Huawei Watch GT 5 review: a gorgeous-looking mid-range fitness tracker

Huawei Watch GT5 review: One-minute review

Huawei is yet to appear in our buying guide of all the best smartwatches. Despite making high-quality watches, the fact they're unable to be accessed in the US limits their appeal, and as yet don't appear in our Best Smartwatches guide. Huawei's big drop this year involved the medical-focused Huawei Watch D2, the GT 5, and the premium GT5 Pro, and having tested all three, the GT 5 stands out as perhaps the best overall.

The GT5 is the first Huawei smartwatch to feature Huawei TruSense, a system that integrates health and fitness tracking for faster and more accurate readings. The watch not only performs well but looks great with a sharp-edged watch case that sets it apart from more rounded alternatives.

The watch ships in 46mm and 41mm versions to cater to customers who want to choose between a larger and more substantial watch face over a more delicate alternative. The larger version also boasts longer battery life.

As well as smartwatch features, the GT5 comes with a wide range of fitness features designed specifically for runners and cyclists. Read on for an in-depth review of one of Huawei's latest offerings.

Huawei Watch GT5 review: Specifications

Huawei Watch GT5: Price and availability

• £229.99 in the UK
• Not available in the US or AUS
• Also available in China

The Huawei Watch GT5 comes in both 41mm and 46mm versions, with the smaller costing £229.99 and the larger £249.99. The watch is only available in the UK and China, with a distinct lack of presence in the US. This is due to Huawei's continued ban in the country.

There are eight strap finishes, including black, brown, and blue. I was sent the blue-strapped 46mm version to test for this review.

• Value score: 4/5

Huawei Watch GT5: Design

• Classy and sleek design
• 1.43 inch AMOLED
• Cheap-looking and feeling strap

I've really enjoyed wearing the GT5 every day for several weeks. At first, I was skeptical, mainly due to the Fluoroelastomer/Composite strap which I thought would be uncomfortable and awkward. It took a bit of time to get the best fit and I think my wrist size was between two strap holes, but in general, it has sat comfortably and reliably.

The watch itself looks fantastic. Huawei has opted for a geometric stainless steel case which really looks the part. The octagon-shaped outer casing gives a premium and traditional look and feel which makes it look less like a modern smartwatch and more like something your parents or grandparents would have worn.

The solid and robust casing houses a beautiful 1.43-inch AMOLED Colour Screen that is big, bright, and ideally suited to the Huawei interface. The display is responsive and fingerprint-resistant guaranteeing a pleasant experience without requiring regular cleaning.

On the right-hand side, you'll find the crown sitting above the secondary functional button. These are both located sufficiently far from each other to avoid any accidental operation. The crown sits just below the face of the display which I thought would be an issue but in reality, it keeps it out of the way while enabling users to rest their finger on the case during crown usage. This also helps maintain the beautifully slick design.

One of my regular bugbears with smartwatches is how thick they are. Manufacturers seem to have struggled to create watches and sensors that are slimline enough to sit nicely and discretely on the wrist. Huawei has almost managed it with the GT5 but not entirely. If they'd managed to shave another one or two mm off, then I think they'd have nailed it.

As mentioned, I'm not overly enamored with the strap. There are eight different options across the 41mm and 46mm versions. I had the blue strap and I don't think I ever warmed to it. The composite material looked too fake, for my liking. The 41mm version offers a greater range of options, including a Milanese metal strap which I think would suit the classy watch much better.

In terms of charging, the package includes a wireless USB-A charger which functions excellently. Its circular design with magnetic attachment makes it unbelievably easy to use without having to line any pins up.

• Design score: 4.5/5

Huawei Watch GT5: Features

• Huawei TruSense
• Running and cycling features
• Sleep monitoring

Huawei TruSense

The GT5 is the first Huawei watch to ship with Huawei TruSense. According to Huawei, this new technology "measures more than 60 health and fitness indicators, covering six of the body's major systems, and also includes an emotional wellbeing component."

All of this data is processed by Huawei to produce accurate assessments of a person's emotional well-being and stress levels. The idea is that the person can then do something about it either through meditation, exercise, or some other form of rest and relaxation.

I appreciate the role that smartwatches play in identifying where we might have health issues but I'm still slightly dubious about the ongoing value of this. I liked being able to 'check in' from time to time but I couldn't see myself relying on it. It almost seemed too mechanical and medical for my liking,

Despite my outlook, we can expect to see TruSense grow in its place in Huawei smartwatches and it'll be interesting to see whether users adopt it long-term.

Sleeping

The GT5 has no shortage of sleep monitoring tools. The watch, especially the 41mm version, is small and lightweight enough to not be too much of a bother at night. At night and over time, the watch is able to track heart rate, SpO2, respiratory rate, and any abnormal breathing while you're asleep. All of this data can be easily accessed through the Huawei Health app which is available for both iOS and Android.

One of the standout features of the sleep assessment functionality is the software's ability to provide long-term trend analysis and statistics based on how well you've slept.

New running and cycling experience

The GT5 offers increased analysis for runners and cyclists. This makes it more useful than previous iterations of the GT series. New metrics for runners include time in contact with the ground, balance, and vertical oscillations, and cyclists can benefit from real-time data on the go.

The GT5 also includes a range of other types of workouts including walking, swimming, and skiing. The watch provides metrics for each. The interface for these is really clear and nice to look at so you'll have no problem keeping track of how you're performing.

Smartwatch features

Alongside health and exercise tracking, the GT5 also offers a basic range of smartwatch features. Messages and notifications pop up with the ability to read text-based ones. Unfortunately, the GT5 isn't able to display any photos or play any voice messages. This limits the notifications feature somewhat.

Calls can be made through the watch but you must first add those contacts to your Huawei Health app. It's a bit annoying that the watch doesn't pick up your contacts directly through your phone.

• Features score: 4/5

Huawei Watch GT5: Performance

• Accurate and reliable GPS
• Responsive interface
• In-depth analysis

The Huawei Watch GT5 is a reliable and trustworthy tracker. I tested it across a variety of workouts including running, cycling, walking, hiking, and while playing soccer. The Huawei metrics are really suited to a circular interface with clean and visually attractive graphs and figures to show performance.

Advanced metrics are most definitely weighted towards more common activities including running and cycling. I carried out a number of 7-mile bike rides and found the watch was able to accurately measure the distance, speed, and other measurables as accurately as any other smartwatch in this price range.

GPS tracking performed without any hitches although I did have to make sure I had the latest firmware update before it would work. As is the case with all smartwatches, GPS only worked while I was outside although the watch picked it up as soon as I went out the door. I didn't experience any signal dropouts and Huawei mapped my exercise admirably.

One feature that the GT5 offers is the ability to auto-detect when you're exercising. This is ideal for those times when you've forgotten to start a workout. Unfortunately, I found the feature to be a little hit-and-miss. It never thought I was exercising when I wasn't but it didn't always pick up the times that I was exercising. This is therefore not a feature that can be relied upon.

The touchscreen works so well that I hardly ever found myself using the crown or button. It is beautifully responsive with no issues of mis-control.

The battery life hasn't improved noticeably over the GT4. You'll get around 7 days with typical usage although this can be extended to 14 days or longer if you use the tracking features sparingly. For most users, and based on my experience, I would expect the watch the require charging every four to six days.

• Performance score: 4/5

Huawei Watch GT5: Scorecard

Should I buy the Huawei Watch GT5?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Huawei Watch GT5 review: Also consider

Fitbit Luxe
Fitbit was one of the first to kickstart the fitness wearables trend, and it’s still going strong with various models. In our Fitbit Luxe review, we said it’s one of the company’s best models. Note, however, that there have been a number of controversial changes to Fitbit services of late, including the axing of much-loved features, casting doubts over its longevity.

Suunto Race S
One of the best watches for runners or athletes in general. Fantastic tracking features and a long battery life provide users with everything required to get exercising. Read our full Suunto Race S review

Huawei Watch GT5: How I tested

I wore the Huawei Watch GT5 for nearly a month. During this time, I used all its smartwatch features and a wide range of its tracking and health functionality. I used it while walking, running, cycling, and even when playing football.

I used a variety of apps to test the abilities of the watch and also paired it with the Huawei Health app to get the complete health-tracking experience offered by Huawei.