Introduction: Three Flagships, Three Philosophies
When it comes to serious fitness wearables, Huawei, Garmin, and Apple represent three different worlds:
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Huawei Watch GT6 Pro: Long battery life and wellness balance.
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Garmin Forerunner 965: The endurance athlete’s powerhouse.
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Apple Watch Ultra 2: A performance tracker for Apple’s ecosystem.
We ran head-to-head tests across heart-rate tracking, GPS accuracy, HRV recovery, and sleep data to find out who delivers the best real-world insight for athletes and professionals alike.
1️⃣ Heart Rate Accuracy: Optical Precision vs Lag
| Test Type | Huawei GT6 Pro | Garmin Forerunner 965 | Apple Watch Ultra 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indoor Cycling | ✅ Excellent (0.99 correlation vs chest strap) | ✅ Excellent | ✅ Excellent |
| Outdoor Running | 👍 Good (slight 3–5 BPM lag) | ✅ Excellent | ✅ Excellent |
| Road Cycling | ⚠️ Some vibration drift | ✅ Stable | 👍 Good |
Winner: Garmin & Apple tie for real-time response; Huawei matches for steady-state accuracy.
Takeaway: For most workouts, all three deliver trustworthy zone tracking. Huawei’s sensor excels in comfort and stability, while Apple and Garmin lead in instantaneous HR change detection.
2️⃣ GPS Performance: Sunflower vs Multi-Band Giants
Huawei’s new Sunflower Positioning system aims to rival Garmin’s multi-band GPS and Apple’s dual-frequency precision tracking.
| Scenario | Huawei GT6 Pro | Garmin 965 | Apple Watch Ultra 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| GPS Lock | ⚡ Fast (5–10 sec) | ⚡ Instant | ⚡ Instant |
| City Runs | 👍 Minor drift near tall buildings | ✅ Excellent | ✅ Excellent |
| Forest Trails | ⚠️ Some offset under canopy | ✅ Excellent | 👍 Slight deviation |
| Open Road | ✅ Clean & stable | ✅ Clean & stable | ✅ Clean & stable |
Winner: Garmin Forerunner 965 — its multi-band GNSS consistently delivers the tightest route overlaps.
Huawei’s GPS is impressive for its price, though Sunflower tech still lags slightly in dense environments.
3️⃣ Recovery Insights: HRV & Readiness Scoring
| Metric | Huawei GT6 Pro | Garmin Forerunner 965 | Apple Watch Ultra 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| HRV (All-Day) | ✅ Continuous tracking | ✅ Sleep + post-workout | ✅ During rest |
| Stress Detection | ✅ Built-in algorithm | ✅ Stress score with readiness | ✅ Daily baseline |
| Readiness Indicator | ⚠️ No explicit score | ✅ Body Battery + HRV Status | ✅ Recovery summary |
| Data Sync | Huawei Health | Garmin Connect | Apple Health + Fitness |
Winner: Garmin Forerunner 965
Garmin integrates HRV, load, and sleep into a single Training Readiness metric — easy to act on. Huawei’s HRV graph is accurate but lacks synthesis. Apple’s metrics are solid but siloed across multiple apps.
4️⃣ Sleep Tracking: Duration vs Stage Accuracy
| Feature | Huawei GT6 Pro | Garmin Forerunner 965 | Apple Watch Ultra 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Sleep Duration | ✅ Accurate | ✅ Accurate | ✅ Accurate |
| Stage Classification | ⚠️ Often inconsistent | 👍 Decent | ✅ Strong |
| Recovery Insights | 👍 Uses HR/HRV | ✅ Linked to readiness | ✅ Integrated |
| Comfort for Sleep | ✅ Lightweight titanium | 👍 Comfortable polymer | ⚠️ Bulky titanium case |
Winner: Apple Watch Ultra 2
Apple’s sleep stage algorithm correlates best with EEG devices in testing. Huawei’s stages are rough estimates, though duration and HRV trends remain useful.
5️⃣ Battery Life & Usability
| Category | Huawei GT6 Pro | Garmin Forerunner 965 | Apple Watch Ultra 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Life | 🔋 14–21 days | 🔋 10–14 days | 🔋 2–3 days |
| Display | ✅ 1.47” AMOLED (3000 nits) | ✅ 1.4” AMOLED | ✅ 1.9” Retina |
| OS & Apps | ⚙️ Huawei Health | ⚙️ Garmin Connect IQ | ⚙️ watchOS 10 |
| Charging | Magnetic USB-A | Proprietary cable | Fast USB-C |
Winner: Huawei GT6 Pro — unmatched longevity and brightness.
If you hate daily charging, Huawei’s 3-week battery is a game-changer.
Overall Verdict
| Category | Best Performer |
|---|---|
| HR Accuracy | Garmin / Apple |
| GPS Precision | Garmin |
| Recovery Insights | Garmin |
| Sleep Tracking | Apple |
| Battery Life | Huawei |
| Value-for-Money | Huawei |
🏁 Final Takeaway
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Huawei GT6 Pro: Perfect for users who want great accuracy, best-in-class battery, and a focus on long-term wellness.
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Garmin Forerunner 965: For serious endurance athletes who live by the data.
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Apple Watch Ultra 2: For those deep in Apple’s ecosystem who want health + productivity synergy.
Each shines in its niche — but if you value longevity and balance, Huawei’s GT6 Pro delivers more days of tracking and enough precision for 95% of athletes.
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