Huawei Watch GT 6: Power is knowledge

I love training with a power meter. Admittedly, it took some head scratching for me to understand the significance of the data, and learning to ride at a consistent power demanded a lot of practice. However, armed with a little know-how and a more finely tuned cadence, I now appreciate that power is the most immediate and precise training metric available to us.

By ‘us’, of course, I don’t mean ‘you’, unless you’re the kind of wealthy cyclist who can afford to splurge a sizeable chunk of cash on a power meter (that’s an n+1 amount of financial pain if you own multiple bikes) or a set of power meter pedals.

Fortunately, Huawei’s new GT 6 Series watches could be about to challenge that dichotomy, placing power in the hands, or, more accurately, on the wrists, of many more cyclists. Attractive, accessibly priced and bursting with impressive tech, the GT 6 and GT 6 Pro watches bring training to power within the reach of the rest of us. The world of cycling tech has long been defined by super-expensive, complex equipment, so kudos to Huawei for defying that trend.

Two watches, one high-performance goal

There are two editions in Huawei’s Watch GT 6 Series: the 46mm GT 6 Pro (from £329) and the GT 6 (starting from £229) available in 41mm and 46mm models. All GT 6 Series watches feature a staggering amount of functionality, but there are some subtle differences.

Either watch is an elegant addition to any wrist – Huawei has purposely distanced these products from cheap-looking macho plastic sports watches – but the smaller GT 6 is possibly better suited to women, or those with slender arms, thanks to its pivoting loop lugs for a tight fit on any wrist. The GT 6 is crafted from stainless steel with robust, scratch-resistant glass, while the Pro ups the ante with its titanium body and superior sapphire glass. The Pro model also offers ECG Analysis, an advanced feature missing on the more petite GT 6.

The GT 6 and the GT 6 Pro feature astonishingly bright AMOLED displays, rated at up to 3,000 nits – that’s intense, on a par with Apple’s flagship Apple Watch Ultra 3 – ensuring easy legibility even under brilliant sunlight.

Concerned about compatibility? Don’t be. The Huawei Watch GT 6 Series is compatible with EMUI, Android, and iOS smartphones.

Unlocking elite performance training with pro-level metrics

Here’s the feature that wowed me most. The Huawei Watch GT 6 Series is the first smartwatch to support cycling virtual power without the need for an external power meter. Think about that for a second, because I believe it heralds a seismic leap forward in wearable tech.

Imagine gaining access to power data without spending thousands on a dedicated crankset or hundreds on a pedal-based power meter. Huawei’s advanced algorithms, developed in collaboration with experts at Beijing Sport University’s comprehensive training wind tunnel laboratory, precisely calculate virtual power based on real-time speed, grade, and user/bike weight. This enables you to train with optimal intensity and structure your rides around genuine power zones, all tracked directly from your wrist.

Fit for cycling, but don’t stop there

Power meters are great, and the data they provide can be invaluable, but ultimately, they’re one-trick ponies. In contrast, both the GT 6 and GT 6 Pro are multisport watches ready for any challenge from golf to trail running. More relevant for cyclists, they’re an all-in-one cycling toolkit, effectively replacing your power meter, heart rate strap, and speed sensor with a single sophisticated, highly capable device. They’re lighter, smarter, and vastly more cost-effective.

Huawei says that accuracy for its wrist-based heart rate monitoring stands at up to 98% for cycling, but if you prefer to use your existing heart rate strap, no problem, you can just add it as a sensor. The same goes for other compatible sensors.

Route finding with confidence

I love the mental sensation of getting lost in the joy of cycling but hate getting lost out on the road or the trails. I need not worry with the GT 6 or GT 6 Pro.

For nav, both watches utilise Huawei’s GPS-powered Sunflower Positioning System, a new platform that employs 3D converged positioning technology for enhanced accuracy. Using enhanced GNSS algorithms and antenna architecture, it meticulously tracks your route, speed, and even gradients, whether you're navigating dense urban canyons or challenging, winding forest trails.

Exploration is further enhanced by the ability to easily sync popular cycling routes from third-party apps, such as Komoot, to your watch in seconds, giving you clear on-wrist navigation for your planned adventures.

What’s more, these watches intelligently feature auto-detect cycling and auto-pause, ensuring that every effort - even city riding with frequent stops - is accurately recorded.

Fitness and wellness

The GT 6 Series provides comprehensive insights to help you meet your sports and fitness goals – extensive stats and metrics that can be analysed on the watch face or using the intuitive Huawei Health companion app.

The watches monitor your wellbeing too, including recording HRV, checking SpO2 (oxygen) levels, tracking sleep and measuring stress. They can even provide insights into your emotional state.

Reassuringly, the GT 6 Pro is also accurate enough to warn you of heart rhythm abnormalities, such as Atrial Fibrillation, and can generate an ECG report on demand.

Of interest to solo riders will be the GT 6 Series’ fall detection. This feature can fire off SOS alerts to your emergency contacts after a fall, offering constant, reliable protection should an incident occur.

Never stop

Don’t you just hate watches that, on paper, promise the earth, yet don’t have enough juice to last the course? Whether I’m embarking on an all-day epic or a multi-day tour, the last thing I want to worry about is battery life.

Fortunately, the GT 6 Series is impressive in this regard, measuring battery life in days, not hours. The top-tier GT 6 Pro is off the charts, boasting three weeks of typical use – that’s 21 days – on a single charge, while the smaller GT 6 delivers up to two weeks between charges. However, even with the display turned on all of the time, Huawei reckons the GT 6 Pro is good for seven full days in the field.

The watch to watch

During my career as a tech writer, I’ve worn many wearables from the likes of Polar, Suunto, Garmin and Apple. On the whole, I’ve been blown away by the quality of the tech that’s been presented to cyclists over the past few decades. However, from what I’ve seen, the Huawei GT 6 Series is a real contender in this very competitive market. These watches blend premium design and accessible price points with groundbreaking, innovative technology that is set to democratise training insights – particularly power – for every rider.