The Huawei Watch D was one of the strangest wearables of 2022, and now the airbag- and blood pressure-tracking wonder is back.
The Huawei D2, which was launched this week as one of six new watch models, builds on the innovative blood pressure monitoring system of the first D model. In a world first for a smartwatch, its ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) system is now certified by China’s National Medical Products Administration and the EU’s Medical Device Regulatory Authority.
The blood pressure monitoring tech is housed inside a revised chassis that’s thinner and lighter than the original Huawei Watch D. Say what you will about this cool bit of health tech, the last one was pretty ugly. The new version is much more Apple Watch-like, and features a 1.82-inch AMOLED display. While it’s not a striking design by any means, it’s at least easier on the eyes and a much less offensive casing for an otherwise spectacular health device.
The paradox of the Huawei Watch D2
The arrival of the Huawei Watch D2 continues this device’s tradition of being something of an enigma. Packing blood pressure measurement technology into a wristwatch-sized device is a marvellous technological feat. Like the previous model, the D2 houses a narrow mechanical air pocket in its strap and on paper, this is the ultimate wearable for anyone with blood pressure issues.
However, Huawei remains banned in the US, which severely limits its reach and prevents the inclusion of Google Mobile Services. As a result, even in places where Huawei devices can be purchased, the ecosystem is incredibly limited and requires the use of many alternative services.
Still, Huawei has taken the best of the Watch D and redesigned it into a much nicer second version. Sadly, it looks like the innovative (and possibly life-saving) blood pressure technology will continue to be held back by Huawei's usual issues.
Blood pressure monitoring on the most common smartwatch models remains out of reach. Behind the scenes, Apple has been working on blood pressure monitoring on the Apple Watch for years. Recently, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that the redesign of the Apple Watch Series 10 led to a delay in the feature due to issues during testing. The top-of-the-line Apple Watch is now available in stores, with a new titanium finish and a larger display, but without blood pressure technology.
