Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro (46mm) Review: The Best Battery Life Smartwatch?

In the competitive world of smartwatches, Huawei has emerged as a strong contender with its latest offering—the Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro (46mm). With premium design, rugged durability, exceptional battery life, and a slew of health and fitness features, this smartwatch is poised to compete with the big players like the Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch. In this detailed review, we’ll break down the features, design, performance, and everything you need to know about the Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro to decide if it’s worth your investment

Introduction: A Premium Smartwatch with Affordable Pricing

The Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro (46mm) is priced from £329, offering a compelling mix of premium design and robust features at an affordable price point compared to high-end competitors. Unlike other brands that are pushing their smartwatches to the £400+ range, Huawei delivers a solid feature set without breaking the bank.

You can pick up this watch in two different sizes:

• 42mm
• 46mm (The version we’re reviewing)

While the larger 46mm model may not suit everyone, especially those with smaller wrists, Huawei has managed to design it in a way that makes it comfortable even for smaller wrists. The titanium alloy casing adds to its premium feel and ruggedness, making it a tough yet lightweight choice for users seeking durability.

Design and Build Quality: Tough Yet Lightweight

When it comes to design, the Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro stands out from the crowd. Many smartwatches today are beginning to look quite similar, but Huawei opts for a more distinctive design. The watch features an octagon finish and is constructed from TC4-grade titanium alloy, a material known for its strength and resistance to corrosion. This makes it ideal for activities like swimming in the sea or hitting the beach without worrying about rust or scratches.

• Scratch-resistant: Even after bumping it around during daily use, there are no noticeable scratches, making this watch a good choice for adventurous users.
• Lightweight: Despite its robust build, the titanium keeps the watch from feeling like a brick on your wrist.

However, if you opt for the 42mm version, you’ll get a ceramic casing instead, which has a more flamboyant design. While the ceramic model might not suit everyone’s taste, it is an option for those seeking a more refined look.

Key Design Features:

• Sapphire screen: Both sizes of the watch feature a sapphire crystal display that’s highly scratch-resistant.
• IP69K certification: This means the watch can withstand fast-flowing jets of water and is water-resistant up to 5 atmospheres, making it perfect for swimming and even snorkeling.

Display: Bright and Vivid AMOLED Experience

One of the first things you’ll notice when using the Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro is its AMOLED display. The 46mm model has a resolution of 466 x 466 pixels, which makes it bright, vivid, and sharp even in outdoor settings. Whether you’re checking notifications, using fitness apps, or just admiring the customizable watch faces, the display never disappoints.

• Auto-brightness: The watch includes automatic brightness adjustment, making it easy to see the screen in various lighting conditions without manual tweaking.
• Customization: Users have access to a wide selection of watch faces. One of the highlights is a red dragon design, while other options range from analog to digital, catering to different styles. Plus, these faces are customizable, allowing users to tweak complications and colors.

Display Highlights:

• AMOLED 466×466 pixels
• Auto-brightness functionality
• Variety of customizable watch faces

Software and User Interface: HarmonyOS in Action

The Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro runs on HarmonyOS, which has become Huawei’s signature software for wearables. The OS delivers a smooth experience, though it’s not as expansive as something like Wear OS. You can swipe through different widgets, access your fitness apps, and even control your music without any noticeable lag.

• Quick panels: Swiping from the home screen offers quick access to features like media controls, AI assistant (Celia), and your calendar.

However, there’s a major caveat: Celia, Huawei’s voice assistant, only works if you’re using a Huawei smartphone running EMUI 10.1 or later. And, unfortunately, the voice assistant is not as capable as the likes of Google Assistant or Siri.

Key Features of HarmonyOS:

• Smooth navigation with customizable widgets
• Limited voice assistant functionality
• No Google Play Store access, limiting third-party app support

Health and Fitness Features: A Comprehensive Suite

For fitness enthusiasts, the Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro offers comprehensive tracking for over 100 activities. Whether you’re a casual gym-goer or an extreme sports enthusiast, this smartwatch has you covered.

Notable Fitness Features:

• Heart rate tracking: Monitors your heart rate 24/7.
• SpO2 levels: Tracks your blood oxygen levels.
• ECG capability: You can take ECG measurements by lightly resting your finger on the side button, providing detailed heart data within seconds.
• Sleep tracking: It monitors light and deep sleep, though occasionally it can miss brief periods of wakefulness.

One standout feature is its support for golfers. The Golf Mode can download golf course maps, offer advice on how to tackle each hole, and even gauge the wind speed to help you perfect your swing.

For adventurers, the Sunflower GPS tracking ensures accurate positioning during activities like hiking, running, and diving. It even supports free diving up to 40 meters.

Additional Health Features:

• Stress tracking
• Skin temperature monitoring
• Breathing exercises

Battery Life: The Game-Changing Feature

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro is its battery life. While many smartwatches today struggle to make it through two days without needing a charge, the GT 5 Pro outshines its competitors with up to a week of battery life under regular use.

• Always-on display: Even with the always-on display activated, the watch manages to last an impressive 7 days.
• Extended battery mode: If you’re heading off on a trip and need to conserve power, switching to battery saver mode extends the life to a couple of weeks.

Notification Support: A Slight Drawback

While the Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro excels in many areas, its notification support leaves something to be desired. You can receive basic notifications like emails and text messages, but you won’t be able to respond to Gmail messages directly or delete emails from the watch.

• WhatsApp messaging: You can reply to WhatsApp messages via a small on-screen keyboard, though the typing experience is far from perfect.

Moreover, contactless payments are notably missing, a feature that competitors like the Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch have been offering for years.

Notification Support Issues:

• Limited response options for emails and texts
• No contactless payments in many regions
• The on-screen keyboard is clunky and difficult to use

Additional Features: Golf Mode, ECG, and More

Apart from fitness tracking, Huawei has packed in some extra features aimed at outdoor enthusiasts and professional athletes. For golfers, the new Golf Mode helps you navigate courses, providing suggestions based on wind speed, course layout, and hole distance. Even for someone who isn’t into regular golf, this feature is impressive in its depth.

The ECG function is another standout. It allows you to monitor your heart’s electrical activity by simply resting your finger on the watch’s button. This could be a game-changer for anyone concerned about their cardiovascular health.

Key Features:

• 40m free dive support
• Advanced GPS tracking
• Custom golf course mapping and advice

Conclusion: Should You Buy the Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro?

In conclusion, the Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro (46mm) stands as one of the most well-rounded smartwatches on the market, especially for users who prioritize battery life, durability, and fitness features. It may not have the same depth of third-party app support as Wear OS or the Apple Watch, and it lacks contactless payments, but its premium design, rugged build, and comprehensive health-tracking capabilities make it a formidable choice.

Pros:

• Exceptional battery life (up to 2 weeks)
• Rugged titanium design with sapphire display
• Comprehensive fitness tracking
• Bright, vivid AMOLED screen

Cons:

• Limited app ecosystem
• No contactless payments
• Clunky notification handling

For those seeking a high-end fitness-focused smartwatch with incredible battery life, the Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro is worth considering.