A new HarmonyOS update adds advanced cardiovascular assessment tools to Huawei’s flagship watch
Huawei is pushing the boundaries of smartwatch heart health tracking with a significant firmware update for the Watch Ultimate 2.
The update—rolling out as HarmonyOS version 6.0.0.209—introduces a pair of advanced cardiovascular tools: heart failure risk assessment and coronary heart disease (CHD) risk screening.
To use the new features, users must enroll in a specific research project via the Huawei Research app. The system requires the watch to be worn continuously for three to four days, during which it monitors vital signs, including ECG, SpO2, and arterial stiffness via the built-in TruSense system.
The app then generates a personalized risk report based on the gathered data, aiming to provide early warnings for conditions that often go undetected.
Expanding its toolkit
Beyond the heart health additions, the update brings several other refinements to the Ultimate 2:
- Wheelchair mode: An activity profile that provides personalized exercise regimens and goals for wheelchair users.
- Real-time cycling cadence: Outdoor cycling mode now features simulated cadence support without the need for external sensors
- 3D distance compensation: A more accurate method of measuring path distance on steep inclines using the barometer
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The update is currently rolling out in batches, primarily focusing on users in China before seemingly expanding to international models in the coming weeks.
The Wareable take
Huawei continues to outpace its biggest rivals in rolling out novel medical-grade features.
While the “research project” framing of this latest duo is likely a way to navigate regulatory hurdles, the ability to screen for heart failure on a consumer device is a massive selling point.
If Huawei can continue to back these features with clinical-grade accuracy—and deliver them in markets outside China—it will remain the brand to watch for health obsessives who crave the latest innovations in screening and early warning insights.
