Huawei Watch GT Runner 2 tested: Ready for the marathon
17/4/2026
Translation: machine translated
Pictures: Jan Johannsen
The Huawei Watch GT Runner 2 offers me marathon training, but I don't run that far. It convinces me as a sports watch, but even Huawei offers a cheaper option for my needs.
The Watch GT Runner 2 keeps me up to date while jogging with a wealth of data on my wrist. After running, it categorises me in a «Running Ability Index» and keeps an eye on my training load. I could also let it coach me to a marathon. The watch also tracks other sports, displays smartphone notifications and can be used with an additional service for mobile payments.
Lots of easily recognisable information on the wrist
At 34.5 grammes, the GT Runner 2 doesn't get in the way on the wrist. It sits comfortably and its 1.32-inch display is easy to recognise even in bright sunshine. The peak brightness of 3000 nits is helpful here. Kunlun Glass protects the screen from scratches and my watch is still free from any damage after two months.
The standard watch face presents running data. In addition to the time, I can see my «Running Ability Index» (RAI), the weekly training load (WTL) and my running performance for the current week. The latter is reset to zero every Monday.
If I tap on the RAI or WTL, I get more details on these values and can scroll through my fatigue tendency, a training index, my recovery and my VO₂max - the maximum amount of oxygen the body can absorb during exercise. As a bonus, there is also a prediction of my running times over five and ten kilometres as well as over the half marathon and marathon distance.
Marathon training and lots of data
I only get to jog about once a week with team training, gym and regeneration. Accordingly, the Huawei Watch GT Runner 2 offers functions that I can't really appreciate
For example, there is the «Intelligent Marathon Mode». A training programme designed to get me in shape for a marathon or half marathon. All I have to do is select my run and enter my target time. The tool uses my existing data to create a training plan for me. It would even remind me to eat and drink.
But the list is not complete. I immediately realise that I would have to enter the Hamburg Marathon manually so that the tool can plan for the date. The route length is known anyway. Regardless of the GT Runner 2, Huawei offers training plans for other distances in its Health app.
With the «Running Power», Huawei is also introducing a newly developed scale to measure training intensity. With its indication in watts, it reminds me of the established power measurement for cycling. The algorithm is also supposed to estimate the lactate value. But I haven't found it yet. Only the lactate threshold as one of five intensity zones in which I can run.
For me as a multi-sport athlete, the training load zones are more exciting. The app also takes other sports into account and differentiates between aerobic and anaerobic exercise.
The GT Runner 2 also tells me how long my recovery time should be and gives me a percentage of how recovered I am. In addition to everyday activity, it also takes into account sleep, stress and other data. In the end, however, I listen to my body rather than the percentage value.
Knowing which side of the road I was running on
There is a non-conductive layer between the metal frame and the titanium alloy bezel. This is said to improve the connection to GPS satellites by a factor of 3.5 compared to the previous model. The fast and precise location determination of the last Huawei wearableslink with title continues with the GT Runner 2.
When I start tracking an outdoor activity, the GPS connection is established within a few seconds. I don't have to plan for any waiting time. I can't provide an exact comparison with other sports watches, but I can confirm that the Watch GT Runner 2 is very accurate.
I ran a lap around a field twice. Once on the inside and once on the outside of the single-lane road. I can clearly see the two to three metre gap in the recording of the run. The Runner 2 even accurately separates the section on a dirt track, where the lanes are one to one and a half metres apart. Only on a short section do the tracks overlap.
A new EU solution for mobile payments
Since the Curve Pay is the name of the Lithuanian supplier of virtual credit cards that allows you to transfer your credit card to the Watch GT Runner 2 - and other Huawei smartwatches. However, the service only works for people from EU countries. Curve Pay does not accept Swiss credit cards and ID cards.
Yes, it's annoying to install another app and enter your details again and not simply be able to use Google or Apple Pay. But you don't have to wait for your bank to join a payment service and you're also promoting a European supplier.
Be on the road for over a week without a charging cable
Thanks to new technology with a higher energy density, Huawei has installed a battery with 540 milliampere hours (mAh) in the GT Runner 2 - an increase of 85 mAh or around 18 per cent compared to the previous model.
Huawei claims a battery life of up to 32 hours when jogging or up to 14 days with simple use. I activated all sensors and my test device consumed around eight per cent in 24 hours. So after about 12 days, it would urgently need to be recharged. But for me, this also means that if I'm travelling for a week and find time for one or two of my runs during that time, I don't need to pack a charging cable for the watch.
With GPS activated, my GT Runner 2 consumes around five per cent of the battery charge per hour. This gives me a shorter runtime than Huawei claims, but it's enough to complete a marathon at walking pace. I find it practical that the watch shows me the estimated remaining running time before starting an activity. During tracking, it informs me about the charge level.
More fitness and health functions
The Huawei Watch GT Runner 2, like the Watch GT6 Pro or the Watch Fit 4 Pro a comprehensive range of well-known fitness and health functions. With the TruSense sensor from Huawei, which measures numerous body values, it can track over 100 sports and monitor sleep. It also provides information on pulse and heart rate variability, which is an indicator of health. The watch also recognises signs of stress and emotions and lets you record your own assessment of these.
As a smartwatch, it is connected to the smartphone - Android and iOS are possible - and displays notifications, appointments and the weather. I can control music playback and use apps. However, the selection with Huawei is significantly smaller than with Wear OS from Google.
In a nutshell
Only exciting for running enthusiasts
The Huawei Watch GT Runner 2 is comfortable to wear and impresses with a bright and sharp display as well as a long battery life and accurate GPS. Given its name, it is not surprising that the smartwatch is only worthwhile for enthusiastic runners. If you don't want to run a marathon, a training programme for this distance is completely irrelevant. If you want to keep a closer eye on your runs, the "Running Ability Index" and "Running Power" provide new values, but these are not yet established.
It is as good as other Huawei wearables when it comes to other sports, fitness and health data. If you can do without the additional running data, the Watch GT6 Pro or the rectangular Watch Fit 4 Pro Pro also provides accurate location and activity data and is sometimes only half the price.
Pro
- Very long battery life
- accurate GPS
- Bright display with high resolution
- Works with Android and iOS
Contra
- there are cheaper alternatives for occasional joggers
- Small selection of apps
Header image: Jan Johannsen
Jan Johannsen
Senior Editor
Jan.Johannsen@galaxus.deAs a primary school pupil, I used to sit in a friend's living room with many of my classmates to play the Super NES. Now I get my hands on the latest technology and test it for you. In recent years at Curved, Computer Bild and Netzwelt, now at Digitec and Galaxus.
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