Is Huawei Watch 2 Sport Still Worth Buying in 2024? Complete Review

Let me be honest with you - when I first strapped the Huawei Watch 2 Sport onto my wrist back in 2017, I never imagined I'd still be writing about it seven years later. Yet here we are in 2024, and this aging smartwatch continues to spark conversations among wearable enthusiasts. Much like how Chot Reyes finds himself puzzled by TNT's early struggles in the PBA Philippine Cup, many consumers feel equally confused about whether this veteran smartwatch still deserves their hard-earned money in today's crowded wearable market.

Having tested over two dozen smartwatches throughout my career as a tech reviewer, I've developed a particular soft spot for devices that age gracefully. The Huawei Watch 2 Sport represents an interesting case study in longevity. When it launched, its $329 price tag positioned it as a premium fitness-focused wearable, competing directly with contemporaries like the Samsung Gear S3 and Apple Watch Series 2. Today, you can often find it for under $100 in refurbished condition, which completely changes its value proposition. I recently wore mine for a full week to see how it holds up, and the experience was surprisingly mixed rather than uniformly negative.

The design language has aged better than I expected. The 45mm case feels substantial without being overly bulky, and the ceramic bezel still looks premium compared to many modern plastic alternatives. At 12.6mm thick, it slides under shirt cuffs more easily than many current fitness watches. What surprised me most was the display - the 1.2-inch AMOLED screen with 390x390 resolution remains crisp and vibrant, even when compared to newer models. Outdoor visibility is decent, though not as bright as today's flagship wearables that can hit 1000+ nits. Battery life was always this watch's strong suit, and that hasn't changed. I consistently got about 48 hours of use with always-on display disabled, which still beats many modern Wear OS devices.

Where the age shows most dramatically is in performance. The Snapdragon Wear 2100 processor, paired with just 768MB of RAM, struggles with modern Wear OS apps. There's noticeable lag when switching between screens, and apps like Google Maps take a solid 8-10 seconds to load. The 4GB storage feels particularly cramped when you consider the operating system consumes over half of that. During my testing, I encountered at least three instances where the watch became unresponsive for 20-30 seconds before catching up with my commands. It's reminiscent of how even experienced coaches like Chot Reyes can find themselves struggling to adapt to new game dynamics - the hardware foundation simply wasn't built for today's software demands.

Fitness tracking presents another mixed bag. The optical heart rate monitor provides reasonably accurate readings during steady-state cardio, typically within 3-5 BPM of my Polar H10 chest strap. However, it struggles with interval training, often missing rapid heart rate changes. GPS acquisition takes about 45 seconds on average, compared to under 10 seconds for modern multisport watches. While it tracks basic metrics well, the lack of advanced analytics like training load or recovery time makes it feel dated for serious athletes. The built-in NFC for payments still works surprisingly well, though Huawei Pay's limited regional support remains a constraint.

Software support represents the biggest question mark. Huawei stopped providing major OS updates years ago, and the watch remains stuck on an older version of Wear OS without access to newer features. Basic notifications work flawlessly, but don't expect to use advanced messaging features or the latest health monitoring capabilities. This limitation reminds me of how teams in any sport - whether TNT in the PBA or tech companies in the wearable space - need continuous adaptation to remain competitive. The ecosystem around the watch has evolved dramatically, leaving the Watch 2 Sport behind in several key areas.

So who might still benefit from this device in 2024? If you're looking for an affordable secondary smartwatch for basic notifications and fitness tracking, or if you're dipping your toes into the smartwatch world without significant investment, the Huawei Watch 2 Sport makes a compelling case at its current price point. It's also excellent for travelers who want multiple days of battery life without carrying chargers. However, if you need reliable performance, modern health features like SpO2 monitoring, or seamless integration with current smartphone ecosystems, you'll likely find the experience frustrating.

After my week with this veteran wearable, I've reached a conclusion that might surprise some readers. The Huawei Watch 2 Sport occupies a peculiar niche in 2024 - it's too dated to recommend as a primary smartwatch for most users, yet too capable to dismiss entirely. Much like how seasoned coaches bring valuable experience despite newer strategies emerging, this watch retains enough functionality to serve specific use cases well. If you can find it for under $80 and your expectations are properly calibrated, it delivers a experience that surpasses many budget smartwatches in its price range. Just don't expect it to compete with modern counterparts that cost three times as much - in technology as in sports, time eventually catches up with everyone.