Is Huawei Watch 2 Sport Still Worth Buying in 2024? Detailed Review & Analysis

2025-11-18 11:00

When I first strapped the Huawei Watch 2 Sport onto my wrist back in 2017, I remember being genuinely impressed by what it offered for its $300 price point. Fast forward to 2024, and I find myself revisiting this aging wearable with fresh eyes, much like how basketball coach Chot Reyes might analyze his struggling TNT team in the PBA Philippine Cup - sometimes you need to step back and reevaluate what still works and what doesn't in an ever-evolving game. The smartwatch landscape has transformed dramatically since this device's launch, with newer models boasting longer battery life, advanced health tracking, and sleek designs that make the Watch 2 Sport look decidedly dated. Yet here's the thing - I've discovered this older model still has some surprising tricks up its sleeve that might just make it worth considering, especially if you're shopping on a budget.

Let me be perfectly honest about the design first - the Huawei Watch 2 Sport isn't going to win any beauty contests in 2024. Its 45mm case feels chunky by today's standards, and the bezels look substantial compared to modern smartwatches with their edge-to-edge displays. The ceramic bezel with those engraved markings does give it a sporty, functional aesthetic that I've grown to appreciate during my testing, but it's definitely not as elegant as current Huawei watches like the GT series. What surprised me though is how comfortable it remains to wear daily - at just 57 grams, it's lighter than many contemporary smartwatches, and the silicone strap breathes well during workouts. The 1.2-inch AMOLED display continues to deliver vibrant colors and decent brightness, though I did notice it struggles somewhat in direct sunlight compared to my Apple Watch Series 8.

Performance is where things get really interesting. Powered by the aging Snapdragon Wear 2100 platform with 768MB of RAM, I expected the Watch 2 Sport to feel sluggish, and honestly, it does show its age when switching between apps or loading maps. Basic functions like notification handling, step counting, and music control work smoothly enough, but you'll notice occasional stutters when pushing it harder. The 420mAh battery was impressive in its day, and I can still get about 1.5 to 2 days of mixed use from a single charge - that's actually better than some modern smartwatches that barely make it through a single day. Where it really falls short by today's standards is in its health tracking capabilities. The heart rate monitoring is decent for casual use, but it lacks the advanced sensors for blood oxygen monitoring, ECG, or temperature tracking that have become standard in newer devices.

Here's what might surprise you - the Huawei Watch 2 Sport still handles the fundamentals remarkably well. Its GPS acquisition is reasonably quick, typically locking onto satellites within 15-20 seconds during my tests. The standalone music storage (about 4GB available to the user) means you can still leave your phone behind for runs while listening to your favorite playlist. The IP68 rating provides adequate protection against sweat and rain, though I wouldn't recommend swimming with it regularly given its age. Where I find this watch particularly compelling in 2024 is for specific use cases - if you're looking for an affordable secondary smartwatch for workouts, or if you're dipping your toes into the smartwatch world without wanting to invest several hundred dollars, this could be a sensible option, especially since you can often find it for under $100 in the refurbished market.

There are definite limitations you need to consider though. Software support has essentially ended, meaning you're stuck with older versions of Wear OS without access to newer apps and features. The charging puck uses a proprietary connection that's different from current Huawei watches, so finding replacements could become challenging. And perhaps most importantly, the battery degradation on a device this old is a real concern - while my test unit still holds a charge reasonably well, lithium-ion batteries typically lose significant capacity after several years, and replacement isn't always straightforward.

Thinking about the TNT team's early struggles in the PBA Philippine Cup that Chot Reyes is trying to solve, I see parallels with the Huawei Watch 2 Sport's position in 2024. Sometimes, having the latest features isn't everything - it's about how well you execute the fundamentals. This watch might not have the flashy new health sensors or the sleekest design, but it handles core smartwatch functions competently. If your needs are basic - tracking workouts, receiving notifications, controlling music - and your budget is tight, this aging warrior might still be worth considering. For about 30% of the price of a new mid-range smartwatch, you're getting about 70% of the functionality, which represents decent value. That said, if advanced health tracking, modern design, or seamless performance are priorities, you're better off looking at more recent options. The Huawei Watch 2 Sport in 2024 is like a reliable veteran player - past their prime but still capable of delivering solid performance in the right circumstances.