Huawei TalkBand B2 review – hands on

The Huawei Watch may have been the big headline from yesterday’s Huawei MWC press conference, but the company has also announced another wearable in the form of the TalkBand B2. Part fitness band, part Bluetooth headset, the TalkBand B2 has a much more stylish design than its predecessor, the TalkBand B1, and is available in black, silver and gold aluminium options with either a plastic or genuine leather strap. 

The display measures just 0.73in, but uses a PMOLED touchscreen display to help widen the band’s viewing angles. Admittedly, the gold version tended to pick up a lot of fingerprints, which made it difficult to see the display under bright lighting, but this wasn’t so much of an issue with the other colours. 

To turn on the display, all you need to do is tap the small button at the side, which we think is much easier than having to endlessly tap the screen if all you want to do is quickly glance at the time. To access the rest of the TalkBand B2’s information, you’ll need to swipe up and down on the touchscreen. 

With a six-axis sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope and capacitive sensors on board, the TalkBand B2 can track your steps and number of calories burned, and tell the difference between your various activities, such as if you’re walking, running, hiking, or cycling. It can also detect the duration of your sleeping patterns, tracking periods of light and deep sleep. It will also be able to offer users advice on how to improve their sleeping pattern through Huawei’s companion fitness app. It’s IP57 dust and water resistant, too, so you’ll be able to use it for a variety of different activities. 

The TalkBand B2’s party trick, though, is that the main bracelet can detach itself from the strap and double up as a Bluetooth headset, allowing you to take calls while you’re running, or push music from your smartphone. It’s easy to release as well, as there are just two small clasps at the lower end of the display, and it clips straight back into place when you want to reattach it. 

The headset, which weighs just 16.8g, has a dual microphone and 10mm speaker with built-in noise reduction to help deliver clearer audio. It can also detect whether it’s connected to the wristband or not, allowing it to push either calls or your music to the smartphone or the bracelet. You’ll also be able to use the TalkBand B2 to essentially ‘page’ your smartphone so you can keep track of its location if you can’t find it on your way out of the house. 

As for the strap, Huawei says its unique hinge connection will allow it to fit a variety of different wrist sizes, making it more comfortable for women with smaller wrists as well as those who have thicker, larger wrists. It uses a standard 15mm lug, too, so you’ll be able to swap them in and out depending on which colours you like. 

Huawei says the TalkBand B2’s 90mAh battery should be able to last up to five days on a single charge, with continuous call time up to six hours and 12 days in standby mode. It’s also compatible with both Android (4.0 or later) and iOS devices (iOS 7 or later) and is expected to cost either 199 Euros for the premium leather version or 169 Euros for the plastic model when it launches at the end of April. UK pricing has yet to be announced.