Huawei Watch GT 5 in the test: Stylish smartwatch runs for 14 days

With the fifth generation of its GT series, Huawei is once again bringing a sporty smartwatch onto the market that, thanks to its elegant design, looks good with evening wear. The successor to the Huawei Watch GT 4 (test report) lasts almost two weeks in continuous use, but this endurance comes at the cost of few apps and a high level of dependence on the smartphone. The US sanctions against the company also pose further hurdles in terms of setup and functionality, but this does not intimidate the Chinese company.

The Huawei Watch GT 5 is available in two sizes: 46 mm for larger wrists and 41 mm, which is aimed at narrower wrists, mainly those of women. In our test, the focus is on the 46 mm version. A test of the smartwatch for women will follow shortly.

Like the previous series, the GT 5 has a high-quality design and can also be used as a fashionable wristwatch. The shape is octagonal – the case is also square, while the dial is round like a classic chronograph. We tested the model in silver with a blue fluoroelastomer strap. There is again a black version and a model in silver with a brown leather strap. A model with a stainless steel strap is reserved for the new Watch GT 5 Pro this time. There is again a crown with a push function at the top right and another button at the bottom left.

The 41 mm model is primarily intended for women and is similar to its smaller predecessor. Its design also differs significantly from the 46 mm smartwatch. Externally, it is a different watch, even if the technology is largely identical. The completely round case seems a bit thick, but still looks chic. The 41 mm model is available in white with a white or light brown leather strap, as well as in gold with a Milanese strap or in silver with a black and light blue strap made of fluoroelastomer.

The round OLED display is also impressive across the board in this model – here Huawei once again shows its strengths. The display is sharp and offers sufficient brightness even in bright light conditions. The automatic brightness adjustment also reacts quickly to changes. The 46 mm model is equipped with a 1.43 inch display, while the smaller 41 mm version has a 1.32 inch display. Both variants offer a resolution of 466 × 466 pixels. If you want, you can activate the Always-on Display (AoD) to keep an eye on the time at all times. However, the battery life can be significantly reduced depending on the watch faces selected.

Communication between the watch and the smartphone takes place exclusively via Bluetooth 5.2 LE – options for WLAN or LTE are nowhere to be found. A multi-band GNSS that supports GPS, Glonass, Beidou, Galileo and QZSS is used for precise navigation. This makes it easy to record the running route without having to carry the smartphone with you. The location accuracy is pleasingly high.

The watch is also equipped with an optical and very precise heart rate sensor, an acceleration sensor, a gyroscope, a barometer and a thermometer for measuring skin temperature. A speaker and a microphone allow you to make phone calls as long as the watch is connected to your smartphone. The Harmony OS operating system ensures smooth performance. The watch is water resistant to 5 ATM and can therefore be worn while swimming without any problems.

However, the range of apps is limited. Petal Maps is available for navigation, and music can only be saved via the integrated player or Huawei Music – services such as Spotify, Deezer or Amazon Music are not supported. A new feature is the ability to download offline maps and display them while hiking or jogging, for example. Despite NFC, there is currently no payment function available in Germany due to the US sanctions against Huawei. However, Huawei is working on a solution that will initially be available in Poland and later in Germany.

Anyone who has already used a Huawei smartwatch will quickly find their way around. The operation is self-explanatory: swiping upwards displays smartphone notifications, which can only be answered using predefined quick answers or emojis. Swiping downwards opens the settings, while swiping to the left lets you scroll through information cards that can be individually customized in the app. Swiping to the right takes you to weather information and other data.

The crown at the top left opens the app overview, which is reminiscent of the Apple Watch’s app cloud. It looks nice, but it’s confusing. Alternatively, you can activate a list view, which we would recommend. Double-clicking the crown shows the most recently used apps, while turning the crown is used to scroll or adjust the volume. The programmable button at the bottom right starts the training overview by default, but can be assigned to individual functions.

One sticking point with Huawei smartwatches remains the setup: Due to the US sanctions against Huawei, the Health app is not available in the Google Play Store. However, it can be installed from an alternative source using a QR code, which is a bit cumbersome. Samsung and Honor users have it easier, as the app is available in their respective app stores. The app is available in the Apple App Store, however.

The Watch GT 5 offers a variety of training profiles for a wide range of sports. Although there is automatic training detection, this does not always work reliably. The optical sensor, which measures heart rate precisely, is a positive feature. We were particularly impressed by the accuracy of activities with varying intensity, such as spinning on the indoor cycle – a challenge that many watches with optical sensors fail to meet. In addition to heart rate, the watch also monitors oxygen saturation in the blood. Thanks to the integrated barometer, an altitude profile is also created during outdoor sports. Ready-made running courses are available for runners, including interval training.

The Watch GT 5 also offers a sleep analysis, of course. The Health app divides the sleep phases into light and deep sleep as well as waking phases. The watch does not always recognize waking phases during the night, including going to the toilet. The watch also monitors the breathing rate during sleep, which can be useful for detecting signs of impending sleep apnea. In combination with the skin temperature measurement, the watch also offers cycle tracking for women, including a prediction of the next ovulation.

We were very impressed by the battery life of the 46 mm version. The watch actually lasts almost 14 days, as promised by the manufacturer. We did not use the always-on display, but wore the watch around the clock and even while sleeping, doing around four workouts a week.

The small 41 mm model has less battery capacity and, according to Huawei, only lasts about a week. A more detailed test of this variant will follow.

The Huawei Watch GT 5 scores points primarily for its long battery life and an attractive, high-quality design that is convincing in both a sporty and elegant context. The precise sensors for heart rate and GPS, combined with the versatile fitness functions, make it an ideal choice for active users. The multi-band GNSS and the very precise optical heart rate measurement are particularly notable here.

One weakness of the watch is the limited range of apps. Due to the US sanctions, no well-known music streaming services are available, and the payment function via NFC is currently missing. In addition, the setup is complicated, as the Health app has to be obtained from alternative sources. There is also a strong dependency on the smartphone, as neither Wi-Fi nor LTE are supported.

The Huawei Watch GT 5 is therefore particularly interesting for users who value a long battery life and accurate fitness tracking functions, who always want to be connected to their smartphone and who can do without extensive app support or mobile payment.

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