Huawei GT 3 smartwatch. Image: Huawei
Huawei said it plans to invest more into the Irish market at the launch of its GT 3 smartwatch, which has an emphasis on health monitoring.
Huawei has launched one of its newest smartwatch models in Ireland, the GT 3, which has a focus on health monitoring for users.
The new watch was designed to be lighter and thinner than previous GT models. It comes in 46mm and 42mm sizes, with two design options for the 46mm and three for the 42mm.
Speaking at a launch event in Dublin yesterday (27 January), Huawei Ireland country director Adam Liu said the new smartwatch was designed to be an “all-round” model to cater to a range of users.
The biggest difference between the two models is the battery life. While the 46mm watch has a 14-day batter life, the 42mm has between seven and eight days of battery life with typical use.
The Chinese tech giant described the GT 3 – priced from €229 – as a “breakthrough in health monitoring and scientific training”, with a heart monitoring system that is “drastically improved” compared to the previous generation.
A new feature called the Healthy Living Shamrock lets users create customised health reminders such as daily water intake, early sleep reminders and exercise quotas to keep better track of their daily health.
Personal trainer Karl Henry and former camogie player Anna Geary, known for their work in RTÉ’s Operation Transformation, shared their experiences with the watch. In particular they mentioned the Healthy Living Shamrock app, with Geary adding that it helps users know when they need to take a rest day and better understand their body.
Positive outlook
Liu said Huawei had a strong ranking in the global wearables market in 2021, which has given the company confidence to invest more in the Irish market. He added that the company has shown strong results in its Consumer Business Group despite its situation in the US.
At the end of last year, Huawei anticipated a 29pc drop in its annual revenue compared to 2020. Rotating chair of Huawei, Guo Ping, said this year “will come with its fair share of challenges”. This was largely due to US sanctions, which began when Trump imposed a trade ban on the company in 2019.
In a letter to employees at the beginning of the year, Guo said: “An unpredictable business environment, the politicisation of technology, and a growing deglobalisation movement all present serious challenges.”
In July 2020, the US designated Huawei as a security threat, banning American telecoms firms from spending government money on equipment from the Chinese company. Last November, the US signed legislation to tighten restrictions for Chinese telecom giants such as Huawei and ZTE.
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