Today, we’re reviewing the HONOR Choice Smartwatch, a premium device brought to India under the leadership of Madhav Sheth. Initially priced at Rs. 6,499, it’s now available for Rs. 4,499, offering great value for its premium build. After using it for 9 months, I’m excited to share my thoughts on its performance, durability, and standout features like the AMOLED screen, GPS, Bluetooth calling, and impressive 12-day battery life. This smartwatch is ideal for tech enthusiasts and fitness lovers seeking a blend of style and functionality.
Design & Build Quality
Aesthetics
The HONOR Choice Smartwatch sports a 1.95″ square AMOLED display with noticeable bezels, giving it a bold and premium look. Its dimensions are 49.7 × 39.9 × 10.2 mm, and it weighs just 45 grams, making it lightweight and comfortable for everyday use.
Comfort
Crafted with a metallic-textured body, the watch feels solid yet sleek on the wrist. It’s 5ATM water-resistant, meaning you can wear it even while swimming.
Display
With a 410 × 502 pixels resolution and 332 PPI on a 2.5D curved glass AMOLED display, the screen is bright and vibrant, reaching up to 550 nits. While it handles outdoor visibility well, the screen is prone to fingerprints and isn’t entirely scratch-proof.
User Interface & Experience
Operating System & Navigation
The smartwatch operates smoothly, with a side button for easy navigation through the app menu or to return home. The Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity allows for seamless calling and interaction.
Customization
You can customize the watch face and adjust the brightness in the settings. There’s no auto-brightness feature, so you’ll have to adjust it manually based on your environment.
Health & Fitness Tracking Features
Heart Rate & SpO₂ Monitoring
The HONOR Choice Smartwatch is equipped with an optical heart rate sensor and SpO₂ sensor for tracking blood oxygen levels. Both sensors offer accurate and reliable readings, with visible LEDs (green for heart rate and red for SpO₂).
Fitness Tracking
With 120 exercise modes and automatic tracking for popular activities like walking, running, and cycling, the fitness tracking capabilities are commendable. It also tracks steps, calories, distance, and more, with nearly accurate data when compared to apps like Strava.
Notifications & Connectivity
– Smartphone Connectivity: The watch pairs easily with smartphones via the HONOR Health app on Android and iOS, offering smooth integration for health tracking and notifications. You can view call logs, use a dial pad, and access contacts directly from the watch, making it a handy communication tool.
– Calling & Media Control: The built-in microphone and speaker are good for indoor calling, but the speaker struggles in noisy environments like traffic. Music control and media management are limited but functional.
Battery Life & Charging
– Battery Performance: The watch comes with a 300mAh battery that lasts up to 12 days with normal usage and 9 days with heavy use. With always-on display (AOD) turned on, it lasts around 5 days. After a week of typical usage, including workouts, heart rate, and SpO₂ monitoring, the battery performed well, only needing a charge after seven days.
– Charging: It takes approximately 1.5 hours to fully charge the watch, which is fairly quick given the battery longevity.
Durability & Water Resistance
– Build Quality: The watch’s durable metallic body holds up well to regular wear, though the screen is prone to minor scratches.
– Water Resistance: With its 5ATM rating, the watch can handle swimming and exposure to water, making it a solid choice for active users.
Apps & Ecosystem
– HONOR Health App: The companion app offers a streamlined interface for tracking steps, workout data, heart rate, and more. However, it lacks advanced third-party integration with apps like Strava or Google Fit, which is a limitation for some fitness enthusiasts.
– Ecosystem Integration: While it covers basic fitness and health monitoring, the ecosystem integration is more limited compared to other platforms, especially in terms of exporting data.
Price & Value for Money
– Pricing: Priced at Rs. 4,499 currently (down from Rs. 6,499), the HONOR Choice Smartwatch delivers good value for its feature set. However, with competing models like the CMF Watch Pro available at a lower price point, there’s stiff competition in the market.
Conclusion
Overall, the HONOR Choice Smartwatch is a good option if you’re seeking a premium design, bright AMOLED display, and solid fitness tracking features. However, the inconsistent GPS performance and lack of data export options are minor drawbacks. With potential price drops during sales, it could become an even better deal.
Pros
– Bright, large AMOLED display
– Bluetooth calling
– 24/7 heart rate and SpO₂ monitoring
– Water-resistant (5ATM)
– Decent battery life
Pros
– GPS signal inconsistency
– No Strava or Google Fit support
– Slightly higher price compared to competitors
Competitor Comparison
The HONOR Choice Smartwatch faces competition from the CMF Watch Pro, which is priced at Rs. 3,499, offering similar features with fewer health tracking modes. While HONOR excels in build quality and display, others offer better value in terms of ecosystem support.
Best For
This smartwatch is perfect for those who want a sleek design with basic fitness tracking, heart rate monitoring, and reliable calling features without diving too deep into third-party integrations.
Where to Buy
Available on Amazon, offline stores, and the official HONOR website.
