The Honor Watch 4 was first launched in China back in July, before it hit the European market in early August. Now, at IFA 2023, we’ve had the chance to acquire some first impressions of the cheap LTE offering.
As mentioned in our previous piece on the Watch 4 coming to Europe, it’s disappointing that dual-eSIM support is lost for European buyers. Nevertheless, coming in at just £129.99/€149 makes this an intriguing proposition.
Wareable
The design is a straightforward and stylish one, with a surprisingly high-quality feel for a wearable so cheap. The construction features an aluminium alloy for the middle frame, providing that price-defying luxury. Your choice of hue for the metal body is limited to just two – Black and Gold (that being a gold with a rose tinge).
The cues this watch takes from the Apple Watch are hard to ignore, with a slightly rounded face to differentiate it from the much more expensive competitor. The silicon rubber band mirrors Apple’s basic sport band too. Android fans who’d like a smartwatch with those Apple vibes are well catered for here, and will be left with a wedge of cash left in their pocket.
> Apple Watch Series 8 review
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The low cost doesn’t see the display neglected, coming in at 1.75-inch and using AMOLED 60Hz tech. It sports a decent resolution of 390×450 too which, in person, was crisp and colourful. The size is on the larger side, providing a good amount of real estate for your sub-£130 investment – it’s bigger than the 41mm versions of the Apple Watch SE 2 and Series 8, but smaller than their 44mm equivalents, as well as outsizing the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6.
Those who favour more elaborate navigation than a simple touchscreen interface will be let down, with a singular menu button on the side but no dials or rotating bezels in sight. Thankfully, the interface is a simple one, so I didn’t find this to be a hindrance, especially with the large display to swipe around.
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Preceding the interface is a choice of more than 300 dials, with that broad selection making sure everyone from the minimalist fans and those who prefer a sportier to smartwatch wearers who prefer bright colours or engaging vistas are all catered for.
With the Honor Watch 4, the proof will be in using this smartwatch come review time – as the long 14-day battery, like Honor claims, could be a huge selling point, and it needs putting through its paces. Smartwatches at this price can often shirk on fitness features as well, so exploring what this device is capable of there will be key.
But, our first impressions, on the design and display side of things, are extremely positive. It looks set to defy its low sub-£130 price point and, with LTE-equipped, it doesn’t have a whole lot of competition.
