Huawei Watch 5 review: the new smartwatch, now also in 42 mm for the first time

The Huawei Watch 5 is available for the first time not only in the large 46 mm version but also in a smaller one with 42 mm, in two very appealing colors. This makes women an explicit target group of this smartwatch for the first time. The Watch 5 is full of features and very high-quality in build. I really like the design.

Design and material

All colors and materials look extremely high-end. Once again, Huawei shows that they know design. The small 42 mm version comes in a special variant with a case made of 904L stainless steel. This material was originally developed by Rolex for their diving watches. It is especially robust, does not corrode even under harsh environmental conditions and is supposed to keep its shine after polishing. Whether that holds forever is hard to test. If you wanted Rolex quality at a smartwatch price, here it is.

Both sizes are also available in a normal stainless steel version with various straps. The recommended retail price (RRP):

Version	Price
42 mm, 904L stainless steel, titanium strap	€649
42 mm, 904L stainless steel, fabric strap	€549
42 mm, stainless steel	€449
46 mm, depending on the strap	€449 to €649

Display and operation

All variants have spherical sapphire glass, so a curved, robust display glass. I like the curvature extraordinarily well. Together with the display bezels, only 2.2 mm thin, it creates a slight 3D effect. The display is an LTPO 2.0 AMOLED and gets up to 3,000 nits bright. That is exceptional for a smartwatch. In direct sun, for example during sports, it is still easy to read.

On the side at the top there is a crown that you can turn and press to get to the main menu. The button below can be assigned shortcuts, for example to quickly track a sport.

The new health sensor

New is a sensor that comes with the Watch 5 for the first time. It complements the sensors on the underside and measures eight values through the fingertip within 60 seconds and relates them to each other:

• Heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV)
• Blood oxygen
• Skin temperature
• Stress
• ECG
• Arterial stiffness
• Lung function in the form of a breathing test, where you have to cough at the watch

You see the report in the Health app and can export it as a PDF, for example for your family doctor. With that, Huawei puts another focus on health and prevention. I like any approach that empowers people to do something for their own preventive care. With a smartwatch I recognize trends continuously, not just snapshots like at the doctor.

However, I have a question mark over whether these values really need to be measured so acutely. I make an exception for the ECG, which can help detect a heart attack early. Quick checks seem much more sensible to me for blood pressure or blood sugar, and the Watch 5 can measure neither. I do not quite see the need for such a fast measurement yet. Maybe the sensor is the vanguard for non-invasive blood sugar measurement. If I trust anyone to do that, it is Huawei.

NFC, calls and gestures

With the Watch 5 you can finally pay via NFC. Many people have been waiting for that. For it you need an app that can also be installed on the Watch Fit 4 Pro. It did not work for me: the two new watches were still running the beta version of the Health app, I could not install any app and therefore could not test paying. For calls you can leave the smartphone at home, because the Watch 5 is eSIM capable. That makes the most sense during sports.

Also new is gesture control. As with other manufacturers, you double-tap with thumb and index finger, for example to dismiss an alarm or accept a call. New is that you can also swipe with your fingers to change inputs. So far alarms, music and phone are supported. With Spotify I could not control anything by gesture; maybe it only works with the Huawei music app. Nicely thought out, but not useful for me yet.

Battery and sports tracking

The battery has 504 mAh. With my 42 mm version and without the always-on display, I get just under three days, depending on how often I track sports. For me that is the lower pain threshold, because I do not wear a watch with just one day of battery life. I would have expected more, maybe a week without complex Google services on the watch. But a very bright display takes its toll.

The Huawei watches stand out for very extensive sports tracking. There are many sport modes, and in every sport many values are recorded. That helps pros. For me as a hobby runner it is sometimes almost overwhelming. Water sports fans will be pleased that sports on the water such as canoeing can now be tracked too.

Verdict

The Huawei Watch 5 is a high-quality and stylish addition to the lineup. The fact that you can now at least theoretically pay with it adds to its appeal. In my opinion, tracking and measurements are extremely good and reliable with Huawei, and the analyses in the Health app are clear and meaningful. The point of the new sensor can still be debated. A very nice development is that women are now part of the target group too.

The Watch 5 is recommended for anyone who wants a high-quality, reliable smartwatch with extensive sports and health tracking, wants to reply to messages and make calls, and can do without Google services on the wrist.