Huawei Watch GT 5 in the test: Stylish smartwatch lasts up to 14 days

Now with the fifth generation of its GT series, Huawei once again brings a sporty smartwatch to the market, which looks good when worn in the evening thanks to its elegant design. The successor to the Huawei Watch GT 4 (test report) lasts about two weeks in continuous use, but this endurance comes at the cost of some apps and a high dependence on the smartphone. US sanctions against the company have created even more obstacles in terms of setup and functionality, but these do not deter the Chinese company.

The Huawei Watch GT 5 is available in two sizes: 46mm for larger wrists and 41mm, aimed at smaller wrists, primarily women. In our test, the focus is on the 46mm version. Smartwatches for women will be tested soon.

Like the previous series, the GT5 has a high-quality design and can also be used as a fashionable wristwatch. The shape is vaguely octagonal – the case is square, while the dial is round like a classic chronograph. We tested the silver model with a blue bracelet made of fluoroelastomer. There is also a black version and a silver model with a brown leather strap. This time, a model with a stainless steel bracelet is reserved for the new Watch GT5 Pro. There is a crown with a pressure function on the top right and another button on the bottom left.

The 41mm model is primarily for women and is very similar to its smaller predecessor. The design is quite different from the 46mm smartwatch. From the outside it is a different watch, even though the technology is largely the same. The completely round casing feels a bit thicker, but still looks attractive. The 41mm 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 fluoroelastomer strap.

The round OLED display in this model is also impressive – Huawei shows its strengths here once again. The display is very sharp and offers adequate brightness even in bright light conditions. The automatic adjustment of brightness also reacts quickly to changes. The 46mm model comes with a 1.43-inch display, while the smaller 41mm 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 constantly keep an eye on the time. However, this can significantly reduce battery life depending on the watch faces you choose.

Communication between the watch and the smartphone is exclusively via Bluetooth 5.2 LE – you won’t find any options for WLAN or LTE. A multi-band GNSS that supports GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo and QZSS is used for precise navigation. This makes it easy to record your running route without carrying your smartphone with you. Location accuracy is pleasantly high.

The watch is also equipped with an optical and very accurate heart rate sensor, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a barometer and a thermometer for measuring skin temperature. The loudspeaker and microphone make it possible to make phone calls as long as the watch is connected to a smartphone. The Harmony OS operating system ensures smooth performance. The watch is waterproof up to 5 ATM and can therefore be easily worn while swimming.

However, the app offering is manageable. 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. What is new is the ability to download offline maps and display them while hiking or jogging, for example. Despite NFC, there is currently no payment feature available in Germany due to US sanctions against Huawei. However, Huawei is working on a solution that will initially be available in Poland and later also in Germany.

Anyone who has already used a Huawei smartwatch will find their way around immediately. The operation is self-explanatory: swiping up displays smartphone notifications, which can only be answered using predefined quick replies or emojis. Swiping down opens the settings, while swiping to the left lets you browse information cards that can be adjusted individually in the app. On the right you can access weather information and other data.

The crown at the top left opens the app overview, which is reminiscent of the App Cloud on the Apple Watch. Although it looks nice, 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 rotating the crown scrolls or adjusts the volume. The programmable button at the bottom right starts the training overview by default, but can be assigned individually.

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A sticking point with Huawei smartwatches remains the setup: due to US sanctions against Huawei, the Health app is not available on the Google Play Store. However, it can be installed from an alternative source via QR code, which is a bit inconvenient. Samsung and Honor users have it easier as the app is available in the App Store. However, the app is available on the Apple App Store.

The Watch GT 5 offers a variety of training profiles for a variety of sports. Although there is automatic training recognition, it does not always work reliably. The optical sensor, which measures heart rate continuously and accurately, stands out positively. We were particularly impressed by the accuracy during activities with varying intensity, such as spinning on an 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. Pre-designed race courses are available for runners, including interval training.

Of course, the Watch GT 5 also offers sleep analysis. The Health app divides sleep phases into light and deep sleep, as well as waking phases. However, the watch does not always recognize periods of wakefulness during the night, including going to the toilet. The watch also monitors your breathing rate while you sleep, which can be useful for early detection of sleep apnea symptoms. In combination with skin temperature measurements, the watch also offers cycle tracking for women, including prediction of the next ovulation.

We were very impressed with the battery life of the 46mm variant. As promised by the manufacturer, the watch actually lasts about 14 days. We did without the always-on display, but wore the watch for about four workouts a week, around the clock, and even while sleeping.

The smaller 41mm model has a smaller battery capacity and according to Huawei, it only lasts around a week. Here is a detailed test of this variant.

The Huawei Watch GT 5 scores primarily with its strong battery life and attractive, high-quality design that impresses in both sporty and elegant contexts. Accurate sensors for heart rate and GPS, combined with versatile fitness functions, make it an ideal choice for physically active users. Multi-band GNSS and very accurate optical heart rate measurement stand out here.

One weakness of the watch is the limited app offering. Due to US restrictions, no known music streaming services are available, and the payment function via NFC is currently missing. To this is added the complicated setup, as the Health app has to be obtained from alternative sources. There is also a strong dependence on the smartphone, as neither WLAN nor LTE are supported.

The Huawei Watch GT 5 is therefore primarily of interest to users who value long battery life and accurate fitness tracking functions, are always connected to their smartphone and can do without extensive app support or mobile payments.

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