Huawei’s focus on wearables in recent years has clearly paid off. The latest flagship, the Watch GT 5 Pro brings impressive upgrades over what was already a very competitive package.
This is the first international wearable with the new TruSense health monitoring system and HarmonyOS 5.0. After extensive testing, we’re ready to share more about its real-life performance.
Design and construction
The GT 5 Pro is available in two sizes: 46mm and 42mm. We reviewed the premium Titanium model, where both the case and band are made from titanium alloys.
It feels sturdy at 53 grams (without the strap), a bit heavier and bulkier than its predecessors, the GT4 And GT3 Pro. While the strap rarely has a premium feel to smartwatches, it does have a slight drawback; the metal parts may rattle due to the watch’s strong vibration motor.
As usual, though, the GT 5 Pro supports 22mm tires as standard, so finding alternative styles is a breeze. While all standard tires will fit, not all will match the premium look of titanium.
The GT 5 Pro has a crown button on the top and a metal button below it, both on the right side. Pressing the crown opens or closes the app menu, while pressing twice switches between active apps. The bottom button is customizable, but is inactive when an app is open.
On the back, the watch features the new six-sensor TruSense system, which claims to have much more accurate health tracking than its predecessor.
TruSense integrates medical data from partners such as hospitals and researchers, providing better heart rate accuracy, SpO2 measurements, blood pressure and sleep tracking. Although Huawei also promises mental health tracking, these were not available in our test region.
Software
How well do these features work? The short answer is: impressively good. Huawei wearables have steadily improved in accuracy, and the GT 5 Pro is an excellent example.
Huawei Health
Huawei already obtained ECG health certifications a few years ago, and now the GT 5 Pro can deliver more detailed insights into heart health. During our testing, the watch reported normal results, which were in line with the fitness of our reviewer, an avid ultrarunner.
Speaking of running: the GT 5 Pro introduces new features for runners. Users can now import GPX tracks to offline maps via Huawei Health, a big improvement over previous models that displayed routes in the void of a black screen.
Petal Maps, adapted for wearables, offers an offline mode, but still lacks detailed statistics such as hill slopes.
Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro can now take screenshots
Pre-designed running routes with waypoints on the calling map also debut here, a unique feature inspired by the 12 constellations, each a similar distance. While creative, these routes could benefit from refinement as some have sharp turns that can disrupt a smooth walking experience.
Huawei tends to improve features over time, so it’s possible these routes will improve with future HarmonyOS updates, possibly by Summer 2025.
HarmonyOS 5.0 also brings broader improvements, such as larger, interactive notifications with a QWERTY keyboard, available on the GT 5 Series and newer devices.
Battery life
Huawei continues to lead in portable battery life, thanks to its energy-efficient chipset and 1.43” AMOLED display, a proven choice since launch View 3 series.
The GT 5 Pro offers a range of watch faces with different power requirements, 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 screen brightness, we achieved up to 10 days – similar to Huawei’s claim.
Running with GPS on used just 1% of battery during a 30-minute session, which translates to just 5% for a half marathon. Charging from 0 to 100% took 70 minutes, slightly longer than Huawei’s estimate.
In an intensive usage scenario (10-hour ultramarathon, GPS tracking, voice calling and a powerful watch face), the GT 5 Pro lasted six days – impressive for such intensive use. However, using Always-On Display (AOD) significantly reduced battery life to 4 days.
The GT 5 Pro charges via any Qi charger, but the included magnetic puck is the most stable option, as the titanium band can make it tricky to fit on most standard chargers.
Pronunciation
Our variant of the wearable costs €499 in Europe, which is certainly not cheap. The black variant with the fluoroelastomer strap is slightly more affordable at €379, which we think is a wiser purchase, especially if you plan to use the GT 5 Pro while running.
Huawei often offers its devices in bundles on its website, and the Watch GT 5 Pro can be purchased for free with an additional band, as can some Freebuds and Huawei Health+ plans, where available.
Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro is a testament to how far the company has come since it shifted its focus to wearables after its smartphone business essentially disappeared outside of China. The smartwatch is rugged and built to last, with an impressive battery life and an extensive range of features.
It can be the wearable for active athletes, but also for consumers who want a functional smartwatch that looks good.