Xiaomi’s Mi Band has been dominating the affordable smart wearable section for a long time. Even though there’s no limit to the smart fitness trackers, the Mi band remained the leader. However, Huawei has released a brand new fitness tracker that can give it tough competition. The Huawei Band 6 has tons of features and it can definitely steal the top fitness tracker position from Mi.
The Band 6 Huawei costs around $60. And for the price, it offers a huge series of features such as a big display, great hardware, solid build quality, tons of sports and fitness tracking modules, 24/7 SpO2 monitoring.Â
The only major difference between Huawei Band 6 and Mi Band 5 is the price. Huawei band 6 is almost $30 expensive than Mi band 5. So, is the Huawei Band 6 has enough features that can justify the price hike over Mi Band 5.
Huawei Band 6: Design and Display
The price difference in both the fitness trackers is justifiable due to Huawei’s superior build quality. Even though the tracker has a polymer build, the fitness is well built and the outer casing has a metal-like finish and you can feel the premium quality while holding the watch.
The bottom part of the watch has a matter finish which contains necessary sensors and 2 PIN POGO connectors for charging the fitness tracker. On the right side, there’s a single button that functions as a back button and a power button.
The rubber band is made from soft silicone and the sleek design increases its functionality as a fitness tracker. Plus, the soft material feels comfortable on the wrist, it reduces sweating and the watch doesn’t collect dust.
Unlike the Mi Band 5, the bands are attached to the main body and can’t be replaced. So, if you’re a big fan of customization, you won’t like non-replaceable bands.
As for the display, the fitness tracker has a 1.45-inch AMOLED display and it has 194×368 pixels. While the display resolution isn’t great compared to other fitness trackers, the display is still vibrant enough and produces bright colors.
The touch panel is pretty responsive and the panel responds 9/10 times. The other 1 time can be because of something stuck on your hands. The display has a taller size which allows Huawei to stick to compact fitness tracker form factor.
Huawei Band 6: Software Performance
The software that runs on the Band 6 Huawei is lightweight yet fast and catchy. You won’t find your device lagging regardless of what you do. Plus, it’s clear that Huawei hasn’t cut any corners in the software department. The layout, UI, functionalities work better than accepted.
While the operating system is pretty basic, it still offers tons of features without making the software feel clunky. Navigating through settings and menus is pretty easy and fast. The quick options from the drop-down menu offer actions such as 5 minutes, sleep mode, vibration settings and so much more.
If you want to access fitness settings, all you need to do is press the side button. The watch is compatible with both Android and iOS devices, and the health app is available on both app stores.
The connectivity options include Bluetooth 5.0 and the signal strength is good enough that you can roam around your home without having your phone on your person. Overall, the Huawei Band 6 offers brilliant software and performance, because it is smooth, fast, and feature-rich. The only big problem we could find in the watch during our initial testing is that the App pairing needs work. The process is complicated and slow. But once you’re through the process, everything works smoothly.
Huawei Band 6: Fitness and Sport Modes
Apart from a smooth software and good design, the best feature of the Band 6 is a plethora of fitness and health monitoring features. The watch currently has 96 workout modules and 11 professional modules.
You can choose from indoor and outdoor running, cycling and rope skipping, and 85 other modes and other wide ranges of workout tracking in Band 6. You can access all the workout and fitness modes from the workout mode. The band also offers automatic detection and the feature works 99.99% of the time.
One of the greatest things about the software is that it has a TruSport professional exercise algorithm that keeps track of users’ exercise capabilities such as heart rate, exercise data, and other features.
Based on all the reviews, the step counter is accurate and the real-time heart rate tracking works as good as it’s supposed to. The all-day SpO2 features are also great especially during the pandemic situation. Although, the heart rate monitor shows a bit higher rates than usual.
Huawei Band 6: Battery Performance
The Huawei Band 6 is said to deliver 14 days of battery life. During our test with all-day SpO2 and real-time heart rate turned off, the band lasts between 10-14 days. With additional use and with all features turned on, the band lasts less than 9 days.
Plus, the magnetic connector charges the Huawei Band 6 from 0-100 in an hour, although results differ.
Final Take: Huawei Band 6
So, is the Huawei Band 6 is worth the extra money you spend on it? Well, based on all the factors, and features it has to offer, the answer is yes. In the end, the fitness tracker does all it has to offer, and it has over 90 fitness modes, which not a lot of bands can’t do. If you don’t like what the Mi Band 6 has to offer, then the Huawei Band 6 is the one you need to get.