The Huawei Watch D3 is an improvement on the D2, but Im still left wanting more

Date:
Wed, 23 Sep 2026 14:02:08 +0000

Description:
The Huawei Watch D3 delivers blood pressure monitoring and a range of other health reporting. Unfortunately the trade-off is a bulkier strap.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Huawei Watch D3: One minute review Its been two years since the release of the
Huawei Watch D2, and the Chinese brand has decided its time to offer an upgraded model, aptly named the D3. With the D range, Huawei was the first to introduce blood pressure monitoring capabilities in a smartwatch, providing a simple way to track the important health metric without needing a dedicated monitor.

In my Huawei Watch D2 review I gave the smartwatch an impressive 4.5 stars. I had high praise for the blood pressure monitoring and clever strap but was left underwhelmed by the bulky design, high price tag, and lack of smartwatch features. Huawei has gone some way to address these concerns, but not universally and in some ways not enough. As a result, the D3 isnt yet one of the best smartwatches around, but as a medical-first device, it approaches
and blends the lifestyle and medical aspects well.

The D3 is primarily a medical device rather than one of the best fitness trackers or running watches . Thats evidenced by its CE-MDR certification
that is proudly presented on the watchs product page. Its commitment to medical reporting means that at times Huawei is forced to prioritize function over form. This is the case with the blood pressure monitoring. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here: (Image credit: Future / Paul Hatton) To be able to offer ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, the D3 has to feature
a mechanical airbag and pressure sensor. This is attached to the inside of
the strap, and even though Huawei has narrowed the thickness of the airbag compared to the D2, it still lacks the comfort of most other smartwatches
that dont have this onboard hardware. Huawei Watch D3 (Black) at Amazon for 369.99 In testing I didnt have time to compare the D3 against a dedicated blood pressure cuff, but I was able to check it was in the same range as my expectations. The watch takes less than a minute to carry out the check, and all you have to do is place the watch at the same height as your heart and remain still.

Because single measurements are insufficient to determine trends, I used the auto-reminder feature to alert me so I didnt forget to capture regular measurements. After doing this for several days, I was able to see how my blood pressure changed depending on the time of day and what my average performance was. In addition to this, its possible to easily generate a
report to share with your GP from within the Huawei Health app. (Image
credit: Future / Paul Hatton) Blood pressure monitoring is the D3s magic trick, but the watch offers other health tracking, including pulse wave arrhythmia analysis and beat-by-beat ECG. During testing, I experienced repeated poor signal issues with the ECG measurements, but the arrhythmia analysis worked perfectly. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from
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While I was working through the health metrics, I strapped on a dedicated heart rate monitor so I could carry out an independent comparison. Both devices reported identical rates, although the D3 was slightly slower to adjust to changes. Finding each health metric is simple and straightforward thanks to the rotating crown control, and the interface clearly guides you through the required steps to perform each one.

Huawei has worked hard to reduce the bulk of the watch, stripping off 2mm
from the watch thickness and bringing it down to just 11.3mm. Thats pretty impressive, but unfortunately this measurement doesnt take into consideration the sensor, which protrudes out the bottom, and despite its smooth surface, feels a little uncomfortable on the wrist. (Image credit: Future / Paul Hatton) The watch features an enlarged 1.92-inch AMOLED display with 3000
nits of peak brightness. It is colorful, vibrant, and looks fantastic, offering the same excellent visibility when used both inside and out. Unfortunately, theres still a significant black strip between the edge of the display and the surrounding case, which results in a lot of dead space. An edge-to-edge display would look far better.

The D3 prioritizes medical reporting, but it also offers over 100 workout modes and a generous range of smart features, including notifications, Bluetooth calling, NFC payments, and voice note recording. These elevate the usefulness of the watch and make it a handy companion for everyday life.

I said earlier that I had an issue with the price of the D2, and Huawei has done nothing to make the D3 more affordable. In fact, its 50 more than its predecessor was at launch. The only thing that softens the blow is that if
you purchase the watch before September 22, 2027, then youll get 10 months of Bupa Well+ health services.

Its hard to get away from the fact that the D3 is focused on a very niche market. If youre concerned about your blood pressure or would simply like to keep an eye on it, then the D3 is the perfect solution. The trade-off is a watch that is bulkier and slightly more uncomfortable than most other smartwatches of this size, but we have to give the D3 credit: when even Apple Watches are focused on hypertension detection via LEDs, Huawei continues to back its unique cuff-based solution. (Image credit: Future / Paul Hatton) Huawei Watch D3: Specifications Swipe to scroll horizontally

Component

Huawei Watch D3

Price

399

Dimensions

46.5 41mm and 11.3mm thick

Weight

40g without strap

Case/bezel

Aluminium alloy

Display

1.92 inch AMOLED (408 480 pixels, PPI 328)

GPS

No

Battery life

1 day with the ABPM feature enabled or 6 days without

Connection

Bluetooth and NFC

Water resistance

No Huawei Watch D3: Scorecard Swipe to scroll horizontally

Category

Comment

Score

Value

A mid-range smartwatch where youre paying for the advanced blood pressure monitoring feature.

4/5

Design

A modern, good-looking smartwatch that is only let down by its bulk.

4/5

Features

Capable of recording an impressive set of medical-related metrics with
workout modes and smart features to boot.

4/5

Performance

Reliably accurate results with blood pressure recordings within my expected range. Heart rate measurements were spot on.

4/5 (Image credit: Future / Paul Hatton) Huawei Watch D3: Should I buy? Buy
it if...

You need a convenient way to track your blood pressure at home

It takes just one minute per test, and the app generates an exportable report that you can take to your GP.

Youre interested in more medical-related metrics

With pulse wave arrhythmia analysis and beat-by-beat ECG, the Huawei D3
offers more than most watches in this area. Don't buy it if...

You have no interest in blood pressure monitoring

There are better smartwatches at this price point that offer a more well-rounded smartwatch experience.

You want a fitness tracker

If youre a fitness enthusiast or runner, then a dedicated watch for these purposes will serve you better. Also consider

Huawei Band 11 Pro

A better all-round fitness tracker thats significantly more affordable. It also offers some medical measurements, including arrhythmia analysis and
sleep apnea monitoring, but no blood pressure.

Read our Huawei Band 11 Pro review View Deal

Apple Watch Series 11

Apple Watches feature a 'hypertension detection' feature, that can indicate trends over 30 days, but not instant blood pressure readings like Huawei's cuff.

Read our Apple Watch Series 11 review View Deal How I tested the Huawei
Watch D3 I wore the D3 for 72 hours, and during this time I performed every medical test that the watch offers. Despite not having time to compare the blood pressure results to a dedicated monitor, I was able to compare the
heart rate readings to a heart rate monitor. I also used the D3 to keep on
top of my notifications, check the weather, and record some voice notifications. First reviewed: September 2026 Huawei Watch D3: Price Comparison 369.99 View 369.99 View 369.99 View 369.99 View We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices powered by



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/health-fitness/smartwatches/huawei-watch-d3-review


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