Verdict
With a reasonable asking price , improved fitness trailing , and refinements to the swish and slimline case design , the Huawei Watch GT 5 is a firm mid - range option for Io and Android earphone exploiter to think . A want of smarts and unique health insights go for it back from truly competing with the manufacture ’s good smartwatches , but its strong suit - including first-class AOD battery life history - check it stays within touching aloofness .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
The firebrand has duplicate down on the octangular design – and still blow construct quality that belies the damage – but the real upgrades in the 2024 version come from the freshly announcedTruSenseSystem and improvement to the Sunflower Positioning System .
While the standard GT 5 miss some features of its pricierWatch GT 5 Prosibling , including ripe golf tracking , trail running way , a atomic number 22 font , and azure trash , the core experience remains standardized .
Overall , the story of the GT 5 is n’t a novel one – the potent computer hardware viewing and accurate carrying out are paled by a circumscribed impudent experience hamper by the ongoing US Bachelor of Arts in Nursing . That continue to have a knock - on consequence on availableness , too .
There are still plenty of high points with this smartwatch , though , as I have discover over my testing menses with the Huawei Watch GT 5 .
Design and Display
As wait from the GT serial , Huawei offers two variant of the GT 5 : a 41 mm edition aim at cleaning woman and a larger , more masculine 46 mm model , which I have been test .
While some brands go for a unisex design , Huawei assume a different coming , offer a clear style distinction , also seen in the GT 5 Pro lineup . Both model share many core specs , like the unstained brand case , but the differences in battery lifespan and screen size create trenchant experience here .
The 46 millimetre version retains the octagonal bezel from theWatch GT 4 , though the edges appear a tad sharper this time . I like the initial modification last yr , and , with the GT 5 , appreciated the slender case compared to the GT 5 Pro .
This helps balance the extra weight unit from the steel grammatical case ( as opposed to the GT 5 Pro ’s lighter Ti alloy ) . I hardly notice the added weight during runs and rides .
In full term of durability , the watch has held up well in my tests over the past couple of weeks . No dent have appeared on the display , but the lack of bread - resistant sapphire glass does elevate concerns for foresighted - term habiliment .
It ’s also less suited for thick - sea diving event than the GT 5 professional , though it still extend a 5ATM weewee ohmic resistance military rank , which is enough for consortium and undetermined - weewee swims . Like most innovative wearables , it performed during pool session without issues .
pilotage rest unchanged , with a functional summit and a crosscut button below it . Both are unobtrusive and keep the figure sleek , though I would n’t mind a third button to reduce reliance on screen swiping .
The 1.43 - inch , 466 x 466AMOLEDdisplay is the same as the last two GT models . This is n’t surprising , as I see Huawei ’s desire to differentiate the GT 5 serial publication from the pricier Watch 4 , Watch 4 Pro , andWatch Ultimate . Still , it ’s something to consider when compare features .
Smart Features and Software
Since the US sales and import Bachelor of Arts in Nursing , Huawei has had to trust on its own HarmonyOS and hold up without access to Google service other brands relish . It ’s something that go along to hugely break the experience – yet , it is n’t necessarily as big a quite a little on the Watch GT lineup , which has n’t ever been known for major smart foundation .
Plus , there are a couple of new feature : a keyboard for quick reply and screenshot support . While I am surprised it took this long to follow out these , and neither are obviously groundbreaking additions , patches of Huawei ’s fanbase will exuberate at the increase .
On iOS , I have n’t actually been able to habituate the keyboard in the pre - release software ( it should work with apps like WhatsApp , WeChat , and Instagram ) , though the screenshots , taken with the crown and button , have go without issue .
The user experience changes are a minute more merry , offering elusive visual cues to show your fitness progress and grouping action by color . Transitions on cover , like post - workout summaries , also find a fleck smoother compared to the GT 4 .
Again , these are all underage update . The vainglorious disappointment remains the lack of widely stomach feature like contactless payments or well - sleep with apps .
One advantage Huawei still has over many smartwatches is living for both Android and iOS , which broaden the GT 5 ’s appeal as an option to top Wear OS and Apple Watch models . However , as with other Huawei wearables , the tangible strength of the GT 5 lies in its trailing , not its smart features .
Activity Tracking
The standout feature of speech of the latest GT 5 is its upgraded tracking ironware . Huawei preview its revamped TruSense sensor organization week before the launching , and the GT 5 theoretical account are the first to use it .
The details are all pretty technical , but the gist is that Huawei has make over the sensor layout , increased the number of LEDs , and even change the glass ring the sensor on the back of the grammatical case . These changes , in theory , address common accuracy issues like skin tone , blood vas pattern , and wrist movement during activity .
It ’s a sly rise to evaluate since Huawei ’s late eye charge per unit tracking already performed well and kept in a goodly ambit of top sensors from Garmin and Apple . However , I did experience some early issues with the Huawei Watch Ultimate , and the GT 4 from time to time struggled with high heart rates . So , have thing improved with the GT 5 ?
In my core examination – cycling , swimming , and run – I saw fewer instances of the GT 5 shinny with peak heart rates or systematically high average . Yet , underreporting by 5 - 7 BPM still occurred ( albeit less often ) , and it did n’t sense as accurate as Garmin . Latency was ok , peculiarly for a watch at this price , but was n’t quite as in step as we ’ve receive with more premium gimmick like theGalaxy Watch Ultra .
That said , for most user , the data is accurate enough , and if you ’re after pure preciseness , you may still match a chest shoulder strap for bosom rate tracking .
Another fundamental upgrade is the improved emplacement accuracy , thanks to a refinement of the brand ’s double - frequency GNSS ( Sunflower Positioning System ) . Huawei claims a 40 % boost in path accuracy and 30 % better distance truth .
While these are impressive figures , the previous GNSS arrangement was already solid . In test this clip around , it was within about 200 meters of Garmin ’s Multi - Band placement over 20 - 30 - mile rides , and ignition lock - on times were within 5 - 10 seconds .
I would have a bun in the oven these improvements to be more noticeable in obtuse urban area or enshroud environments like forests , where past Huawei role model have struggled , but I should note that I have n’t had the chance to test that yet .
On the software side , there are new features for runners and cyclists , building on the forward-looking system of measurement introduced with the GT 4 . Runners now get form analysis , including ground contact time and equilibrium feedback , while cyclists can sprain their telephone set into a bike computer to avoid embarrassing wrist movements mid - ride .
While the data is n’t top - tier – with insights likeVO2 maxstill far too generous – it ’s certainly solid and accurate enough , avoiding the quite frankly absurd figures you see from the likes of Xiaomi who append on these training features willy - nilly .
Huawei Health integration could also be clean , for sure , but it ’s less of an issue here than on the GT 5 professional , where feature like trail map downloads rely heavy on the fellow traveler app .
Health and Sleep Tracking
The upgrade sensing element setup has not only ameliorate fitness trailing on the GT 5 , but also heighten the truth of Huawei ’s wellness features . The optimise sensing element pitch fast blood oxygen reading and better respiratory charge per unit detection , and unexampled additions like “ eternal rest breathing awareness ” make this the most advanced wellness tracking seen in a base GT gimmick .
However , with the standard GT 5 model , you miss out on a couple of noteworthy features . Namely , ECG and arterial stiffness signal detection . Yet , given these features are only really required by a small fraction of substance abuser , I do n’t rank their omission as significant as the exercising features exclusive to the Pro model ( the trail running function , 3D golf game course of study , and freediving capability ) .
Whatever the case , the wellness data that is supply by the GT 5 aligns closely with my usual trial trackers ( like theOura Ring Gen 3andWhoop 4.0 ) for metrics such as resting heart rate , SpO2 , and respiratory rate estimates .
I do wish Huawei made skilful use of this information beyond simply storing it in the Health app . For instance , the skin temperature feature is added without much setting , bequeath users – specifically , women wanting to track their cycles – ask to interpret the information manually , presume they even sleep with what to look for .
Unlike with fitness tracking , I ca n’t get away the look that some health feature were impart without a clear purpose or connection to the encompassing picture with the GT 5 . unremarkably , when that happens , the datum itself is lacking , but at least the GT 5 is quite accurate in what it tracks .
Sleep trailing is also in contrast to that notion , in fairness , offer elaborated analytic thinking and recommendations for improving eternal sleep . The traffic visible light system , which rank unlike aspects of sleep , is easy to realise – and the accuracy was whole .
Wake - up and fall - numb metre were systematically within 10 minute of our other trackers , which is crucial when nap leg truth from wrist - hold out devices is unreliable . However , the GT 5 did from time to time drop menses when I was alive during the Nox . While this is n’t a dealbreaker , it does keep the GT 5 ’s quietus track from matching the good in the industry .
Battery Life
fall in that Huawei managed to slim down the GT 4 ’s heaviness last year while retaining its bombardment animation , I was hoping for a like leap with the GT 5 . Unfortunately , that has n’t happened , and Huawei is still quoting the same 14 - sidereal day stamp battery estimate here .
It ’s a slight dashing hopes , but the battery execution on the GT 5 is still impressive . With the always - on exhibit activated and all health feature of speech set to continuous monitoring , I got around a week of use . And , as with the GT 5 professional , I think the extra week of bombardment life is potential with weak GPS role , reduce show preferences , and more cautious use of health feature .
While the GT 5 does n’t have many smart lineament or a in particular office - intensive display , I hope Huawei continues to agitate battery life further in 2025 . Still , the current residue between daily use and charging is great – any more day of living would just be a bonus at this stage .
you’re able to easy go 2 - 3 years with weighed down usage and still have battery left over . Plus , if you ever do need to top it up , it strike just about an hour to go from 0 to 100 % ( with most of that regained over the first half - time of day ) .
Latest deals
Should you buy it?
You require a long - long-lived , precise physical fitness tracker in a slim and swish watch case .
You crave a connected smartwatch experience with apps and service .
Final Thoughts
Despite its lower mid - range price tag , Huawei continues to make the base GT model look and find on equivalence with far pricier smartwatches .
With improvements to the underlying ironware , it ’s now a more reproducible and accuratefitness tracker , too – one adequate to of save advanced sixth sense for the like of runners and cyclist .
This version does leave out out on some of theGT 5 Pro ’s exclusives , and I do still have major reservations about the smart experience , but there ’s a pocket of iOS / Android users out there for whom the GT 5 represents a brilliant pickup arm .
Trusted Score
How we test
We thoroughly essay every smartwatch we review . We apply industry standard testing to liken feature film properly and we use the ticker as our main gimmick over the limited review period . We ’ll always distinguish you what we find and we never , ever , accept money to survey a product .
FAQs
Yes , the Huawei Watch GT 5 can be paired with an iPhone .
