Huawei dropped two new fitness trackers. The Band 11 and Band 11 Pro are here, and honestly, they punch way above their weight class.
What's the Difference?
The Band 11 Pro is the one you want. Aluminum case (not plastic), built-in GPS so you can leave your phone at home when you run, and a 1.62-inch AMOLED display that actually looks good in sunlight.
The regular Band 11? Same screen, same sensors, same battery — but no built-in GPS. You'll need your phone for tracking runs. At $43 vs $80, it's a solid budget option, but the Pro is worth the extra $37 if you run outdoors.
That Screen Though
We're looking at 286 × 482 pixels crammed into 1.62 inches — that's 347 PPI. You literally cannot see individual pixels. Text is crisp, notifications are readable, and Huawei bumped up the brightness for outdoor use. In direct sunlight? No squinting required.
Compare this to the Apple Watch Ultra 2 or Garmin Fenix line and you're saving hundreds. Maybe thousands. The display tech here is what you'd expect from a watch twice the price.
Built-In GPS: The Key Difference
This is what sets the Pro apart from the regular Band 11. The Pro has its own GPS chip. You can head out for a run, leave your phone on the kitchen counter, and still get accurate pace and distance data.
The standard Band 11 relies on your phone's GPS. It's fine if you always run with your phone, but it's limiting. For $37 more, the Pro gives you freedom.
Health Tracking
Both bands include Huawei's full health suite:
- Heart rate monitoring (optical sensor)
- Blood oxygen (SpO2)
- Sleep tracking
- Stress tracking
- Emotion tracking (yes, really)
The Pro also throws in Pulse Wave Arrhythmia Analysis — a feature usually reserved for premium devices. It's not a medical device, but it's a nice extra for catching potential issues early.
The 9-axis IMU (accelerometer + gyroscope + magnetometer) handles movement tracking across exercises. 5 ATM water resistance means you can swim with these — no problem.
Battery Life
Here's where budget trackers usually fail. Not here.
- Light use: Up to 14 days
- Typical use: About 8 days
- Always-on display: 3 days
- GPS on: Less, obviously
That 300mAh battery delivers. Most people will charge once a week. That's Apple Watch territory, except you're paying a lot less.
Charging is magnetic — snap it on and go. Simple.
Build Quality
The Pro weighs just 18 grams. That's light. The aluminum case feels more premium than the polymer version on the standard Band 11. Colors are green, blue, or black.
The regular Band 11 comes in more playful colors — beige, white, purple — but swaps aluminum for polymer on some versions. Worth noting if build quality matters to you.
Price
- Band 11: ~$43
- Band 11 Pro: ~$80
At these prices, you're getting display tech and sensors that would cost $300+ in an Apple Watch or Garmin. That's a crazy good deal.
The Verdict
If you want a reliable fitness tracker without the smartwatch premium, get the Band 11 Pro. Built-in GPS alone justifies the $80. The screen is excellent, battery life is great, and you get health tracking that rivals devices twice the price.
The regular Band 11 is fine if you're on a tight budget and always run with your phone. But the Pro? That's the one.
Bottom line: Huawei just raised the bar for budget fitness trackers. The Band 11 Pro delivers where it counts — display, GPS, and battery — without the flagship price tag.