The Huawei Band 7 is the Chinese OEM’s 2022 rendition of its long line of wearable trackers. This comes to succeed the Huawei Band 6 that we saw last year. In a market with favorites like the Xiaomi-made Mi Smart Band 7 , and the Mi Smart Band 7 Pro , what does the Huawei Band 7 bring to the table?
I have been using the Huawei Band 7 for the past 2 weeks and in this post, I will be shading light on various aspects, features and quirks, and more. Straight off the bat, the Huawei Band 7 is not a drastic departure from the Huawei Band recipe and shares so many aspects with its predecessor.
- How To Setup the Huawei Band 7
- 5 Things to Love about the Huawei Band 7
- Huawei Band 7: Here’s how to set custom Quick Replies
Specifications
- Dimensions – 44.35 x 26 x 9.99 mm
- Weight – 16g
- Display – 1.47-inch AMOLED
- Resolution – 194 x 368 pixels
- Battery – up to 14 days
- Bluetooth – BT5.0, BLE
- Water Resistance – Upto 5 ATM water-resistant
- Fitness : 100+ workout modes
- Sensors – Accelerometer sensor, Gyroscope sensor, Optical heart rate sensor
- Color Options – dark gray, gold, green, red
What I liked
- Competitive Price
- Huawei Health is pretty wholesome, albeit closed off from Google Services
- Always-on Display
- Considerably faster charging
What I didn’t like
Recycled Design
Not-so-stellar battery life
No GPS
No NFC
Still no Third-party app support despite running HarmonyOS
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Display and Design
Fitness trackers are not meant to be watches or smartwatches for that matter. They are relatively smaller and compact so they can go unnoticed during your workouts. The Huawei Band 7 sits just shy of 10 mm from your wrist so accidental dings and scratches are minimal.
The Huawei Band pioneered this wider form factor in the fitness tracker realm, something that many seem to be aping, including Xiaomi with the Mi Band 7 Pro. This Huawei Band recycles the design we saw with the Huawei Band 6 and Honor Band 6, a form factor that is known to work and work well.
It has a 1.47-inch AMOLED display that seems a little crispier than the previous generation, despite having the same pixel density with t 194 x 368 pixels.
The screen gets plenty bright and is easily usable even in direct sunlight. However,I wish it came with some form of the ambient light sensor so it doesn’t blind you at night when you forget to put it in DND Mode or lower the brightness.
AoD and Watch faces
I’ve used the Mi Bands for the past few generations and one thing that puts the ecosystem above all other platforms I have used is the robust amount of customization
There are countless watch faces available for the mi band and you can even install third-party apps with even more watch faces. The same cannot be said about the Huawei Band 7.
The selection of watch faces is a little slim with many faces that are recycled from older Huawei and Honor Bands. I guess that can be seen as consistency but that’s just a little stale in my opinion.
The AoD is a welcome addition to this model but then again, the AoD watch faces are very few and I wasn’t able to find one that wowed me. Hopefully, we’ll get even more watch faces but for now, the AoD is only available in 4 options, that’s it.
Health Tracking
These fitness trackers come with a host of sensors that could offer users an insight into their body’s overall wellbeing and the Huawei Band 7 is no different. This device comes with continuous heartrate monitoring so you can see in a simple graph, how hard your heart is working as you go about your activities.
There is also a stress monitoring feature that gives you a score out of 100. There is support for a 24-hour SpO2 monitoring feature, an option that is even more important in this COVID era, not just for the mountain climbers and high-altitude sportspersons that this metric is probably built for.
Workout and Activity Tracking
The main reason for going for a fitness tracker, other than the fact that they’re semi-smartwatches, is to track your fitness and workout. For many slobs, yours truly included, step counting is the primary workout we engage in all day.
I wore the Huawei Band 7 along with the Redmi Watch 2 Lite on either wrist for a day and the step count between the two gadgets at the end of the day was off by around 50 steps. This is accurate enough for all but the most accurate of scenarios so I give it an okay rating.
Huawei says that the Band is able to track up to 100 different workouts . And yes, the tracker does have a number of sports that it says it can track. However, the analysis and tracking are a little rudimentary, to say the least. I don’t know what Elliptical is so I tried to track that during one of my morning runs and the watch only gave me the heart rate reading and duration of the workout.
Some of these key workouts include:
- Outdoor run
- Indoors run
- Outdoors walk
- Indoors cycle
- Pool swim
- Jump Rope
- Elliptical
- Rower, and more.
The same is the case for most of the tracked fitness workouts. You will only get a reading of your heart rate and the duration you’ve taken to perform the said workout. This isn’t particularly bad, but it is a little underwhelming, to say the least.
However, some activities like bike riding , walking , running, and more, offer a lot more details. I went out bike-riding with friends on a weekend and at the end of the session, the Huawei Health app had a more detailed breakdown of the session.
This included details such as the route we took, the maximum speed, minimum and average speed, heart rate, and calories burnt.
My complaint is with the automatic workout detection. Where my Redmi Watch 2 Lite would prompt me to start tracking a workout it thinks I am undertaking, the Huawei band just didn’t give a hoot.
The lack of built-in GPS could be to blame for this one but it just makes the band fall short of the capabilities offered by the competition.
Huawei Health App
The Huawei Health app could easily be the star of the show here. We talked about step counters and the Huawei Health app also has lots of its own step counters. Should you forget to wear your Huawei Band, the Huawei Health app will still count your steps using your phone and sync with your status later on so ideally, there is no gap.
The app brings together a bunch of features and services under one neatly laid-out dashboard. These include a step counter, your exercise records, heart-rate graphs, sleep tracking data, stress, weight, and SpO2 tracking details.
There is also a hub for Exercises from where you can initiate tracking for any of the supported workouts, both indoors and outdoors. There are a few competition options so if you have a friend who has a Huawei Band device, you can engage in competitions and goals.
It is also through this app that you get custom watch faces from the host of available ones, both paid and free.
The elephant in the room is that Huawei and Google aren’t in the best of places right now . This means that your workout data will probably always live in the Huawei Ecosystem and the chances of syncing that with Google Fit are next to zero.
To be fair though, even Xiaomi seems to have dropped the sync option with Google Fit with the switch from Mi Fit to Zepp Life.
Battery Life
Huawei rates the Band 7 at 14 Days of typical battery life. However, real-life mileage varies widely depending on usage. I charged my watch every 5 days and I hardly finished a full week on a single charge. This, is probably because of all the testing and fiddling but more so because of the Always-on Display.
I had AoD switched on for 8 hours a day, only letting the Band switch off this feature during my inactive hours and overnight. I’d expect persons that will use this band for its intended purpose, fitness tracking, to get comparable mileage, if not a little more. A week of battery life out of this band seems like a more reasonable estimate.
On the plus side, the Band charges at 5V 1A/1.5A/2A via the proprietary magnetic charging mechanism. Fun fact, the charger has not changed one bit from the Band 6 and Honor Band 6. And yes, I did try and it charges this Band just fine.
Huawei Band 7 as a Smartwatch
Fitness stuff aside, we use our fitness trackers as semi-smartwatches and as such, expect some level of functionality over the analog time-pieces that they replace on our wrists.
The Band 7 runs on HarmonyOS , Huawei’s in-house operating system that’s meant to replace Android, giving them a more unified platform.
However, there is little in form of third-party app support which is a bummer. The band also doesn’t have a speaker or a microphone so you can’t interact with it like that. It can only relay what’s on your phone in form of notifications. Luckily, there is a new option to interact with these notifications, albeit from a handful of apps like WhatsApp and the Messaging app on Android with quick replies.
- Huawei Band 7: Here’s how to set custom Quick Replies
There have been reports of connectivity and permission issues for users on iOS, an issue I haven’t encountered on Android so safe to say, your experience might vary depending on your operating system. I’d love to try it with a Huawei device but I am not sure I’m ready to deal with the perceived limitations of not having Google Services.
Pricing and Availability
The Huawei Band 7 is available across various markets in the world in a number of color options including Black, Green, Pink, and Red .
The Band 7 is priced at €59/£50/$59. This puts it around $7 more expensive than the Xiaomi Smart Band 7.
Conclusion
The Fitness tracker market is a little crowded right now with pioneers like Xiaomi’s Mi Band , Huawei’s previous Band models, Amazfit, and many more. Cheap smartwatches from Xiaomi are also devices to consider for this kind of money.
The changes in this model over its predecessor are pretty abysmal so if you can get the Huawei Band 6 or even the Honor Band 6 on a good deal, that could be a steal right now because you won’t be missing much, only the Always-on Display feature.
Also, the Mi Band 7 Pro can be considered at this price. However, the availability for that one is still spotty at the moment. For its price, it is hard to fault the lack of GPS and NFC, seeing as competitors are missing that as well.
Should you be invested in the Xiaomi ecosystem, the Mi Band 7 is still your safest bet. But if you want to be different, the Huawei Band 7 is a solid device that has just as much to offer. I for one will be using this for the next few months.
I’m a tech enthusiast and digital explorer based in Kenya passionate about Android, Linux, and the world of custom ROMs. I love tinkering with devices to craft personalized, optimized experiences. When I’m not deep in code or tweaking gadgets, you’ll find me immersed in science fiction, philosophy, or writing about the ever-evolving tech landscape from an African perspective.
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Talkio Mobile , Uganda’s newest telecommunications service provider, is excited to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Banana Life Investments, a leading chain of mobile phone and retail shops. This strategic alliance aims to bring Talkio’s innovative telecom services closer to Ugandans.
This collaboration will leverage Banana Life Investments’ extensive retail network of 26 stores strategically located across Uganda in major malls, towns, and cities to provide customers with unparalleled convenience. Through this partnership, Talkio Mobile will offer its full suite of services, including SIM cards, airtime, and exclusive product offerings at any Banana Life Investment location.
This partnership is more than a business initiative—it’s a shared commitment to transforming lives. By integrating Talkio Mobile’s forward-thinking services & nationwide reach with Banana Life Investments’ retail footprint, the two brands are setting a new standard for customer convenience and inclusivity.
READ ALSO: 5 Things You Need to Know About Talkio Mobile: New Telecom Company in Uganda
“This partnership aligns perfectly with our mission of connecting Ugandans to innovative and transformative telecom solutions,” said Vianne Allan Ahura, CEO of Talkio Mobile. “By leveraging Banana Life Investments’ trusted presence and nationwide footprint, we are not only expanding our agent network but also bringing our services closer to the communities we serve. This collaboration ensures that our online customers can now enjoy a seamless offline experience right at their doorstep. Together, we are empowering Ugandans with the tools they need to stay connected, grow their businesses, and unlock new opportunities.”
Solomon Ssemuyaba, the assistant general manager at Banana Life Investments, echoed this sentiment: “We are proud to join hands with Talkio Mobile to deliver innovative, customer-centric solutions. This partnership represents our shared vision of fostering a connected future for Uganda. Together, we are redefining what convenience and accessibility mean for our customers.”
The partnership goes beyond retail distribution, introducing joint initiatives aimed at value addition and personalized service. Customers can expect seamless access to:
- SIM Card Sales : Available at all Banana Life Investments locations.
- Talkio phone number bookings : Book your preferred Talkio number at any Banana Life Investments location.
- Airtime Services : Recharge easily through in-store purchases.
- Customer Support : Friendly and knowledgeable staff trained to assist with Talkio Mobile products and services.
Additionally, the two companies plan to launch promotional campaigns and expand services to even more locations, ensuring no Ugandan is left behind in the digital transformation.
Solomon Obwot is a tech writer based in Kampala, Uganda, with extensive experience in the local tech startup ecosystem. He covers the latest news and analysis on consumer tech, writes in-depth smartphone reviews, and conducts insightful interviews with industry experts. Solomon is also a passionate podcaster, sharing his knowledge and engaging in discussions about Africa’s rapidly growing tech landscape. Send emails to [email protected]
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The Mobile World Congress (MWC) Barcelona , the world’s largest exhibition for the mobile industry, has just concluded. This annual event gathers leading technology brands to unveil groundbreaking mobile, AI, and digital solutions innovations. At MWC 2025, TECNO showcased a range of AI-driven products, reinforcing its commitment to cutting-edge technology.
The key launches included:
- CAMON 40 Series – AI-powered smartphones with One-Tap FlashSnap and advanced mobile imaging features.
- MEGABOOK S14 – The world’s lightest 14-inch OLED laptop, featuring AI-enhanced multitasking and Snapdragon® X Elite.
- MEGABOOK T14 Air & K15S – Lightweight ultrabooks with AI capabilities and extended battery life.
- TECNO AI Glasses Series – Smart eyewear integrating AI imaging, translation, and AR display.
Jan Stryjak, Associate Director at Counterpoint Research, shared, “In the past year, we have observed significant advancements in the field of AI. AI will continue to drive transformative changes in our daily lives. In this critical period for the economic development of emerging markets, TECNO’s AI technologies are unlocking potential for diverse needs.”
“The application of AI technologies is crucial and urgent in emerging markets. We’re committed to bridging the digital gap between emerging and mature markets,” said TECNO CMO, Laury Bai. “TECNO is taking a practical approach to make AI more accessible, ensuring users in emerging markets can access AI and cutting-edge technologies.”
Laury Bai, TECNO CMO
Driven by its commitment, TECNO has forged a robust partnership with MediaTek, establishing a joint AI laboratory dedicated to accelerating advancements in AI. At the event, James Chen, Vice President of Product and Technology Marketing at MediaTek, emphasized, “The synergistic R&D efforts between TECNO and MediaTek are set to democratize AI technology. Our collaboration powers a seamless, interconnected AI experience, bringing users a future of truly connected intelligence.”
James Chen, Vice President, Product and Technology Marketing at MediaTek
CAMON 40 Series Powered by AI One-Tap FlashSnap Revolutionizes Smartphone Snapshot Photography
TECNO’s Global Product Launch Officer, Olivier Mas, officially unveiled TECNO’s next-generation AI-driven products. Attendees at TECNO’s launch event witnessed the highly anticipated debut of TECNO’s new CAMON 40 Series, a device that embodies TECNO’s legacy of excellence in mobile imaging. Featuring One-Tap FlashSnap Mode and TECNO AI, the series sets a new benchmark in smartphone photography, delivering exceptional snapshot capabilities and AI-enhanced user experiences.
Olivier Mas, TECNO Global Product Launch Officer
The CAMON 40 Series exemplifies a commitment to innovation that transcends hardware and software, extending into strategic partnerships that deliver cutting-edge AI solutions to emerging markets. Matt Waldbusser, Managing Director of Global Solutions and Consumer AI at Google Cloud, remarked, “Our collaboration with TECNO on the CAMON 40 Series is a standout example. Leveraging Google Cloud’s capabilities, we’ve introduced groundbreaking features such as Ask Ella, AI Image Generator, AI Writing, and AI Translate. I am particularly impressed by the industry-leading and competitive edge of some of these innovations. For instance, TECNO’s AI supports text translation in 136 languages, voice translation in 44 languages, and photo translation in 51 languages. We are excited to further strengthen our partnership with TECNO, unlocking limitless potential to bring advanced yet practical AI capabilities to emerging markets in a convenient and secure manner.”
Matt Waldbusser, Managing Director of Global Solutions and Consumer AI at Google Cloud
The CAMON 40 Series’ innovative One-Tap FlashSnap leverages AI to enhance imaging capabilities, revolutionizing mobile photography. AI optimizes camera startup and continuous shooting for instant captures, while AI-powered multi-frame processing intelligently reduces noise and enhances details, delivering sharper, more refined images. Additionally, the BestMoment algorithm analyzes motion patterns, automatically selecting the optimal frames for precise, high-quality shots in dynamic scenarios, ensuring users an unparalleled mobile imaging experience.
TECNO CAMON 40 Demonstrates the Cutting-Edge FlashSnap Capability
To delve deeper into the imaging prowess of the CAMON 40 Series, TECNO invited Frédéric Guichard, CEO of DXOMARK, to share the image performance of CAMON 40 Pro. Frédéric highlighted, “The CAMON 40 Pro 5G has demonstrated exceptional imaging and performance capabilities in our rigorous evaluations. We’ve been particularly impressed with photo performance being the best for devices under 600$, and the 1st eligible device to our Smart Choice Label.”
Onsite photo of Frédéric Guichard, CEO of DXOMARK
Beyond its advanced rapid-capture functionality, the integration of TECNO AI further enhances the device’s capabilities. Intelligent imaging, a 360° AI Call Assistant, and productivity tools elevate creativity and efficiency. Powered by MediaTek’s latest chipsets, the series ensures smooth performance, fast processing, and extended battery life. With a sleek, durable, and water-resistant design, it seamlessly blends style with practicality for modern users.
MEGABOOK S14, the World’s Lightest 14-inch OLED Laptop, Inspires Creators and Game Lovers
The MEGABOOK S14 is TECNO’s first OLED laptop and the industry’s lightest 14-inch OLED laptop, featuring a 2.8K OLED display and incredibly weighing only 899g (31.7oz). The laptop is equipped with the outstanding power of the Snapdragon® X Elite compute platform, the flagship chipset for AI PCs from Qualcomm Technologies, and integrates TECNO’s world’s first self-developed edge-side large-scale AI model, to achieve AI-enhanced multitasking.
World’s Lightest 14-inch Laptop MEGABOOK S14
Specifically designed for next-gen AI productivity, TECNO AI enhances the Ella AI Assistant, AI-powered PPT generation, AI-driven image search, smart albums, and offline meeting transcription with multilingual support. The External Graphics Dock, equipped with a powerful NVIDIA graphic card, delivers scalable, high-performance capabilities for design, gaming, and content creation. The laptop’s 2.8K OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate ensures exceptional visuals, while DTS:X Ultra dual 2W speakers, Wi-Fi 6E, fingerprint login, and PC Manager optimize connectivity and user experience.
TECNO’s strategic partnership with Qualcomm Technologies was a highlight of the TECNO AI Ecosystem Product Launch event, demonstrating a shared vision for the future of AI PCs. Kedar Kondap, SVP & GM of Compute and Gaming at Qualcomm, took the stage to discuss the integration of Qualcomm’s cutting-edge PC chipset into the new MEGABOOK S14 laptop, underscoring TECNO’s commitment to delivering high-performance computing solutions.
Kedar Kondap, SVP & GM of Compute and Gaming at Qualcomm
In addition, TECNO also introduced several standout new products. The featherlight 999g (35.2oz) ultrabook MEGABOOK T14 Air, features high-speed storage and LPDDR5 memory, while the ultra-thin, all-metal MEGABOOK K15S, equipped with a powerful 70Wh battery and supported by a 65W PD GaN charger, offers a smarter and more long-lasting user experience. Both devices are empowered by TECNO AI with advanced AI capabilities such as AI Album and AI Voice Assistant, making them perfect companions for all aspects of life.
The Next Game-Changing Tech Innovation: See the World with the TECNO AI Glasses Series
TECNO’s new AI Glasses Series also took center stage with the introduction of TECNO AI Glasses Pro and TECNO AI Glasses, reimagining eyewear with cutting-edge imaging, intelligent interactions, and a sleek aesthetic. The TECNO AI Glasses feature an aviator design, while the Pro model showcases a browline style, both embodying timeless elegance and modern fashion.
TECNO AI Glasses Redefine the Way People See the Future
Equipped with a 50MP high-definition camera, the series integrates an OV50D sensor, a 100° ultra-wide-angle custom lens, and an AI ISP imaging chip, forming a mobile-grade imaging system. This system lets users capture stunning, high-resolution photos with advanced AI noise reduction and HDR capabilities. With real-time translation supporting over 100 languages, TECNO AI’s Ella empowers accurate translation even for less common languages, as well as voice control, AI-powered object recognition, and intelligent information summaries for ultimate convenience.
Additionally, the AI Glasses Pro features a MicroLED display with 7th-gen resin waveguide technology, offering a 30° field of view, over 1,500 nits of brightness AR display, and a lightweight, ultra-thin design. The AR display allows users to effortlessly enjoy features like translation display, navigation, information prompts, and teleprompting.
Equipped with a 250mAh battery, these glasses offer over 11 hours of music playback and 8 hours of mixed use with just 30 minutes of charging. An advanced ultra-linear speaker, bass enhancement, and spatial sound deliver an immersive audio experience, while Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.4 ensure seamless connectivity.
With these innovative launches, TECNO is setting new standards in mobile imaging and AI-enhanced technology, shaping a more connected and empowered future for consumers in emerging markets. Once again, TECNO has showcased its cutting-edge innovation on the global stage at MWC. With the brand essence of “Stop at Nothing”, TECNO’s relentless pursuit of innovation is making AI-powered technology more accessible, allowing consumers to experience the future ahead of time.
Solomon Obwot is a tech writer based in Kampala, Uganda, with extensive experience in the local tech startup ecosystem. He covers the latest news and analysis on consumer tech, writes in-depth smartphone reviews, and conducts insightful interviews with industry experts. Solomon is also a passionate podcaster, sharing his knowledge and engaging in discussions about Africa’s rapidly growing tech landscape. Send emails to [email protected]
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