Huawei Watch GT5 Pro Review

Here’s something a bit different. I’m a sucker for smartwatches and recently had the chance to test the newly announced Huawei GT5 Pro for our Croatian partner site Mob.hr. While I would have preferred testing the classic GT5, which will likely attract more attention, the Pro model is also impressive. In case you’re interested in smartwatches, here’s what I had to say about it.

Huawei has introduced the fifth version of its popular “Gran Turismo” series. Alongside the standard Huawei Watch GT 5, available in 46 mm and 42 mm versions, which are likely to be more popular in the market, the GT5 Pro with a titanium case has also been launched, and we had the chance to test it for about ten days.

Unboxing

The Huawei GT5 Pro comes in classic packaging, which includes the watch, a wireless charger, and additional links for extending the bracelet. Although I was surprised that the charger uses a USB-A connector instead of the more common USB-C, it’s not necessarily a bad thing since many of us still own USB-A chargers. Our test unit didn’t come with full documentation, but we expect the retail packaging contents to be complete.

Design and Build

Huawei borrowed the design from the previous model and refined it further. The GT5 Pro features an octagonal case reminiscent of a large nut. While the shape isn’t my personal favorite, the watch still looks quite attractive. The case is lightweight, made of a titanium alloy, as is the metal bracelet, which can be easily adjusted thanks to its built-in mechanism. However, the bracelet has one flaw—it prevents the watch from charging on third-party wireless chargers unless designed for watches. It also tends to rattle, which can be irritating at night or during vibrations (though you can get used to it). I affectionately call it “the rattlesnake.”

I was pleasantly surprised by how light and comfortable the GT5 Pro is to wear, thanks to the lightweight titanium case and the smooth ceramic back, which doesn’t irritate the skin. Additionally, the watch has a low profile, so it shouldn’t be a problem under long sleeves. What’s more important is the display, which offers a crystal-clear view from steep angles, and the backlight is strong enough that you won’t have any trouble seeing the details on the watch face, even in direct sunlight.

New Features

Besides the design refresh, Huawei has introduced the improved HUAWEI TruSense system for tracking health metrics, including a more accurate and faster 12-channel heart rate sensor. A new feature exclusive to the Pro model is the HUAWEI Sunflower Positioning System, which increases GPS accuracy by 40% for routes, 30% for distance, and 20% for pace.

The battery life remains over 8 days, and up to 10 days for the Pro version, which is standard for Huawei watches and one of my personal favorite aspects. The wireless charging is also improved, and now you can charge up from 10% to 100% in an hour. The watch continuously monitors health metrics 24/7, including sleep, heart rate, oxygen saturation, and occasionally measures ECG and arterial stiffness. During testing, I tried the sports tracking features, especially for swimming and diving, and the watch measured the parameters quite accurately. Although it didn’t track the pool length perfectly (I was swimming in a smaller 25-meter water polo pool), I was most impressed by the diving tracking, which works by measuring the pressure on the speaker membrane. I tested it at a depth of 6 meters, but Huawei claims it supports diving up to 42 meters.

The GT5 Pro also offers improved golf tracking, including 3D maps of various courses, although this option isn’t available in our region yet. Huawei has also enhanced running and cycling tracking. The advanced running analysis helps improve form and reduce injury risk, while trail running navigation allows you to download routes and return to the trail. Cycling tools include wrist navigation and voice-guided routes. Interestingly, the watch supports topographic maps (via the Petal Maps app) with a night mode, available for Croatia and neighboring countries.

GT5 Pro also features full support for typing replies to SMS, WhatsApp, and other apps, making it an extremely functional smartwatch.

Another great addition is the seamless synchronization of the watch’s calendar with Google Calendar, which is perfect for those who feel overwhelmed by their schedules. The watch displays all scheduled meetings and alerts you, while also allowing you to view your daily or weekly agenda.

Software and App

Alongside the GT5 Pro, Huawei has introduced the fifth version of its Harmony OS. While it retains similarities to previous versions, the new OS is much smoother, and the animations are very fluid. The smart health shortcuts work excellently. GT5 Pro features enhanced quick shortcuts like “healthy” and “lifestyle,” which provide easy access to basic metrics like sleep duration, heart rate, or body temperature. These shortcuts also serve as fast access points to apps where you can view more detailed information, like sleep breathing patterns, blood oxygen saturation, or deeper heart rate analysis.

Using the watch is simple and intuitive. Swiping up or down opens quick settings and notifications, while swiping left or right shows the weather, music controls, or activates the AI assistant (which only works with Huawei devices). The rotating crown on the side opens the main menu, which can be displayed either as a grid or a list of apps, depending on your preference. The bottom button is programmable, allowing quick access to the functions of your choice. The “task manager” function, accessed by double-clicking the crown, lets you quickly return to recently opened apps or close them.

To pair the watch with my phone, I had to install the beta version of the Huawei app, which introduced a few new features, like the ability to purchase personalized workout plans. Through the app, you can manage the watch, add contacts, download maps for navigation, set music, choose and buy new watch faces, and view all measured metrics in detail.

Call Quality

One of the standout features is the call quality via the watch. Compared to my older GT3 model, the GT5 Pro excels with its noticeably higher sound quality in the earpiece. Callers told me they couldn’t notice any difference between talking through the phone or the watch, which is impressive. The watch has a range of about 10 meters from the phone outdoors, and even indoors, the connection remains stable through walls.

Conclusion

At a time when some of the more prominent smartwatch brands are starting to falter, Huawei has managed to produce a remarkably complete watch. By sticking to its vision of a smart band in a watch form, Huawei has surpassed much of its competition, gradually turning the GT series into a highly compelling product. The Pro version takes it a step further, competing with many top models.

Although I wasn’t entirely sold on the design, I must admit that the Huawei Watch GT5 Pro is an extremely high-quality smartwatch worth every penny. The watch looks luxurious and masculine, which some will find appealing, and all of its functions, from health tracking to calls, work flawlessly. Its standout feature is the long battery life, lasting up to 10 days, which is a significant advantage over competitors.

If you’re considering buying a smartwatch, the Huawei GT5 Pro is perfect for those who want long battery life and advanced tracking features, without being bothered by the lack of full smart functionality (like WiFi or network connectivity found in Apple or Android watches). The GT5 Pro can certainly hold its own against models like Garmin, thanks to its long battery life and robust construction.

Overall, Huawei has once again created an excellent product, combining luxurious design, top-notch functionality, and durability. Well done, Huawei!

The price of GT5 Pro is 499€ in the EU. Here is the EU price list for all of the GT 5 model variants:

• Watch GT 5 46mm black – 279 EUR
• Watch GT 5 46mm blue woven strap – 299 EUR
• Watch GT 5 41mm blue – 259 EUR
• Watch GT 5 41mm white leather strap – 279 EUR
• Watch GT 5 41mm Gold Milanese Strap – 329 EUR
• Watch GT 5 Pro 46mm black – 399 EUR
• Watch GT 5 Pro 46mm titanium – 499 EUR
• Watch GT 5 Pro 42mm white – 449 EUR
• Watch GT 5 Pro 42mm ceramic white – 599 EUR