Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro in the test: Smartwatch with ECG and long battery life

Compared to the Watch GT 5, the Pro model offers a beautiful casing made of titanium or ceramic as well as advanced technical features such as taking ECG measurements. There are again two versions: a round version with 46 mm for men and 42 mm for women – with different bracelets in the two versions. The predecessor and the GT 5 were reassured in the test whether this also applies to the new Watch GT 5 Pro 379 euros applies, this test report makes clear.

Like the GT5, the Watch GT5 Pro has an octagonal case with a round dial in a 46mm model. Titanium is used as the material here. The material is lightweight but still durable. This means that the watch once again looks more robust and elegant than the GT5. It has a crown and another programmable button. With a water resistance of 5 ATM and an IP69K protection rating, the watch is also suitable for swimming. Unlike the GT5, the Pro model is also certified for free diving to a depth of 40 meters.

The larger model is available in dark gray with black fluoroelastomer straps and in a silver version made entirely of metal. The latter looks particularly elegant and goes well with evening wear, but the model with the rubber strap is more suitable for active users. In principle, bracelets can be changed quickly and easily and Huawei itself and third-party providers offer further solutions here;

The model for women has a radius of 42 mm and a circular case. Both models are white and use ceramic instead of titanium. The cheaper version comes with a fluoroelastomer bracelet. The expensive model offers a ceramic bracelet.

The round OLED display on the GT5 Pro impresses with its razor-sharp display. It can be read even in bright light. The automatic brightness adjustment reacts instantly to changes. The 46mm model has a 1.43-inch display, while the 42mm version has a 1.32-inch display – both have a resolution of 466 × 466 pixels. If you want, you can activate the Always-On Display (AOD) to always keep an eye on the time. However, this reduces battery life by more than a third – depending on the watch face you choose.

Communication between the Watch GT 5 Pro and the smartphone takes place exclusively via Bluetooth 5.2 LE – you have to give up options such as WLAN or LTE. A multi-band GNSS supports GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo and QZSS and ensures accurate running records even without a smartphone. Location accuracy is pleasantly high.

Unlike the GT 5, the GT 5 Pro offers an ECG function and measurement of arterial stiffness. The watch also has an accurate optical heart rate sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer and thermometer to measure skin temperature. A speaker and microphone enable phone calls if the watch is paired with a smartphone. The Harmony OS operating system ensures smooth operation.

The app offering remains manageable. Petal Maps is available for navigation, and offline maps are also available for download for outdoor workouts or running. Music can be played via the integrated player or Huawei Music – streaming services like Spotify or Deezer are missing. Despite the integrated NFC, there is currently no payment feature in Germany due to US sanctions. However, Huawei is working on a solution that will be available first in Poland and later in Germany as well.

Operation is intuitive: swiping up opens smartphone notifications, which can only be answered with preset quick replies or emojis. Swiping down takes you to settings, while to the left you can scroll through individually customizable notification cards. Swiping to the right displays weather information and other data.

The crown at the top left opens the app overview, which is reminiscent of the app display on the Apple Watch. Visually appealing, but confusing – so we recommend the alternative list view. Double-clicking the crown takes you to the most recently used apps, and rotating the crown lets you scroll or adjust the volume. The programmable button at the bottom right starts the training overview by default, but can be assigned individually.

Setup remains a sticking point: 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 device users have it easy as the app is available in their app stores. However, for Apple users, the app is available on the Apple App Store.

The Watch GT 5 Pro offers a variety of training profiles for different types of sports. Although there is automatic training recognition, it does not always work without errors.

The accurate optical sensor, which measures heart rate consistently and reliably, is particularly positive. We were particularly impressed by the accuracy during activities of varying intensity, such as indoor cycling – a challenge that many watches with optical sensors have problems with. In addition to heart rate, the GT 5 Pro also monitors oxygen saturation in the blood.

Thanks to the integrated barometer, an altitude profile is created during outdoor sports. Pre-designed training plans are available for runners, including interval training. A small difference between the GT 5 Pro and the GT 5: During trail running, you can already display the route. In addition to heart rate measurement, the GT 5 Pro offers advanced health functions. The watch can generate an ECG and measure arterial stiffness, which provides important indicators of heart health.

Golfers in particular will get their money’s worth from the GT5 Pro. The watch provides a preview of more than 15,000 golf courses around the world, including a 3D view of the holes with bunkers, water hazards and trees. Information such as the distance to the hole, wind direction and speed assist the golfer while running. During the game, the watch also provides detailed information about your swing, and your own result can be recorded in the rankings.

Like its predecessors, the GT5 Pro also offers sleep analysis, which can be accessed through the Health app. Sleep stages such as light and deep sleep are analysed as well as waking phases. However, short periods of wakefulness, such as going to the toilet at night, are not always recorded correctly. The watch also monitors your breathing rate while sleeping, which can provide evidence of sleep apnea. Along with skin temperature measurements, the watch offers cycle tracking for women, including prediction of the next ovulation.

The larger model of the GT5 Pro is said to last up to 14 days. In testing we managed to get 13 days, but without the always-on display we didn’t use it to sleep every night. This is a realistic statement compared to smartwatches with Wear OS, which rarely last more than a day. If you do a lot of hiking and then use GPS a lot, you have to expect significantly less time. With the always-on display active and several workouts, the watch can last up to a week even without a charging pad. The smaller 42mm model lasts only about half as long as the larger GT5 Pro. The charging pad itself has a US-A plug, but the power adapter is not included.

The Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro impresses primarily with its long battery life and stylish design. The pulse measurement is accurate and the watch accurately detects your location when exercising. However, the changes compared to the much cheaper GT 5 are small overall. The biggest differences are the elegant titanium housing as well as the ECG function and additional features for golf fans. The surcharge for this is too high in our opinion.

Due to US restrictions, famous music streaming services are missing, and the NFC payment function is also not currently available. Setting up the watch is a bit complicated as the Health app cannot be obtained from the Google Play Store. Also, the dependency on the smartphone is high, as there is neither WiFi nor LTE on board. The app offering remains manageable.

The Watch GT 5 Pro is primarily meant for users who value long battery life, accurate fitness tracking and ECG and can do without extensive app support or mobile payments.

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