Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteHuawei began rolling out an always-on display for the first-generation Huawei Watch GT in June 2019. The update added a simplified standby watch face, but it was not the full interactive face: the contemporary report said users had to tap the screen or press a button to bring that up, and warned that battery life would take a hit. Phandroid reported the update on June 4, 2019.
What the update added
Before the update, checking the time generally meant raising a wrist or interacting with the watch. The new standby mode kept a low-power face visible instead. Owners could choose an analog or digital design and select an accent color. It was a persistent time display, not a promise that the regular full-color watch face, complications, or interactive features would remain visible. The June 2019 report described the feature as an addition delivered by firmware rather than one available from launch.
Which Watch GT received it?
This was an update for the original, first-generation Huawei Watch GT—not a new feature announcement for the GT 2 or later models. The first-generation product’s online help dates to October 29, 2018; it describes firmware updates through Huawei Health. Read the original Watch GT online help.
The available report does not identify the firmware version that introduced standby display, establish exact start and end dates for a worldwide rollout, or confirm that every regional firmware branch behaved identically.
#1 Best Overall
- BIGGER DISPLAY. MAX CLARITY: Active Max features a shine brighter screen with a 3,000-nit display engineered for ultimate clarity, even under the harshest sunlight. See your data clearly on a large 1.5″ ultra-bright AMOLED display built for easy readability in any condition — from the gym to the mountains.
- BIGGER BATTERY, MAX ENDURANCE: Go longer between charges with reliable power built for every routine. With up to 25 days of battery, the Active Max smart watch keeps up with your routine day and night.
- BIGGER STORAGE. SMARTER MAPS: With 4GB of onboard storage, you have more space for your favorite music and downloaded maps with turn-by-turn directions — all accessible right from your wrist.
- BIGGER TRAINING, SMARTER INSIGHTS: From strength sessions to long runs, the Active Max tracker adapts to how you train with 170+ workout modes and personalized Zepp Coach running plans.
- BIOCHARGE ENERGY MONITORING: Your BioCharge score adjusts based on your daily workouts and stress levels to help you understand when to push harder and when to rest, so you can train smarter and recover better.
How to check for the 2019 firmware update
- Open the Huawei Health app paired with the watch.
- Tap the watch or device icon in the upper-right area to open its device screen.
- Check for a firmware update and install it if offered.
- Keep the phone and watch connected and nearby, and let the watch restart and finish installation before using it.
These are the steps described for the 2019 app interface by Phandroid’s contemporary report. Huawei’s current general guidance instead describes opening the device details in Huawei Health and tapping Firmware update; labels and supported methods vary by product and software version. Huawei’s update instructions also note model-specific limitations, including some update functions being unavailable when certain watches are paired with an iPhone. Do not assume the current screen labels match the 2019 interface.
How to turn on the standby face
For the original Watch GT, the path reported in 2019 was Settings > Display > Advanced > Standby watch face. Select the analog or digital style and accent color there. This is the historical path for that model’s update, not a universal route for Huawei watches today. Source: Phandroid, June 4, 2019.
Huawei’s current AOD guidance lists different possible paths on newer models: Settings > Display & brightness > Always On Display, Settings > Watch face & home > Always On Display, or Settings > Watch face > Always On Display. The menu varies by watch and software version. Huawei’s AOD support page should be treated as guidance for the models it covers, not proof that the first-generation GT has the same menus.
Rank #2
- 24/7 Health Tracking: Watch 3 Pro can monitor heart rate, blood oxygen (SpO₂), stress levels in real time with an advanced 4-channel sensor for improved accuracy during activity and rest. This health tracker smartwatch can offer advanced sleep tracking helps analyze naps, recovery, and sleep quality for better daily wellness insights.
- 130+ Sports Modes: The sports smartwatch supports 130+ exercise modes with GOMORE-powered performance analysis, 7-type motion recognition, and precision activity tracking to help monitor workouts, training load, recovery, and daily movement more accurately. Active Score (MET-based fitness tracking), precision step counting, and smart health guidance help support a healthier lifestyle.
- Smart Everyday Convenience: Stay connected with the bluetooth smartwatch featuring dual high-performance MEMS microphones, a built-in speaker, and AI-based noise reduction trained on over 100,000 voice samples for clearer calls. Make and receive calls directly from your wrist, sync up to 30 contacts for quick access, control music playback, and send quick replies while working, commuting, cooking, or exercising without constantly checking your phone.
- 13-Day Battery Life: Enjoy up to 13 days of battery life on the smartwatch with just 2.5 hours charging time for daily use. Designed for work, workouts, travel, and busy schedules, CMF Watch 3 Pro delivers reliable power for music playback, quick replies, calls, and everyday activity tracking without frequent charging interruptions.
- AMOLED Display & Smart Lifestyle Sync: Featuring a vibrant AMOLED display, this smartwatch for Android and iPhone delivers clear visibility for health data, messages, and workouts indoors or outdoors. Seamlessly sync with Apple Health, Google Fit, and Strava to manage fitness tracking, wellness insights, and daily activity data in one connected ecosystem.
The trade-offs: battery and raise-to-wake
Expect shorter battery life, but no verified original-GT figure
The 2019 report warned that keeping the display active would reduce battery life, but it supplied no controlled before-and-after measurement for the original GT. A precise percentage or number of days for that model is therefore not established by the available contemporary coverage.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →For scale only, Huawei’s specifications for the later 46 mm Watch GT 4 list up to 14 days in a maximum-use scenario, eight days in regular use, and four or two days in two specified AOD scenarios. Those are manufacturer scenarios for the GT 4, not measured results for the first-generation GT and not a prediction for every wearer. See Huawei’s GT 4 specifications.
On the original implementation, raising the wrist did not reveal the full face
The contemporary report said that with standby display enabled, a wrist raise did not switch straight to the full watch face. Users needed to tap the screen or press a button to wake it fully. It also noted that the wrist gesture continued to work for notifications. This is a report of the original update’s behavior, not a rule for later GT generations or every subsequent firmware revision; whether a later first-generation firmware changed it is not established here. Huawei’s current AOD documentation describes supported newer watches that can offer a choice of what appears when the wearer raises a wrist. See Huawei’s model-dependent AOD guidance.
Rank #3
- Easy-to-use running smartwatch with built-in GPS for pace/distance and wrist-based heart rate; brilliant AMOLED touchscreen display with traditional button controls; lightweight design in 43 mm size
- Up to 11 days of battery life in smartwatch mode and up to 19 hours in GPS mode
- Reach your goals with personalized daily suggested workouts that adapt based on performance and recovery; use Garmin Coach and race adaptive training plans to get workout suggestions for specific events
- 25+ built-in activity profiles include running, cycling, HIIT, strength and more
- As soon as you wake up, get your morning report with an overview of your sleep, recovery and training outlook alongside weather and HRV status (data presented is intended to be a close estimation of metrics tracked)
If the update or setting is missing
- No firmware is offered: Check the device’s firmware-update screen in Huawei Health rather than waiting only for a notification. The June 2019 report described a staged rollout, so availability was not necessarily simultaneous for all owners or regions. It does not give a complete country-by-country list.
- The standby-face menu is absent: Confirm the watch is the original GT and check whether its firmware has the feature. Instructions for later GT models may point to different menus.
- The update fails: Check that both devices have sufficient charge, keep them close and connected, use a stable connection, and follow the app’s on-screen directions. Avoid interrupting installation.
- You want to undo an update: Do not assume rollback is available. Huawei says rollback is not supported for the applicable watches described on its support page; the rule is model-specific. Check Huawei’s rollback guidance.
Huawei warns that supported update procedures depend on the model, so do not force-install unofficial firmware or use instructions meant for another GT. Huawei’s update guidance.
Is enabling it worthwhile?
- Try it if frequent quick glances at the time matter more than maximizing time between charges, and you are comfortable tapping or pressing a button for the full face.
- Leave it off if your priority is battery endurance, or if you rely on raising your wrist to bring up the complete face.
The update addressed a conspicuous launch-era omission, but it did not modernize every aspect of the first-generation GT. It added a basic standby option; the available evidence does not establish later firmware support, current security support, or parity with newer watches.
Recommended Free Tools
How the 2019 update relates to later GT models
Later Huawei watches use different AOD menus and may offer different wake controls. Huawei’s current documentation covers multiple GT generations, but its instructions and specifications are model-dependent. That later support does not establish ongoing firmware development or feature parity for the original GT. Consult Huawei’s current AOD guidance for the specific model.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
