Experience premium design and powerful health tracking with the new Huawei Watch 5. Discover detailed Huawei Watch 5 review, stunning OLED display, advanced fitness tracking, extended battery life, premium stainless steel build, and smart Harmony OS features in this in-depth 2025 guide.
Table of Contents
Huawei Watch 5 Review Key Features
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Display | 1.3″ / 1.5″ OLED, Sapphire Glass, LTPO Technology |
| Build Material | 904L Stainless Steel / Aerospace-grade Titanium |
| Operating System | Harmony OS |
| Fitness Tracking | 100+ Workout Modes, Health Glance, ECG, Stress, Sleep, SpO2 |
| Battery Life | Up to 3 Days (Normal) / 5 Days (Battery Saver Mode) |
| Connectivity | eSIM, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
| Customization | Animated Watch Faces, Huawei Health App Support |
| Water Resistance | Fully Waterproof, Swim-Ready |
| Charging | Wireless Charging, USB-C Compatible Dock |
| Price | Starts from £400 in the UK |
1. Introduction to the Huawei Watch 5
The Huawei Watch 5 marks another bold step in Huawei’s quest to marry top-tier smartwatch functionality with genuine fashion-forward elegance. While many smartwatches still resemble awkward digital bricks strapped to your wrist, the Huawei Watch 5 brings a refreshing dose of style. From a casual glance, it could be mistaken for a luxury timepiece adorning the wrist of a Hollywood A-lister—although it’s just as likely to be found on the wrist of a tech-loving YouTuber downing a sausage roll at Greggs.
Launched at a starting price of £400 in the UK, this premium wearable certainly doesn’t come cheap. But does it earn its high price tag? Is the Huawei Watch 5 all looks and no substance, or does it pack serious smarts under the hood? After strapping it on for a full fortnight, this Huawei Watch 5 review reveals the full story—warts, wonders, and all.
Huawei offers the Watch 5 in two main sizes: a 42mm model for those with smaller wrists (like the reviewer), and a 46mm model for those who want a bigger display and perhaps a bolder wrist presence. Color options are surprisingly chic, with the rosy gold finish on the 42mm being a particular standout for those who appreciate subtle elegance over flashy flair.
Whether you’re into fitness, health tracking, or just want a smartwatch that doesn’t scream “tech geek,” the Huawei Watch 5 makes a strong first impression. But let’s not judge a watch by its cover just yet. Let’s dig in.
2. Design and Build Quality
When it comes to design, the Huawei Watch 5 absolutely nails it. Whether you choose the 42mm or 46mm variant, you’re in for a treat. The review unit we tested was crafted from 904L stainless steel—a material often used in high-end luxury watches. It’s known for its scratch resistance and corrosion protection, and in two weeks of daily wear (including some good old-fashioned clumsy bumps), the case held up beautifully.
Visually, it’s polished to a mirror-like finish, giving it that “premium” vibe right out of the box. And for those with a bit more cash to splash, the 46mm version even comes with the option to upgrade to aerospace-grade titanium. Yes, titanium—because apparently, even smartwatches are going space-age now.
The branding is ultra-minimal, with just a tiny “Huawei Watch” engraved on the rotating crown—so small it’s borderline illegible. Still, it adds to the clean aesthetic. The metal strap does have its quirks, though. For smaller wrists, you may need to remove a few links, and even then, the fit can be a bit fiddly. The clasp doesn’t extend quite enough, making it slightly uncomfortable to put on or remove—especially if your hands lean on the chunkier side.
Luckily, Huawei has made the strap fully swappable. A small button underneath releases it, so you can slap on a silicone band for workouts or a leather one for a formal dinner. The Huawei Watch 5 is also fully water and dust resistant, so you can swim with it or jog through a rainstorm without worry.
3. Display and Visual Experience
The Huawei Watch 5 features a vibrant OLED display, with the 42mm model sporting a 1.3-inch screen and the 46mm model stepping up to a 1.5-inch display. Both versions are protected by sapphire glass—a serious upgrade from your average Gorilla Glass—making it highly resistant to scratches and everyday wear.
This isn’t just any OLED, though. It’s LTPO OLED, which means it can scale its refresh rate up to 60Hz and down to conserve battery life when needed. The display itself has no bezels, just a beautifully domed surface that looks and feels as luxurious as the rest of the watch.
In terms of performance, it delivers crisp contrast, vibrant colors, and pin-sharp text, even under bright sunlight. The auto-brightness feature works flawlessly, adapting quickly to changes in ambient lighting. Max brightness is impressive, which is crucial for visibility during outdoor workouts or even casual strolls.
If you’ve got tired eyes or just prefer a bigger font, the 46mm model might be the better pick thanks to the larger screen real estate. But honestly, both displays are a joy to use, whether you’re reading messages or admiring your animated watch face.
4. Watch Faces and Customization
Huawei has clearly put a lot of love into the watch face experience. The Huawei Watch 5 comes loaded with a solid selection of built-in watch faces—many of which are animated and wonderfully designed. They range from minimalist analog styles to vibrant, space-themed visuals that add a splash of fun to your wrist.
You can customize most faces by long-pressing them. Depending on the design, you might be able to tweak colors, add complications (like weather, steps, heart rate), or even rearrange elements. Some watch faces offer just a couple of customization options, while others let you go full mad scientist with the layout.
Of course, if the built-in options aren’t enough, the Huawei Health app opens the floodgates to hundreds more. You can download free or paid faces, with a “free section” available for those of us who’d rather not dip into the whisky fund for digital art. The only downside? If you’re using an Android phone, you’ll have to sideload the Huawei Health app via APK, since it’s not on the Google Play Store. iPhone and Samsung users can grab it directly from their respective app stores.
Still, once installed, it gives you complete control over the watch’s visual identity. You can truly make the Huawei Watch 5 your own.
5. Software and User Interface
Running on Harmony OS, the Huawei Watch 5 delivers a smooth and intuitive user experience. The UI is responsive, neatly laid out, and makes smart use of the rotating crown for navigation. A swipe down from the main screen brings up quick settings (brightness, airplane mode, battery saver, etc.), while a swipe up reveals your notifications panel.
That said, notifications remain a weak spot. While you can read Gmail subject lines, you can’t reply. For apps like WhatsApp, however, you can send quick replies, use a tiny keyboard, or dictate messages using the built-in microphone. It’s not quite up to Wear OS standards, but it’s good enough for most.
The watch supports eSIM and Wi-Fi, so staying connected without your phone is totally doable. The interface also includes cards and widgets for fitness, media, and more—all customizable to your liking. A press of the crown brings up your full app list, and you can switch between list view and grid view, depending on your visual preference.
Huawei’s AppGallery is still quite limited, though. You’ll find some oddities like Flappy Bird, but not much in the way of must-have third-party apps. Still, the essentials are covered: barometer, compass, music controls, and plenty of health-related tools.
6. Health and Fitness Features
The Huawei Watch 5 is a health enthusiast’s dream, stacked with a smorgasbord of fitness tools and trackers. Whether you’re a casual step-counter or a hardcore deep-sea diver, this smartwatch has something for you. The first thing to note is that it supports over 100 workout types, ranging from the usual suspects like running and cycling to more niche options such as golf and even free diving.
One of the standout fitness features is the new X-Tap pressure-sensitive sensor, positioned on the right edge of the watch. This isn’t just a gimmick—it enhances the watch’s ECG (electrocardiogram) capabilities by using your finger for a more accurate reading. Why? Because your fingers, apparently, are packed with more blood vessels than your wrist, making data more precise. It’s ideal for measuring arterial stiffness, stress levels, SPO2, and skin temperature.
There’s also a brilliant tool called Health Glance, which gives you a quick but comprehensive snapshot of your current state—ECG results, stress levels, temperature, heart rate, and more—all within a minute. It’s a genuinely useful feature that sets the Huawei Watch 5 apart from many of its rivals. If you’re the type who likes to quantify your health metrics daily, this tool is your new best mate.
Sleep tracking is as detailed as you’d expect, analyzing your deep sleep, REM cycles, and even interruptions. One night’s poor rest (thanks to Sunderland’s thrilling Wembley qualification) was immediately reflected in the data—proof that the watch is as brutally honest as it is accurate.
Huawei also nudges you with health insights over time, like changes in your resting heart rate or trends in stress. If your heart rate starts acting funny, or your sleep goes haywire, you’ll know about it. All of this syncs effortlessly with the Huawei Health app, which offers even deeper analytics for those who want to obsess over graphs.
7. Battery Life and Charging
Battery life is one of those make-or-break elements for smartwatches, and thankfully, the Huawei Watch 5 mostly delivers. Our 42mm test model, despite its smaller size and screen, held out for around three full days under heavy use. That includes always-on display, constant health tracking, and full notification sync—not exactly light usage.
Switch to battery saver mode, and you’re looking at four to five days easily. Better yet, this mode doesn’t strip the watch down to a dumb shell—it keeps most core features running, like notifications and basic health tracking. It only disables more advanced tools like Health Glance and offline mapping.
Charging is a breeze thanks to wireless charging support. No fiddly pins, no magnetic docks with attitude. Just slap it on the charger, and within about an hour, you’re back to full juice. The included charger connects via USB-C, so it’s travel-friendly too. No extra cables needed—your phone charger will do the trick.
In a world where Wear OS watches still often struggle to last more than 24–36 hours, the Huawei Watch 5 holds its own. No, it’s not the marathon runner some older Huawei models were, but it’s still more than respectable.
And a quick note to tech reviewers out there: don’t label battery saver mode as “BSM” in your scripts. Auto-correct will have a field day. Enough said.
8. Connectivity and Smart Features
The Huawei Watch 5 isn’t just a fitness tracker dressed as a fashion piece. It’s also a fully connected smartwatch, ready to keep you in the loop. Thanks to eSIM support and built-in Wi-Fi, you can make and receive calls, stream music, download maps, and sync data—no smartphone required.
Taking calls directly on the watch is surprisingly solid. The built-in microphone and speaker combo is good enough for quick chats, especially in quieter settings. In noisy environments, clarity does suffer a bit, but it’s still a handy feature to have when your phone is buried in a bag or left at home.
You can respond to WhatsApp messages using either quick replies, a tiny onscreen keyboard, or voice dictation. The latter works best—it’s accurate and fast, even if you’ve got an accent or mumble your words. Gmail support is more limited; you’ll see the sender and subject, but replying isn’t an option.
Then there are widgets (or cards)—mini dashboard panels you can arrange, add, or remove as you like. You can stack these with useful tools: music controls, steps, stress levels, weather, and more. You can even tweak what order they show up in.
A small gripe? The AppGallery is still thin. There’s a weird Flappy Bird clone that barely works and a water reminder app, but you won’t find Spotify, Google Maps, or other big names here. It’s clearly an area Huawei still needs to beef up.
And alas, there’s no contactless payment support in the UK. So if you were hoping to pay for your sandwich using your watch like a spy on a mission—no dice.
9. Navigation and Controls
Interaction with the Huawei Watch 5 is pleasantly smooth, thanks to both its touchscreen and the rotating crown. The Harmony OS interface is thoughtfully laid out. Swiping in different directions gives you access to settings, messages, and cards, while pressing the crown launches your apps.
You can choose between a hexagonal app grid or a traditional list. The grid mimics Apple’s layout, but many icons are a bit… abstract. The list view is cleaner and easier to navigate, especially for first-time users.
The auto-brightness is quick and effective, making the display visible even in direct sunlight. Scrolling through the menu, tweaking settings, or launching workouts feels fast and fluid. The LTPO display’s 60Hz refresh rate means there’s no sluggishness or lag, which is a huge plus compared to older models or budget smartwatches.
You can also interact with the device through gestures, like raising your wrist to wake the display or covering it to put it to sleep. These work consistently, adding to the premium feel of the user experience.
Overall, this is one of the most polished smartwatch interfaces outside of the Apple ecosystem. It’s not perfect, but it’s intuitive, customizable, and just… works.
10. Huawei Health App Integration
If you want to unlock the full power of the Huawei Watch 5, you need the Huawei Health app. This is your command center for everything: tracking health metrics, changing watch faces, managing notifications, and more.
Available on iOS and Samsung’s Galaxy Store, Android users will need to download it directly from Huawei’s site as an APK. Yes, it’s a bit of a hassle, but once installed, the app is well-designed and stable.
Through the app, you can access advanced metrics on heart rate, sleep, stress, SpO2, ECG, skin temperature, and more. Want a full breakdown of your sleep stages over the past week? You’ve got it. Want to export your health data to share with a doctor or coach? No problem.
This app also lets you customize your watch faces, download new ones, and manage your workouts. You can view your running routes, track your fitness goals, and even get training recommendations based on your performance.
There’s also a social feature if you want to connect with other Huawei users and share progress. It’s low-key but a nice bonus for motivation.
Despite the sideloading pain for Android folks, the Huawei Health app is a major strength of the ecosystem—comprehensive, insightful, and easy to use.
11. Limitations and Drawbacks
No Huawei Watch 5 review would be complete without addressing the elephant in the room: it’s not perfect. As polished and premium as this smartwatch is, there are a few notable caveats that may influence your buying decision.
First, notifications are still a bit undercooked. While WhatsApp gets solid support (with replies and voice input), email services like Gmail are left in the dust. All you get is a subject line and sender name—no replies, no real interaction. Compared to rivals running Wear OS, it feels a little behind the times in this department.
Then there’s the AppGallery. Let’s be honest: it’s a ghost town. Aside from a few functional apps like timers and weather, the majority of third-party apps are either gimmicky or non-functional. You won’t find Spotify, Google Maps, or other heavy-hitters here, which limits how “smart” this smartwatch truly is. If you’re hoping for full smartwatch independence from your phone, this could be a deal-breaker.
Another sticking point: no NFC payment support in many regions, including the UK. That means no Google Pay, Huawei Pay, or any tap-to-pay feature. In 2025, this is a significant omission, especially for a watch at this price point.
Lastly, sideloading the Huawei Health app if you’re on Android (non-Samsung) is a minor hassle. It’s not overly complicated, but it’s still one extra step most users wouldn’t expect from a top-tier product.
So while the Huawei Watch 5 delivers brilliantly in the design and fitness tracking departments, its limitations in app support and connectivity features may disappoint power users.
12. Who Should Buy the Huawei Watch 5?
The Huawei Watch 5 isn’t for everyone—but for the right user, it’s a total gem. If you prioritize aesthetics, build quality, and health tracking, this is one of the best options out there. It blends the luxury of a traditional timepiece with the smart features of a modern wearable.
Are you into outdoor activities like hiking, diving, or golfing? The Huawei Watch 5 will be your best mate. With offline maps, golf course downloads, and deep-sea diving modes, it’s packed with niche features rarely seen on mainstream smartwatches.
It’s also great for health-conscious individuals who want detailed, real-time insights into their heart rate, stress, sleep, and ECG readings. The Health Glance tool in particular is a standout—convenient, fast, and genuinely helpful.
However, if you’re someone who relies heavily on third-party apps, uses Google services, or demands contactless payments, you might be better served by something in the Wear OS or Apple Watch ecosystems.
This isn’t the jack-of-all-trades smartwatch. It’s more like a tailored suit—elegant, specialized, and best appreciated by those who know exactly what they’re looking for.
13. Huawei Watch 5 Comparison with Competitors
In the world of premium smartwatches, the Huawei Watch 5 competes with heavyweights like the Apple Watch Series 9, Samsung Galaxy Watch 6, and OnePlus Watch 2. So how does it stack up?
- Apple Watch Series 9: Apple still leads the pack in terms of ecosystem integration, app variety, and notification handling. However, it can’t match the battery life or durability of the Huawei Watch 5. And while Apple’s design is iconic, it doesn’t have the luxurious polish of Huawei’s stainless steel and sapphire glass.
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 6: Great hardware and full Google service support make Samsung’s latest a solid contender. But battery life is still its Achilles heel, often tapping out after just 24-36 hours. Huawei wins the endurance round easily.
- OnePlus Watch 2: This newer contender runs Wear OS and matches Huawei on battery, lasting up to 4 days. But it lacks the same level of fitness depth and build quality, leaning more toward a sporty aesthetic than premium craftsmanship.
So where does the Huawei Watch 5 shine? It sits comfortably at the intersection of fashion and function. It’s ideal for users who want extended battery life, top-tier fitness tracking, and a design that could pass for a luxury analog watch. But if your life revolves around apps and payments? You’ll feel the limitations.
14. Final Verdict: Huawei Watch 5
After wearing, testing, swiping, tapping, charging, and even cursing at it (only once, during a notification glitch), the final verdict on the Huawei Watch 5 is this: it’s one of the best-looking and best-built smartwatches you can buy—if you understand its strengths and weaknesses.
✅ Pros
- Stunning premium design with stainless steel and sapphire glass
- Exceptional battery life
- Incredible fitness and health tracking
- Rich selection of watch faces
- Bright OLED display with LTPO tech
❌ Cons
- Limited app store
- Weak email and notification integration
- No contactless payments in the UK
- Sideloading required for Android users
If those cons don’t faze you, and you’re primarily in it for style, fitness, and battery life, the Huawei Watch 5 is an absolute cracker. It’s sleek, powerful, and thoughtfully crafted for those who want a premium smartwatch experience—just not necessarily the “Google-integrated” kind.
15. Conclusion: Huawei Watch 5 Review
To sum it all up: the Huawei Watch 5 is a bold, beautiful, and fitness-focused smartwatch that punches well above its weight in design and durability. It’s not trying to be everything for everyone—it’s aiming squarely at style-conscious users and health enthusiasts, and in those areas, it absolutely excels.
It may not be as smart as a Wear OS device in terms of app compatibility and smart features, but what it lacks in software depth, it makes up for in build quality, battery life, and bespoke functionality like ECG monitoring, arterial stiffness tracking, and diving modes.
For those in the market for a luxury smartwatch that doesn’t sacrifice performance for prettiness, the Huawei Watch 5 is well worth a look.
FAQs: Huawei Watch 5 Review
1. Does the Huawei Watch 5 support Google services?
No, the Huawei Watch 5 does not support Google services like Google Maps or Gmail replies due to Harmony OS limitations.
2. Can I use the Huawei Watch 5 with an iPhone?
Yes, you can pair it with an iPhone using the Huawei Health app from the App Store, though some features may be limited.
3. How durable is the Huawei Watch 5?
It’s built with 904L stainless steel and sapphire glass, offering excellent resistance to scratches and general wear and tear.
4. Does the Huawei Watch 5 support wireless charging?
Absolutely. It supports full wireless charging with a USB-C powered dock, taking about an hour for a full charge.
5. Is the Huawei Watch 5 suitable for fitness tracking?
Yes, it’s one of the most comprehensive fitness-focused smartwatches, with over 100 workout modes, ECG, sleep tracking, SpO2, and more.
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