Huawei at Medica: Watch D2 Shines with Blood Pressure and ECG

Surprising medical premiere: Huawei presents the Watch D2 at Medica fair- a smartwatch with medically certified blood pressure and ECG measurement. The wearable sets new standards for vital data measurement and impressively demonstrates how consumer electronics and medical technology are merging.

The stand in the Digital Health and Wearable Hall 13 was not oversized or pompous - and yet it made a huge statement. With its presence at the Medica medical technology trade fair and the presentation of the smart »Watch D2« there, Huawei set a new standard for medical wearables - in a watch that is not aimed at doctors, but at consumers and patients.

MDR-Certified Smartwatch Measures Blood Pressure and ECG

With the Watch D2, Huawei shows that the Chinese consumer electronics group also wants to be taken seriously in the medical field and is focusing on the further fusion of consumer electronics and medical technology. Keyword: preventive, personalized medicine and the »quantified self«.

At the center of the trade fair presentation, the otherwise completely normal smartwatch impresses with its unique medical-certified functions. Blood pressure measurement, not estimation, and a reliable ECG are a significant technological step forward in the world of wearables. So far, only the ECG function of the Apple Watch has FDA approval, while Samsung estimates blood pressure in the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro using light reflection, but has no medical approval for this.

Mini Air Cushion Measures Blood Pressure

The heart of the Huwei Watch D2 is the precise blood pressure measurement. The smartwatch uses the well-known oscillometric method for 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure measurement. However, the cuff does not sit on the upper arm, but is permanently integrated into the wristband and the back of the watch case via a mini air cushion.

is how Head of Product Stefan Zimmer describes how Huawei's Truesense technology works. The editorial self-test at heart level shows that it feels similar and is neither uncomfortable nor painful. The very high accuracy achieved is the reason for the medical certification of the »Watch D2«; the blood pressure measurement complies with CE and MDR standards and can also be forwarded to doctors and medical staff via a smartphone app.

Single-Channel ECG Detects Atrial Fibrillation

Huawei has also achieved medical certification in the EU for ECG measurement. Despite the limitations of a single-channel ECG, the smartwatch measures and analyzes with sufficient accuracy and can reliably detect signs of atrial fibrillation. In the event of irregularities, the user is prompted to consult a doctor - this alarm function underlines the watch's role as an assistance tool for personal health monitoring.According to Stefan Zimmer, Huawei analyzed over

500,000 blood pressure data and invested a good five years in the development of the Watch D2. This is a rapid timeframe for medical technology, but unusual for fast-moving consumer electronics. The long development time reflects the high standards of quality and accuracy as well as the potential of »medical consumer wearables«, which Huawei sees and addresses.

Europe First: A Different Kind of Market Launch

Another remarkable fact: the watch is already available in Europe, even before it is launched on the home market in China. »This underlines the strategic importance of the European market for Huawei,« says Stefan Zimmer. With a price of 399 Euros, the Watch D2 is affordable compared to traditional medical devices, placing it in the affordable mid-range of premium smartwatches.

This should be a real entry-level or upgrade argument for high-risk patients in particular, especially when you consider that the watch is compatible with the two most common smartphone operating systems, iOS and Android. In addition to the medical functions, the D2 offers the typical functions of a smartwatch - such as sports tracking, phone pairing for calls and messages as well as other medical-related measurements of pulse, blood oxygen, skin temperature and stress levels. The D2 can also detect arterial stiffness and performs a sleep analysis.

Technologiefirmen setzen auf Medical Electronics

The launch of the Watch D2 as a medical wearable with blood pressure and ECG function marks an important step forward on the way to 24/7 vital data measurement and personalized medicine, whether on the wrist, in the car, via smart patch or traditionally at the doctor's office. And it also shows that Huawei is rising to the challenges and high standards of medical technology.

The combination of medical precision and suitability for everyday use could make the Watch D2 a pioneer for future developments in digital health monitoring. It shows that wearables have the potential to transform from mere lifestyle gadgets into valuable medical aids - and proves once again that technology companies are increasingly entering the healthcare sector. Traditional medical device manufacturers should prepare for this.