Are Honor smartwatches good?
Honor smartwatches have an average overall score of 7.7, ranking #8 among all smartwatch brands, and a user rating of 8.9, placing them at #11 based on user reviews.
Yes, Honor smartwatches are good for users who want useful core features at competitive prices.
Honor strengths are battery endurance, practical fitness tracking, and easy day-to-day usability with notifications and health metrics. The lineup covers both entry and mid-tier needs well.
Trade-offs include a more limited app ecosystem than top smartwatch platforms, fewer premium-material options in lower tiers, and reduced smart-feature depth compared with flagship rivals.
(Note: A total of 40 brands were evaluated in the comparison in the first paragraph. Only those with at least 5 smartwatches in our database were included.)
The best Honor smartwatch models are as follows:
- Honor Watch Gs 3 (Overall score: 7.77)
- Honor Watch 4 (Overall score: 7.68)
- Honor Watch 5 (Overall score: 7.62)
The chart below ranks smartwatch brands by average overall score.
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What are the main advantages of Honor smartwatches?
The main advantages of Honor smartwatches are as follows:
- Long battery life: Most Honor smartwatches last 10 to 14 days on a single charge with normal use, and even with GPS tracking they run 20 to 30 hours. This puts them above many competitors that average 2 to 5 days.
- Accurate health tracking: Honor integrates TruSeen and TruSleep sensors that measure heart rate 24/7, SpO₂, stress, and sleep stages with precision close to medical-grade devices. For example, SpO₂ sensors measure oxygen saturation with ±2% accuracy.
- Lightweight design: Models like the Honor Watch ES weigh only 21 g without the strap, which makes them comfortable for long wear during sports or sleep. Even premium models stay under 50 g, lighter than many Apple and Samsung models.
- Large AMOLED display: Honor smartwatches use AMOLED panels up to 1.64 inches with resolutions around 456 × 280 pixels, which gives sharp text and vivid colors. Always-on display modes improve readability outdoors.
- Advanced sports modes: The watches support 85+ custom workout modes and 10+ professional ones, including running, cycling, swimming (5 ATM water resistance), and rowing. Real-time metrics track pace, VO₂ max, and recovery time.
- Affordable pricing: Honor smartwatches usually cost between £70 and £130, so they undercut premium competitors with similar functions, such as Huawei, Apple, or Samsung, which start at £220 to £340.
What are the main disadvantages of Honor smartwatches?
Honor smartwatches have the following main disadvantages:
- Limited app ecosystem: Unlike Apple or Samsung, Honor smartwatches do not support third-party app installations, so users rely only on preinstalled features.
- No NFC payments in most models: Except for some China-only versions, global variants do not support contactless payments. This reduces convenience for daily use.
- Average smartwatch features: Notifications, calls, and music control work, but features like LTE, advanced voice assistants, or app stores are missing compared to higher-end brands.
- Limited iOS compatibility: While Honor watches sync with iPhones, some advanced features such as detailed sleep data and stress monitoring are locked to Android.
- Few premium materials: Most models use plastic cases with silicone straps. Only top-end versions integrate stainless steel or leather, so they look less luxurious than premium competitors.
Who makes Honor smartwatches?
Honor smartwatches are made by Honor Device Co., Ltd., a Chinese consumer electronics brand that was originally part of Huawei.
The company was founded in 2013 as Huawei’s sub-brand and became independent in 2020 after Huawei sold it to a consortium of partners that included distributors, agents, and government-backed firms in Shenzhen. Since then, Honor has developed its own product lines which include smartphones, laptops, tablets, earphones, and smartwatches.
Honor’s headquarters are in Shenzhen, China, and the company employs thousands of people worldwide. It maintains research and development centers in China and other countries and continues to use many of the technologies it inherited from Huawei, such as design expertise and software integration.
How popular are Honor smartwatches worldwide?
Honor smartwatches are moderately popular worldwide, with IDC and Counterpoint data showing a market share of about 2 %–4 % in 2024, which placed the brand in the global top 10 smartwatch vendors. Shipments reached several million units, with the strongest performance in China where Honor ranked among the top 5 brands, while in Europe its share stayed below 3 %.
How much do Honor smartwatches cost?
Honor smartwatches cost between £45 and £170, depending on the model and its features.
Entry-level models like the Honor Band series usually stay in the 50–£60 range, while more advanced watches such as the Honor Watch GS 3 or Honor Watch 4 cost 120–£170. This price range places Honor in the budget and mid-range segment, which makes its watches more affordable than premium brands like Apple or Samsung.
The cheapest models focus on step tracking, heart rate monitoring, and basic notifications, while higher-end versions add features such as AMOLED displays, GPS, blood oxygen measurement, and longer battery life.
What are the main Honor smartwatches series?
Honor smartwatches are divided into the following series:
- Honor Watch GS Series: This line focuses on outdoor and sports use. It includes models with rugged designs, long battery life, and advanced GPS tracking. The GS Pro, for example, supports multiple navigation systems and has high resistance against water and dust.
- Honor Watch ES Series: This series targets casual users who want fitness tracking in a slim and rectangular design. The watches in this range include animated workout guides, continuous heart rate tracking, and sleep monitoring.
- Honor Watch Magic Series: These are classic-style watches with a round face and premium look. They balance design with fitness functions, so they include GPS, multiple sports modes, and long-lasting battery performance.
- Honor Band Series: Although marketed as bands, this series works as an entry point into Honor wearables. It focuses on step tracking, heart rate monitoring, and basic notifications. The slim design makes it more compact than the Watch series.
Which smartphones are compatible with Honor smartwatches?
Honor smartwatches are compatible with most Android phones and with iPhone models that support the required Honor health app and Bluetooth pairing.
Compatibility is generally broader on Android, while iPhone support usually covers core features such as notifications, health sync, and workout records with some model-dependent limitations.
Before buying, check your phone OS version, required app availability, and model-level compatibility notes so daily functions work correctly.
