Huawei hails fashion-tech fusion with…

LIVE FROM BERLIN, GERMANY: Huawei took the wraps off a slate of premium devices, placing an emphasis on design and next-generation health monitoring as the Chinese vendor aims to cement a leading position in the global wearables market.

At a launch event themed ‘Fashion Next’, James Warren, Huawei’s head of international media, explained: “Our fashion forward proposition has inspired a broad portfolio of innovative wearable products that combine aesthetic design with truly advanced sports and health management.”

Front and centre at the launch was the Huawei Watch 5, which debuts the company’s new multi-sensing ‘X-Tap’ technology. Integrated into the side of the device, the fingertip sensing module combines heart health sensors, including PPG and ECG, with tactile sensors to enable fingertip-based health tracking. Andreas Zimmer, head of product at Huawei (pictured) explained the sensor “augments detailed readings from your fingertips with continued measurements from your wrist,” delivering medical-grade accuracy across metrics such as SpO2, heart rate variability, vascular stiffness and hypertension risk assessments over a 24-hour cycle.

The Watch 5 also introduces gesture-based controls powered by a dedicated neural processing unit (NPU) and on-device algorithms. Using two finger gestures, users will be able to command functions including capturing photos and answering calls.

The new wearable features aerospace-grade titanium and 904L stainless steel with a sapphire glass screen, and now comes in two sizes. While the existing 46mm version has a matte finish, the vendor also introduced a smaller 42mm model.

In addition, Huawei took the wraps off its mid-range offerings with the Watch Fit 4 Series featuring battery-life upgrades and a titanium alloy bezel body for durability. The Pro model includes a 9.3mm thin body, water resistance, and supports a range of advanced sports tracking including trail running, diving up to 40 metres and professional golfing.

The Watch 5, starting at £399.99, is now available to pre-order with full availability beginning from 26 May. Meanwhile the Watch Fit 4 and Fit 4 Pro are priced at £149.99 and £249.99 respectively.

Not just an upgrade
Rounding out the announcements, Huawei also introduced its latest audio offering, the FreeBuds 6, featuring an open-fit ergonomic design and a dual-driver system for enhanced bass and call clarity. In addition, its new MatePad Pro 12.2-inch tablet touts a Tandem OLED PaperMatte Display. While FreeBuds 6 are available immediately for £139.99, pricing for the MatePad Pro is yet to be confirmed.

During the event, Warren underscored the company’s long-term vision and investment in innovation, noting that last year alone, Huawei spent more than €22 billion, or more than 20 per cent of its total revenue, on R&D efforts. He added that by the end of 2024, the company had shipped over 180 million units worldwide, claiming that it put the vendor at the forefront of global growth across all device categories.

Putting focus on the company’s push for consumer design and health technology, Warren hailed the new wearables as “not just an upgrade of our products”, but a “reinterpretation of fashionable lifestyle and a redefinition of healthy living”.