Huawei Watch GT 5 in the test: Elegant watch with top price/performance

The Watch GT 5 is Huawei’s mid-range smartwatch, but its features hardly have to hide from its big brother, the GT 5 Pro. The GT 5 is available from 279 euros and is primarily for sports and health tracking.

Huawei Watch GT 5 in the test: Nobly processed

The Watch GT 5 impresses with a stainless steel case that has the workmanship of a mechanical watch. Polished and matt surfaces alternate and the bezel has a modern, octagonal design. The glass is scratch-resistant, but Huawei does not use very stable sapphire glass like the GT 5 Pro.

With a diameter of 46 millimeters and a thickness of 11 millimeters, the Watch GT 5 is not a small watch, but it fits most wrists. Our test sample was equipped with a textile-rubber strap, with which the watch weighs 72 grams – that’s in the middle of the range. The watch is very comfortable to wear with the bracelet. Huawei protects the GT 5 to 5 ATM and IP69 against water penetration. So you can swim with the smartwatch without any problems. The only thing the GT 5 doesn’t do is the diving function of the pro model.

Large 1.4-inch display with strong luminosity

The Watch GT 5 offers a display with a diagonal of 1.4 inches and a fine pixel density of 461 ppi. This means the display is crisp and sharp. The watch also displays colors and contrasts quite well. Thanks to the high luminosity of 531 nits, it is also easy to read even in the sun.

As usual with Huawei, there are a variety of watch faces to adapt the look of the watch and the data displayed to your own needs. An always-on display can also be activated to constantly show the time. However, one should be aware that it shortens battery life.

Huawei Watch GT 5 with basic networking

As usual, the Watch GT 5 is connected to the smartphone via Bluetooth (5.2). There is no Wi-Fi connection with which updates and data can be exchanged more quickly or an LTE option for on the go. But it’s also understandable considering the price. There is integrated GPS etc. for smartphone-independent positioning. NFC is also installed. A mobile payment service is not yet available, but will come to the watch later this year via the Quicko Wallet service.

A microphone and speakers are also built into the housing. Practical if you want to make phone calls with the Watch GT 5. During training, the smartwatch can also output vital signs via the loudspeaker.

Otherwise, the Watch GT 5 records the pulse including the oxygen saturation of the blood via an optical sensor and can measure the temperature and air pressure. The ECG is reserved for the Watch GT 5 Pro.

The Smartwatch functions of the Watch GT 5 are limited. You can now reply to messages from messenger services on the watch using quick replies and the keyboard, which is a plus. The range of apps is quite limited as the Play Store is not supported. Music streaming services such as Spotify cannot be downloaded to the watch for offline playback. You can at least control music playback on your smartphone using a music player, but this only works on Android. If you wish, you can download purchased songs to the watch to listen to them offline.

The app store for the watch is also rather sparsely stocked. If you need a larger selection and want to use your smartwatch like a smartphone, you have to look at Wear OS watches.

Extensive training and health features in the price range

Huawei’s smartwatches are typically very well equipped for sports and health tracking. The GT 5 offers a variety of profiles for all imaginable sports. Running courses are also pre-installed, and additional training plans can be added using the app.

During outdoor training, the Watch GT 5 measures distances very precisely. We noticed some fluctuations when measuring the pulse. The Watch GT 5 doesn’t cope quite as well with changes in intensity during training.

The offline maps that you can download onto the watch via the app are a major upgrade. The optionally burnable contour lines are an added value, especially for hiking in the mountains.

As usual, the smartwatch also tracks sleep at night. Huawei’s sleep tracking is very detailed and offers the user a comprehensive analysis of their sleep quality in the app. The different sleep phases are broken down and evaluated separately, accompanied by a short written summary of the previous night. A sleep score assesses the quality of sleep. If you wish, you can also record sleep sounds to determine whether you snore. Only the recording of waking phases at night was not always entirely precise.

How good is the battery life of the Watch GT 5?

If you want to charge your smartwatch as little as possible, the Watch GT 5 is a good choice. If you simply track your daily activity and deactivate the always-on display, you get 12 days of battery life – very strong! Sports tracking is available for up to 25 hours at a time. Even a long mountain tour can’t do much harm to the Watch GT 5 in terms of battery. The Watch GT 5 is charged contactlessly using the included charging pad.

Conclusion

Huawei’s Watch GT 5 offers very good value for money. The workmanship of the watch is also excellent for its class. Anyone looking for a stylish smartwatch with a long battery life for health and sports tracking can get it.