Huawei Watch vs Apple Watch: VO2max compared
How Huawei Watch and Apple Watch estimate your VO2max, what each needs from you, what else they show and what independent studies say about accuracy.
| Huawei Watch | Apple Watch | |
|---|---|---|
| Called | VO2Max | Cardio Fitness |
| Algorithm | Not named by Huawei | Apple in-house |
| App | Huawei Health | Health app (iPhone) |
| From: Outdoor run | Yes | Yes |
| From: Walk | Yes | Yes |
| From: Treadmill | No | No |
| From: Bike (power meter) | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| From: Resting test | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| From: All-day data | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Fitness age | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| Race predictor | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Published accuracy studies | 1 | 3 |
| What you need to do | Start Outdoor run, Outdoor walk or Track run on the watch, outdoors. Run: average speed above 7.2 km/h after a 10-min warm-up, changing by less than 1 km/h per minute. Walk: cadence of at least 100 steps/min for 2 km. Indoor modes give no VO2Max. | Wear the watch for at least 24 hours, then do several Outdoor Walk, Outdoor Run or Hiking workouts in the Workout app. Fairly flat ground, good GPS and heart rate signal help. |
Key differences
- Race predictions: Huawei Watch has them.
- Accuracy evidence: we found 1 published study for Huawei Watch and 3 for Apple Watch.
How each one works
Huawei Watch: The watch estimates VO2Max during outdoor runs and brisk walks that meet speed or cadence rules. Huawei does not publish the method.
Apple Watch: Measures how hard your heart works (heart and motion sensors, GPS) during outdoor walks, runs and hikes, plus passive outdoor walking. It also uses your age, sex, weight, height and heart-rate medications.
Which is better for VO2max?
For VO2max specifically, the best device is the one that sees your hardest efforts: if most of your training is outdoor running, both give an estimate (both use outdoor run, walk). If you cycle with a power meter, walk more than you run, or want a resting test, check those rows above. Whichever you choose, compare the number with itself over time and with the norms for your age.
Accuracy studies
Huawei Watch
- Ye et al., JMIR mHealth uHealth, 2023: HUAWEI WATCH GT Runner vs lab CPET (n=46, low and high altitude): slight overestimation, MAPE under 7%, mean absolute error under 2 mL/kg/min.
Apple Watch
- Lambe et al., Mayo Clin Proc Digit Health, 2026: Series 10 underestimated VO2max by 6.25 ml/kg/min on average; MAPE 13.2%; poor individual agreement.
- Lambe et al., PLoS One, 2025: Apple Watch underestimated VO2max by 6.07 ml/kg/min on average; MAPE 13.31%.
- Caserman et al., JMIR Biomed Eng, 2024: Series 7 estimate was lower than the lab value (41.37 vs 45.88 ml/kg/min); MAPE 15.79%, ICC 0.47.
Frequently asked questions
Is Huawei Watch or Apple Watch more accurate for VO2max?
Apple Watch has more published validation (3 vs 1 studies). Watch estimates are typically within several ml/kg/min of lab tests for groups, with larger individual errors, so use either one to track your trend.
Does Huawei Watch measure VO2max from outdoor run like Apple Watch?
Yes: both estimate from outdoor run, walk.
Which is better for VO2max: Huawei Watch or Apple Watch?
Pick the one whose data sources match how you train: Huawei Watch uses outdoor run, walk; Apple Watch uses outdoor run, walk, all-day data.
Built from official documentation (see each brand page for sources). Features vary by model and firmware. Huawei Watch and Apple Watch are trademarks of their owners; VO2max Health is independent and not affiliated with either.