Skip to main content

Huawei CEO doesn’t understand why smartwatches exist (and he has a point)

Huawei Watch 2 Sport review
Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends
“I am always confused as to what smartwatches are for when we have smartphones.” This is a statement many of us have struggled with, perhaps as we ponder a smartwatch purchase or admire one strapped to a friend’s wrist. Except it’s not any old statement. It’s a quote from Eric Xu Zhijun, current CEO at Huawei, the technology company that has recently launched the brand-new Huawei Watch 2 for you to buy.

It doesn’t end there. Xu went on to say that he would never wear a smartwatch himself, and apparently reminds the smartwatch team every time they come to him with a new product to “consider whether there are tangible needs in the market” for this type of device. No one can accuse Eric of being continually on-message here, and although his words may sound at odds with Huawei’s branding and products, it’s actually a very real problem for smartwatch manufacturers and buyers.

Smartwatch use in the United States hasn’t met projections, with some statistics showing the number of owners falling short of the estimates by at least a third, and a “lack of well-defined use cases” is to blame, alongside high prices. That doesn’t mean people won’t buy them, and data from Canalysis states sales will rise by 18 percent this year over 2016. But smartwatches still haven’t delivered on the many early promises regarding sales and attention.

Huawei recently announced the Huawei Watch 2, a follow-up to the original Huawei Watch, which is widely considered to be one of the most attractive smartwatches yet seen. The sequel is considerably more masculine in its style, but adds new features including a SIM card slot, so it can act as a stand-alone device. This separates it from most other smartwatches currently available, and goes someway to answering Xu Zhijun’s questions on why we need one, by actually becoming a smartphone itself.

Editors' Recommendations

Andy Boxall
Senior Mobile Writer
Andy is a Senior Writer at Digital Trends, where he concentrates on mobile technology, a subject he has written about for…
As Google’s first smartwatch, the Pixel Watch just doesn’t cut it
Someone wearing the Google Pixel Watch.

The Pixel Watch is finally here, and for all the hype that it once generated, the final product seems way off the bullseye. But make no mistake; this is definitely a Pixel smartwatch, complemented by a standout curvy design and a generous serving of neat software perks.

But the whole package isn’t generous enough for a $350+ price tag. Almost every pitfall of the Pixel Watch has to do with this pricing, from controversial hardware choices to an almost-there fitness package.
Much flash, little substance

Read more
Why I stopped wearing my smartwatch — and why I haven’t looked back
Casio Mudmaster review

I fell in love with smartwatches when I got my hands on the first-generation Moto 360, a beautifully designed, gorgeous smartwatch running Google’s first OS for smartwatches. Since then, I’ve tried on and reviewed more than a dozen fitness wearables, including the Apple Watch SE and Amazfit GTR and GTS series. And with time, I’ve grown to absolutely dislike the product segment.

I gave up on smartwatches a few months ago, and here’s why I’m not going back any time soon (unless it’s for review purposes).
Data, data, and more data

Read more
Pixel Watch design video reveals what Google doesn’t want you to see
Render of the Google Pixel Watch, showcasing its gargantuan bezels.

Google just dropped a teaser video titled “The Design of Google Pixel Watch” ahead of the smartwatch’s official debut at an event on October 6. The video does a neat job highlighting the smartwatch's clean design with its curved glass aesthetics and the peppy band colors, all under a minute.

The Design of Google Pixel Watch

Read more