Wearables
Study: Smartwatches can detect COVID-19 before symptoms
Even among asymptomatic people

Almost a year into the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we’re only just starting to patch those festering wounds. Still, even after everyone is hopefully vaccinated, we should still learn from the tempestuous period’s lessons. For example, the tech world, sidewinded by a torrent of innovations, are on their way to keeping some newfound health features, especially those accredited by health organization. According to a new study, smartwatches can detect COVID-19 before it manifests symptoms.
According to a Mount Sinai published in November and reported by CBS News, current smartwatch technology can detect subtle, almost imperceptible changes in a person’s heartbeat. Heart rate variability are potential symptoms of COVID-19, even among those who are asymptomatic.
The study’s authors conducted the tests between April and November last year. Most of the participants, health workers in Mount Sinai in New York, wore Apple Watches. Though Apple was certainly a huge player in the study, the company didn’t fund it.
Last year, smartwatch makers touted features that can reportedly detect the coronavirus, such as blood oxygen levels. At the time, however, the feature was still under extensive study. Now, with the study published now, smartwatches might not even need new features to detect the virus. Heart rate detection is already an essential feature in smartwatch technology.
With a study in the bag, smartwatch users might find a lot more use in their wearable devices.
SEE ALSO: Apple Watch Series 6 launches with Blood Oxygen Sensor


Are you thirsting for more smartwatch choices? Though the wearable is part of the mainstream today, users don’t have the widest array of choices for such a device. However, if your particular flavor of smartwatch lies with Huawei, you might enjoy what they just launched. Today, Huawei has launched the Huawei Watch GT 3 Pro.
At first glance, the Watch GT 3 Pro melds the best of both fitness and lifestyle. Touting a titanium and a ceramic version, the smartwatch is a wearable you can take to both a 5K race and a fancy dinner.
There are, of course, differences between the two variants. First of all, the titanium edition sports a sizable 1.43-inch AMOLED screen with 466 x 466 resolution. The surface itself is bolstered by sapphire glass, ensuring gritty quality even in the toughest of situations. Additionally, it has a rotating crown for easy maneuverability. It also has a dedicated ECG button to easily capture and read your data.
If size isn’t your thing, the ceramic version offers the same durability and functionality but at a slightly smaller form factor. It sports a 1.32-inch AMOLED HD display with a ceramic band and a gold/silver seashell pattern bezel.
Inside, the smartwatch has ECG analysis and TruSeen 5.0+ data monitoring. It has a five-system GNSS navigation system for accurate readings. Plus, if you’re a diver, the watch can go up to 30 meters deep, supported by a new Free Diving Mode. If you want to take it on a workout, it supports over 100 workout modes and various tracking capabilities like heart rate, pace, and distance.
Finally, the watch comes with HarmonyOS installed. The Titanium Edition’s battery will last for 14 days, while the Ceramic piece will last for 7 days.

Huawei has been giving us the best choices for stylish timepieces to help us reach our health and fitness goals. And they’re taking the stage again with their new flagship smartwatch — the Huawei Watch GT 3 Pro.
Now let’s take a closer look at this device and check what Huawei has in store for us this time.
Unboxing
The GT 3 Pro comes in this sleek black box with the name of the device in gold. Through the box, we also get to know that it is powered by HarmonyOS.
Lifting the cover, you’re immediately greeted by the GT 3 Pro Titanium Edition looking classy beside a gold Huawei logo.
Pulling the tab on the right, you’ll see a smaller enclosure. Opening it up, you’ll see some paperwork, a USB-C cable and a wireless charging cradle.
Now here’s the GT 3 Pro taken out of the box. Looks premium, doesn’t it?
By examining the watch strap, you can easily tell that it’s made of genuine high-quality leather.
The Huawei branding is not seen on the strap. It’s instead engraved on the buckle.
Also unlike the previous GT 2 Pro that has the usual double crown design, the GT 3 Pro has a watch crown and a button.
The rotating crown serves as its power button and scroll and zoom wheel. Rotating it feels smooth without much resistance. But it does have haptic feedback, mimicking a mechanical feel.
Powering it up, you’re notified to get the Huawei Health app and pair it with your phone.
Once paired, you can tinker with the settings and apply customizations based on your preference and liking.
First impressions
What I immediately liked with the GT 3 Pro is how classy it looks. And despite it being a big smartwatch compared to what I usually use, it feels light on my wrist.
I also can’t help but admire how clean and clear it looks with its 1.43-inch AMOLED display and sapphire glass lens.
Its body, on the other hand, is made of titanium and it has a ceramic back case to complete the premium package.
Using it for a few days, it looks like this timepiece will definitely level up my expectations for smartwatches. But I have yet to fully explore and experience everything about the GT 3 Pro that I’ll share on my hands-on review so don’t forget to also check that out.
Pricing and availability
The Huawei Watch GT 3 Pro retails for PhP 16,999 and is available in Titanium and Ceramic Edition.
Unboxing
Huawei Watch Fit 2 Unboxing and First Impressions
Manage your health, stay entertained and keep track of time

Today, we’re taking a look at the new Huawei Watch Fit 2. So, let’s get right to it!
Unboxing
Here we have the box which displays the color of the Watch Fit 2 inside. No tools are required to open this box as we are getting plastic pull tabs to unseal the device.
Opening the box, we are immediately greeted by the watch.But let’s set that aside for now.
Here we have a usb charging cable, some warranty paperwork and the user manual. And that’s about it. Here’s everything you will find inside the box.
First impressions
Moving on to the watch itself, a bigger 1.74-inch full view AMOLED display is what we’re getting. Oh, it’s also being powered by Huawei’s very own Harmony OS.
The body does feel robust with its polymeric fiber material while still keeping a stylish look. The straps are made of soft silicon and are easily interchangeable with their quick release system.
Now, to check out its internal features, we need to first pair it with our phone.
I did have some slight trouble pairing it with mine but an update of the Huawei Health app did fix this issue. So, just be sure to download the latest version to avoid any inconvenience.
Now that we’re paired we can really see how sharp and vibrant the AMOLED screen is And playing with it for a while, I can’t help but notice the buttery smooth user interface.
It’s very easy to change watch faces, switch to different workout modes, and even load your own music in its internal storage.
We can now also playback music independently or listen to the audio fitness coach through its internal speakers.
With all these features, the Huawei Watch Fit 2 has you covered when it comes to functionality you would need in a fitness smartwatch.
Manage your health, stay entertained and keep track of time — the Huawei Watch Fit 2 could just be your GadgetMatch.
SEE ALSO: Huawei Watch Fit review: Great for getting you moving
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