Huawei Band 9 : The Biggest Surprise This Year (and it’s not good…)

Summary

In this initial review of the Huawei Band 9, the author expresses disappointment in its heart rate tracking performance compared to the Huawei Band 8. Testing included various exercises like indoor cycling, outdoor running, and weightlifting, revealing mixed results with correlation values that indicate subpar accuracy. While the Band 9 performed adequately in steady runs, it struggled during more intense activities, leading to concerns about hardware changes. Overall, the Band 9 falls short of expectations, prompting caution for potential buyers until further reviews can confirm its capabilities.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Huawei Band 9 was anticipated to improve heart rate tracking over the Band 8, but initial tests reveal disappointing results.
• 😀 Indoor cycling tests showed that while the Band 9 performed somewhat well, it often registered inaccurately low heart rates.
• 😀 Correlation values indicate the Band 9 is in the middle tier of performance compared to other devices, with an r value of 0.89.
• 😀 Running tests demonstrated better performance, achieving a high correlation of 0.99, indicating potential for outdoor activities.
• 😀 Cycling outdoors proved challenging for the Band 9, yielding a low correlation of 0.64 and frequent inaccuracies.
• 😀 Weightlifting performance was subpar, with the watch failing to accurately track heart rate peaks during sets, resulting in a low correlation of 0.67.
• 😀 The Huawei Band 9 has a different sensor configuration compared to the Band 8, which may affect tracking accuracy.
• 😀 Many other devices outperform the Band 9, especially the Huawei Band 8, which previously had a strong reputation for tracking.
• 😀 The video creator emphasizes the importance of accuracy in heart rate tracking for various activities and recommends devices with a correlation above 0.9.
• 😀 Future reviews will explore the sleep tracking capabilities of the Band 9, which are expected to show improvements.

Q & A

What was the initial expectation for the Huawei Band 9's heart rate tracking performance?

The expectation was that the Huawei Band 9 would have heart rate tracking performance at least as good as, if not better than, the Huawei Band 8.

How does the heart rate tracking of the Huawei Band 9 compare during indoor cycling?

During indoor cycling, the Band 9 showed decent tracking overall but had several instances of detecting too low heart rates, resulting in a correlation value of 0.89.

What was the correlation value for the Huawei Band 9 during outdoor running?

The correlation value for outdoor running was very high at 0.99, indicating accurate heart rate tracking during this exercise.

What issues did the Huawei Band 9 encounter during outdoor cycling?

The Band 9 struggled significantly during outdoor cycling, frequently reporting too low heart rates, leading to a low correlation of 0.64.

How did the Huawei Band 9 perform during weightlifting exercises?

The Band 9 performed poorly during weightlifting, failing to accurately detect peak heart rates, resulting in a correlation of 0.67.

How does the Huawei Band 9's performance rank compared to other devices?

The Band 9 is in the lower middle range compared to other tested devices, performing worse than the Huawei Band 8 in most scenarios.

What potential reasons were speculated for the Huawei Band 9's disappointing performance?

One potential reason suggested was a change in the sensor configuration, which may not yet be optimized for effective heart rate tracking.

What was the overall impression of the Huawei Band 9's heart rate tracking?

The overall impression was mixed; while it showed potential in running, it was underwhelming for indoor cycling and weightlifting.

What future tests does the reviewer plan to conduct on the Huawei Band 9?

The reviewer plans to perform further tests on sleep tracking to assess improvements in that area.

What advice does the reviewer give regarding choosing a fitness tracker for heart rate monitoring?

The reviewer advises selecting devices with a correlation of around 0.9 or higher for reliable heart rate tracking, particularly for activities like cycling and weightlifting.