Huawei Watch D3 Review: The Blood Pressure Smartwatch Is Thinner, Lighter, and Smarter

With the Huawei Watch D3, the manufacturer is launching the third generation of its medically certified blood pressure smartwatch and confidently positioning it as “more than just a smartwatch”: a blood pressure monitor for everyday use that offers 24-hour ambulatory monitoring, blood pressure readings before and after workouts, and a significantly expanded health and family ecosystem. We wore the Watch D3 for several weeks as part of our daily routine, tested all its health features, and put the watch under the microscope in a direct comparison with the Watch D2. Read all about it in our Huawei Watch D3 review.

Technical Specifications of the Huawei Watch D3

Display	1.92 inches, AMOLED + LTPO, 408 x 480 pixels, 328 ppi
Peak brightness	Up to 3,000 nits
Controls	Rotating crown and function button, Raise-to-Wake / Press-to-Wake
Operating system	HarmonyOS NEXT
Compatibility	Android 8.0 and later, iOS 13.0 and later
Health features	Blood pressure measurement, ABPM, blood pressure before/after exercise, Health Glance, ECG, sleep, pulse wave analysis, heart rate, SpO2, stress monitoring, Health Clovers, skin temperature, period tracker, breathing exercises
Medical Certification	EU Medical Device Regulation (CE-MDR) and Chinese NMPA for blood pressure measurement
Sensors	TruSense sensor suite, accelerometer and gravity sensor, magnetometer, ambient light sensor, barometer, PPG heart rate sensor, skin temperature sensor, compass
Microphone / Speaker	Both included, including Bluetooth calling
Water resistance	IP68
Battery capacity	540 mAh (built-in lithium-ion polymer battery)
Battery life	According to Huawei, typically up to 6 days; in our test, 5 to 6 days in everyday use
Charging time	Approx. 65 minutes (at 25 °C ambient temperature) via wireless charging cradle
Connectivity	Bluetooth 6.0 (2.4 GHz, BR + BLE), GPS, NFC, micro-pump; no Wi-Fi
Housing material	Aluminum alloy midframe, polymer fiber composite back cover
Wristband	HNBR soft rubber or synthetic leather, TPU air cushion, width 25.5 mm
Wrist circumference	130–210 mm (various strap sizes included)
Weight (case)	Approx. 40 g (without wristband)
Strap weight (L)	Approx. 35 g
Dimensions	46.5 x 38.8 x 11.4 mm
Colors	Black, Gold, Mocha Gold
Package Contents	Watch with short wristband, L-wristband, and air cushion; wireless charging cradle with cable; quick start guide; warranty card; M-wristband with air cushion; wrist circumference ruler; wearing instructions
Price	449 Euros

Watch D3 vs. Watch D2: A Direct Comparison

A direct comparison between the Huawei Watch D3 and the Watch D2 reveals just how significant the leap forward is compared to its predecessor. It’s clear at first glance that the new wearable has been noticeably modernized:

Feature	Watch D2	Watch D3	Improvement
Strap weight (L)	44 g	35 g	9 g lighter (–20%)
Case thickness	13.3 mm	11.3 mm	2 mm thinner (–15 %)
Display	1.82 inches, 1,500 nits	1.92 inches, 3,000 nits	Larger, 6.4% higher screen-to-body ratio, twice the brightness
Colors	Black, White, Blue	Black, Gold, Mocha Gold (new)	Higher-quality color scheme
Single blood pressure measurement	CE-MDR and NMPA certified	CE-MDR and NMPA certified	Consistently high quality
Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM)	Newly introduced	Continued support	Established feature
Blood pressure before/after exercise	Available only in the study phase	Commercially certified for the first time	New, independent CE-MDR certification
Blood pressure reminders	Scheduled	Additionally for altitude and sudden temperature drops	2 new reminder scenarios
Health Glance	10 indicators	11 indicators	1 additional indicator
Health Insights	Vital Signs, Workout, Mood	Plus blood pressure trends, daily overview, Readiness Score	Significantly more comprehensive
Sleep analysis	Average sleep HRV	Sleep architecture, including stability index	Detailed
Emotional well-being	3 states	12 states, including stress	Significantly finer resolution
Family Health Feature	Available only through the app	Accessible directly on the watch, including messaging	New Family Health Community
Payment feature	No NFC	NFC via Curve Pay	New
Phone	–	Bluetooth calling on your wrist	New

Overall, it’s clear that Huawei has made few changes to the tried-and-true core blood pressure measurement function itself, but has significantly expanded the surrounding features. For D2 owners who are primarily satisfied with the blood pressure measurement, the D3 offers, above all, a slimmer, lighter case, a better display, and the new family, payment, and phone features as key selling points. The core measurement function remains technically at a comparable level but is now supplemented by certified pre- and post-workout measurements for the first time. When comparing the two models side by side, the difference in weight and thickness was by far the most noticeable aspect for us: The Huawei Watch D3 feels noticeably more unobtrusive on the wrist.

Huawei Watch D3 Review: Design and Build Quality

There’s no question about it: The Huawei Watch D3 is a premium smartwatch, just as you’d expect from the manufacturer’s other models, such as the Watch FIT 5 Pro (review) or the Watch Ultimate 2 (review). At first glance, the Watch D3 stays true to the square form factor with rounded corners and the distinctive rotating crown that the D2 already featured—and which, visually, is not coincidentally reminiscent of the Apple Watch Ultra.

The real progress only becomes apparent in a direct comparison with the previous model: The case has shrunk from 13.3 to about 11.3 millimeters in height—a reduction of about 15 percent. The large L-strap weighs about 35 grams instead of 44 grams—a reduction of nearly 9 grams, or 20 percent—while the smaller strap is still 6.5 grams lighter. In everyday use over several weeks, we actually noticed the difference: Despite the built-in air-cushion cuff in the wristband—which adds noticeably more bulk than a standard smartwatch—we found the D3 to be much less noticeable than the bulkier D2, even after wearing it all day.

The display itself has grown from 1.82 to 1.92 inches, with a screen-to-body ratio that Huawei says has increased by 6.4 percent thanks to narrower bezels. On paper, the peak brightness doubles from 1,500 to 3,000 nits, and we were able to confirm this in our test: Even in bright summer sunlight, the display remained easy to read without having to hold our hand over it to block the sun. The body is still made of an aluminum alloy with a back panel made of polymer fiber composite, which houses the necessary sensors and antenna technology inside without shielding radio signals.

New to the lineup is the Mocha Gold color variant: a gold-colored aluminum case with a sand-colored synthetic leather strap, which will be available at launch alongside a classic black variant (HNBR rubber strap) and a lighter gold version with a white synthetic leather strap. With this, Huawei is replacing the D2’s previous color palette of black, white, and blue with a decidedly higher-quality, more elegant color scheme. A wrist circumference ruler is also included for the initial setup: Before the first startup, we measured our wrist circumference and, based on that, chose between the included short, medium (M), or long (L) strap, complete with a matching air cushion. According to the spec sheet, it covers a range from 130 to 210 millimeters; the setup itself took just a few minutes.

Medically Certified Blood Pressure Measurement in Detail

The Huawei Watch D3’s key selling point remains its blood pressure measurement using the oscillometric method—the same measurement principle used in clinical upper-arm blood pressure monitors—rather than relying on an optical PPG estimate. At its heart is an ultra-slim mechanical air cushion, which Huawei says it developed based on a “full-stack hemodynamic simulation model”: A two-layer air cushion with a circumferential edge is designed to achieve comparably effective compression and precise measurement, despite a cuff width of only about one-fifth that of a traditional blood pressure monitor. A micro-pump inside the case briefly builds up pressure, and high-precision sensors then evaluate the change in pressure.

Crucial to its classification as a serious health device: According to Huawei, the Watch D3’s blood pressure measurement is certified both under the EU Medical Device Regulation (CE-MDR) and by the Chinese regulatory authority NMPA. These certifications confirm, at least formally, that safety and measurement accuracy have been verified by independent bodies—a distinction from many competing products, which merely estimate blood pressure without requiring a comparable medical device certification.

For the initial measurement, the Watch D3 guides you through a brief setup process: After selecting the appropriate wristband size, the measurement is started via the menu or directly using a customizable bottom button; you then need to sit still and remain silent for about 30 seconds while the air cushion inflates.

During our several-week real-world test, this quickly became routine; the inflation was noticeable but never uncomfortable. One thing worth noting, however: The automatic measurements are a bit annoying, as they are not announced in advance—or only very briefly. The result: The measurement fails and must be restarted. When finished, the watch displays the systolic and diastolic readings as well as the pulse directly on the screen. In random comparisons with a traditional upper-arm blood pressure monitor, the readings in our test were consistently very close.

Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring and Pre-/Post-Workout Readings

Beyond simple single measurements, the Huawei Watch D3 supports ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). According to international hypertension guidelines, this method is considered one of three recognized standard measurement modes because it can detect phenomena such as white-coat hypertension (elevated readings in a clinical setting but normal readings in everyday life), masked hypertension, or nocturnal hypertension—conditions that a single measurement in the doctor’s office simply misses. Specifically, the watch automatically measures blood pressure up to 20 times during the day and 7 times at night over a 24-hour period and generates a professional ABPM report based on these readings. During testing, we ran the 24-hour mode several times; the nighttime measurements never once woke us up, which is no small feat given the inflatable air cuff on the wrist.

New to the D3 is the commercially certified blood pressure measurement before and after exercise. According to Huawei’s own comparison with its predecessor, this feature was still in the research phase on the D2 and is being released as a standard feature for the first time with the D3, including its own CE-MDR certification specifically for this scenario. The background: According to European professional societies, an excessive blood pressure response during physical exertion is considered an independent risk factor for subsequent hypertension, regardless of resting blood pressure. In healthy individuals, systolic blood pressure should drop by at least 20 mmHg within 5 to 10 minutes after exercise; if the value remains elevated after 30 minutes, this may indicate impaired vascular regulation. To assess this, the Watch D3 takes a measurement shortly before the start of exercise as a baseline and another within a few minutes after the end of exercise to record the peak value and recovery pattern. We tested this feature after several running sessions. When the baseline value was too high, the watch actually actively advised us against intense training, rather than simply displaying the measurement without comment.

Health Monitoring: Health Glance, Health Insights, and More

In addition to blood pressure measurement, Huawei has also significantly expanded the Watch D3’s other health features. Health Glance provides a concise health report within 60 seconds and now covers 11 indicators instead of the previous 10—ranging from general well-being to cardiovascular health and women’s health metrics. During our testing, we got into the habit of doing the Quick Check in the morning right after waking up. The 60 seconds really do fly by, and the report is easy to understand rather than overwhelming with raw data.

Health Insights, on the other hand, analyzes data over a longer period and, according to the D3, not only provides a multidimensional analysis of vital signs, exercise, and mood—as with the D2—but also supplements this with new blood pressure trends, a quick morning overview, a “Physical Readiness Score” indicating current physical capacity, and specific recommendations for action.

The Huawei Watch D3 also goes a step further with sleep analysis: Instead of merely reporting an average sleep heart rate variability—as with the D2—the new generation tracks sleep architecture, including a new metric for sleep stability, which provided us with a significantly more nuanced picture of our nights over the course of the test weeks than HRV values alone. In terms of emotional well-being, the resolution has increased from 3 to 12 different emotional states, and Huawei has also integrated the previously separate stress monitoring into this dimension.

The health package is rounded out by a medically certified ECG, pulse wave analysis for arrhythmia detection, SpO2 measurement, skin temperature measurement, a menstrual cycle calendar, and guided breathing exercises. This is an exceptionally comprehensive package for a smartwatch, and the D3 consistently builds upon it rather than reinventing it.

Sports, Phone, and Payment Features Put to the Test

Even beyond its core medical functions, the Huawei Watch D3 is becoming more suitable for everyday use. In terms of sports modes, Huawei has expanded the D series’ already extensive repertoire to include indoor skiing (with real-time data on distance, top speed, average gradient, as well as SpO2 and training intensity insights), golf (with over 17,000 preloaded course maps, automatic distance measurement, a real-time first-person view of the green, and precise flag position), trail running (route navigation, map zoom, off-course alerts, and elevation profile and gradient data), and a compact mini-workout mode.

Another new feature for the D Series is Bluetooth calling: When paired with a smartphone, you can answer or reject incoming calls right from your wrist or check your call history. In our test, the voice quality through the built-in speaker was perfectly adequate for short conversations on the go; however, for longer calls, we’d still recommend using your smartphone or a headset.

Also new is the contactless payment feature via NFC using Curve Pay, which includes handy additional features such as a “Go Back in Time” option for correcting erroneous payments, a central digital wallet for multiple cards, and a security feature that automatically requires you to re-enter your code when you take the watch off.

Connectivity, Battery Life, and Charging

In terms of wireless capabilities, the Watch D3 features Bluetooth 6.0 (2.4 GHz, BR + BLE), built-in GPS, and NFC, while Wi-Fi is still not supported. The watch is thus clearly designed to pair with a smartphone rather than establish standalone network connections, though we never found this to be a limitation in everyday use.

The device is powered by a 540-mAh battery, for which Huawei specifies a typical runtime of up to 6 days. In our test, under normal use (with occasional individual measurements, active workout tracking, and the always-on display disabled), we achieved a solid 5 to 6 days. However, as soon as we kept the 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring feature continuously enabled, the battery life dropped much more quickly—to roughly two days per charge—a behavior we’ve also observed in a similar form in independent tests of its predecessor, the Watch D2. The watch fully charged in about 65 minutes using the wireless charging cradle included in the box, which integrated well into our morning routine.

App Integration: Huawei Health

As usual, the Watch D3 is controlled and provided with additional features via the Huawei Health app, which is compatible with Android 8.0 and later and iOS 13.0 and later. We set it up via a mandatory firmware update and a Huawei account.

It’s not a process that’s done in seconds, but it didn’t seriously slow us down either. In our test, all features worked smoothly on Android; on iOS, however—as we’d already experienced with the D2—we had to make some compromises in certain areas, such as deeper app interaction and music control. Accordingly, Huawei explicitly recommends a Huawei smartphone for the full range of features.

Huawei Watch D3 Review: Conclusion

With the Huawei Watch D3, Huawei continues to refine its unique selling point in the smartwatch landscape: a medically certified, oscillometric blood pressure measurement that provides actual numbers rather than mere trend indicators and, with the first-ever certified pre- and post-workout measurements as well as the new context-sensitive reminders, takes things a step further than the already highly rated Watch D2. During our several-week real-world test, we were particularly impressed by how seamlessly the blood pressure measurement now integrates into daily life. Although the automatic ABPM measurement starts too suddenly and therefore often fails.

Combined with the noticeably thinner, lighter case, the larger, brighter display, and the three practical everyday features—Family Health Community, NFC payments, and Bluetooth calling—this results in a thoroughly well-thought-out update.

There are still some minor drawbacks regarding battery life under the full load of ambulatory monitoring, the iOS limitations familiar from the D2, and the Family Health Community, which was not yet fully activated on the watch itself at the time of testing. In our experience, anyone looking for a serious, everyday-use blood pressure smartwatch will find that the D3 currently offers the most mature package Huawei has ever delivered in this segment—and it’s unrivaled in the wearable segment anyway.