Huawei has once again raised the bar in the smartwatch market with the launch of the Huawei Watch 5, released globally in May 2025. More than just an iterative upgrade, the Watch 5 integrates cutting-edge health technologies, a premium design, and AI-powered HarmonyOS 5, turning it into a full-fledged wellness and lifestyle companion. Whether you’re an athlete, a tech enthusiast, or someone simply trying to manage your health better, the Watch 5 presents a compelling case.
Design and Display: Premium Meets Practical
The Huawei Watch 5 is available in two sizes—a 46mm model with a titanium body and a 42mm variant crafted from stainless steel. Both versions feature LTPO AMOLED displays, delivering vibrant visuals with a resolution of 466×466 pixels and a staggering peak brightness of 3000 nits. The sapphire-glass protection offers scratch resistance and durability, making the watch ideal for both daily use and rugged activities.
Navigation feels natural and responsive thanks to a combination of touchscreen controls, a rotating crown, and a side button. Huawei has also introduced gesture support with intuitive double-tap and swipe gestures, improving usability when your hands are wet or gloved.
Advanced Health Features: The X‑TAP Sensor Revolution
Central to Huawei’s innovation in the Watch 5 is the X‑TAP multi-sensing health module, a game-changing health monitoring system. This single module integrates:
- ECG monitoring
- Real-time blood oxygen (SpO₂) tracking
- Heart Rate Variability (HRV)
- Stress and sleep analysis
- Arterial stiffness measurement
By merging these into one tactile sensor on the watch’s side, Huawei delivers medical-grade readings in under a minute. The Health Glance function compiles 11 key indicators in a single touch, offering a quick snapshot of your health.
Notably, the fingertip-based SpO₂ tracking ensures accurate oxygen saturation data—particularly beneficial in high-altitude environments or for users with respiratory conditions.
Fitness and Activity Tracking: Built for Athletes
The Watch 5 supports over 100 workout modes, including specialized tracking for running, cycling, swimming, hiking, rowing, and strength training. Thanks to dual-band GPS (nicknamed Sunflower positioning), it delivers precise location tracking, even in dense cityscapes or mountainous regions.
Advanced performance metrics such as:
- Pace and distance
- Ground contact time
- Vertical oscillation
- Stride frequency
- Running form analysis
…equip serious athletes with valuable insights to improve performance.
Additionally, the watch is rated 5ATM water-resistant, IP69 certified, and meets EN13319 diving standards, making it ideal for swimmers and divers.
Battery Life: Dual Mode Power Management
The Watch 5 offers robust battery performance, further bolstered by Huawei’s dual-mode battery system. The 46mm variant delivers approximately 4.5 days of use on standard mode, while the 42mm model offers around 3 days. In battery-saver mode, these figures stretch to up to 11 and 7 days, respectively.
Charging is fast and wireless. A 15-minute quick charge yields nearly a full day’s use, and a complete charge takes about an hour. This flexibility is perfect for travelers or professionals with a dynamic schedule.
Smart Features and Connectivity: eSIM & Beyond
The Watch 5 doesn’t just track health and fitness—it also functions as a standalone smart device. Key connectivity features include:
- eSIM support for independent calling and messaging
- Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2
- NFC (for select regions with contactless payment support)
- Built-in speaker and microphone for direct communication and voice assistance
Running on HarmonyOS 5, the UI is sleek and optimized. Users can make calls, check messages, navigate, and even control smart home appliances from the watch. However, the platform’s biggest limitation is the lack of third-party app support. Unlike Android Wear or Apple Watch ecosystems, you won’t find mainstream apps like Spotify, WhatsApp, or Google Maps.
Wellness and Lifestyle Tools: Beyond Just Fitness
Huawei has leaned heavily into holistic wellness with the Watch 5. In addition to standard health tracking, the watch also offers:
- Advanced sleep monitoring with detailed REM cycle analysis
- Stress tracking with real-time alerts and breathing exercises
- Skin temperature tracking
- Menstrual cycle tracking for female users
The built-in AI wellness assistant provides personalized suggestions based on your metrics, such as nudges to walk, hydrate, or meditate.
Gesture-based controls add a futuristic layer to usability—for instance, a hand motion can reject calls or skip tracks, ideal when multitasking.
Real-World Impressions: The Verdict So Far
Initial impressions from reviewers and users have been overwhelmingly positive. The Watch 5 is praised for:
- Sleek, luxurious design
- Top-tier health features
- Excellent battery life
- High-precision GPS tracking
- Easy-to-use interface and gesture controls
However, criticisms have emerged regarding:
- Limited third-party app ecosystem
- Contactless payment restrictions outside of select countries
- No Google Assistant, Alexa, or similar voice assistant integration
- Unavailable in the U.S. due to ongoing trade bans
Despite these drawbacks, users emphasize the Watch 5’s position as one of the most accurate and durable fitness-focused smartwatches currently available.
Pricing and Availability
The Huawei Watch 5 launched in Europe and the UK, with pricing as follows:
- 42mm stainless steel: ~€499.99 / £399.99
- 46mm titanium: ~€649.99 / £549.99
In India, the price is expected to range from ₹45,000 to ₹60,000, although official confirmation is pending. Unfortunately, due to ongoing international trade restrictions, the watch is not currently available in the U.S. via official channels.
Pros and Cons Summary
✅ Pros:
- Innovative X-TAP multi-sensor health module
- Excellent battery performance
- Premium materials and display quality
- Accurate dual-band GPS for athletes
- Standalone calling and eSIM support
- Gesture-based UI controls
❌ Cons:
- Lack of app variety
- Limited NFC payment compatibility
- No U.S. availability
- Premium pricing
Conclusion: A Smartwatch for the Health-Conscious
The Huawei Watch 5 is not just a stylish wearable—it’s a health-first powerhouse built for users who demand more from their smartwatch than just notifications and step counts. From ECG and SpO₂ tracking to AI-powered wellness tips and precision training analytics, the Watch 5 is tailor-made for those who prioritize health, fitness, and tech-driven convenience.
If you can live without an extensive app store or advanced contactless payment systems, and your primary focus is wellness, reliability, and craftsmanship, the Huawei Watch 5 could be the most intelligent and refined smartwatch choice of 2025.
