HUAWEI has recently launched their WATCH GT 5 line-up of smartwatches. These devices bundle new sensors, have excellent build quality, and offer features dedicated to niche activities such as golfing. The more expensive representative of the new family is the HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro, which adds ECG capabilities, premium materials, and the ability to track water-based activities like diving. If you are curious to learn more about this smartwatch, how it looks, and how it works, read this in-depth review based on my real-life experience:
The packaging for HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro
The sides of the box don't have a lot of printed information, and you'll probably be more curious to open it first and see what's inside. When you open the box, you see the HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro with a removable sticker on its display, protecting it from scratches.
Opening the box reveals the watch
When you unbox everything, you find the following items: the smartwatch, its charging cradle, the quick start guide, product safety information, and the warranty card. The titanium version that I received for testing also has a small box with spare elements that allow you to lengthen the bracelet in case your wrist is thicker than average.
All the items and accessories found inside the box
As always with HUAWEI smartwatches, unboxing the WATCH GT 5 Pro is a stylish experience that makes you feel that you've just bought a premium device. However, before you start using it, you should first charge the watch using the cradle found inside the box.🙂
HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro: colors and sizes
The size and colors are not the only differences between the versions for men and the ones for women. Their design is also different. For example, the HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro for males has an octagonal design, and its body (from its case to its bezel) is made of aerospace-grade titanium alloy. The black version has a normal fluoroelastomer strap, while the titanium version has a heavier strap made from titanium. This material is lighter and more durable than stainless steel and is also strong and corrosion-resistant. As you can see, I received for testing the titanium 46 mm version of the HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro.
The 46 mm titanium version of the HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro
The female version of the HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro has a rounded design, with gold accents, and it’s made of a white ceramic material that feels more delicate to touch. The strap for the ceramic white version is made from light-gold ceramic titanium, aiming to look more like a luxury timepiece than a smartwatch, while the strap for the cheaper white version is made from fluoroelastomer.
The female versions for HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro
The price for the HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro varies based on its size and the materials used for the strap. As you can imagine, the titanium and ceramic white versions are more expensive than the others.
The 46 mm versions of the HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro have a size of 46.3 mm × 46.3 mm × 10.9 mm (1.82 x 1.82 x 0.43 inches), while the 42 mm versions have a size of 42.49 mm × 42.49 mm × 9.6 mm (1.67 x 1.67 x 0.38 inches). They weigh 53 grams (1.87 oz) or 44 grams (1.55 oz) without the strap. On the right side of this smartwatch, you find a crown (which also works as the Home button) and a side button that doubles as an electrode for measuring the ECG.
The buttons on the right side of the HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro
The speaker on the HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro is placed just below the buttons on its right side.
The speakers is found under the buttons
The microphone is found on the left side of the HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro, hidden in a small hole.
The microphone is on the left side of the watch
HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro has a beautiful touch AMOLED display that's 1.43 inches in size for the 46 mm versions and 1.32 inches for the 42 mm variants. The resolution is 466 x 466 pixels on all versions, while the pixel density is 326 ppi on the 46 mm version and 352 ppi on the 42 mm. This smartwatch features a NFC chip for fast payments, Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity, and GPS. However, it lacks Wi-Fi connectivity, so delivering firmware updates and installing apps may take longer than it does on smartwatches with Wi-Fi.
HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro features a touch AMOLED display
The HUAWEI Watch GT 5 Pro boasts a long list of sensors, starting with the heart rate and charging sensors on the back of the device. HUAWEI says that this smartwatch has a new TruSense health monitoring system, which should do a better job at measuring blood oxygen levels and identifying a wider range of pulse signals. The sensors extend far beyond these core functions, including an accelerometer, ambient light sensor, barometer, depth sensor for diving activities, ECG sensor, gyroscope, magnetometer for orientation relative to Earth's magnetic north, and temperature sensor.
The sensors on the back of the HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro
As you can see in the picture below, the straps for this watch have a quick-release mechanism. Alongside the titanium version, I also received a HUAWEI EasyFit 3 22mm Blue strap made from silicone. For this product launch, HUAWEI has expanded its strap offerings, with various options available at competitive prices. Prospective buyers may want to explore these options in their local HUAWEI online store to personalize their Watch GT 5 Pro experience.
HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro features 22mm quick-release straps
The HUAWEI Watch GT 5 Pro has a 5 ATM water resistance rating for swimming and water sports, an IP69K certification for protection against dust and high-pressure water jets, and the ability to withstand dives up to 40 meters deep, making it a robust companion for various aquatic activities and harsh environments.
This smartwatch works with HUAWEI, Android, and iOS devices. HUAWEI UK's product page also mentions offering a “Defined Support Period” up to 04/09/2026. If I understand correctly, the company guarantees software support for this device only for two years, which doesn’t feel like a lot of time, especially considering the durability ratings of the HUAWEI Watch GT 5 Pro. Also, many users, including myself, expect to use a device of this type for three or four years before considering switching to a new one.
Overall, I like the design of this smartwatch, its elegance (especially that of the versions made for women), and its solid hardware specifications. They should translate into a capable device that is useful to many. If you are a technical user who wants to see even more specifications and a detailed list of all this smartwatch's features, go to this page: HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro.
Adding the watch to HUAWEI Health
You should also check for firmware updates and install them when available. Shortly after the release of the HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro, the company released a few updates, which fixed bugs, improved performance, and added features like RouteDraw, that weren't available in the initial firmware. Once you get that out of the way, you should familiarize yourself with the HUAWEI Health app and the watch itself. Luckily, the app is well organized into sections, and it presents data in a visual manner that is easy to understand. Most of your time will be spent in its Health section, where you see detailed metrics about your health and activities.
The HUAWEI Health app
If you haven't had a HUAWEI smartwatch before, you should also start navigating through the watch's interface and learn how to use the crown and the Down button. One downside is that many of the apps found on the watch require you to agree with their terms before using them, even though they are all made by HUAWEI and you've already agreed to several terms and conditions in the HUAWEI Health app. This can be frustrating, as you'll encounter such prompts for every health-related feature on the watch the first time you use it.
Navigating the apps found on the HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro
The apps on the HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro work well and are easy to use. However, the list of installed apps isn't long. Alongside those for monitoring different aspects of your health like your Sleep or Heart Rate, you get only a few others, like a Flashlight, Stopwatch, Calculator, Wallet, or Petal Maps. To extend this list, you must use the AppGallery from the Devices section of HUAWEI Health. There you will find a few other apps, including third-party ones. Unfortunately, the app ecosystem is limited, and installing third-party apps is not supported when using the HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro alongside an iPhone.
The apps available in the AppGallery
The HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro has 14 new watch faces, each with various widgets and functionalities. Most of them are well done, and some, like the Pet Panda watch face, are fun to use. You can also find good-looking watch faces in AppGallery, and I appreciate that there's a good collection of free ones available, not just paid ones.
Some watch faces are cute and funny
In their marketing materials, HUAWEI brags about offering a built-in keyboard for writing SMS text messages, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook Messenger, Skype, Signal, Telegram & Viber replies. This feature isn't yet available for iPhone users but works for Android smartphones. I found the experience of using the keyboard a bit difficult and not exactly productive. However, if you own a HUAWEI smartphone, you unlock the ability to dictate messages instead of typing them on your watch, making the experience of replying to messages easier. This can be done with the help of HUAWEI’s Celia assistant, which is available only when using HUAWEI smartphones.
The Celia keyboard is not that easy to use
After a few tries, I decided that it is easier to reply to calls and messages using the predefined text messages available on the watch, which can be personalized from the HUAWEI Health app. Speaking of calls, you can answer them on the HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro, and it all works well as long as you have your smartphone around. There's no LTE connectivity available, but the call quality is better than the one of previous HUAWEI smartwatches I've tested.
It's easy to respond with predefined text replies
Another feature that was not available in the initial firmware version of this smartwatch was the ability to take screenshots. While I did hear a click sound each time I took one on the watch, I couldn't access them from AppGallery, like HUAWEI said I should. However, after a few days of use, I received a firmware update which allowed me to access all my screenshots with ease, including in the Photos app on my Android smartphone. Below you can see a screenshot I've made while consulting my heart rate data.
A screenshot taken on the HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro
Unfortunately, this feature isn't yet available for iPhone users. And when you read the product page carefully, you see a mention stating that “this feature will be made available via OTA update for iPhone users.”
To write this review, I wore this watch day and night for two weeks. During this time, I appreciated how elegant the titanium version looked, the quality of its display, and its excellent outdoor visibility. However, I didn't like how heavy it felt during workouts, and especially during sleep. After a few days, I felt the need to replace its titanium strap with the EasyFit 3 22mm Blue strap, made from silicone. After a few more days, I switched between the two straps depending on my needs: I used the titanium strap if I went to an event or an important business meeting where I wanted to look my best. Then, I switched to the silicone strap when I wore the watch at home or when working out for maximum comfort. You may opt to do the same.🙂
The screen is bright even when used to track activities outdoors
Based on the official specs, the HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro 46 mm battery should last around 9 days of typical use and up to 14 days of lighter use. I wore this watch day and night to track several outdoor walks, two pilates sessions, two outdoor runs, and a hiking activity. During this time, its battery lasted exactly nine days. I'm pleased to see a company providing realistic autonomy estimates for their devices. I didn't test the 42 mm version of the WATCH GT 5 Pro, but the company says it should last around five days of typical use and up to seven days of light use. When it comes to charging, if you're using a HUAWEI smartphone charger, you can get this watch fully charged in sixty minutes. I didn't have a HUAWEI charger, so I connected the charging cradle to a PC, and it took 114 minutes for the battery to charge from 0% to 100%. In thirty minutes, it charged from 0% to 36%.
Charging the HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro
The three standout features I appreciate about the HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro are the quality of the materials used to create this device, its beautiful design, and good battery life. However, at launch, its smartwatch experience isn't significantly better than its predecessors from the WATCH GT 4 line-up. That's because HUAWEI has copied from Apple's playbook and for iPhone users is promising features that aren't here yet, and will arrive at a later unknown time, through firmware updates. I wish HUAWEI had done a better job developing all features and ensuring they are available for everyone on day one of their product launch.
On page two of this review, you will learn about the HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro's health and sports tracking capabilities.
HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro can evaluate your arterial stiffness
An ECG reading made on the HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro
The only health tracking feature that HUAWEI GT 5 Pro is lacking versus competing devices with similar prices is the HRV (Heart rate variability), which tells you the variation in time between each heartbeat, and evaluates your cardiovascular fitness and stress resilience. Another feature that I missed using is the Health Glance introduced on the HUAWEI Watch 4 Pro, which is nowhere to be found on the WATCH GT 5 Pro.
On the upside, you can use the HUWEI Health app to log your water and food intake, for a more comprehensive view of your lifestyle and wellbeing. Unfortunately adding the food you eat takes a bit of time, and it can be done only from the app, and not from your watch. To make things a bit frustrating, HUAWEI's database is not as good as similar solutions from other brands. However, you can quickly scan packaged foods with your smartphone's camera and add their nutritional information.
You can log your food intake in the HUAWEI Health app
Logging how much water you drink is also done only in the HUAWEI Health app and not on your watch. I wish HUAWEI would add this capability to all their smartwatches because it isn't that difficult to program and turn it into a smartwatch app.
Last but not least, HUAWEI is promoting a new and improved deep learning algorithm dedicated to helping women track their menstrual cycles and provide them with estimations about their period, ovulation, and fertile times. There's both a Cycle Calendar app available on the watch, as well as a dedicated search in the Health section of the HUAWEI Health app. Women can also get recommendations for more suitable exercises and workout plans with adjusted intensity that consider the onset of the menstrual period.
The cycle calendar
If you're interested in tracking your health, the HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro does a good job of providing you with a relatively complete perspective. Some of its features, like the food and water logging, still deserve more finetuning, while others work perfectly well. In my view, this smartwatch's killer feature is the ECG. If you want to keep a close eye on your heart's health, the HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro is one of the better choices you can make.
Tracking a Run with the HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro
Depending on the type of workout you've tracked, you'll get a map of where it took place and relevant statistics for that activity at the end. HUAWEI is offering quite a lot of data nowadays, which increases the usefulness of the WATCH GT 5 Pro to athletes and people who take sports seriously.
While running, I appreciated seeing detailed stats, including my ground contact time, cadence, and body balance. For example, I've learned that when running, I tend to put a bit more stress on my right foot than on the left and that I should take care to improve my balance during such activities.
The charts available for running activities
But, as always in life, this product isn't perfect either. A missed opportunity for the HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro is regarding the water-based activities that it can track. While the company brags that you can use it for diving or freediving up to 40 meters in depth, it's missing a profile for tracking a popular activity that's simpler to track - snorkeling. Hopefully, the company will add it in future updates, alongside other similar activities like open-water swimming, which are already available.
You can use the watch for diving activities
However, one standout feature is its Golf activity tracking profile. The WATCH GT 5 Pro offers thousands of maps for golf courses all around the world, as well as a dedicated tracking profile that provides in-depth guidance and helps you become a better golfer. However, since I don't play this sport, I can't share how well these features work and how useful they can be for an actual golfer. One aspect to remember is that this feature is not available in the initial firmware of the HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro, and it was added in a firmware update that was released post-launch.
Golfers get useful maps and guidance
For people who are at the start of their sports and fitness journey, HUAWEI offers several training plans, including some which are enhanced with the help of AI (Artificial Intelligence). During my testing of this watch, I tried the HIIT Run workout, and while it was useful and mostly well-designed, it did have a few bugs.
For example, one time, it asked me to rest when I was supposed to start sprinting in the next five seconds. If I had followed its advice, I wouldn't have been ready for the sprinting stage of the workout. Another time, the watch asked me to rest while jogging because my heart rate lowered slower than the algorithm expected. However, doing so wouldn't have helped me finish the workout plan. Luckily, my heart rate lowered anyway to the level that was expected, but it required another twenty seconds of jogging instead of stopping and resting immediately.
HUAWEI offers AI-infused workout plans
For those who want workout plans that are designed better and benefit from the perspective of real-life coaches, the company launched a new HUAWEI Health+ subscription service. It gives you access to a wide variety of workouts led by renowned coaches, guided meditations, breathing exercises, and a Stay Fit Plan to maintain your health and well-being at an optimal level. HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro users receive a free 3-month membership with their device, and after this interval, they can choose whether they want to pay for a monthly or yearly subscription. Prices vary depending on your region, so it is best that you check them out in the app itself.
HUAWEI Health+ offers many guided workouts
The sports tracking offered by HUAWEI is evolving and improving, and the features you get on the HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro are likely to please many people who take sports seriously, including those who regularly participate in triathlons. If you're a beginner just starting your fitness journey, you'll appreciate the varied workouts and training plans available on this smartwatch, especially those included in the HUAWEI Health+ subscription service.
HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro: Who is it good for?
The HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro is a great choice for:- People looking for an elegant watch
- Athletes and fitness enthusiasts who track their sporting activities
- People who want to keep an eye on their health
- Users who want a smartwatch with good battery life
- Those interested in golfing or diving activities
Pros and cons
Here are the things I like about the HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro:
- Different sizes and designs for men and women
- Excellent materials and build quality
- Good battery life
- Well-designed health tracking features, including ECG
- Improved GPS tracking accuracy
- Detailed tracking profiles for golf and diving activities
- Some features aren't yet available for iPhone users
- NFC payments are available only in China
- Limited app ecosystem
- Too many prompts for agreeing to terms and conditions
Verdict
The HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro strikes a good balance between style and functionality, particularly for health and fitness enthusiasts. While it may not dominate any category, it offers a well-rounded experience with some standout features. HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro impresses with its premium build quality, elegant design, and robust battery life. Its suite of health monitoring tools is also noteworthy, with its ECG capabilities being a particular highlight. HUAWEI has improved its GPS and sports tracking accuracy, developing specialized features for niche activities like golfing and diving (up to 40 meters). However, the WATCH GT 5 Pro isn't without its limitations. Its app ecosystem remains limited compared to competitors, and some features will only become available to iPhone users in future firmware updates. Despite these shortcomings, the HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro proves to be a reliable companion for health and sports tracking. It's especially appealing for Android users or those already invested in the HUAWEI ecosystem, offering a blend of style, functionality, and durability that makes it a solid contender in the mid-range smartwatch market.Unboxing the HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro
The HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro comes in an elegant black cardboard box with a big picture of the device on the top cover, alongside the product name and the company logo.Design and hardware specifications
HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro comes in two sizes and four color versions, for both men and women, all pictured below. The male versions have a size of 46 mm and are available in black or titanium, while the female versions have just 42 mm in size and are available in white or ceramic white.Setting up and using the HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro
Setting up the HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro is done through the help of the HUAWEI Health app. While the app is available for Android and iOS, Google Play users won't find an updated version and will have to download an APK file to install it. However, iPhone users can download HUAWEI Health from the App Store, and recently, Samsung users can get it in the Samsung Galaxy Store, which should make it a lot easier to install the app and keep it up to date. When you open the app, sign in with your HUAWEI account (or create one, if needed) and add your smartwatch to it. The app detects it in a couple of seconds, and asks you to pair it with your smartphone, give HUAWEI Health its required permissions, set up notifications, and more.Health tracking with the HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro
HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro has a relatively comprehensive approach to health tracking. Due to its updated system of sensors, this watch can help you track the following health aspects:- Heart rate - the watch continuously monitors your heart rate and resting heart rate, two important indicators of heart health.
- SpO2 - measures your blood oxygen level when sleeping or resting and alerts you when it drops below the ideal value.
- ECG - records the electrical signals that control how your heart beats and can detect cardiac rhythm disturbances or inadequate coronary artery blood flow. Luckily, HUAWEI is one of the few companies that has certified this feature in many countries. You can see where it is available by consulting this page.
- Arterial stiffness - it uses the ECG sensor to evaluate if your arteries are still elastic and in good condition, it shares useful trends about their evolution, and it compares your results with people your age, helping you understand whether your results are normal or not.
- Sleep - monitors how long you sleep, how much time you spend in each sleep stage, and it provides you with personalized recommendations on how to improve your sleep quality and get more rest. I like how HUAWEI presents its sleep data, as well as how easy it is to understand and use it. However, since this isn't a medical device, you should take its accuracy with a grain of salt.
- Sleep breathing awareness - the watch can also monitor if there are any interruptions in your breathing while you are asleep. Such data is useful in detecting health issues like sleep apnea, which are surprisingly common.
- Respiratory rate - this is measured automatically while you sleep, and the data collected is used to detect breathing interruptions.
- Skin temperature - the watch automatically checks your skin temperature during the day and the night, at regular intervals.
- Stress level - it automatically evaluates your stress level and gives you recommendations on what you can do to relax. I found it funny that you can also make a manual snapshot and check your real-time stress level. The simple act of starting a manual snapshot, which requires you to stand still for one minute, helps you relax and lower your stress a bit.
Sports tracking with HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro
HUAWEI has a long tradition of offering watches that can track a wide range of activities, from the usual activities like running, cycling, or swimming to triathlons, lifestyle activities like dancing, and niche sports like curling or bobsleigh. The company says that it has improved its GPS tracking accuracy on the HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro compared to its previous generation of products. During my testing, I was able to confirm these improvements, and I appreciated the general accuracy of its GPS tracking. However, there's still some room for improvement. When testing the HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Pro, I also used the Garmin Fenix 8 in parallel to track the same activities. Sometimes, the WATCH GT 5 Pro took a while longer to lock the GPS signal, while other times, its tracking accuracy wasn't as good. But this doesn't make it a bad product. On the contrary, HUAWEI has made more improvements to its GPS tracking systems and algorithms than many of its competitors, and it's now closer than ever to match the likes of Garmin in this regard.
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