Huawei Watch GT 5 Review: A Flagship Smartwatch
Huawei Watch GT 5 offers long battery life, sleek design, fitness tracking and water resistance, perfect for everyday and active use.
Huawei Watch GT 5 is the newest addition to Huawei’s smartwatch lineup, improving on GT 4 with subtle but useful upgrades. Its eye-catching design and strong focus on sports and fitness tracking make it a great option for health enthusiasts. However, its third-party app support is still limited due to US trade ban.
Despite that, Huawei Watch GT 5 offers excellent value for its price of £229.99 (around $300), making it a good choice for both Android and iOS users who prioritize health and fitness. While it lacks premium features like ECG and advanced golf or trail running tracking found in Pro version, GT 5 stands out as a reliable, all-around smartwatch with solid battery life and effective health and fitness tracking.
What’s New:
- TruSense System: The heart rate monitor is now more accurate during workouts and works better for people with darker skin tones.
- Sunflower Positioning System: The GPS is improved with dual-frequency, giving you more accurate tracking during outdoor activities.
- Redesigned Case: The watch has a slimmer design with a sharper octagonal look, especially in the 46mm model.
- New Running and Cycling Metrics: You get more detailed stats on your running form and cycling performance, helping you track your progress better.
- Screenshot and Keyboard Support: You can take screenshots with two button presses and use a full keyboard to reply to messages.
These upgrades make the watch more accurate, stylish, and easy to use.
Table of Contents
Huawei Watch GT 5 Specification
| Category | Huawei Watch GT 5 (46mm) | Huawei Watch GT 5 (41mm) |
|---|---|---|
| 🎨 Colors | Blue, Brown | Brown |
| 📏 Dimensions | 45.8 mm × 45.8 mm × 10.7 mm | 41.3 mm × 41.3 mm × 9.5 mm |
| ⌚ Wrist Size | 140-210 mm | 120-190 mm (Gold: 130-190 mm) |
| ⚖️ Weight | Approx. 48 g (strap excluded) | Approx. 35 g (strap excluded) |
| 📱 Display Size | 1.43 inches | 1.32 inches |
| 🔍 Display Resolution | 466 × 466 pixels (PPI 326) | 466 × 466 pixels (PPI 352) |
| 🎗️ Straps | Black, Brown, Blue | Black, Blue, White, Brown, Gold |
| 🧭 Sensors | Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Heart Rate, Barometer, etc. | Same |
| 💧 Water Resistance | 5 ATM, IP69K | 5 ATM, IP69K |
| 🔋 Battery Life | Up to 14 days (max use) | Up to 7 days (max use) |
| 📱 System | Android 9.0 or later, iOS 13.0 or later | Same |
| ⚡ Charging | Wireless | Wireless |
| 📶 Connectivity | NFC, Bluetooth 5.2, GNSS | Same |
| 🌡️ Operating Temp | -20℃ to +45℃ | Same |
Huawei Watch GT 5, Models and Prices
Huawei Watch GT 5 comes in two sizes, designed to cater to both men and women. 46mm model is more masculine while 41mm model is designed with a feminine touch. This is a nice approach by Huawei, as instead of offering a unisex design in two sizes like the Apple Watch, they’ve created two unique styles that appeal to different tastes.
Although there isn’t LTE version of the Watch GT 5 both models share the same essential features. The main differences are in the size, screen dimensions, and battery life. 46mm model, for example, is slightly larger and has a longer battery life compared to the 41mm.
For this review, I tested 46mm version, and it comes with all the core features you’d expect from a modern smartwatch, minus cellular connectivity. GT 5 series provides stylish, functional options for both men and women, with each size offering something tailored to its specific audience.
Huawei Watch GT 5 is priced at £230 / €250 (around $300), making it affordable option compared to competitors like Apple and Samsung. For instance Apple Watch Series 10 starts at $399 / £399 / €450, and the Galaxy Watch 7 begins at $300 / £289 / €319 for the basic versions.
With its lower price, the GT 5 offers a budget-friendly alternative without compromising too much on key features, making it a strong contender in the smartwatch market. If you’re looking for solid fitness tracking, stylish design, and long battery life at a competitive price, Huawei Watch GT 5 delivers great value compared to its pricier rivals.
Huawei Watch GT 5 Design, Sizes and Bands
Huawei Watch GT 5 comes with a slightly slimmer case compared to its predecessor, GT 4 while keeping its edgy yet comfortable design. It features octagonal bezel with refined, sharper edges that add character to the watch. Made from durable 316L stainless steel, the case has a premium feel but remains lightweight, ensuring comfort during everyday use and fitness activities. However, unlike Pro version, it doesn’t have scratch-resistant sapphire glass.
46mm model is equipped with 1.43-inch AMOLED display known for its vibrant colors and deep blacks. While the screen isn’t overly bright, it’s clear enough for outdoor use. One of the highlights of the design is the minimal black bezel, which enhances its modern look and allows for more seamless integration with various watch faces.
For band options, Watch GT 5 is available with black silicone, brown leather and a new blue silicone-nylon fusion band. The blue band stands out as a fresh, stylish choice. Since the watch uses a standard 22mm band size, it’s easy to swap out bands offering plenty of customization possibilities to suit your taste.
Huawei Watch GT 5 Software & Features
The Huawei Watch GT 5 runs on HarmonyOS, making it compatible with both Android and iPhone. However, iOS users may face limitations, such as the inability to install apps or reply to messages and notifications. This may not be a huge issue since the app store for the watch is still relatively empty.
New features on the GT 5 include a QWERTY keyboard for typing quick replies and the ability to take screenshots by pressing both physical buttons at once. Unfortunately, contactless payments are only available through Huawei Wallet, which is limited to a few countries.
Huawei Watch GT 5 Workout Tracking
The GT 5 supports a wide range of workouts, from running and swimming to more specialized options like hiking, cycling, and even eSports. You can customize the workout screen and add new activities like strength training or crossfit. New advanced metrics for runners, such as ground contact time and vertical oscillation, offer deeper insights, while cyclists can use their phones as bike computers with real-time data tracking.
The heart rate monitor has been upgraded with the TruSense system, providing better accuracy for dynamic workouts and even on darker skin tones. In my testing with outdoor runs and strength training, the GT 5 delivered accurate results. The dual-frequency GPS also performed well, accurately mapping running or cycling routes without any delay in establishing location.
Huawei Watch GT 5 Sleep Tracking and Health Features
The GT 5 offers comprehensive sleep tracking, including automatic sleep mode engagement, which works reliably. It also includes Sleep Breathing Awareness, a feature that monitors breathing interruptions during sleep and categorizes them into normal, low, moderate, or high. This feature can help detect potential respiratory issues.
In terms of health monitoring, the GT 5 includes heart rate, SpO2, stress tracking, skin temperature measurement, and female cycle tracking. However, it lacks the more advanced ECG and arterial stiffness monitoring found in the Pro model.
Through Huawei Health app, users can access paid features like fitness courses, meditation sessions and Stay Fit plans.
Huawei Watch GT 5 Battery and Charging
One of the standout features of the GT 5 is its long battery life. The 46mm model can last up to 14 days, though heavy usage reduces it to about a week. The smaller 41mm model has a maximum battery life of 7 days, with typical use averaging around 5 days. The reduction in battery life for the smaller model is due to its size, but the charging time is quick, taking about an hour to go from 0% to 100% using Huawei’s proprietary charging dock.
Compared to other brands like Apple, Samsung, or Google where smartwatches last only 1-2 days, the GT 5’s battery life is remarkable.
Huawei Watch GT 5 Voice Calls and Haptics
GT 5 has a built-in microphone and speaker enabling you to take calls directly from the watch. Call quality is decent, and you can also store music on the watch and play it through Bluetooth earbuds for phone-free workouts.
Haptic feedback is well-implemented, offering a satisfying response when receiving notifications or using the watch’s crown to scroll. While not quite at Apple’s level, it’s still a solid experience.
Huawei Watch GT 5 Competitors
Huawei Watch GT 5 faces competition from Garmin Vivoactive 5 and Samsung Galaxy Watch 7. While the Vivoactive 5 provides better health insights, and the Galaxy Watch 7 boasts a richer app ecosystem, the GT 5 stands out with its excellent battery life, accurate fitness tracking, and more affordable price.
For iPhone users, GT 5 is a good alternative to Apple Watch, provided you don’t mind the lack of third-party apps.
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Huawei Watch GT 5 Pros and Cons
| Pros 🟢 | Cons ❌ |
|---|---|
| Attractive designs for men and women 👨🦰👩🦰 | No app support 📵 |
| Long battery life ⏳ | No contactless payment options 💳 |
| Accurate health and fitness tracking 🏃♂️📊 | |
| Good build quality 🔧 |
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a fitness-focused smartwatch with excellent battery life and aren’t concerned about having a robust app ecosystem or features like contactless payments, Huawei Watch GT 5 is a solid choice. It may not have the same extensive features as higher-end watches but its affordable price, attractive design and reliable fitness tracking make it an appealing option.
Huawei Watch GT 5 is priced competitively, offers a great screen, dependable performance and is made from quality materials. It’s not the cheapest smartwatch on the market, but for what it offers it’s definitely worth considering if you’re in the market for a stylish and reliable wearable.
