We may earn compensation from reviewed products. Learn about our editorial policies.
The Huawei Watch 5 boasts a stunning design with innovative functionality in the form of gesture controls and the X-TAP feature. Battery life is also impressive but the pric goes toe-to-toe with the Apple Watch, so choosing between the two is your personal preference.
The Good
- Beautiful, uber-premium design
- Responsive gesture controls
- Smooth software experience
The Bad
- Same price as the Apple Watch
- X-TAP is handy but perhaps a bit gimmicky
Need-to-knows
- New X-TAP feature is convenient, but accuracy needs to be fully tested
- Stunning circular design
- Expanded NFC country compatibility
- Impressive five-day battery life
Shop the Huawei Watch 5 and Fit 4 Pro below!
Huawei has launched two new smartwatch ranges – the Watch 5 and the Watch Fit 4. There are different iterations within each lineup, and all of them appear to be taking square aim at the Apple Watch.
Because of course they are. That’s what Huawei does, and it does it very well indeed.
The question lies in whether or not you should opt for a non-Apple Watch smartwatch that’s compatible with the iPhone, or just stick with Apple’s wearable. I can’t answer that for you, because it’s very much a personal choice, but I can reveal exactly what these two new ranges from Huawei are all about, and why I’m so impressed by them.
Related 👉 My full OnePlus Watch 3 review
In this review, I’m going to pick out the key features of both the 46mm Watch 5 and the Watch Fit 4 Pro (those are the two I was sent as review samples).
Let’s start with the Watch 5.
Huawei Watch 5: Specifications
| Feature | 46mm Model | 42mm Model |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 46 × 46 × 11.3 mm | 42 × 42 × 10.5 mm |
| Weight (without strap) | Approx. 58 g (Purple, Silver, Brown), 63 g (Black) | Approx. 51 g (Beige, Sand Gold), 48 g (White, Green) |
| Display | 1.5″ LTPO 2.0 AMOLED, 466 × 466 pixels, 310 PPI, 3000-nit peak brightness | 1.38″ LTPO 2.0 AMOLED, 466 × 466 pixels, 338 PPI, 3000-nit peak brightness |
| Materials | Aerospace-grade titanium (Purple, Silver, Brown), 316L stainless steel (Black) | 904L stainless steel (Beige, Sand Gold), 316L stainless steel (White, Green) |
| Strap Options | Composite, Titanium, Fluoroelastomer | Composite, Titanium, Fluoroelastomer |
| Water Resistance | 5 ATM, suitable for free diving up to 40 meters | 5 ATM, suitable for free diving up to 40 meters |
| Operating System | HarmonyOS | HarmonyOS |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Compass, Optical Heart Rate 6.0, Barometer, Ambient Light, Body Temperature, ECG, Depth, Tactile Sensor | Same as 46mm model |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.2, Dual-band GNSS (L1: GPS + GLONASS + GALILEO + BeiDou + QZSS; L5: GPS + GALILEO + BeiDou + QZSS), Wi-Fi 6 (2.4 GHz + 5 GHz) | Same as 46mm model |
| Battery Life | Standard mode: Up to 4.5 days (typical), 3 days (AOD on); Battery saver mode: Up to 11 days (max), 7 days (typical), 4.5 days (AOD on) | Standard mode: Up to 3 days (typical), 2 days (AOD on); Battery saver mode: Up to 7 days (max), 5 days (typical), 3 days (AOD on) |
| Charging | Wireless charging with HUAWEI WATCH Wireless SuperCharger (2nd generation) | Wireless charging with HUAWEI WATCH Wireless SuperCharger (2nd generation) |
| Compatibility | Android 9.0 or later, iOS 13.0 or later | Android 9.0 or later, iOS 13.0 or later |
| Smart Features | eSIM Cellular Calling, Bluetooth Calling, AppGallery, Music Playback, Notifications, Remote Shutter, Smart Gestures | Same as 46mm model |
| Health Features | Multi-sensing X-TAP Technology, Real-time Fingertip SpO₂, ECG, Heart Rate Variability (HRV), Arterial Stiffness Detection, Stress Monitoring, Respiratory Check, Skin Temperature, Sleep Breathing Awareness, Health Glance | Same as 46mm model |
| Sports Modes | 100+ workout modes including 14 pro-level sports like golf and freediving, enhanced accuracy with HUAWEI Sunflower Positioning System | Same as 46mm model |
| Price (UK) | £399.99 (Purple), £449.99 (Silver), £399.99 (Brown), £349.99 (Black) | £349.99 (Beige), £399.99 (Sand Gold), £349.99 (White), £349.99 (Green) |
Huawei Watch 5: One-tap health
The biggest announcement for Huawei’s flagship smartwatch is X-TAP, a button on the side of the watch containing multi-sensing tech.
By resting your finger on the button, the Watch 5 will conduct a quick health check, which includes an ECG, PPG, SpO2, stress levels, and arterial stiffness detection. It’s not a doctor, and you shouldn’t take the results as medical confirmation of perceived conditions, but it’s a nice thing to have on your wrist. And it’s the kind of thing that might tempt you to go to the doctors, regardless, which is never a bad thing.
Best budget watch? Read our Redmi Watch 5 review
Huawei is calling this the “future of accurate health tracking”, which sounds a bit grand, but it does differentiate the Watch 5 from the Apple Watch and many other smartwatches on the market.
Huawei Watch 5: Hands-free navigation
Huawei has added gesture controls to the Watch 5. There are two, and they work pretty well, even if the use cases for this kind of smartwatch control remain questionable, in my opinion.
The first is a double tap of your index finger and thumb (in a pinch gesture), which can be used to silence alarms and accept or cancel calls. It works pretty flawlessly and, yes, does mirror the same functionality on Apple’s latest versions of the Apple Watch.
The second can’t be found on an Apple Watch, and it’s the ability to swipe your index finger along the leading edge of your thumb to switch between on-screen controls. So, for instance, if your alarm sounds and you want to cancel it rather than snooze, you can swipe your finger to choose the former option and then double-tap to select it.
The Competiton: Apple Watch Series 10 review
I know. I know. Touching the display is probably quicker. Fair enough.
Huawei Watch 5: Fitness first
Although this isn’t particularly new news, the Huawei Watch 5 does come with over 100 workout modes and a bunch of pro-level options for serious athletes and sportspeople.
In my experience, Huawei watches are great fitness companions. The only gripe I have relates to the overly loud audio cues that emanate from the watch by default. I always forget to turn them off, which means everyone gets to hear my awful treadmill pace in the gym – until I clumsily figure out how to turn the voice off while running.
Best fitness tracker? Check out our Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro review
Huawei Watch 5: My preferred design
As much as I enjoy the Apple Watch and have been a long-term user of Apple’s wearable (I was an early adopter in 2015), I’m not keen on square watches. For me, circular watch faces are far more traditional and attractive, and that’s why I love the design of the Watch 5.
This is one of the best-looking smartwatches on the market today. It comes in two sizes – 46mm and a new 42mm (the smallest size Huawei has ever made), and is made from 904L stainless steel and aerospace-grade titanium.It’s a very handsome watch and transitions seamlessly from workout companion to dress watch. That’s no easy feat in the world of smartwatches.
Oh, and the display is utterly lovely. It feels super fast and has 3,000 nits of peak brightness, which means you can see it very easily in direct sunlight.
Huawei Watch 5: Battery prowess and wider payment compatibility
This is where Huawei’s wearables shine against Apple’s efforts. The Watch 5 is capable of 4.5 days battery life in general use, but up to 12 days with battery saver turned on.
Incredible battery life: More in my Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro review
In my experience, I think 4.5 days is slightly conservative. The Watch 5 feels like a five-day watch in normal battery mode. It’s also lovely to have genuinely useful extended battery life if you’re willing to sacrifice a few features.
Continuing the theme of convenience, Huawei has also expanded NFC contactless payment support to more countries, which makes the Watch 5 less of a no-go for more people than ever before.
Huawei Watch 5: Compatibility and price
The Watch 5 works with both Android and iOS, with no limitations on either platform. The Huawei Health app is great, too, with plenty of in-depth data for those who want or need it and lots of surface-level stuff and pretty pictures for everyone else (me included).
Price-wise, the Watch 5 starts at £399.99 in the UK and can be ordered today.
Now, onto the Watch Fit 4 Pro, which clearly has the Apple Watch Ultra in its sights.
Huawei Watch Fit 4 Pro: Two models, two Apple Watch alternatives
I reviewed the Watch Fit 3 last year and praised its Apple Watch-like capabilities that were delivered at a fraction of the price. Now, we have version 4, and Huawei has expanded the lineup with two different versions.
The Fit 4 is the replacement for the Fit 3 and is a direct competitor to the Apple Watch SE. It’s ideal if you want a good-looking, highly capable fitness watch with stonking multi-day battery life and don’t want to spend any more than £149.99.
More: Full Apple Watch Ultra 2 review
That isn’t the one I want to focus on today, though. The new kid on the block is the Fit 4 Pro, and it has serious ‘anti-Apple Watch Ultra’ vibes going on.
Huawei Watch Fit 4 Pro: Key (impressive) specs
The Watch Fit 4 Pro is, according to Huawei, the industry’s thinnest smartwatch body, weighing in at just 9.5mm and 27g. That places it just below the Apple Watch Series 10 in girth stakes, which is highly impressive.
It’s even more impressive when you take into account some of the specs, which include a 3,000-nit display, titanium alloy bezel, sapphire glass (a first for the Fit series), better GPS, pro-level sports tracking, and up to 10 days of battery life.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Display | 1.82″ AMOLED, 408 × 480 pixels, 347 PPI, 1500 nits brightness |
| Design | Rectangular aluminum body, rotating crown, function button |
| Dimensions | Approx. 9.3 mm thickness |
| Weight | Approx. 26 g (without strap) |
| Strap Options | Nylon, Leather |
| Water Resistance | 5 ATM, IP68 certified, suitable for water sports |
| Operating System | HarmonyOS |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Magnetometer, Optical Heart Rate, SpO₂, Skin Temperature, Barometer, Ambient Light, Air Pressure Sensor |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.2, GPS, NFC, Bluetooth Calling |
| Battery Life | Up to 10 days (typical usage) |
| Charging | Wireless charging |
| Compatibility | Android 8.0 or later, iOS 13.0 or later |
| Smart Features | Bluetooth Calling, Notifications, Music Control, Remote Shutter, Rotating Crown |
| Health Features | TruSense Health Monitoring, Heart Rate Monitoring, SpO₂, Sleep Tracking, Stress Monitoring, Skin Temperature Measurement |
| Sports Modes | 100+ workout modes including water sports |
| Price (UK) | £249.99 |
Huawei Watch Fit 4 Pro: My personal take
The Watch Fit 4 Pro is a seriously impressive watch, given what it can do and how thin it is. For me, however, it’s a little bit too thin – I’m a chunky, circular watch kind of guy, which is why the Watch 5 is my pick of the two.
However. There’s a certain charm to the Fit 4 Pro, and it should prove popular with people who don’t like chunky watches. Indeed, there’s a lot to be said for a watch that’s this capable and which can almost disappear on your wrist. I’ve not slept with a more comfortable watch, either.
It really is the anti-Apple Watch Ultra watch. If you’ve been eyeing up Apple’s flagship wearable but don’t like the size or price of it, the Fit 4 Pro should be on your list.
Conclusion
Once again, Huawei has come out swinging with its 2025 wearables line-up. For me, the Watch 5 edges it as the most impressive simply because of that design, but the Fit 4 and Fit 4 Pro are hard to look past.
My recommendations: Best smartwatches list!
Whether you want something flashy, rugged, or minimalist, Huawei appears to have considered all smartwatch desires. Let me know in the comments which one you’d wear daily (and why).
