Is the GT Runner 2 is a legitimate competitor to Garmin's Forerunner line or are GPS issues going to plague this lightweight running watch.
The Hardware: Titanium That Actually Feels Premium
Right out of the box, the GT Runner 2 feels different from most fitness trackers. The titanium case is 43.5mm — notably smaller than the original's 46.4mm — and at just 34.5 grams without the strap, it's genuinely light. Huawei says it's 10% lighter than the previous model, and after a month of wearing it, I'll take their word for it. This is one of the most comfortable running watches I've worn.
The 1.32-inch AMOLED display is gorgeous. We're talking 466 x 466 pixels at 352 PPI, with a claimed 3,000 nits of brightness. In practice? It's readable in direct sunlight without squinting — a rarity in this category. The second-generation Kunlun Glass offers better scratch resistance than Gorilla Glass without the brittleness of Sapphire. I've logged plenty of runs, and the screen still looks pristine.
Colors are bold: Dawn Orange, Dusk Blue, or Midnight Black. The orange is eye-catching without being tacky.
GPS Accuracy: Huawei's Big Claim
This is where it gets interesting. Huawei is touting what they call a dielectric bezel design — essentially, the bezel itself acts as the GPS antenna. They're claiming 20% better accuracy than the previous model, especially in urban canyons and tunnels where most watches struggle.
GPS accuracy results seemed mixed so far in various reviews.
The watch supports dual-band GPS (L1 + L5) across six satellite systems: GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, QZSS, and NavIC. That comprehensive satellite support matters in real-world conditions.
Heart Rate: Finally, Wrist-Based You Can Trust
Here's where Huawei might actually beat Garmin at their own game. The TruSense optical heart rate sensor claims ±5 BPM accuracy, compared to the ±10 BPM of the previous generation.
One caveat: heart rate tracking in pool swimming still has issues. That's pretty common across all optical sensors, so no major knock there.
Running Features: Marathon Mode and More
Huawei went all-in on running features:
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Running Power: Calculated from the wrist, complete with power curves. No foot pod required. My testing showed ballpark agreement with Stryd and Apple Watch Ultra 3 — close enough for training purposes.
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Dynamic Lactate Threshold: Automatically determines your LTHR during runs. It's not perfect, but it's in the ballpark.
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Marathon Mode: Developed with Eliud Kipchoge. Offers structured race preparation, real-time pace charts, gap tracking against target times, and fueling reminders. During my long runs, the fueling reminders actually worked — a small feature that matters when you're running on empty.
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Training Load & Recovery: Tracks your training stress and suggests recovery time. It's not as sophisticated as Garmin's Training Status, but it gets the job done.
The watch supports over 100 sports modes, including trail running, cycling, swimming, golf (with over 17,000 course maps), and freediving up to 40 meters. The 5 ATM + IP69 water resistance means you can swim without worry.
Battery Life: 32 Hours of GPS
The battery is a standout feature:
- Typical use: Up to 14 days
- GPS mode: Up to 32 hours
- Fast charge: 15 minutes gets you 15-45%
The battery life is remarkable. If you're training for a marathon or ultra, you could conceivably do a 100-mile race and still have battery left.
Compare that to the Apple Watch Ultra 3, which needs charging every couple of days with heavy GPS use. It's not even close.
Daily Use: The Good and The Quirky
Day-to-day use is mostly positive. The interface is intuitive — honestly, easier to navigate than Garmin in some ways. The rotating crown works well, though it's small and tricky to use with gloves.
A few quirks worth noting:
- The button layout took some getting used to. On Garmin, the bottom button goes "back," but on Huawei, it acts as "Enter/Go."
- The strap uses a velcro-like design that's a little odd to tighten initially.
- Music support is for MP3s copied from your phone — no Spotify streaming like you'd get on Garmin or Apple.
The smartphone app, though, is the main pain point. It's cluttered, poorly localized for Western users, and Strava syncing was unreliable during my testing. If you live in the Huawei ecosystem (mostly Asia), this might not bother you. If you're used to Garmin Connect or Apple Health, the transition will be frustrating.
The Price
£350 (about $440 USD), or €399 in Europe. No US release, which is a shame given the ongoing Huawei restrictions.
For context, that's nearly half the price of a Garmin Forerunner 970 — a direct competitor that retails for $700+.
The Verdict
Outstanding hardware, ecosystem still catching up.
Pros:
- Class-leading GPS accuracy in urban conditions
- First wrist-based heart rate sensor I'd actually train with
- 32-hour GPS battery is industry-leading
- Intuitive interface, easier than Garmin
- Titanium build, Kunlun Glass, 3000-nit AMOLED display
- Marathon Mode is genuinely useful
- Running power and dynamic lactate threshold
Cons:
- Smartphone app is cluttered and poorly localized
- Strava syncing unreliable during testing
- No Spotify support
- No US availability
- Heart rate struggles in pool swimming
Should You Buy?
If you're already in the Huawei ecosystem and want a quality small-format running watch: absolutely. The hardware delivers, and the GPS/heart rate accuracy is genuine.
If you're a Garmin user considering a switch: watch closely. The GT Runner 2 proves Huawei can compete on the technical stuff. The ecosystem is the remaining gap — if Huawei fixes the app experience, Garmin should be worried.
Bottom line: Huawei made a real running watch this time. It's not a toy — it's a competitor. At half the price of a Garmin Forerunner 970 with better battery life and comparable (sometimes better) GPS accuracy, the GT Runner 2 is the value play of 2026.