2, but their price is much higher.
But let’s put aside comparisons and move on to the review of Honor Watch Magic - a stylish smart watch with an emphasis on the user’s physical activity and health.
Specifications
| Size: | 42.8×42.8×9.8 mm; |
| Type: | Smart watch; |
| Weight: | '79; |
| Platform support: | Android 4.4, iOS 9.0 and higher; |
| Display: | 1.2″, color, AMOLED, touch, PPI 326, Resolution 390×390; |
| Possibilities: | Light sensor; Accelerometer; Barometer; Gyroscope; Running monitoring; Calorie monitoring; Sleep monitoring; Heart rate monitor; Pedometer; |
| Battery: | 178 mAh; |
| Connection: | GALILEO, GPS, GLONASS; Bluetooth 4.2; NFC; |
| Operating system: | LightOS; |
Good video review:
1.2" AMOLED display: clear and bright
The center of attention is, of course, the color display. At 1.2 inches in diameter, it's not too big. The AMOLED standard is a popular choice for smartwatches. The resolution of 390 x 390 pixels impresses with clarity, as the pixel density is extremely high - 326 PPI.
Thanks to OLED technology, the screen provides very good contrast. It is easy to read information even in very bright lighting. There are five brightness levels and an automatic mode. Auto brightness works correctly thanks to the built-in light sensor. The touch controls are responsive even when used in the shower or while swimming. A total of 9 dial skins are available; third-party ones are not yet available for download.
Smartwatches from Honor: design features
During the official presentation, the company announced an ultra-thin design. The thickness of the case was only 10.6 mm. This specificity of the model provides for closer placement of buttons to each other. But this did not become a problem in using the gadget.
The watch circumference is made of ceramic. Depending on the version you choose, you can decide on the strap material – silicone or leather. It is difficult to give advice here, since everything depends on the purpose and style of the future owner.
The sporty aesthetics are not inferior to the classics, which also look no less presentable. This approach to style diversity can only guarantee the manufacturer a wide reach of potential buyers.
On the back panel there is a pulse sensor that monitors your heart rate. Like many smartwatch analogues, the Honor Watch Magic control buttons are located on the right. They are intended for menu navigation. Since the heart rate sensor fits tightly to the wrist, the gadget allows you to measure this indicator most accurately. You will be able to control your condition in calm mode and during physical activity, preventing overwork or poor health.
In addition to the standard interface control using buttons, there is also the possibility of touch navigation. The AMOLED display is highly sensitive. With a light touch of your finger on the screen, you can control your gadget.
What's wrong with the display?
Honor Magic Watch 2 has an AMOLED display with a diagonal of 1.39 inches and a resolution of 454 x 454 pixels. The screen occupies approximately 65% of the dial glass area, and the remaining part is reserved for the functionally useless, but stylish tachymeter scale.
There are no complaints about image clarity, palette, brightness and contrast. The speed and accuracy of the response is also good here.
The Honor Magic Watch 2 isn't very good at display customization. You can choose from a dozen or so options for the dial design. Additional settings are limited to setting an alternative time zone on the secondary scale in the “Speedometer” option.
It’s funny that, by analogy with the “classics”, hand-drawn arrows overlap the date, pedometer readings and other information on secondary scales.
Housing: protection and reliability
The steel coating of the case gives confidence in the reliability of the watch. The sensors are specially placed on the back side to improve their performance. The maximum permissible immersion in water reaches 50 meters at the permitted pressure that the watch can withstand. While swimming, it is easy to use special programs to control sports activities.
The sports version has a black strap with red inserts, the classic version has a beige and black strap. If desired, you can easily replace the straps, since the fixation system itself is very simple.
Sports version
Smart watches for health tracking
Although, despite the presence of sleep tracking functions, I would not sleep in them. They're too big. But sleep is tracked. Although who knows how it is tracked like that? The person sleeps, and in the morning he simply looks at the picture that was shown to him.
It's not very comfortable to sleep with such a large watch on your wrist.
As for activity, the watch provides a huge number of workouts - from simple jogging to complex options like skiing. True, it is not very clear what they are tracking in the second case. Only pulse and position in space?
There is also tracking of oxygen in the blood, but for this function to work, the hand must be motionless. This is the only way to not only get readings, but even start measuring. But in our difficult times, using this function you can monitor the condition of your lungs. After all, damage to this organ, including coronavirus, leads to a sharp drop in oxygen levels in the blood.
Huawei may get rid of the HONOR brand
Functionality overview
Light OS was chosen as the operating system responsible for the speed and accuracy of the clock. This is already a relatively well-known OS, presented in previous analogues of the model. Touch screen access allows you to open settings for heart rate measurement and access notifications. Other features are activated only using buttons.
Stylish design and practicality, which attracts athletes due to the presence of useful functions, make the model even more popular. The enhanced shock protection system and waterproof casing add versatility to the Honor Watch Magic.
The device is equipped with several sensors:
- acceleration: control over acceleration;
- gyroscope: adapted to the surrounding space, designed for human orientation, recording movement;
- magnetometer: used as a compass;
- heart rate monitor: changes in heart rate (especially important for athletes and people with cardiovascular problems);
- built-in lighting;
- Atmosphere pressure.
The software of a high-quality and at the same time inexpensive device is a practical guide to health, sleep, and the effect of stress on the body. You will also be able to control your own breathing, and if you feel unwell, use techniques to lower your heart rate. Its own operating system provides access to some modules such as GPS and NFC.
All functions can be roughly classified by purpose:
- Monitoring your general condition and health indicators: be aware of your heartbeat, monitor your breathing, avoiding overwork;
- Daily monitoring: record the distances traveled over a certain period of time, the number of calories lost;
- Stay connected: synchronizes with your smartphone so you don't miss an important call, message or notification.
Fitness tracking: running, swimming and 7 more modes
There are different sports modes: outdoor and indoor running, outdoor walking, hiking, outdoor and indoor cycling, swimming and training. To collect data, the watch is equipped with a GPS tracker and an optical heart rate monitoring sensor. When operating in sports mode, the heart rate is measured continuously, rather than once every 2 minutes. We compared GPS data with a smartphone - the results were approximately the same.
There is a mode for swimming. You can set the length of the pool and the goal - number of laps, time or calories. Once you start swimming mode, the screen will lock to avoid incorrect entries. You can pause and then end tracking simply by pressing the top button. To unlock the screen, you need to press the bottom button.
When tracking is finished, all data will be displayed on the watch and later synced with the app. The watch automatically recognizes your swimming style and also calculates your SWOLF value. By the way, the watch survived swimming without any problems, although the certification of water resistance does not guarantee this (in fact, only a shower or being in the rain).
Connection and communication
The built-in NFC module provides uninterrupted access to other gadgets with different operating systems. When connected, all information on the tablet or smartphone is displayed on the device’s display screen. There will be no problems with synchronization when reading notifications from Android 4.4 or higher and iOS 9.0 and higher.
The owner of Honor Watch Magic can use it to receive messages and calls. The only negative is the lack of access to mobile Internet.
Possibilities
The watch has an NFC chip, but it is not very useful. Currently, you cannot pay with watches, nor can you use them as an NFC tag.
A few words should be said separately about the vibration motor. It is not as strong as on Xiaomi fitness bracelets. Its power is enough to wake you up in the morning, but on the street (and even in outerwear) the notification can sometimes be missed.
In terms of the quality of work, it is the most ordinary unpleasantly buzzing vibration motor, as on other similar devices. Unfortunately, no company has yet come close to Apple's Taptic Engine vibration technology.
Battery Honor Watch Magic
Battery capacity – 178 mAh. The manufacturer managed to ensure high autonomy of the accessory. Due to this, as the manufacturer himself states, the battery can last about 7 days. However, we are talking about limited use. Active testing of functions will reduce the work rate to 2-3 days. When compared to its peers in this price segment, this is an impressive feature for a smartwatch.
Small battery but solid endurance
The battery capacity “on paper” is quite low. 178 mAh is at least half as much as its analogues. However, Honor promises a battery life of up to 7 days with the included heart rate monitor, which takes measurements once every 2 minutes. With the function disabled, the charge can last for two weeks, or so they write. But what about in real life?
As it turned out, the manufacturer did not deceive. With constant heart rate monitoring and running 10 kilometers daily with GPS tracking, the charge lasted for 6 days. The device will probably survive 12 days without a heart rate monitor.
The watch is charged through two contacts on the back. The included charger is equipped with a magnet, so it attaches securely. The charging station itself receives power via USB-C. The cable is included, but unfortunately there is no adapter.
Practical review: is the watch worth your attention?
The Honor Watch Magic smartwatch is a flagship in the low-cost price segment. The “trick” of the developers was the approach to choosing the style direction of the device. They were unable to settle on a sporty or classic version due to high customer demand for models with leather and silicone straps. We solved this problem creatively: in addition to releasing two variations, you can now change the latches yourself without much effort. The fastening system turned out to be both reliable and practical.
The watch is absolutely not afraid of moisture and is designed for sports and swimming to a depth of 50 meters. This functionality attracts athletes who were the first to begin pre-ordering on the international market. Monitoring your heart rate and healthy sleep will help you monitor your health, and if something happens, you can quickly take measures to stabilize your biorhythm. When synchronized with a smartphone or tablet, there will be no problems receiving messages, notifications and calls.
Watch Magic is a modern rhythm of life that requires you to continuously move and be active throughout the day. Make sure you stay on top of modern developments. The flagship will become an indispensable assistant. And if you play sports, you'll benefit from a range of benefits.
Notifications for incoming messages and calls
Honor Magic Watch 2 displays the beginning of incoming text messages and emails on the screen. You can also accept or reject voice calls.
It is worth noting that the Honor Magic Watch 2 provides excellent communication quality. The subscriber hears you perfectly, and you hear him.
To dial a number directly from the watch, you must first create a list of favorite contacts, limited to a dozen subscribers. Full synchronization with the smartphone's contact list is not provided. During a workout, the smartwatch only responds to voice calls and ignores other notifications.
Advantages and disadvantages
For the convenience of buyers who are thinking about buying a smartwatch, we have identified several pros and cons.
Advantages
excellent adaptation to customer needs for regular monitoring of health software for sports and swimming stylish design in two interpretations with the ability to independently replace the strap steel coating, thin body, convenient location of control buttons and touch access function for some settings high battery capacity: using the device in active mode – 2-3 days high battery capacity: using the device in active mode – 2-3 days innovative development of the navigation system detailed instructions for getting started with the device successful synchronization with a smartphone quad-core processor and proprietary software for quick access to all functions
Phone app
To fully work with the watch, the manufacturer recommends installing the Huawei Health mobile application on your smartphone. Through it it is much more convenient to make the necessary settings, monitor health indicators, view your own training achievements and much more.
You can download the program on Google Play for Android and in the App Store for iPhone.
