Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro Review – The Best Smartwatch I’ve Ever Worn (But Not the Smartest)
I’ve been locked into the Apple ecosystem longer than I’d like to admit. My iPhone 16 Pro Max basically runs my life. So testing out a Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro felt like sneaking into a rival team’s locker room. I went in expecting limitations—HarmonyOS doesn’t play especially nice with iOS—but I came out genuinely surprised by how much this watch gets right.
It’s not a perfect replacement for the Apple Watch, but it does some things so well I actually stopped caring.
Design – A Watch That Doesn’t Scream “Tech Bro”
This thing is a watch. Like, an actual grown-up, designer-looking watch. Titanium frame, ceramic back, circular AMOLED display—it looks like it costs more than it does. The GT 5 Pro doesn’t feel like a gadget strapped to your wrist; it feels like something you’d wear even if it didn’t buzz and track your heart rate.
The watch face store is ridiculously vast. I’m obsessed with the retro Casio aesthetic, and finding a digital face that scratched that itch was weirdly satisfying. It’s like my childhood calculator watch grew up and got hot.
My only gripe is with the font. If I could swap out the system font for something a little more minimal and less “stock Android,” I’d be thrilled. Also, app notifications mostly use a basic bubble icon, which makes the screen look a little… meh. Strangely, Snapchat and Facebook Messenger do show their own icons. Everyone else? Lost in the generic void.
Battery Life – What Witchcraft Is This?
Let me just say it: the battery life is the main reason I haven’t switched back to my Apple Watch.
Even with the always-on display turned on, plus 24/7 health tracking, I’m getting six full days on a charge. That’s not an exaggeration—I’ve timed it. After years of charging my Apple Watch every night like a Tamagotchi that might die in its sleep, this feels revolutionary.
Only complaint? The charger is USB-A. I haven’t used USB-A for anything since… well, probably since my last Huawei phone over a decade ago. I had to dig through a box labeled “tech stuff I should’ve recycled in 2019” just to find an adapter. It works, but come on—it’s 2025. USB-C should be standard by now.
GPS & Navigation – Surprisingly Handy for Not Getting Lost
I recently moved, and the GT 5 Pro’s GPS has actually helped me feel a little less like a confused Sim wandering around new pedestrian walkways. It locks onto satellites quickly and shows you where you are without any fuss. That alone saved me from a few awkward U-turns in the middle of a park.
Health Tracking – Deep, Detailed, and Weirdly Addictive
This is where the GT 5 Pro quietly shines. Even paired with iOS, the Huawei Health app pulls in a lot of data, and it lays it out in a way that doesn’t require a PhD in biometrics to understand.
• Sleep tracking is legit. It breaks down light/deep/REM cycles, and even tells me how restorative my sleep was. I’ve started checking it every morning while I drink coffee and silently judge past-me for staying up too late watching conspiracy documentaries.
• Heart rate and blood oxygen tracking seem really accurate, and the skin temperature sensor adds an extra layer of insight you don’t often get on other smartwatches.
• There’s no fluff here. Just clean, useful data.
If you’re into health metrics, this thing delivers. If you’re not into health metrics… this might be what finally gets you into them.
Comfort – Casio Nostalgia Meets Sweat-Free Reality
The included band is honestly more comfortable than I expected. It doesn’t trap sweat like Apple’s silicone bands, and it gives off strong retro-digital-watch energy, which is very on-brand for me. I haven’t even swapped it out yet—which, if you know me, says a lot.
iOS Limitations – The Trade-Offs Are Real, But Manageable
This is where you need to be realistic about what the watch is—and isn’t—on iOS:
• No NFC payments (so no tapping your wrist at the coffee shop like a tech wizard).
• No replying to messages or taking calls.
• No third-party app support, which means no watch-specific Spotify control, smart home widgets, etc.
To be fair, I barely used half of that on Apple Watch. But I do miss having more direct control over phone apps. Also, being able to clear notifications with a pinch gesture (like on Apple Watch) would be nice. And I wouldn’t say no to custom notification sounds. The current tone is fine, but it kind of sounds like your watch just sighed at you.
Wishlist – A Few Things That’d Push It Over the Edge
Here’s what would take the GT 5 Pro from “almost perfect” to “buy-one-for-every-family-member”:
• USB-C charging puck
• Font customization
• Better notification icon support
• Custom notification tones
• A built-in air quality widget (especially useful in Canada during wildfire season)
Final Thoughts – Who’s This Watch For?
If you’re looking for a flashy gadget that acts like a mini smartphone on your wrist, this isn’t it. But if you want a beautifully made smartwatch that actually looks like a watch, tracks your health like a pro, and doesn’t die the second you forget to charge it—the GT 5 Pro hits the mark.
For iPhone users, the limitations are real, but if you can live without Apple Pay and text replies, this watch brings a lot to the table. The design and battery life alone might be worth the switch.
Bottom line: I didn’t expect to like this watch as much as I do. Now I’m just wondering what else I’ve been missing outside the walled garden.
