In 2014, Apple and Samsung both launched their first smartwatches: the Apple Watch and the Gear S. That same year, Google introduced Android Wear to unify the Android smartwatch experience and ecosystem. Since then, smartwatches have begun to flourish, with Apple releasing the Apple Watch Series 2 and Samsung launching the Gear S3. Meanwhile, Huawei, competing with these tech giants, also unveiled the HUAWEI WATCH 2.
Three major players—Apple, Samsung, and Huawei—are vying for dominance in the smartwatch market. Each brand offers distinct products with unique operating systems and ecosystems. Given the generally short battery life of smartwatches, and as these devices evolve into niche items, the big players are focusing on specific user groups with different needs. Consequently, smartwatches are increasingly being positioned as professional sports equipment, functioning as personal fitness coaches.
The Apple Watch, Samsung Gear S3, and Huawei HUAWEI WATCH 2 represent the top-tier smartwatches. Despite differences in branding, operating systems, and ecosystems, each offers a unique experience. Whether smartwatches are considered "useless" by most, these high-end options remain appealing to those who can afford them. So, which one should you choose? Let's compare.
The first contrast:
The first generation of the Samsung Gear S had a square screen, while the S2 shifted to a more popular circular design. The HUAWEI WATCH 2 revamped its predecessor's style, transitioning into a quasi-professional sports watch, replacing some metal parts with lighter plastics. The Apple Watch has retained its original design since inception.
The materials used in the body and screen vary across these watches. Both the Gear S3 and HUAWEI WATCH 2 use the same materials, regardless of the version. The Apple Watch is more complex, offering multiple versions: a 316L stainless steel case with sapphire glass, or aluminum alloy with Lon-X glass. If we break it down further, the original Apple Watch Sport version, Series 1/2 are all aluminum alloy + Lon-X glass, while the Edition version is 316L stainless steel + sapphire glass.
Due to different positioning, the HUAWEI WATCH 2 lags slightly in wear resistance. Its plastic keys are prone to scratching, whereas both the Apple Stainless Steel and Samsung Gear S3 have 316L stainless steel buttons.
In terms of durability, the Gorilla SR+ equipped in the Gear S3 is the hardest among the three, surpassing the Apple Watch's stainless steel sapphire glass. The Lon-X glass used in the Apple Watch Common Edition has poor scratch resistance but better resistance to falls.
Metal cases are more durable but prone to scratches. Once the Apple Watch Aluminum Edition gets scratched, it's noticeable, particularly with the black version. As for the stainless steel version, despite using the same 316L stainless steel, the Gear S3 has been brushed on the sides, making even scratches less noticeable. For a closer look, click on the larger images provided.
All three screens are OLEDs, but Huawei uses AMOLED, while Samsung naturally employs its own Super AMOLED, which is the brightest. In outdoor lighting, the screens automatically adjust to maximum brightness. However, even with automatic brightness adjustment, direct sunlight makes it challenging to read the screen content on all three models.
Due to varying pixel arrangements, even though the Gear S3's PPI is higher than the Apple Watch, the actual detail clarity on the watch is HUAWEI WATCH 2 > Apple Watch > Gear S3. However, the HUAWEI WATCH 2 has a feature where it displays a surface touch matrix at certain light angles, enhancing visibility without impacting the experience. Some users might find this slightly uncomfortable, though.
System Ecosystem Comparison:
To limit the scope of comparison, the three devices were upgraded to their latest systems, representing all current mainstream smartwatch operating systems.
Both Samsung and Huawei support all Android 4.4 and above mobile phones, offering identical functions and system experiences. They also support iOS devices. However, due to Apple's privileges, Samsung's Tizen and all Android smartwatches (including Android Wear, like the HUAWEI WATCH 2) have limited functionality on iOS systems, such as unsupported payments, partial software loss, and occasional Bluetooth instability.
The Apple Watch adheres to Apple's closed ecosystem, supporting only iOS devices. The new device pairing process is simpler than Samsung and Huawei due to the pre-installed watch client in the iOS system.
Starting with the S2, Samsung designed a rotating dial for the Gear S smartwatch, incorporating its unique Tizen system, providing the only viable competition to Apple's Apple Watch in terms of operation. Additionally, the Gear S3 includes a glove mode, allowing users to interact with the dial even with thick gloves, making it ideal for winter activities.
Compared to Samsung's large rotating dial, Apple added a rotary slide function to the small crown, offering smooth operation but lacking the tactile feedback of Samsung's segmented dial, resulting in a less precise positioning. Apple's killer feature is Force Touch with pressure-sensitive operation, which enhances the control experience significantly.
Huawei lacks any special operations, following the design of Android Wear 2.0. It has only one custom button, with all other operations relying on touch.
A hallmark of smartwatches is the ability to swap dials, determining their playability. While Apple appears to have many dials, most are more functional due to the square design. The most unique dial on the Apple Watch is the Disney series, but how many people would consistently use it? It's somewhat childish.
The choice of round dials is more diverse. Samsung can be credited with leading the trend, offering endless official dials. The number of third-party dials exceeds expectations. Xing Zi once remarked: Both are struggling with decision fatigue, so I opted for the default dial to avoid hassle.
Huawei is in a more awkward position. The original third-party dial of Android Wear is extensive but requires availability in the international version of the store. Huawei's official dial shop has only a few models. Clicking for more leads to the application market, prompting you to download two third-party dial software... While these third-party dials indeed offer a vast selection, is it worth the effort for Huawei and Samsung users to go through such a tedious process? (If you think I'm being harsh on Huawei, I must admit it's true. The fact remains that the official dial selection is limited.)
Another key feature of smartwatches is the abundance of software. Apple benefits from a closed and well-established ecosystem, offering a vast array of software for the Apple Watch, including some interesting watch games. The localization software is also comprehensive, making Apple the most complete smartwatch ecosystem today.
Although Samsung has developed its own Tizen, it is also struggling with the number of applications. The Tizen ecosystem is impressive, with a considerable number of software and games, though not comparable to Apple. Localization software is also abundant, with some apps unavailable on Android Wear.
Let’s not ignore the reality: China indeed has fewer software options. On a single page... If you don't agree, consider buying a Huawei WATCH 2 with a domestic Android Wear version. Alternatively, you could install Google Frames and Google Play on your phone and then download the international version of Android Wear online to access a wider range of software. However, how many people are willing to go through such a cumbersome process?
In terms of smartwatch ecosystems, Huawei falls far behind domestic competitors like Ticwatch.
Daily Use Comparison:
A smartwatch can replace a traditional watch to a certain extent. For deep users, it becomes integral to daily life. In this comparison, each product has its strengths, but none are flawless.
Apple doesn't come with an official dialer by default. Users must either dial or install a third-party dialer via Siri Voice. Apple also boasts a powerful feature: as long as the watch connects to the WiFi of the paired iOS device, even if the phone is out of range, calls can still be made and notifications pushed, which is very practical.
Although Huawei lacks offline functionality, it offers a 4G version that allows inserting SIM cards independently of the phone, making it more practical than Apple's LAN connection. Overall, Star is not entirely critical of Huawei.
Samsung faces more challenges. Currently, there is no 4G version or similar offline functionality. The only commendable aspect is the design of the default dialer, which aligns better with the watch's operation.
In mobile payment, Samsung lags behind. Alipay and Samsung Pay are available, but the bus card feature isn't fully operational yet. Both Apple and Huawei offer similar payment options, including Alipay and WeChat. However, Huawei has more NFC-enabled bus cards, supporting cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou, showcasing its domestic advantage in mobile payments.
Battery life data in the table above reflects official results. Different usage environments impact battery life, making it difficult to eliminate all variables affecting test results. Even if the three watches are connected via an iPhone, Xingzi cannot guarantee the impact on battery life if functions are limited. Changing to an iPhone or Android phone doesn’t ensure the same mobile push environment. Therefore, the final test was conducted in flight mode.
From 10:36 am to 16:50 pm, Apple remained at 100%, Samsung at 99%, and Huawei at 93%. Doubt the authenticity? Download the original images to verify the shooting times. The test shows that even in standby mode, Huawei consumes more power than Apple and Samsung.
As for actual daily use, outcomes depend on various scenarios, such as frequent GPS usage or receiving numerous notifications. Regardless of the smartwatch, under heavy usage, sustaining a full day is challenging. Based on official battery life data and personal experience, Samsung’s battery life is the best in mild daily use. Like Apple, its ecosystem and optimization, coupled with a larger battery capacity, justify its longevity.
Although Huawei is weaker in battery endurance, it excels in charging speed. Both Apple and Samsung take about 2 hours to charge, while Huawei takes only about 1.5 hours, a common benchmark for fast-charging smartwatches.
However, Huawei's charging method is less advanced compared to the first generation, reverting to a simple magnetic charge. Due to the sports watch design, it cannot be placed on a desk while charging. To capture the photo above, Star had to perform acrobatics with the HUAWEI WATCH 2 to release and touch it.
Both Apple and Samsung offer wireless charging, but Samsung comes with a stand-up charging dock on many e-commerce platforms, doubling as a desktop clock, whereas Apple requires users to purchase their own stand.
Sports Monitoring Function Comparison:
Both the Apple Watch Series 2 and the HUAWEI WATCH 2 are quasi-professional sports watches, with Huawei excelling in sports watch styling. Samsung, while maintaining the look of traditional watches, has integrated quasi-professional sports features. Many users might want to compare heart rate, running, and positioning data, but this will be skipped as there’s no single definitive reference for accuracy. These three models are flagship products on their respective lines, ensuring minimal deviation in data.
Regardless of third-party software, Samsung offers up to 16 types of sports modes, providing more detailed sports data. Apple also added a unique swim mode to the Apple Watch Series 2, while Huawei sticks to common modes.
On built-in sensors, the main difference lies in the barometer. Only the Apple Watch Series 2 has this feature, with current default settings not recording altitude data, making related data untraceable on the watch unless accessed via external software. Both Samsung and Huawei can view altitude and air pressure through the default dial or plugins, but this requires internet connectivity. The issue arises when Samsung allows direct WiFi selection and password entry, while Huawei requires entering the password on the phone, making the 4G version inconvenient.
The difference in pressure data is minor, but the elevation discrepancy is significant. Calibration is essential. Accurate data is reliable, while inaccurate data is useless. As a reference, as long as it's not heavily skewed, it suffices.
The Samsung Gear S3 also features an interesting altitude change function. With a default setting of 3 meters per floor, it sets daily stair-climbing goals and sends notifications upon achievement, offering an easy fitness mode.
The Samsung Gear S3 also includes a sleep monitor function. Although wearing a watch to sleep feels odd, it's acceptable not to remove the wristband. Currently, almost all smartwatches lack sleep monitoring, except for the Samsung Gear S series.
Additionally, in sports mode, Samsung supports automatic detection of pauses, with voice prompts notifying users they don't need to manually stop for more accurate final data. In contrast, Samsung's sports function design is indeed comprehensive. If the Gear S4 supports swimming mode in the future, it might outperform Apple in sports functions.
Why wait for Gear S4? Because the S3 has an IP68 waterproof rating, suitable for daily life but not swimming. The Apple Watch Series 2 has an IPX8 rating and claims a special design with drainage functionality, allowing it to reach 50-meter waterproofing.
Is it bad? You have the answer.
Even Samsung, Apple’s rival, has escaped the "short lifespan" curse. The standalone smartwatch is indeed underwhelming. However, from a functional perspective, these three smartwatches aren’t absolutely good or bad. In the above comparisons, HUAWEI WATCH 2 seems to lag behind Apple and Samsung in many aspects, but considering the price, Huawei is the cheapest of the three. Moreover, Huawei targets quasi-professional sports enthusiasts in terms of style and positioning. If you’re a straight male sports fan, the affordable HUAWEI WATCH 2 Bluetooth Edition might be your first choice.
If you desire a complete smartwatch ecosystem and are an iPhone user, decisively choose the Apple Watch. But I fear straight men like Xingzi might find the Apple Watch’s design "basic" and unacceptable. If you can accept limited functionality, the Samsung Gear S3 is not a bad option for iPhone users. For Android users, the Samsung Gear S3 is a straightforward choice for men—a rugged look with a rotating dial, whether in business or sports settings, it exudes control and versatility.
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