Huawei Watch GT 5 review: Spotlight on overall health and elegant styling

The idea of blending timeless elegance with modern sophistication is nothing new. And yet Huawei always finds a way to take it up a notch, executing it remarkably. This is especially the case when it comes to the tech brand’s wearables. 

Its efforts aren’t just purely aesthetic, though. This time, the surprise has a lot to do with the improvements made in the health and fitness department. Get a glimpse of that in Huawei’s latest wearable — the Huawei Watch GT 5. 

Elegant yet robust build

Huawei has made quite a head turner out of this latest iteration — one that truly stands out. It’s not your typical sporty-looking smartwatch; it exudes class and elegance, making it highly versatile for various occasions.

It can instantly elevate my outfit during formal events like weddings, but it could also blend in during casual days or a day spent on a golf course. Other color selections cater to different tastes too: Blue Fluoroelastomer and Brown Woven straps. 

The Huawei Watch GT 5 features a unique bezel with geometric feel. There’s gold accents everywhere including the crown and side button for the luxurious touches. To complete the ergonomic package, it’s built with a luscious white composite leather strap, giving a buttery, smooth feel. Additionally, it has a slim (9.5mm) and lightweight (35g without strap) profile. 

Make no mistake, as delicate as it looks, this is actually built tough — high-quality stainless steel for the base models, Huawei Watch GT 5 with a 41mm case size. It has wear, corrosion, and water resistance, as well as an IP69K/5 ATM rating, which makes the smartwatch suitable for dynamic and active lifestyles. 

Intuitive and outdoor-ready display

You’ll receive a bright, vivid greeting from the 1.32-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 466 x 466 pixels. If you love spending time doing outdoor sports or workouts, there’ll be no squinting necessary as you track your stats in clear detail. It’s also highly intuitive and easy to navigate.

There are plenty of watch faces to match every personality and style — sporty, retro, classic, you name it. On top of this, Huawei introduced 11 more for the base variant. I have a bias towards classic-looking watch faces, so my favorite is the Morning Shadow, which showcased steps taken, calories burned, and the moon phase. You can still customize the home screen based on your needs, however.

Accurate and comprehensive health monitoring

Recently, Huawei introduced its TruSense System for faster and more accurate data when it comes to sports and health monitoring. It’s capable of looking out for six major systems, including the respiratory, nervous, and motion systems. 

When I engage in sports it becomes more crucial to watch over my heart rate, making sure I don’t overexert myself and gradually increase intensity based on my current capacity. The Huawei Watch GT 5 acts as my trusty guide.

Aside from the aforementioned, you can also measure your blood oxygen saturation, pulse wave arrhythmia, skin temperature, and track your menstrual cycle and sleeping patterns. Having easy access to all essential health data on your wrist is the protective and preventive measure we all need. 

I, myself, have reaped the full benefits of being able to track my cycle calendar since this is also an important indicator of overall health for women. On a different note, at times, I get too preoccupied that sleep becomes secondary so learning my sleep score pushes me to allot time for rest and recuperation. 

For managing your emotions

One of the new things about the Huawei Watch GT 5 is it functions as an emotional well-being assistant. This aspect is often overlooked in smartwatches so it’s definitely a welcome addition to be able to manage stress and our emotions.

When we’re in an unpleasant mood, we can take a step back and breathe. This will allow us to function better — not amid heightened negative emotions. Conversely, if we have a sunny disposition, we’ll be more aware of what factors contribute to this.

For the most part, I found that it showcased accurate results, which helped me understand not just the physical aspect of my well-being, but also the emotional and mental parts as well. Inject fun by using the Panda watch face that mirrors your current mood. 

Built for fitness enthusiasts

Since a lot of people are getting into running and cycling, it’s very timely that Huawei made improvements in this area to amplify user experience. You’re provided with very detailed stats to have a better grasp of your performance and improvements. Additionally, navigating will be easy since there are real-time routes with map. 

As someone who engages in different sports, the 100+ workout modes piqued my interest. With this, I will better understand how I can improve my game with data-driven evaluations and suggestions. It’s not just for recreational players; I’m sure with the comprehensive data it provides, it will attract professionals as well. 

Of course, aside from working out, you should also watch what you eat. You can do so with the Stay Fit app, which will help you reach your goal weight when you log the calories from your meals and measure the calories burned during physical activities. 

Everyday convenience 

Aside from the usual convenience features you can expect from a smartwatch like receiving notifications, answering calls and texts, playing music, among others, GCash payments through your smartwatch will soon roll out during the fourth quarter of this year. 

A fun, new addition is being able to take screenshots by pressing the side button and crown simultaneously. This is perfect for proud record-breaking moments you want to flaunt on social media.

It also takes after its predecessor in terms of compatibility, allowing Android and iPhone users to enjoy the technology and design that this tech brand is proud of. 

Your weekly companion 

It can extend itself to last you up to 7 days with regular, not-so-intensive use. But the number of days will reduce depending on your usage habits. It can last for 3 days when you activate an always-on display and 5 days with regular use of health features for around-the-clock monitoring and increased exercise activities, among others. 

It feels like a rare occasion that I need to juice up the Huawei Watch GT 5, and it takes me a little over an hour to charge it completely from 0 to 100%. This is a welcome change from having to charge your smartwatch on a daily basis. 

Verdict

Year after year, Huawei takes steps forward in fashion and health for the Huawei Watch GT Series. The styling has evolved more subtly, but as minute as it is, you can spot how it greatly contributes to the overall elegant look. It also proves that it’s not just some wrist candy, as it flexes its prowess in health and fitness monitoring.

It’s like hitting two birds with one stone when it comes to the Huawei Watch GT 5, satisfying various fashion tastes while providing even more comprehensive health and fitness features at an accessible price point: PHP13,999 (White Leather and Brown Woven straps) and PHP12,999 (Blue Fluoroelastomer strap). The best part is you can take it with you on every adventure as it’s built tough — quite surprising with its elegant looks that may say otherwise.