The HUAWEI Watch GT 5 series marks a significant step forward in Huawei’s smartwatch line, combining premium materials, advanced health monitoring, and fitness tracking features into sleek and durable offerings.
In this review we highlight the 46mm Pro and non-Pro options from the lineup.
The 46mm Pro titanium variant feels effortlessly luxurious but also sporty at the same time, which makes it perfect for users who want a blend of style and performance from their smartwatch.
The same ‘can’ be said for the non-pro option, but the stark contrast between titanium alloy links and a blue woven strap will definitely pique the brains of many prospecting buyers.
Read on to find out more.
Table of Contents
Design and Construction
Focusing first on the HUAWEI Watch GT 5 Pro (46mm) in its Titanium variant.
What immediately strikes us is its titanium alloy case and strap, which combines durability with a lightweight feel. To some it may feel a little cheap at first, especially when not realizing titanium is actually lighter than steel!
Weighing approximately 65g, the watch feels solid but not too cumbersome, thanks to the titanium’s strength-to-weight ratio. The titanium build also makes it corrosion-resistant, ideal for daily wear and outdoor activities.
The watch’s sapphire crystal adds a layer of durability to its display, making it scratch-resistant and perfect for rugged use (which doesn’t mean it’s smash resistant.) With a thickness of 10.9mm, it maintains a sleek profile despite it being a pretty big smartwatch for a 6.5-inch wrist.
The overall design language blends together with an octagonal bezel that gives the bigger WATCH GT 5 series their distinctive and modern looks. It’s a watch that feels just as appropriate in a business meeting as it does on a trek.
A nice touch is the engraved Huawei branding on the crown, and below the crown, is a customizable button which by default opens a menu to our most-used apps.
I had top take out a total of four links to make sure the HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro fit snug, but big-wrist readers can rest assured knowing there is an additional four that comes in the box. Adding and removing the links is just as easy as detaching the straps from the watch case. Users can opt for a tool or wait a day before cutting those growing fingernails.
Our standard HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 (46mm) is in its Blue Woven strap option. It retains the button layouts and overall design aesthetic of the Pro model, with a main difference in their inner bezel designs.
The 46mm Pro Titanium model gets a two-tone “pepsi” GMT inner bezel, while our 46mm standard unit gets a tri-color one featuring, white, blue, and light blue hues.
Additionally, the GT 5 Pro is the industry’s first smartwatch with IP69K certification, which means no dust or dust-sized particles can get into it, and it can withstand high-pressure, high-temperature water jets from any direction.
The GT 5 non-Pro models come with IP68 certification, making them just as dust resistant but not as resistant to high pressure water.
All-in-all, both feel great on-wrist from the overall dimension and weight, to their class-leading machining; The HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 46mm models are definitely good-looking smart timepieces.
Display and Multimedia
The standard 46mm HUAWEI Watch GT 5 and Pro models boast stunning 1.43-inch AMOLED displays, offering deep blacks, vibrant colors, and excellent brightness, even in direct sunlight. This is a display that truly shines, whether you’re viewing notifications or navigating through its fitness features. Protected by sapphire glass, it’s not only beautiful but also incredibly durable, standing up to scratches and bumps with ease.
For audio, the built-in speaker is loud enough for phone calls and voice prompts, though it’s not designed to replace our favorite pairs of headphones nor a portable speaker. The clarity is decent for a smartwatch, and it’s more than adequate for quick audio notifications or hands-free calls.
OS, Apps, and UI
Even though the WATCH GT 5 series runs on HarmonyOS, it offers non-Harmony users a seamless and intuitive user experience. The interface is smooth, with fluid animations and well-organized menus, which users can customize to show in grid or list form within the watch’s interface.
Huawei’s AppGallery allows us to download additional apps (paid and free) directly to the watch, expanding its functionality with Spotify media controlling, some minigames and apps for Google Maps integration.
The watch is compatible with both Android (9 or later) and iOS (13 or later), and while non-Huawei users may miss out on certain exclusive features like camera triggering, the overall experience remains fluid across platforms. Pairing is easy, and Huawei’s Health app provides a centralized hub for tracking our health and fitness data, as well as customizing the watch’s settings.
There are also various paid and free watch faces to choose from all through the Huawei Health app.
Smart Health Management Features
Huawei has packed the GT 5 series with an array of advanced health monitoring features. Leveraged through TruSense technology, which offers real-time monitoring for heart rate, ECG, blood oxygen (SpO2), and even a new Emotional Wellbeing feature for mood tracking.
- ECG and Heart Rate Monitoring: Quickly check your heart’s rhythm and electrical activity, providing peace of mind for health-conscious users.
- Sleep Monitoring: Huawei’s TruSleep 3.0 offers a detailed breakdown of your sleep stages, including REM and NREM phases, to help improve your sleep quality.
- Emotional Wellbeing: This unique feature tracks your emotional wellbeing, reminding you to take care of your mental health. It’s one of the more gimmicky but quirky aspects of the GT 5 series. This health tracker also gets its own dedicated watch face that feature a cute panda to reflect the wearer’s mood.
Apart from these the watch also features health trackers for Stress Monitoring, Skin Temperature, Calorie tracking and Cycle Prediction.
In terms of health tracking, the whole HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 series lineup shares the same bevy of tracking features and hardware.
Fitness and Workout Modes
The HUAWEI Watch GT 5 Pro shines as a fitness tracker, offering over 100 workout modes that cater to all types of activities, from running and cycling to golf and even diving. Here’s a breakdown of some of its key fitness features:
- Running: Leveraged by AI, the watch’s on-wrist running form analysis helps both beginners and advanced runners optimize their technique, reducing the risk of injury.
- Cycling: Track essential metrics such as speed, heart rate, and calories burned. When connected to a power meter, the watch can also display cycling power data, a feature appreciated by more prosumer cyclists.
The new Sunflower Positioning System ensures accurate GPS with the help of beam-forwarding tech, great for tracking outdoor runs on the road or on a trek.
The standard HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 models get 5ATM water resistance ratings, which means they can withstand water pressures of up to 50 meters for 10 minutes in a static environment. But when it comes to actual scuba or freediving, the GT 5 Pro models will definitely be the better pickup.
Exclusive to the HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro models:
- Diving: GT 5 Pro models support scuba/freediving of up to 40 meters, complying with PADI/SSI/AIDA standards, making it ideal for recreational divers.
- Golf: We may be able to track our swings whether on the driving range or on a course with the standard WATCH GT 5 models, but the GT 5 Pro gets Golf Course Mode with support for over 100 courses in the Philippines and 15,000 courses worldwide. It features a detailed 3D view of each course with wind information. End-users can even mark the map with their ball’s location, making it a fantastic companion for golfers.
All in all there’s a lot to play with on any HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 model when it comes to fitness tracking features, making it a nice little smart companion for almost any sporty hobby you may have!
Battery Life and Connectivity
Battery life is a strong selling point for a lot of HUAWEI smartwatches, and it’s no different with the WATCH GT 5 series’ 46mm models.
With 524 mAh batteries on either 46mm variant, the watches can last up to 14 days on a single charge with Always-On display turned off, and around 7 days with the setting turned on. Wireless charging is quick and convenient, taking about an hour to fully charge on either watch.
Connectivity options include Bluetooth 5.2, GPS, and NFC. One exciting upcoming feature is QR code payments via Gcash, slated to launch by Q4 2024, making it the first smartwatch in the Philippines to offer this functionality.
Conclusion and Price
The HUAWEI Watch GT 5 Pro (46mm, Titanium Variant) is an impressive combination of style, functionality, and durability. It’s a premium smartwatch that caters to users who value both a sporty premium aesthetic and performance. Whether you’re a fitness enthusiast, a tech-savvy professional, or someone who simply appreciates a well-designed watch, the HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro will not disappoint.
Now if you’re someone who doesn’t really go diving or golfing a whole lot, the standard HUAWEI Watch GT 5 (46mm) is also a nice option for those looking for a round smartwatch with tons of health monitoring and fitness tracking features either way.
Pricing below:
HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro (46mm) Titanium – PHP 24,999
HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 (46mm) Blue Woven – PHP 13,999
HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro (42mm) White Ceramic – PHP 31,999
HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 (41mm) Blue Fluoroelastomer – PHP 12,999
What we LIKED:
- Premium titanium build
- Sapphire glass and AMOLED display
- Comprehensive health monitoring with TruSense technology
- Outstanding battery life
What we LIKED LESS:
- Lack of camera trigger support for non-Huawei devices
- No Spotify playback support like on WATCH 4
HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro (46mm) specs:
1.43 inches AMOLED color screen @ 466 x 466 pixels, PPI 326
Titanium-alloy watch case
Titanium-alloy link Strap
Dimensions: 46.7 mm × 46.7 mm × 11.4 mm
Wrist Size: 140-210 mm
Weight: Approximately 54 g (strap excluded)
Home Button (Rotating Crown) and Side Button
530 mAh battery
Wireless charging
Speaker Support
Microphone Support
Water-resistant Level: 5 ATM, IP69K, Dive (up to 40 meters)
NFC Supported
Bluetooth 2.4 GHz, supports BT5.2 and BR+BLE
Accelerometer
Gyroscope
Compass
Optical heart rate sensor
Ambient light sensor
Barometer
Temperature sensor
ECG sensor
Depth sensor
Compatibility: Harmony OS, Android 9.0 or later, iOS 13.0 or later
HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 (46mm) specs:
1.43 inches AMOLED color screen @ 466 x 466 pixels, PPI 326
Stainless steel watch case
Blue Woven Strap
Dimensions: 45.8 mm × 45.8 mm × 10.7 mm
Wrist Size: 140-210 mm
Weight: Approximately 48 g (strap excluded)
Home Button (Rotating Crown) and Side Button
530 mAh battery
Wireless charging
Speaker Support
Microphone Support
Water-resistant Level: 5 ATM, IP69K
NFC Supported
Bluetooth 2.4 GHz, supports BT5.2 and BR+BLE
Accelerometer
Gyroscope
Compass
Optical heart rate sensor
Ambient light sensor
Barometer
Temperature sensor
Compatibility: Harmony OS, Android 9.0 or later, iOS 13.0 or later