Huawei Band 9: Full SCIENTIFIC Review (I Was WRONG! & Right…)

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Reference devices:

Intro Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
License code: OBLD6VBBCTRDFZQP

Timestamps:
00:00 Intro and Background
01:00 Heart Rate Test 1 : Indoor Cycling
05:30 Heart Rate Test 2 : Running
07:16 Heart Rate Test 3 : Outdoor Cycling
09:59 Heart Rate Test 4 : Weight Lifting
12:31 Sleep Test Part 1
16:55 Sleep Test Part 2 : Overview
19:06 Limitations, Recommendations & Conclusions

I was wrong about the Huawei Band 9, but I was also right. And that’s why today’s video is a very important one to watch, even if you are not interested in the Huawei Band 9 specifically. Let me explain. A few weeks ago I made a first video on the Huawei Band 9, in which I showed that the Band 9 appeared to perform less good than the older Band 8, at least based on the initial data. Because of technical reasons I could only access a limited amount of data, but I thought it was important to show you what I had already. I now have access to the full set of data I had at the time, and this tells a different, and potentially even more interesting story; and not just about the Huawei Band 9, though of course we’ll be doing a full health tracking review in this video. It also tells you something about the testing of smartwatches, and the potential reasons why I might get different results from for instance DC Rainmaker or Matt LeGrand, but more on that later. In this video we will focus on two aspects of the Huawei Band 9: the sleep stage tracking performance and the heart rate tracking accuracy

Still, overall I think my testing results are good news for Huawei and their new Band 9. The results seem to indicate the Band 9 is better than my initial results indicated. Their new sensor layout might not be as bad as I initially thought, and my new testing seems to indicate it is roughly on-par with the older Huawei Band 8, though we do see some slight differences, some in favor of the Band 9 and some in favor of the Band 8. At least that is, if we consider the better of the two Band 9’s I tested. So, why would these give different results, and why were my initial results even worse? Well I have several theories. The first thing that likely played a role is that random variation in performance meant that the limited amount of data I had initially was unfortunately not representative of the actual performance. You can imagine that each time I do the same heart rate test, there is a chance it will be better or worse than average. This is usually represented by this type of bell-curve, where the height in the curve indicates the chance of getting a better or worse result for a single test. The first is that the way my bones and blood flow are formed on both wrists might make them easier to measure on the left side versus the right side. Or, it could be that the production quality of one watch was better than the other. I can’t say which of these is true, unless I collect a lot more data. Still the Huawei Band 9 appears to be quite decent overall, which means I can now recommend it if you want a cheap heart rate tracker that is pretty good. Also check out the results of some other reviewers!

[TheQuantifiedScientist]

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[tubejuanso]

He said check performance on other reviewers!! 😂😂😂 Mate, you're the only guy in the world, AFAIK, presenting data as deep as you do and testing so accurately. Sadly, you're the only human being we can believe how a watch performs. If you don't test it we don't buy it.

[franpicado]

This video is proof that you are one of the most honest people reviewing tech. Thank you ! Keep doing your excellent job!!

[kenhnsy]

Your reviews of actual performance are incredible! Unfortunately most people will not buy on accuracy and precision. But those of us who watch you really appreciate your work.

[WesleyWu-xxiy]

Swap the bands between left and right hands and measure again. This will help determine if the issue lies with the device or the difference between your hands.

[TheQuantifiedScientist]

($30 off any new WHOOP membership)
☝Amazon Affiliate* (paid) links. Supports the channel, doesn't cost you any more!☝
🔵 Newsletter: www.robterhorst.com
🟡 Twitter: @QuantifiedRob
* Affiliate (paid) links support the channel by earning me a commission on any sale, and it doesn't cost you any more! My opinions are completely my own, and this content is not sponsored.
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[yykirli]

you're the most trustworthy smartwatch reviewer out there. i always check your reviews before buying one. i and many others really appreciate your deeply scientific review. thank you.

[michelhenrique]

Which is more recommended for sleep monitoring: Huawei Band 8 or 9?

[freitascjr]

Hey, buddy. Thanks for the new video. Your job is very nice! A question: do you intend to try Huawei Watch Fit 3 again? Regards from Brazil 🇧🇷

[NiCKkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk]

Thanks for the detailed review. I watched both your videos. My suggestion would be to add the price into the assessment. If you're comparing a $60 device with a $600 device and the former is 10% less accurate, it's a pretty good deal for most people. A person who needs medical grade accuracy should be smart enough to know that budget devices in the market may not be the most suitable option.

[preethamsai]

Hey Rob, can you try switching watches used on your left and right for different sessions or days. Just to make sure that the inaccuracy is not an issue with the particular device. Love your reviews, Keep them going. I am still waiting for your watch fit 3 full review.

[MAGAted]

surely swapping the watches over would have been worthwhile with such a large difference

[luisfilipesf]

Not to diss on your work which I follow since you re the only one doing these deep and accurate analysis, but for this comparison make sense you would have to do the herculious task of testing all the other watches on your left wrist, because probably they would perform better on the left aswell, so you would have another whole term of comparison in a general scale. Keep up the great work!

[besimAOG]

Its a drag that after all these years, health tracking watches havent evolved at all

[yahiakantour]

Can you do a comparison between huawei band 9 and Samsung fit 3.

[dimaignatenko]

I was really looking forward to the full episode! Thank you so much for this episode in particular and for all the work you do!🎉😮

[DavidRojas]

Thanks for the update, Rob. This is precisely why people trust your reviews so much! Also, I've noticed that you don't do reviews of honor bands/smartwatches. Is there a particular reason? I've seen they have some very nice and cheap options but since they're no longer with Huawei I don't know if they're any good. Would be excellent having a review of some of their latest products.

[mananvarma]

Love your videos! The hard work you put into them is evident. Could you please review the CMF Watch Pro 2?

[mikayelify]

Thanks for the update!
Hope you can update Huawei watch fit 3 vidéo too! ❤

[yasskb]

Thank you Rob !
So my conclusion is that... it's expected. There are low-end and high-end watches for a reason. I feel like we will never have much better watches regarding hearth-rate performances and sleep, or at least until a very long time. But imo hearth rate accuracy is more than enough for daily usage, as well as sleep tracking which in my case help my know when I fall asleep and when I wake up.