The Huawei Watch Ultimate can send messages without a direct phone connection under specific conditions. It supports two-way Beidou satellite SMS, allowing users to send and receive messages via satellite in China. This feature is activated by installing a dedicated Beidou Satellite SMS app on the watch and requires a firmware update to HarmonyOS version 3.0.0.138 or later[1][10].
However, for traditional cellular messaging, the Huawei Watch Ultimate does not support eSIM or LTE connectivity, which means it cannot send or receive SMS messages independently without a phone connection via cellular networks[9][10]. Users must pair the watch with a phone using Bluetooth to receive notifications and manage messages indirectly through the Huawei Health app[4][9].
In summary, while the Huawei Watch Ultimate can send messages via satellite without a phone connection in China, it does not support standalone cellular messaging without a phone connection.
Citations:
[1] https://www.huaweicentral.com/huawei-watch-ultimate-satellite-sms-feature-update/
[2] https://consumer.huawei.com/en/support/content/en-us15952136/
[3] https://www.reddit.com/r/PixelWatch/comments/1f1c78p/does_watch_actually_send_texts_without_the_phone/
[4] https://consumer.huawei.com/en/support/content/en-us15958510/
[5] https://consumer.huawei.com/en/support/content/en-us15952112/
[6] https://batteryuniversity.com/article/bu-808-how-to-prolong-lithium-based-batteries
[7] https://www.huaweicentral.com/huawei-announces-ai-messages-support-for-these-15-smartwatches/
[8] https://consumer.huawei.com/en/support/content/en-us15952109/
[9] https://root-nation.com/en/gadgets-en/wearables-en/en-huawei-watch-ultimate-design-review/
[10] https://www.phonearena.com/reviews/huawei-watch-ultimate-review_id5760
