Huawei Watch GT5 vs GT5 Pro: Which new smartwatch is right for you?

Huawei's latest watches have gorgeous designs and are loaded with feautres, but which one should you get?

Huawei’s new smartwatches have arrived, and this year, there are plenty to choose from. Huawei updates its GT Pro series bi-annually, so while in 2023 we got the Watch GT4, in 2024 there’s the Watch GT5 and the Watch GT5 Pro to decide between.

To make matters more confusing, there are smaller and larger versions of each model, each with a drastically different design let alone the variety of colours and different straps to get your head around.

If you like the look of these new wearables, but you’re having a hard time deciding which one to get, you’re in the right place. We’ll tell you all the differences, so you can grab a watch that’s perfect for your needs.

Design & Build

The Huawei Watch GT5 is available in either 41- or 46mm sizes, and the Huawei Watch GT5 Pro comes in 42- and 46mm varieties. Each model has its own unique styling and is available in a range of finishes to suit different tastes. 

The smaller watches both have a more feminine aesthetic, which some people will certainly prefer, but the larger models carry a very different and more masculine design.

It’s not like the Google Pixel Watch 3 or Apple Watch Series 10 where they are simply the same but different sizes. At a glance, you probably wouldn’t think they’re part of the same series, but the features mostly remain the same across different sizes.

All of the options are beautifully designed, but style is subjective, and only you can decide which model you think looks the best. Beyond the looks, the most important difference between the GT5 and the Pro is the materials used.

The 46mm GT5 Pro is made with an aerospace-grade titanium alloy, which is used throughout the bezel and the casing. It makes the watch slightly lighter and it’s also super-strong and corrosion-resistant. 

If you opt for 42mm model, the watch is made from a special nano-ceramic material, with either gold or silver accents that incorporate a similar titanium alloy. Both sizes use highly scratch-resistant sapphire glass coatings over the display, too.

The standard GT5 watches have a more typical smartwatch construction. Both the 41- and 46mm models are made from stainless steel and use a molecular fibre composite rear casing. Huawei hasn’t specified what glass is used to cover the display, but it’s not sapphire, so it’s likely more prone to marks.

Health & Fitness Tracking

Both the Pro and non-Pro GT5 watches benefit from Huawei’s new TruSense system, with faster and more accurate tracking of health metrics than previous models, and both have boatloads of activity modes they can track. The list includes everything from running and cycling to more niche activities like horse riding and skydiving.

If you opt for the GT5 Pro, though, you’ll get access to some extra modes. The most feature-packed is the new golfing mode. It supports 15,000 different golf courses around the world, and it’ll let you access a 3D map of the course directly on your wrist. 

It can precisely measure your distance from the green, track wind speed and direction, and it’ll even account for elevation changes. It can also track your swings, recommend clubs and keep score. If you’re a keen golfer, this is one of the most fully-featured smartwatches in its price range, and is almost certainly worth the extra outlay.

The GT5 Pro also allows you to import offline maps and routes with topography data for trail running. It can be used to navigate while you’re on the trail and will estimate altitude changes, terrain difficulty and finishing times.

If that’s not adventurous enough, the GT5 Pro also has a freediving mode. Its water resistance depth has been increased to 40 metres and the display remains bright and visible in such conditions. It’ll track everything from your dive time to your depth and more.

The GT5 Pro also allows you to take an ECG anywhere, anytime at the push of a button. Whereas the GT5 just offers standard heart rate monitoring, so if you’re serious about heart health, you might want to consider opting for the Pro.

Battery Life

Surprisingly, there’s no difference in battery life between the GT5 and the GT5 Pro. The difference is all down to which size of watch you choose.

The 46mm models offer up to 14 days of battery life on a charge or 9 days of typical usage. The 41/42mm models have less room for a battery, and they only offer up to 7 days of battery life or 5 days of typical use. 

In all cases, they charge with a magnetic puck, and take about an hour to go from flat to full.

Pricing & Verdict

Of course, pricing will always be a big factor in choosing your next smartwatch, and as you might expect, the GT5 Pro costs more than the GT5.

Huawei Watch GT5 models start from £229.99, while GT5 Pro models start at £329.99. Both are available to order from the Huawei UK website (with a free pair of FreeBuds 5i earbuds until 22 October) as well as Amazon, Currys and Argos and as usual, neither is available to purchase in the US.

As for which one you should buy, that all depends on your needs as well as your design taste.

If you’re a golfer, a trail runner or a freediver, then the extra tracking abilities are probably worth the additional cost. For everyone else, you don’t lose out on much by choosing the GT5, and you save yourself a chunk of change. There’s definitely something alluring about that lovely titanium finish, though.

Check out our round up of the best smartwatches.