Wearable technologies continue to evolve, with their share of surprises. From Dyson’s air-purifying noise canceling headphones to the smartwatch that uses your body’s movements to charge itself, it’s only natural that segments of wireless headphones and smartwatches are starting to intertwine.
Huawei’s new Watch Buds therefore give you the best of both worlds, with the aim of reducing the traditional disadvantages of wearable technology, such as the obligation to buy earphones and smartwatches separately.
At first glance, the Watch Buds look a lot like a traditional watch, with a full-grain leather strap, 47mm color AMOLED display and standard fitness tracking features. Huawei claims that the health tracking features of the Watch Buds are comparable to the health features of the Apple Watch Ultra.
And this reinforces the idea that smartwatch manufacturers are targeting both casual users and users with more intense activities.
Picture: Huawei.
Right earpiece? Left earpiece? Never mind !
At 14.99mm thick, the Watch Buds are made up of 21 layers of technological components, including photoelectric sensors, the charging unit for the earbuds, a magnetic attachment unit that keeps all the parts intact, and of course , the auricles.
The headphones are clearly the most interesting feature of the Watch Buds. According to Huawei, the headphones use adaptive ID technology, which eliminates the need for specific left or right placement. Instead, Adaptive ID technology automatically regulates left and right audio channels when users place the headphones in their ears.
The headphones also support Triple Adaptive EQ technology, which optimizes sound quality based on the structure of the user’s ear to provide the best possible listening experience. Huawei achieves this by leveraging the headphones’ microphones and bone conduction sensors for more precise audio calibration.
The watch face can be lifted to reveal the two wireless headphones underneath. Picture: Huawei.
Very light and very small headphones
Huawei claims the headphones are 50% smaller and 90% more compact than other headphones on the market, which only makes sense if the smartwatch itself doesn’t qualify as a charging case. They’re also incredibly lightweight, with each earbud weighing around a gram less than the smartwatch.
When it comes to battery life, Huawei estimates that the watch can last up to three days per charge when used in factory default configurations. You can get up to seven days if the wearable is in power saving mode.
Huawei’s Watch Buds will be sold from 500 euros. I would say the price is fair for a smartwatch and a pair of wireless headphones, especially if both perform well. For comparison, an Apple Watch Series 8 without cellular functionality costs around $500, and a pair of second-generation AirPods Pro headphones sell for $160, for a combined total of $660.
Source: ZDNet.com