HUAWEI Watch GT 5: My Honest Long-Term Experience

When I first got the HUAWEI Watch GT 5, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. I’ve used smartwatches before, mostly from bigger names like Apple and Samsung, but this one caught my attention mainly because of the promised battery life and how sleek it looked online. Taking it out of the box, I noticed right away how premium it felt. The packaging was minimal but elegant, and the watch had a clean, modern design that didn’t scream “techy” like some other wearables tend to do.

It came with a soft silicone band that felt comfortable even before I put it on. I could tell the watch was solidly built—it had a nice weight to it, but not too heavy. Setup was surprisingly easy. I downloaded the Huawei Health app, paired the watch, and within minutes, it was ready to go. First impressions? Pretty good. It felt like a proper, serious watch—one that could blend in whether I was heading to work or going for a jog.

Design and Comfort

Wearing the Watch GT 5 daily has been a mostly pleasant experience. The overall design is simple but stylish. I got the 46mm version, which looked big at first but didn’t feel bulky once it was on my wrist. The screen blends nicely with the body, and the rounded display feels very natural.

What really stood out to me was how comfortable the band was, even after hours of use. I’ve had smartwatches that caused skin irritation after a day or two—especially when sweating—but the GT 5 has been gentle on my skin. I’ve worn it while sleeping, showering, running errands, and even during workouts. It never really got in the way.

One minor thing I noticed is that the silicone band does attract a bit of dust and lint, especially if you’re wearing darker clothes. It’s not a big issue, just a small annoyance. I’ve also tried switching to a leather band once, and that gave it a more “classic watch” feel for work or formal events. That flexibility is nice.

Display and Navigation

The display on the GT 5 is one of the better ones I’ve seen in a non-Apple watch. It’s bright, sharp, and has great color contrast. Outdoors, even in direct sunlight, I’ve had no trouble checking the time or reading notifications. Indoors, it adjusts brightness well, and the always-on display feature is subtle but useful.

Navigating through the watch’s menus is mostly smooth. Swiping left and right gets you to heart rate, weather, steps, and other basic info. There are two side buttons: one acts like a home/power button, and the other can be customized. I use it to launch my workout screen quickly.

The touchscreen is responsive, but there were moments—especially with sweaty fingers—where it didn’t register swipes as smoothly. It wasn’t frequent, but enough to notice. It’s something I’ve seen with other watches too, so I wouldn’t say it’s a dealbreaker.

Daily Use and Lifestyle Integration

Over the past few weeks, I’ve worn the Watch GT 5 from morning till night. It’s become part of my routine. I check it for messages when I’m in meetings, use it to set silent alarms in the morning, and track my steps as I move through the day. It fits into my lifestyle in a way that feels natural rather than forced.

I appreciate how it doesn’t overwhelm me with constant buzzing or notifications. The watch is smart about how it delivers alerts. For example, it only pushes notifications from apps I allow, and I can silence it with a single swipe. When I’m at work, it stays quiet unless there’s something I really need to see. That balance is something I value a lot.

The watch also tracks stress levels, breathing, and sleep, which I’ll talk about more below. But in terms of daily life, the biggest win for me has been how unobtrusive it is. It adds value without getting in the way.

Health and Fitness Tracking

Fitness tracking on the GT 5 is impressive. I mainly use it for walking, running, and occasional strength workouts. It automatically detects walks and encourages me to keep moving, which is helpful during long office days. The step counter seems accurate when compared to my phone, and I’ve found the heart rate readings to be fairly consistent.

There are dozens of workout modes, including yoga, elliptical, swimming, and more. I don’t use most of them, but it’s nice knowing they’re there. For running, the GPS tracking is spot-on. I compared it with a handheld GPS tracker and the results were nearly identical. The watch vibrates slightly when you hit a milestone—like every kilometer—which is great motivation when you’re trying to keep a pace.

Sleep tracking has been surprisingly useful. I’ve always known I wasn’t a great sleeper, but the detailed breakdown (light sleep, deep sleep, REM, and awake time) really helped me understand my patterns. It even gives tips based on your sleep quality. Some days it’s off—like saying I slept better than I felt—but overall it’s been helpful and consistent.

There’s also SpO2 (oxygen saturation), skin temperature tracking, and even stress monitoring. I can’t say I use those daily, but I do check them once in a while out of curiosity. It’s comforting to know those features are there, even if I’m not diving into the data every day.

Software and App Experience

Here’s where things get a bit more complicated. The Huawei Health app is clean and mostly easy to use, but it feels a little basic compared to apps from Fitbit or Apple. It gives you the key health stats, lets you customize watch faces, and update firmware—but it doesn’t always feel smooth.

Sometimes syncing takes a few seconds longer than I’d like. And depending on your phone (especially if it’s not a Huawei or Android device), the integration might feel a bit clunky. I’m using it with an Android phone, and while everything works, I’ve heard that iPhone users might run into limitations—like no quick replies for messages or limited app access.

The watch itself runs on HarmonyOS. It’s stable and snappy, but the app ecosystem is small. Don’t expect a wide range of third-party apps like you would on a Wear OS or Apple Watch. For me, that’s not a huge deal—I mainly want it for fitness and health—but others might feel it’s too limited.

Battery Life

Now for the real highlight: battery life. I was skeptical of the 7 to 14-day battery claim, but I’ve consistently gotten about 10 days of use with the always-on display off and moderate usage. Even with sleep tracking, workouts, and notifications turned on, it easily clears a full week.

Charging is done through a small magnetic puck. It takes about 90 minutes to fully charge from 0 to 100%, which isn’t bad at all considering how long it lasts. It’s a huge relief not having to charge it every night, especially if you wear it to track sleep.

This is one of the few smartwatches I’ve used where battery life feels like a feature, not a compromise.

Notifications and Calls

Notifications come through clearly and with just the right amount of vibration. I’ve used it for emails, text messages, reminders, and app alerts. You can’t respond to messages unless you’re on a Huawei phone, which is a bummer. You can at least read them and dismiss them quickly.

Calls can be taken from the watch using its built-in mic and speaker. The sound is okay in quiet places—clear enough for a quick chat—but I wouldn’t use it for long conversations or in noisy environments. Still, it’s useful when my phone’s buried in my bag or out of reach.

What I Liked

• The battery life is easily one of the best I’ve ever seen in a smartwatch.
• The design is clean, stylish, and works for both casual and formal wear.
• Fitness tracking is deep and accurate, especially for sleep and running.
• The screen is bright and colorful, easy to see in all lighting.
• It’s comfortable to wear all day and even while sleeping.

What I Didn’t Like

• Limited app ecosystem. If you want third-party apps, you’ll feel the lack.
• iPhone users get fewer features, which may be frustrating.
• No quick replies unless you’re using a Huawei phone.
• The watch interface can feel a bit basic compared to Wear OS or Apple’s system.
• Huawei Health app works, but it’s not as polished as some competitors’ apps.

Final Thoughts

After weeks of wearing the HUAWEI Watch GT 5, I can honestly say it’s one of the most reliable and well-balanced smartwatches I’ve used. It’s not the smartest in terms of apps or integrations, but it nails the basics: comfort, fitness tracking, great display, and especially battery life.

It feels like a watch made for people who don’t want to think about their watch every day. You wear it, check it, track your health, and it just works. That might sound simple, but in a world where everything tries to do too much, that simplicity is actually refreshing.

If you’re deep into Huawei’s ecosystem, it’s a no-brainer. If you’re on Android, it’s still a solid choice. For iPhone users, it’s worth considering—but know the limitations going in.

In the end, the Watch GT 5 quietly does its job well, and in many ways, that’s exactly what I want from a smartwatch.