A Comprehensive Review of Huawei Watch GT 5: Mid-Range Masterpiece
14 min read
Huawei Watch GT 5: Mid-Range Masterpiece
The Huawei Watch GT 5 is Huawei’s latest addition to its GT smartwatches series. Generally, smartwatches are more than just timekeepers.
They are fitness companions, health trackers, and personal assistants. One brand that has consistently delivered innovative smartwatches is Huawei.
Recently, Huawei launched the Huawei Watch GT 5, a mid-range fitness tracker that aims to blend performance, style, and affordability. In this review, we will take a deep dive into all aspects of the Huawei Watch GT 5.
Introduction to the Huawei Watch GT 5
Huawei Watch GT 5 is designed for those seeking an affordable yet feature-rich smartwatch.
Huawei has long been known for its premium devices, and the GT 5 stands out as an embodiment of both form and function.
Its sleek design, excellent battery life, and an array of fitness tracking features make it a strong contender in the mid-range smartwatch market.
This device is particularly tailored for fitness enthusiasts and those who need a reliable health-tracking companion.
It also serves well as an everyday smartwatch with essential smart features.
But how does it stack up against the competition? Let’s break down its features, design, performance, and much more.
Huawei Watch GT 5: Design and Build Quality
One of the standout features of the Huawei Watch GT 5 is its eye-catching design.
Huawei has opted for a geometric stainless-steel case, which gives the watch a premium look.
The octagonal design of the outer casing gives the watch a classic, almost vintage aesthetic, reminiscent of timepieces from a bygone era.
This design choice distinguishes it from modern smartwatches, evoking a sense of tradition and timeless elegance.
This design is especially notable because it sets the GT 5 apart from more rounded, generic smartwatch designs.
While Huawei’s GT5 is a notable improvement, it still suffers from the common smartwatch issue of excessive thickness.
To achieve a truly seamless and discreet wrist presence, a slight reduction in thickness would have been ideal.
The watch is available in two sizes, 41mm and 46mm, offering options for both genders and wrist sizes.
The larger 46mm model comes with a 1.43-inch AMOLED color screen. This display is perfect for outdoor use, offering good visibility even in direct sunlight.
However, while the watch itself looks premium, the strap quality is somewhat disappointing.
The fluoroelastomer/composite strap feels cheap compared to the rest of the watch. Although comfortable to wear, especially during workouts, it doesn’t match the high-quality feel of the case.
For those who want a more luxurious experience, Huawei offers various strap options, including a Milanese metal strap for the 41mm version, which would better complement the watch’s aesthetic.
Lastly, the crown and secondary functional button are positioned on the right side of the watch, spaced apart to prevent accidental usage.
The crown is subtly placed below the display, ensuring it doesn’t obstruct the screen while remaining easily accessible for adjustments.
This design choice not only maintains the watch’s sleek aesthetic but also enhances user comfort during operation.
Huawei Watch GT 5: Display Quality
The AMOLED display on the Huawei Watch GT 5 is one of its strongest features.
The 1.43-inch screen on the 46mm version offers 466 x 466 pixel resolution, providing bright, sharp, responsive, and excellent clarity.
Whether you’re checking notifications or tracking your fitness stats, the display is vibrant and easy to read.
The screen also features a fingerprint-resistant coating, which keeps it looking clean and clear, even after constant use.
The touchscreen is highly responsive, making it easy to navigate through apps and menus.
Huawei has done an excellent job optimizing the interface for this display, ensuring smooth transitions and minimal lag.
Smartwatch Features
While the Huawei Watch GT 5 excels in fitness tracking, it falls a bit short in terms of smartwatch features.
You can receive notifications for messages, calls, and apps, but the watch cannot display photos or play voice messages.
This limitation reduces the usability of the notification feature compared to higher-end smartwatches.
However, you can make Bluetooth phone calls directly from the watch, provided the contacts are synced through the Huawei Health app.
Unfortunately, the watch doesn’t automatically sync contacts from your phone, which can be a bit frustrating.
One major downside is the lack of contactless payment options. Many modern smartwatches, even in the mid-range category, offer NFC payments, but this feature is absent in the Watch GT 5.
For users in regions where mobile payments are common, this could be a significant drawback.
Fitness and Health Tracking: Huawei TruSense
The Huawei Watch GT 5 is the first in Huawei’s lineup to feature the Huawei TruSense system.
This advanced technology promises faster and more accurate health and fitness tracking.
Huawei TruSense measures over 60 health and fitness indicators, covering major bodily systems.
One of the standout features of TruSense is its emotional well-being component.
The watch tracks your stress levels throughout the day and provides suggestions for managing them, such as breathing exercises or meditation sessions.
While this feature is interesting, it may not be something everyone uses regularly.
Sleep Monitoring
Sleep tracking is another area where the Huawei Watch GT 5 excels. The watch monitors your heart rate, SpO2 levels, respiratory rate, and any abnormal breathing patterns while you sleep.
The data is then compiled into the Huawei Health app, available for both iOS and Android devices.
One feature we particularly liked is the long-term trend analysis.
This allows you to see how your sleep quality has changed over time, helping you identify any patterns or issues.
If you’re serious about improving your sleep, this feature can be incredibly useful.
Running and Cycling Features
For runners and cyclists, the Huawei Watch GT 5 offers some of the most in-depth tracking features in its price range.
The watch provides real-time data during your workouts, including heart rate, pace, and distance.
Additionally, it includes advanced running metrics like ground contact time, balance, and vertical oscillation, which help you analyze your running form.
Cyclists will appreciate the dual-band five-system GNSS for more accurate GPS tracking.
Whether you’re cycling through a city or on a mountain trail, the Huawei Watch GT 5 ensures your ride is tracked with precision.
Huawei Watch GT 5: Performance and Usability
In terms of performance, the Huawei Watch GT 5 is highly reliable.
The touchscreen is responsive, the GPS is accurate, and the Huawei TruSense system provides valuable insights.
Whether you’re working out, tracking your sleep, or managing stress, the watch delivers consistent performance.
However, one feature that could use improvement is the auto-detect workout mode.
While it’s supposed to start tracking automatically when you begin exercising, it doesn’t always function as expected.
Sometimes the watch fails to detect activity, meaning you’ll have to manually start the workout tracking.
The Huawei Health app is another highlight. It provides detailed breakdowns of your health metrics and workout performance.
The app is easy to navigate, with clean visuals and intuitive controls. Whether you’re checking your sleep trends or reviewing a recent run, the app presents the data in a clear, digestible format.
Huawei Watch GT 5: Battery Life
Battery life is one of the key selling points of the Huawei Watch GT 5.
Huawei claims it can last up to 14 days with light usage and around 7 days with regular tracking and notifications enabled.
This is impressive compared to many other smartwatches in this price range, which often require charging every couple of days.
During our testing, the watch consistently lasted around 6-7 days with regular use, including workouts, notifications, and sleep tracking.
If you reduce some of the more battery-draining features like GPS tracking, you can easily extend the battery life to close to two weeks.
The wireless USB-A charger that comes with the watch is also intuitive to use. Its circular magnetic design ensures the watch attaches securely without needing to align pins.
Charging the watch from 0% to 100% takes about 1.5 to 2 hours, which is quite reasonable given the long battery life.
Competitors and Alternatives
The Huawei Watch GT 5 sits in a competitive market. One of its closest competitors is the Fitbit Luxe, which is priced slightly lower at £179.
The Fitbit Luxe offers similar fitness tracking features but lacks GPS and has a shorter battery life.
However, Fitbit’s platform is well-established, especially for those who prefer comprehensive health tracking.
Another alternative is the Suunto Race S, an excellent choice for dedicated athletes.
The Suunto Race S offers better tracking for extreme sports and has a longer battery life in GPS mode, but it comes at a higher price point (£325).
How Does the Huawei Watch GT 5 Compare to Other Mid-Range Smartwatches?
In the competitive world of mid-range smartwatches, the Huawei Watch GT 5 has strengths that set it apart, but how does it compare to other key players in the market?
Fitbit Luxe
The Fitbit Luxe is one of the most popular fitness trackers in the mid-range category.
Priced slightly lower than the Huawei Watch GT 5 at around £179, it offers a solid set of fitness tracking features but lacks GPS and has a shorter battery life of around 5 days.
The Fitbit Luxe is more suited for casual fitness enthusiasts who don’t need advanced metrics like ground contact time or vertical oscillation.
While the Fitbit Luxe excels in sleep tracking and heart rate monitoring, its overall feature set is more limited than the GT 5. Additionally, its design, though sleek, doesn’t match the premium look of the Huawei Watch GT 5.
Suunto Race S
For those who need a more rugged smartwatch with advanced tracking features, the Suunto Race S is another excellent alternative.
Priced at around £325, it offers comprehensive features for athletes, including GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo tracking, making it ideal for outdoor enthusiasts.
The Suunto Race S also boasts an impressive battery life in GPS mode, lasting up to 30 hours.
However, the Suunto Race S is bulkier and more expensive than the Huawei Watch GT 5, and its design is more utilitarian, which may not appeal to users who prefer a stylish, everyday smartwatch.
Pros and Cons of the Huawei Watch GT 5
To further evaluate whether the Huawei Watch GT 5 is the right choice for you, let’s break down some of the key pros and cons of this device.
Huawei Watch GT 5 Pros:
1. Eye-Catching Design
The geometric stainless-steel case and sleek display make the Huawei Watch GT 5 one of the most stylish smartwatches in its category. Whether you’re wearing it at the gym or out for dinner, it complements a wide range of outfits and occasions.
2. Fantastic Battery Life
With a battery life of up to 14 days, the Watch GT 5 far exceeds most smartwatches in this price range. Even with daily fitness tracking and notifications enabled, it can last up to a week on a single charge.
3. Accurate Fitness Tracking
The Huawei TruSense system ensures that fitness and health metrics are tracked with precision. The device is especially useful for runners and cyclists, offering advanced analytics such as vertical oscillation and real-time GPS data.
4. Bright and Responsive AMOLED Display
The 1.43-inch AMOLED screen is not only beautiful to look at but is also highly responsive. Whether you’re navigating through menus or checking notifications, the display remains crisp and easy to use.
5. Comfortable to Wear
Despite some reservations about the quality of the strap, the Huawei Watch GT 5 is comfortable to wear for long periods. It’s lightweight enough to not feel cumbersome, making it suitable for both daily wear and sleep tracking.
Huawei Watch GT 5 Cons:
1. Lack of Contactless Payments
One of the biggest drawbacks of the Huawei Watch GT 5 is the absence of NFC payments. With many users relying on their smartwatches for mobile payments, the lack of this feature could be a dealbreaker for some.
2. Basic Smartwatch Features
While the GT 5 excels in fitness tracking, its smartwatch capabilities are somewhat limited. You can receive notifications, but there’s no support for displaying images or playing voice messages, which may limit its appeal for those looking for a more well-rounded smartwatch experience.
3. Strap Quality
The fluoroelastomer/composite strap feels a bit cheap compared to the premium design of the watch case. While it’s functional and comfortable, it doesn’t live up to the overall aesthetic of the device. Thankfully, there are other strap options available, but those come at an additional cost.
4. Limited Availability
Due to Huawei’s ongoing issues with the U.S. government, the Watch GT 5 is not available in the United States. This limits its global appeal, as potential users in major markets are unable to purchase the device.
User Experience and Daily Usability
One of the most important aspects of any smartwatch is how it performs in daily use.
After wearing the Huawei Watch GT 5 for several weeks, it became clear that this device is designed to offer a balance between fitness tracking and everyday usability.
Daily Fitness Tracking
For users who like to keep track of their daily activities, the Huawei Watch GT 5 performs admirably.
Whether you’re going for a jog, cycling, or simply walking around, the watch provides real-time metrics that are clear and easy to interpret.
The dual-band GNSS system ensures accurate GPS tracking during outdoor activities, making it a valuable tool for runners and cyclists.
The watch also includes a variety of workout modes, from swimming to skiing, with metrics tailored to each sport.
For example, when swimming, the device will track your strokes, distance, and calories burned. For runners, it provides pace, heart rate, and cadence in real-time.
Auto-Detect Workout Mode
One feature that could use improvement is the auto-detect workout mode.
While it’s meant to automatically start tracking when you begin exercising, it doesn’t always function as expected.
There were times when it failed to recognize activity, requiring manual input to start the workout.
This can be inconvenient for users who rely on their smartwatch to handle everything automatically.
While this feature is useful in theory, it needs to be more consistent to be fully reliable.
Notifications and Smartwatch Functions
As mentioned earlier, the Huawei Watch GT 5 offers basic notification support. You can receive notifications for calls, texts, and apps, but these are limited to text-based notifications.
The inability to display images or play voice messages feels like a missed opportunity, especially given that other smartwatches in this price range offer more robust notification systems.
Another limitation is the fact that you can only make Bluetooth calls through the watch if you’ve pre-synced contacts via the Huawei Health app.
This extra step adds an unnecessary inconvenience, especially when most smartwatches can sync contacts directly from your phone.
Huawei Health App: A Hub for All Your Data
To get the most out of the Huawei Watch GT 5, users will need to download the Huawei Health app.
Available on both iOS and Android, this app serves as a central hub for all your fitness and health data.
The app is well-designed and intuitive. It allows you to view detailed breakdowns of your health metrics, including heart rate, sleep data, stress levels, and exercise performance.
The long-term trend analysis feature is particularly useful, as it helps users track their progress over time and identify any patterns in their health or fitness levels.
The app also syncs seamlessly with the Huawei Watch GT 5, ensuring that all data is up-to-date and accurate.
Whether you’re checking how well you slept last night or reviewing the results of your latest run, the Huawei Health app makes it easy to access and interpret your data.
Huawei Watch GT 5: Price and Availability
Before diving into the features, it’s essential to discuss the pricing and availability of the Huawei Watch GT 5.
As of its release in October 2024, the Watch GT 5 is priced at £229.99 for the 41mm version and £249.99 for the 46mm version.
Unfortunately, it’s not available in the U.S. due to Huawei’s ongoing legal restrictions, but it is available in regions like the UK and China.
This pricing places the GT 5 firmly in the mid-range category. It’s an attractive option for those who don’t want to splurge on high-end models but still want a capable smartwatch.
Is the Huawei Watch GT 5 a Good Investment?
The Huawei Watch GT 5 offers a lot of value for its price, but is it the best investment for you?
To determine that, we need to consider your specific needs and how this device aligns with them.
Who Should Buy the Huawei Watch GT 5?
1. Fitness Enthusiasts and Runners
If you’re someone who enjoys running, cycling, or other fitness activities, the Huawei Watch GT 5 is an excellent choice. Its advanced tracking features and real-time GPS data make it particularly useful for those who want to closely monitor their performance.
2. Users Seeking Long Battery Life
If you’re tired of charging your smartwatch every day, the Huawei Watch GT 5 is a breath of fresh air. With up to 14 days of battery life, it’s one of the most enduring smartwatches in its price range. Even with regular use, you can expect around 6-7 days of battery life, which is still impressive.
3. Style-Conscious Consumers
The Huawei Watch GT 5 is a stylish smartwatch that looks great on the wrist. Its geometric stainless-steel case and AMOLED display give it a premium feel, making it suitable for both casual and formal settings.
Who Should Look Elsewhere?
1. Users Who Need Advanced Smartwatch Features
If you’re looking for a smartwatch with advanced features like NFC payments, voice control, or the ability to display rich notifications, the Huawei Watch GT 5 may not be the best choice. Its limited smartwatch capabilities mean it’s more suited as a fitness tracker than a full-featured smartwatch.
2. Those Who Rely Heavily on Notifications
If you rely on your smartwatch for handling notifications, the Huawei Watch GT 5‘s restrictions on displaying images and voice messages might be frustrating. Other smartwatches in this price range offer more comprehensive notification systems.
3. U.S. Customers
Due to Huawei’s ongoing legal issues, the Watch GT 5 is not available in the United States. If you live in the U.S., you’ll need to consider alternative options from brands like Fitbit, Garmin, or Apple.
Final Note on the Huawei Watch GT 5
In conclusion, the Huawei Watch GT 5 is a well-rounded fitness tracker that offers excellent design, long battery life, and accurate fitness tracking features.
While it may not have all the bells and whistles of more expensive smartwatches, it excels in the areas that matter most to fitness enthusiasts.
If you’re looking for a stylish, reliable, and affordable smartwatch that can handle all your fitness needs, the Huawei Watch GT 5 is hard to beat.
However, if you prioritize advanced smartwatch features over fitness tracking, you may want to explore other options.
With its balance of form and function, the Huawei Watch GT 5 is a solid choice for anyone looking to upgrade their fitness tracking experience without breaking the bank.
However, the lack of advanced smartwatch features like contactless payments and photo display may deter some users. Additionally, the strap quality doesn’t quite match the premium look of the watch itself.
Ultimately, if you’re looking for a fitness-focused smartwatch with a sleek design and excellent battery life, the Huawei Watch GT 5 is hard to beat. It’s a well-rounded device that offers great value for the price, particularly if you’re a runner or cyclist.
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