The Huawei Watch 5 looks great to say the least. It comes in 46mm and 42mm sizes to fit different-sized wrists comfortably, complete with aerospace-grade titanium and 904L stainless steel that make it strong as well as stylish, while colors like Chromatic Purple add a fun touch.
At 26g, it’s light yet substantial, with swappable 22mm bands—fluoroelastomer to woven hybrids—that feel high-end and seamless. The 1.43-inch LTPO 2.0 AMOLED display is a stunner, delivering vibrant colors and deep blacks with 1,500 nits brightness for crisp visibility. A rotating crown and side button, plus a novel X-TAP sensor, make navigation intuitive, though the crown lacks Apple’s buttery precision.
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Huawei’s X-TAP multi-sensing technology is the star. Combining ECG, fingertip PPG, and pressure sensors, it delivers a 10-second blood oxygen reading—a world-first for smartwatches. The one-tap Health Glance feature adds Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and stress tracking, offering athletes and health-conscious users actionable insights. The TruSeen 5.5 heart rate and TruSleep 4.0 features give accurate data, showing sleep stages and detecting naps, though the apnea detection seems less important. The dual-band GPS tracks runs and bike rides very precisely, like the best sports watches.
Running on HarmonyOS Next 5.1, the Watch 5 works smoothly and connects easily with Android and iOS phones. With eSIM, it can make calls on its own, and fun gesture controls, like double taps or swipes, help manage calls, though they’re limited. It has smart notifications, Petal Maps, and a small AppGallery for basic apps, but it lacks many third-party apps and contactless payments outside China, which makes it less versatile as a smartwatch.It’s a fitness tracker in a premium watch’s body, not a full-fledged rival to Wear OS or watchOS.
Battery life is a triumph. The 46mm model lasts up to 11 days in saver mode, with real-world tests yielding 7–10 days under heavy use (always-on display, continuous monitoring). The 42mm version hits 5–7 days. A magnetic puck charges it from 0 to 100% in about an hour, outpacing Apple and Samsung’s daily-charging woes.
Priced at £399 (~$530), the Huawei Watch 5 blends style and substance. Its X-TAP sensor and robust fitness tracking make it a health nerd’s dream, while the titanium build and vivid display elevate its aesthetic. However, limited app support and absent contactless payments keep it from true all-rounder status. For those prioritizing design and health over ecosystem bells, it’s a standout.
Knowledge has enormous power. When data is accurate, real-time and easily accessible, it becomes an intelligent and natural part of your well-being. The new X-TAP sensor brings you the measurement option to the side of the watch, which means that you can measure with your fingertip in addition to the wrist measurement which is really, really useful. Accurate measurements are really important and for me as doctor they are the background of my work. With Huawei watches I can trust the measurements fully,” said Dr. Pippa Laukka.
