Introduction
The HUAWEI WATCH 5 positions itself as a next-generation smartwatch that aims to redefine health tracking, smart experiences, and tech-focused design. In an increasingly competitive wearable market dominated by established players, Huawei’s latest offering attempts to distinguish itself through comprehensive health monitoring capabilities and premium construction. This review examines whether the WATCH 5 delivers on its ambitious promises and justifies its position in the premium smartwatch segment.
The smartwatch market has evolved significantly, with consumers now expecting devices that seamlessly blend style, functionality, and health tracking prowess. The WATCH 5 enters this landscape with bold claims about its health monitoring capabilities and premium materials, suggesting a device engineered for users who demand both sophistication and comprehensive wellness tracking from their wearable technology.
Design and Build Quality
The HUAWEI WATCH 5 immediately establishes its premium credentials through exceptional material selection and construction quality. The combination of sapphire glass, aerospace-grade titanium alloy, and 904L stainless steel creates a timepiece that feels substantial and refined. The premium materials are immediately apparent upon handling, with the build quality conveying a sense of durability and sophistication that justifies its positioning in the high-end segment.
The design philosophy centers around a floating glass screen that integrates harmoniously with the overall aesthetic. This design choice creates visual depth while maintaining the clean, modern appearance that characterizes contemporary premium wearables. The crown mechanism deserves particular praise, offering both press and rotation functionality for intuitive menu navigation. This dual-action approach provides tactile feedback that enhances the user experience, though the learning curve for optimal utilization may require some adjustment for new users.
The 1.5-inch LTPO 2.0 AMOLED display represents a significant strength, delivering an impressive 3000 nits of brightness that ensures excellent visibility even in challenging outdoor conditions. The display’s responsiveness complements its brightness capabilities, creating a viewing experience that remains consistently engaging across various lighting scenarios. However, while the brightness performance is commendable, the impact on battery life during extended outdoor use warrants consideration.
Size options cater to different preferences, with 46mm and 42mm variants addressing diverse wrist sizes and style preferences. The 46mm version offers Cosmic Purple and Midnight Black colorways, while the 42mm variant provides a Stellar Beige option. This color selection, while limited, covers fundamental aesthetic preferences from bold to understated.
The dedicated function button adds practical value by providing quick access to essential features including phone calls, health checks, and workout initiation. This hardware shortcut reduces navigation time for frequently accessed functions, though the button’s positioning and tactile feedback could benefit from refinement in future iterations.
Performance
The WATCH 5’s performance profile demonstrates solid technical execution with HarmonyOS 5.1 providing a generally smooth and responsive user interface. The system’s snappiness meets expectations for a premium device, though occasional minor stutters suggest room for optimization in future software updates. The overall user experience remains positive, with navigation feeling intuitive once users familiarize themselves with the interface conventions.
Gesture control functionality presents an interesting but somewhat underwhelming feature set. While the ability to answer calls, snooze alarms, and control music playback through gestures demonstrates innovation, the detection accuracy requires improvement. The current implementation feels more novelty than necessity, with traditional touch and button controls often proving more reliable. Future software updates may address these limitations, but currently, gesture controls feel like a work-in-progress feature.
The app ecosystem shows promise with support for popular applications including Strava for fitness enthusiasts and G-Cash for convenient QR code payments. The inclusion of gaming options through the AppGallery adds entertainment value, though the practical appeal of gaming on a smartwatch screen remains questionable for extended sessions. The navigation capabilities impress with full-colored, detailed maps that provide genuinely useful guidance for urban navigation and outdoor activities.
eSIM functionality represents a standout feature, enabling the watch to function as a standalone communication device. This capability allows users to make calls directly from the watch even without phone connectivity, providing genuine independence that enhances the device’s utility. However, the current limitation requiring HUAWEI smartphones for shared number functionality restricts this feature’s appeal for users committed to other smartphone ecosystems.
Connectivity-wise, this watch also performs well. In my entire time of using it, it never unintentionally disconnected from my watch. Notifications come in a timely manner too.
Extra Features
The HUAWEI WATCH 5’s health monitoring capabilities represent its most compelling differentiator. The HUAWEI X-Tap Sensor technology combines ECG, PPG, and pressure sensors to deliver comprehensive health insights with impressive speed and accuracy. The system can measure eleven key health metrics including SpO2, HRV, stress levels, sleep patterns, heart rate, skin temperature, emotional state, sinus rhythm, arterial stiffness, and respiratory function.
The Health Glance feature consolidates up to eleven health indicators into a comprehensive overview that provides data-driven insights into overall wellness. The measurement process requires minimal user interaction, typically completing comprehensive health assessments in under sixty seconds. This efficiency makes regular health monitoring practical and convenient, encouraging consistent usage that can provide valuable long-term health trend data.
Sleep monitoring and improvement programs add substantial value for users prioritizing wellness optimization. The three-month complimentary Sports Health App membership includes smart weight loss plans and sleep improvement programs, extending the watch’s utility beyond basic tracking into active health management. These programs provide structured guidance that transforms raw data into actionable health improvements.
Fitness tracking capabilities extend beyond basic metrics to include sport-specific features such as golf course data for 111 Philippine courses. This specialized functionality demonstrates Huawei’s commitment to serving diverse athletic interests, though the appeal remains limited to golfers. The comprehensive workout support covers numerous activities, making the watch suitable for various fitness enthusiasts and athletic pursuits.
The payment integration through G-Cash provides practical daily utility, enabling quick transactions without phone dependency. This feature’s implementation appears robust and responsive, adding genuine convenience to everyday interactions. The QR code payment functionality works seamlessly, though availability may vary depending on regional payment infrastructure.
Battery
Battery performance represents a significant strength of the WATCH 5, with two distinct power management modes addressing different usage patterns. Standard mode delivers approximately four days of usage on a single charge, closely matching Huawei’s claimed 4.5-day performance. This endurance comfortably exceeds many competitors and reduces charging frequency concerns for typical users.
Ultra-long battery life mode extends usage to an impressive twelve days, though this comes with reduced functionality that limits smart features. This mode serves users prioritizing basic timekeeping and essential health monitoring over comprehensive smart functionality. The availability of this extended battery option provides flexibility for travel or situations where charging opportunities are limited.
The charging solution utilizes a proprietary dock system that, while functional, represents another proprietary standard in an ecosystem that would benefit from greater standardization. The dock charges the device efficiently, though users must remember to pack the specific charging hardware when traveling. The charging speed appears adequate, though specific charging time metrics would enhance the evaluation.
Battery performance consistency throughout the device’s operational lifespan remains to be determined through extended use, but initial performance suggests robust power management that should maintain acceptable performance over time. The two-mode system provides practical flexibility that accommodates varying usage patterns and battery conservation needs.
Verdict
The HUAWEI WATCH 5 succeeds in delivering a premium smartwatch experience that excels particularly in health monitoring and build quality. The comprehensive health tracking capabilities, combined with exceptional materials and solid performance, create a compelling package for users prioritizing wellness insights and premium construction. While certain features like gesture controls require refinement and ecosystem limitations may restrict some functionality, the overall package demonstrates Huawei’s commitment to premium wearable technology.
The watch’s strengths in battery life, health monitoring accuracy, premium construction, and standalone capabilities outweigh its limitations, making it a worthy consideration for users seeking a sophisticated health-focused smartwatch. Future software updates may address current shortcomings, potentially enhancing the already solid foundation that the WATCH 5 provides.
We’re leaving some room for our review, as the pricing and availability of the HUAWEI WATCH 5 is still to be revealed.
The device will soon be available via Shopee, Lazada, TikTok, and the Huawei Store.
Emman has been writing technical and feature articles since 2010. Prior to this, he became one of the instructors at Asia Pacific College in 2008, and eventually landed a job as Business Analyst and Technical Writer at Integrated Open Source Solutions for almost 3 years.
