Checking Out Huawei's GT2 Smartwatch: How Well Does It Track Your Steps and Sleep?

Smartwatches are flooding the market, promising to track your every move and help you live a healthier life. But are they really accurate? One study took a close look at the Huawei GT2 to see how well it measures physical activity and sleep during everyday life. This is crucial because we rely on these devices to motivate us to stay active and even for research. The research team tested the GT2 against known accurate methods. They found that the smartwatch was pretty good at counting steps and estimating calories burned during various activities. However, it struggled when it came to more intense exercises, like running. The watch tended to overestimate the calories burned. Sleep tracking was another story. While the GT2 could tell when you were asleep or awake, it wasn't great at distinguishing between different sleep stages, like deep sleep or REM sleep. This is important information if you're trying to understand the quality of your sleep. So, should you trust your Huawei GT2? The study suggests it's not bad for general tracking, but don't expect it to be super precise, especially during high-intensity workouts or when you're trying to understand your sleep patterns. It's like having a friendly workout buddy who's good at encouraging you but not a professional trainer.