Huawei has introduced the 2025 Watch Ultimate Design Royal Gold Edition, combining luxury materials with advanced dive-focused hardware. The smartwatch features 18K gold detailing, a zirconium-based liquid metal case, and support for sonar-based underwater communication. Positioned as a high-end wearable for both professional and extreme-use scenarios, it targets users seeking a balance of premium design, durability, and specialized functionality.
Materials and Build Quality Explained
Huawei positions the Watch Ultimate Design Royal Gold Edition as a carefully engineered product rather than a cosmetic luxury variant. It uses solid 18K gold inlays alongside a ceramic bezel and a zirconium-based liquid metal chassis, chosen for their durability, corrosion resistance, and long-term wear characteristics. Huawei says the materials are joined using proprietary bonding techniques to manage differences in strength and thermal behavior, allowing the watch to deliver a premium finish while maintaining the structural reliability expected from a high-end sports and dive-focused smartwatch.
Underwater Performance and Safety Features
On the technical side, the watch is positioned as a dedicated dive instrument rather than a lifestyle-focused wearable. It features a certified dive computer rated to 150 meters, compliant dive algorithms, integrated depth and temperature sensors, and mechanical controls designed for reliable operation while wearing gloves. These elements place it firmly in the category of professional-grade dive hardware rather than casual fitness tracking.
A notable addition is the integrated acoustic modem, which uses a piezoelectric transducer working with the liquid-metal chassis to transmit low-bandwidth, error-corrected messages between compatible devices at distances of up to around 30 meters. An SOS relay mode can extend this range by passing messages through nearby units. While the system is limited to short communications and depends on wider device adoption, it is positioned as a practical safety feature for low-visibility conditions or situations where dive partners become separated.
Display Technology and Interaction Design
The display and interaction design reflect a balance between functional readability and premium presentation. The watch uses a 1.5 inch LTPO AMOLED panel rated at up to around 3,500 nits, ensuring maps and dive data remain legible in bright sunlight and underwater glare. LTPO support down to 1Hz, combined with power-optimized display management, helps control battery consumption during extended use.
Protection comes from a curved sapphire crystal designed to redirect impact forces and reduce the risk of tensile stress fractures, improving durability without affecting visual clarity. On the software side, Huawei applies its Royal UI skin with exclusive watch faces, gold-accented typography, and refined animations. These elements are intended to visually align the interface with the watch’s premium materials while keeping interaction straightforward and readable.
Battery Life and Health Tracking Features
Battery performance is positioned as a functional advantage rather than a headline feature. The watch houses an 867 mAh battery using a silicon carbon composite anode, paired with system-level power management to support multi-week usage under typical conditions and extended runtime in expedition-grade GPS modes. This approach aims to exceed the day-to-day endurance commonly associated with smartwatches.
The silicon carbon anode design uses a carbon framework to control silicon expansion, enabling higher energy density within a compact form factor. In practical terms, this allows the watch to be worn continuously without frequent charging, while still supporting navigation, tracking, and other smartwatch features during longer outdoor or dive-focused use.
Huawei’s health features emphasize broader sensor integration and data depth. The TruSense system adds ECG-capable electrodes via the X Tap interface, alongside metrics such as pulse wave velocity, arterial stiffness, SpO2, sleep, and apnea tracking. While aimed at wellness rather than clinical use, these features support the expectations of buyers seeking both premium design and meaningful health insights from a high-end smartwatch.
Ecosystem Limits and Competition
The main limitations of the Royal Gold Edition stem from ecosystem compatibility rather than hardware capability. While HarmonyOS 6.0 is well integrated on Huawei devices, the experience on iOS is restricted, with limited notification interaction, reduced app control, and inconsistent background connectivity. Combined with a premium price of around €3,300, the watch delivers its full value primarily to users already invested in Huawei’s ecosystem, which can be a barrier in iPhone-dominated markets.
In the broader market, Huawei positions the watch between Apple and Garmin. It offers longer battery life, stronger dive features, and more premium materials than the Apple Watch Ultra 3, while prioritizing display quality and luxury finish over the deeper analytics found in Garmin’s MARQ series. This places it in a narrow but distinct category as a high-end smartwatch that blends luxury design with certified dive-computer functionality.
Verdict
Huawei positions the Royal Gold Edition as a combination of advanced engineering and luxury materials. Its use of specialized alloys, underwater communication hardware, long battery life, and a high-brightness display address practical performance needs alongside premium design.
The trade-offs include a high price, limited functionality when paired with iPhones, and the added care required for gold-accented finishes. For buyers who prioritize certified dive features, extended battery life, and distinctive materials over ecosystem flexibility, the Royal Gold Edition represents a niche but clearly defined option in the 2025 smartwatch market.
