Huawei 4GB Smart Watch - Stainless Steel

Let me start by saying that I also own a Gear Neo 2 and I did own a Moto 360 (first Gen) that I returned because there was no battery life. So it is obvious that I really wanted a smart watch but I didn't want to spend much money. That was my first mistake. Although I still have the Gear 2 and it is a fine watch it doesn't come close to the Huawei. Had I gotten the Huawei first however I wouldn't have a $150 dollar gear sitting in a drawer.Now to the Huawei.First the Battery. I had considered the Moto 360 2nd gen until I read a consumer update that said with all the beautiful cosmetic updates they didn't improve the battery. The most I could get out of the 360 was about 10 hours and I am moving16 hours a day. Having a watch die at dinnertime doesn't make much sense to me.Now if you are looking for a week between charges you should probably stop here and get yourself a Pebble watch. Ugly, no HD watchfaces and all plastic but still a great watch for what it does.If you however are ok with throwing the watch on the charger every night (or day and half which makes no sense to me) and want an absolutely beautiful watch this is the one to get.I have always considered a watch to be a fashion statement besides being useful. I have 5 other watches that I have used for different occasions or different looks. I have a Seiko, two Citizen eco drives, a Buliva and a Movado and now I can't think of a time I will wear any of them over the Huawei other than perhaps the Mavado when I am going out for a Suit and Tie event. And even still, with the availability of different watch faces I am not sure I will even wear it then.A couple of suggestion if you get the watch. If you are going to spend $350 or more for a smart watch prepare to spend a little for some watch faces. Although there are some nice freebies. Especially when you are looking for just utilitarian uses like weather, stop watch, fitness etc...When you are looking for unique or beautiful watch faces,however, I recommend getting "Watchmaker Premium" and "Wear Face Collection HD" Between those two you will be able to get both amazing digital (with all the info you would ever want) and Analog that is so clear it looks like a real watch face. Also Watchmaker Premium lets you make your own faces (note later on why this was important to me) I also got a couple of different bands so that I can go with the leather or a Stainless steel. I got a two-tone (silver/Gold) and it looks incredible. It also makes using gold or earth-tone faces look amazing even though the bevel of the watch is silver.Lastly the watch/Phone interaction. I have an android phone so iPhone users I can't speak too.Speed. With the exception of a short lag between when my phone starts to ring and when the watch reacts every thing else I have set is instantaneous. I am able to read my complete emails and texts and can respond (verbally) to them. The only downside I would say about the text and email is that it auto-sends when you are done talking. So if you take too long a breath it sends before you are done. the mic system is perfect. So far it has not picked up the wrong word I have said once even when there was other conversation going on around me or a movie on the TV.Something I didn't think would be a big deal but I now use all the time is "OK Google" I just ask a question and it gives me the answer. Even when the name is difficult. I can also just say "set time for 25 minutes," "stopwatch," "text ......" "heart rate" and the appropriate app or person to text comes right up. For the set timer for 5 minutes it starts without having to touch the watch.Android wear is a little more complicated to use than Galaxy's gear but once you get it figured out you can tailor the alerts that you want to get with precision.You cannot currently answer the phone on the watch but according to what I have read the hardware is all installed so that when the software is developed this will not be a problem. I am not a techie so don't take my word for it, look it up.Lastly I mentioned Watchmaker Premium and creating your own watchfaces. Someone had pointed out in another review that the one thing they didn't like about this watch was the lack of a compass. With Watchmaker Premium this problem is solved. As I mentioned you can create your own watch faces. When you start to play with this you will see that there is an option for adding a compass to your watchface. What I did was make a watchface that was just a compass. If I tried to add a small compass to a section of the watchface I couldn't read it. So I just made it the full size of the face. It works perfectly.So in summary. If you are ready to embrace the smartwatch space. Don't try and save money by going with last years technology or try and get a watch that does too much. If you want a fitness band get a fitness band. This is not that. Yes it will track your steps, you can take a heart beat or see how far you have walked with the Huawei, but it will not have all the "all-time functions of a fitness band. Like constant heat rate or mph if you are a rider or runner. This is a great watch, not a fitness tracker.What I can tell you is that I never have to pull out my phone at all unless I want to make a call or answer a call. IMO, I think this looks really stupid anyway. I can talk on my watch with my gear but I have always felt like I look like a fool doing it so I used the phone anyway.