Huawei’s focus on wearables over the past few years has clearly paid off. Its latest flagship, the Watch GT 5 Pro, brings impressive upgrades compared to an already highly competitive package.
It is the first international wearable device to feature the new TruSense health monitoring system and HarmonyOS 5.0. After extensive testing, we are ready to share more details about its performance in real life.
design and construction
The GT5 Pro comes in two sizes: 46mm and 42mm. We reviewed the Premium Titanium model, whose body and strap are both made from titanium alloys.
It feels solid at 53 grams (without strap), slightly bulkier and heavier than its predecessors, the GT4 and GT3 Pro. Although that premium feel is rarely seen in smartwatches, there is one small drawback; The high vibration motor of a watch can cause its metal components to rattle.
However, as always the GT5 Pro supports standard 22mm straps, so finding alternative styles is an easy task. Although all the standard straps fit, not all match the Titanium’s premium look.
The GT5 Pro has a crown button at the top and a metal button below that, both on the right side. Pressing the crown opens or closes the app menu, while a double-press allows switching between active apps. The bottom button is customizable, although it remains inactive when the app is open.
On the back, the watch features the new TruSense six-sensor system, which claims to have more accurate health tracking than its predecessor.
TruSense integrates medical data from partners like hospitals and researchers, offering better heart rate accuracy, SpO2 readings, blood pressure, and sleep tracking. Although Huawei also promises mental health tracking, they were not available in our test area.
software
So, how well do these features work? The short answer is: impressively good. The accuracy of Huawei wearables has been continuously improving, and the GT5 Pro is a top example.
huawei health
Huawei has already achieved ECG Health certification a few years ago, and now the GT5 Pro can provide more detailed heart health insights. During our tests, the watch delivered normal results, which were in line with the fitness of our reviewer, an avid ultrarunner.
Speaking of running, the GT5 Pro offers new features for runners. Users can now import GPX tracks onto offline maps through Huawei Health, which is a huge improvement from previous models that displayed routes on the void of a black screen.
Petal Maps, optimized for wearables, offers an offline mode, but it still lacks detailed metrics like hill gradient.
Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro can now take screenshots
Pre-designed walking routes with waypoints on the phone map also start here, a unique feature inspired by the 12 zodiac signs, each of which has the same distance. While creative, these routes could benefit from refinement, as some have sharp turns that can disrupt a smoothly running experience.
Huawei continues to enhance features over time, so these routes are likely to be improved with a future HarmonyOS update, possibly by summer 2025.
HarmonyOS 5.0 also brings extensive improvements, such as larger, interactive notifications with QWERTY keyboards, which are available on the GT5 series and newer devices.
battery life
Huawei continues to be the leader in wearable battery life thanks to its power-efficient chipset and 1.43” AMOLED display, which has been a proven choice since the Watch 3 series.
The GT5 Pro offers a range of watch faces with varying power demands, along with improved satellite signal tracking for precise positioning during workouts.
We tested battery life under different conditions: with 100 daily notifications, 30 minutes of exercise every other day, and minimum display brightness, we achieved up to 10 days – similar to Huawei’s claim.
Running with GPS consumes only 1% of the battery for a 30-minute session, versus just 5% for a half-marathon. Charging from 0 to 100% took 70 minutes, which is slightly longer than Huawei estimates.
In a heavy-use scenario (a 10-hour ultramarathon, GPS tracking, voice calls, and a high-powered watch face), the GT5 Pro lasted 6 days – impressive for such intensive use. However, using Always-On Display (AOD) reduced battery life by 4 days.
The GT5 Pro charges via any Qi charger, but the included magnetic puck is the most stable option, as the titanium strap can make it challenging to fit on most standard chargers.
decision
Our wearable version costs €499 in Europe, which is definitely not cheap. The black version with a fluoroelastomer strap is slightly more affordable at €379, which we believe is a more sensible purchase, especially if you plan on using the GT5 Pro on your runs.
Huawei often offers its devices in bundles on its website, and the Watch GT 5 Pro can be purchased for free with an extra strap, as well as some FreeBuds and a Huawei Health+ subscription where available .
The Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro is proof that the company has shifted its focus toward wearables after its smartphone business essentially disappeared outside China. The smartwatch is built to last, with impressive battery life and a wide range of features.
This could be a wearable device for active players, but also for consumers who want a functional smartwatch that looks good.
