The Huawei Watch Fit 5 Pro comes with a small update but still manages to maintain its reputation as one of the best basic fitness watches on the market. It doesn’t change much from the original formula of the series but rather improves on the existing features to provide a smoother and more consistent experience. Here’s the full review of Huawei’s new watch.
Specifications
Huawei Watch Fit 5 Pro
Type Basic Smartwatch
Display AMOLED, 3000 nits (peak)
1.92 inches (480 x 408 pixels) ~328 ppi
Processor –
RAM –
Internal Storage –
Battery 471 mAh
SIM / Telephony Calls via Bluetooth tethering
Sensors Heart rate sensor / blood oxygen / accelerometer / gyro /. heart rate /. compass / barometer / thermometer (skin temperature)
NFC Yes
Infrared No
Resistance Level 5 ATM waterproof
IP6X
ECG dust certified
40m swim/diving waterproof (EN13319)
Diameter 444.5 x 40.8 x 9.5 mm
(1.75 x 1.61 x 0.37 in)
Color orange/ white/ black
Selling Price RM1099
Usage Experience
Huawei Watch Fit 5 Pro can be considered a new version that maintains the same DNA as the previous generation, especially the Fit 4 Pro. It comes as a natural continuation of the previous series with more mature improvements. As someone who has used the Fit 3 and Fit 4 Pro before, it is clear that this model maintains the same feel but the usage experience feels more practical.
Although the design still maintains the square frame inspired by the Apple Watch, the actual experience when using it feels different compared to the previous generation. The combination of materials also did not cause any problems for me as it was comfortable to wear without causing any skin allergies, especially with the silicone strap used.
The larger and brighter 1.92-inch LTPO OLED display provides wider viewing angles and clear data reading. For me, this new size was not an issue at all. In fact, I prefer it because it provides a more comfortable usage experience.
The Huawei Watch Fit 5 Pro's screen no longer looks dim, and its high peak brightness ensures that messages and data are easy to read without having to squint. Despite looking premium, the design style is still too similar to the Apple Watch. Personally, I think Huawei could try to introduce a more distinctive identity to differentiate the Fit series from competitors in the future.
The Huawei Watch Fit 5 Pro comes with a rotary knob and a physical button that complete the controls on this watch. Although not new to the Huawei Fit series, they are still useful in daily use. Both provide more practical controls and make it easier to access applications. It also allows users to scroll the display more smoothly. In addition, it helps control functions without having to rely entirely on the touch screen. As a result, the user experience feels easier and more consistent.
The rotating button on this watch offers a variety of functions. When rotated, it can enlarge or reduce icons in Grid Mode, scroll through the application list, and content in the application. When pressed, it functions to turn on the screen, open the application list, return to the home screen or mute incoming calls/ A long press is used to turn the watch on or off and perform a reset. Meanwhile, pressing five times quickly will activate the emergency SOS function.
The physical button on the bottom provides quick access to the sports application by default. It can be changed according to the user's preference. When performing an activity, this button serves as a quick control to start or pause. However, to end the workout, I need to press the rotating button a little longer.
In addition, this button also supports the ECG function which makes it more versatile in daily use. To use this function, the index finger needs to be placed for about 30 seconds to allow accurate readings. I will tell you more about its performance in the performance quality section, including some improvements that I noticed during use.
The screen gesture controls on the Huawei Watch Fit 5 Pro are designed with an easy-to-understand layout. Swiping up is used to check notifications from apps like WhatsApp, Snapchat, Telegram and others that have been granted access. Swiping down provides quick access to key features like brightness control and battery saving mode.
Swiping right brings up smart assistance functions, such as a set schedule, current weather, and an audio player. Swiping left, meanwhile, opens up a comprehensive set of daily functions, including activity records, emotional well-being, moon phases, step data, heart rate readings, music player, and weather.
All of these functions can still be customized to suit the user, but only six apps can be selected as favorites for a single display. The rest need to be dropped first before adding other favorite apps as they are limited to only six apps at a time.
The layout is easy to get used to as it is almost the same as several other Huawei wearables I have tested. The overall experience feels satisfying with a smooth screen without any lag or stutter issues. Apps and functions run smoothly without any annoying issues, making the Huawei Watch Fit 5 Pro more enjoyable to use.
Honestly, the combination of screen controls and physical controls on the Huawei Watch Fit 5 Pro does strike a good balance. It makes the watch more user-friendly, especially when doing outdoor activities. Not all situations are suitable for relying entirely on the touchscreen, especially when your hands are sweaty or wet. In such a situation, the rotary knob and physical buttons feel much more practical. As a result, the user experience becomes smoother and more consistent in various situations.
In the future, it is only natural for Huawei to pay attention to several important aspects to further improve the user experience. The increase in the number of favorite applications that can be displayed simultaneously will give users more freedom in adjusting the layout according to their needs. The same goes for the freedom to change the functions of the built-in physical buttons, which should be expanded to meet the needs of different users.
With the proposed improvements, the next generation of Huawei Watch Fit has the potential to be more comprehensive and truly meet the needs of active users in various situations. This step not only makes the watch more practical, but also provides greater added value to those who prioritize comfort and smoothness when doing activities.
Application Connection
One thing that users often ask is whether Huawei watches can be used with Apple devices. The answer is yes, because it is compatible with both ecosystems including the Huawei Watch Fit 5 Pro. I myself have tried the connection with the iPhone 14 and Huawei Nova 14 and the process through the Huawei Health application went smoothly without any problems.
For Huawei users, the Huawei Health app can be downloaded directly from the AppGallery while iPhone users can easily get it from the App Store. This orange app is offered for free and based on my experience, the download and installation process went smoothly without any difficulties. The condition is that users need to have an account and remember the password. Alternatively, the connection can also be done using a Gmail account.
The experience of using the Huawei Watch Fit 5 Pro with Android phones other than Huawei is quite different because restrictions on the Google Play Store mean that the Huawei Health app is no longer available there. Therefore, users need to download the APK file from the official Huawei website. Although the process is simple, many are hesitant because installing APKs is often associated with security issues, and I understand the concern.
In short, installing applications via APK files on Android other than Huawei can be considered a minor challenge. If Huawei provides a clearer download channel complete with security verification and simple instructions, it will increase user confidence. This step will not only reduce doubts, but also make the installation process more user-friendly and not cause many concerns.
The Huawei Watch Fit 5 Pro can be used with iPhones without major problems but cannot be directly connected to Apple Health. This means that health data from the watch won't be automatically integrated into Apple's ecosystem. If you're used to using Apple Health, information from Huawei Health won't be included there. Instead, you'll need to open the Huawei Health app itself to see activity, sleep or heart rate records.
That said, the basic functionality of the watch still works fine on the iPhone. Notifications, exercise tracking, and health monitoring work as usual. Full integration with the Apple ecosystem is limited, but for me it's not a big deal if the main purpose is just to record daily activities. For users who prefer all their data to be consolidated in Apple Health, it may feel a little less practical.
When used with an iPhone, health data from the Huawei Watch Fit 5 Pro is only stored in the Huawei Health app on the phone and is not synced to the Huawei Cloud. So, the data cannot be accessed through other Huawei devices. However, Huawei Health can still be connected to third-party apps such as Strava and Adidas Running, giving users some freedom to choose their favorite platform to store or share data.
When used with a Huawei device, the experience feels more comprehensive because the Huawei Health app is specially developed for the Huawei ecosystem. It works smoothly and can be synchronized with Huawei Cloud for health data storage and synchronization, providing more consistent notifications. In addition, app updates are faster via AppGallery while the integration with Huawei wearables feels more complete.
Overall, the Huawei Watch Fit 5 Pro can be used well on both platforms. However, the experience on a Huawei phone is smoother because it is part of the Huawei ecosystem. On the iPhone, basic functions such as notifications, exercise and health still work, but the integration is not as complete. So, the Huawei Health app can still be used without any major problems, but the experience is not as complete as on a Huawei phone.
Performance Quality
Over two weeks of use, the overall experience with the Huawei Watch Fit 5 Pro felt smooth without any lag or app crashes. Scrolling and using apps also went smoothly, and one of the things I liked the most was the choice of watch faces offered.
For example, this cute panda interface is unique because it moves according to my body condition. This is an improvement over the previous generation which only served as decoration. When resting, the panda animation shows a relaxed state. When moving, the animation also changes according to the movement of the hand. Even when sleepy or resting, it reacts accordingly. This entire experience makes the interface not just a decoration, but like a little friend who always accompanies my daily routine.
In addition, the mini workout function also provides a different and interesting experience. It works well and often reminds me to get up from my laptop or task for a moment by doing a short exercise for about 30 to 40 seconds. This exercise is short so there is no excuse not to exercise even if you are busy.
Interestingly, every time I finished a mini workout, I received a reward in the form of a panda interface with a new country theme such as China or Bangkok, which could be unlocked after a few sets of exercises. This made the experience more enjoyable and provided additional motivation to continue to consistently do daily exercises.
The ability to receive notifications on the Huawei Watch Fit 5 Pro is indeed commendable because it works very well. Each notification arrives quickly, in line with the time the notification arrives on the connected phone without any delay. This makes me feel more relaxed because I don't have to worry about missing important messages while I'm busy working.
However, the most important feature for this generation is the function to detect early signs of diabetes. The presence of this feature makes the watch not just a daily activity monitoring tool, but also has the potential to be an early support in more serious health aspects. In addition, it also adds practical value to users who want to monitor their health comprehensively, in addition to basic functions such as receiving notifications and tracking exercises.
This function is not for full diagnosis, but rather to provide early warnings so that users are more health-conscious. At the moment, it is not yet officially available in Malaysia, but I had the opportunity to try an early unit. According to Huawei, the detection process takes between 3 and 14 days provided that the watch is worn all day long, including while sleeping.
In my experience, the results started to come out after about four days of continuous use (except during prayer and bathing). The results show the Medium Risk category, which means there is a potential risk. However, as I emphasize, this is only an early warning for reference and the rest need to see a doctor to be sure.
Honestly, the results are not surprising because my lifestyle is sometimes lacking in discipline, for example, forgetting to drink enough mineral water. Small things like this may be the cause of the warning that occurs. This experience also made me more aware of taking better care of my health.
Next, the Huawei Watch Fit 5 Pro also provides health readings that can be expected for daily use and fitness. I found the distance count to be consistent. For sleep data, it not only shows sleep duration, but also gives an idea of the quality through the breakdown of deep sleep and light sleep.
My average sleep duration in the last seven days was 9 hours and 17 minutes, which is still within the normal range for adults. Interestingly, the application also helps identify sleep patterns, for example whether I get enough deep sleep or not.
In addition, the average Sleep Score of 80 points shows that my sleep is at a fairly good level with Deep Sleep around 17%, which is still within the normal range for adults (10% to 25%). When reviewing this data, I realized that it gives a clear picture of my sleep patterns. Indirectly, it makes me more aware of the importance of maintaining a daily routine so that the quality of sleep is more regular.
Another function that also made an impact on me is Featured Trends and Insight Trends in the Huawei Health application. Both provide different but complementary experiences. Featured Trends serves to show the most significant health patterns in general to help me understand the big picture of my body. Meanwhile, Insight Trends brings me closer to more personal daily data.
For example, the data shows that I usually stand for about 5 hours a day. However, one day it drops to just 1 hour, which is 4 hours less than usual. The next day it increases back to 3 hours but still not reaching my normal average. Although there is a slight improvement, this is still not ideal because sitting for too long can affect blood circulation and increase the risk of fatigue.
My resting heart rate recently was 72 bpm. This reading is still within the normal range and can be considered good because it indicates that the heart is working stably. In terms of emotions, the recent average recorded 7% positive feelings and 68% neutral feelings. A high neutral percentage indicates a stable emotional state, while a low positive percentage indicates that there is room for improvement in mood.
My recent sleep patterns show that I usually go to bed around 11 pm. However, there was one day when I woke up a little later than usual. The average heart rate during sleep is 73 bpm and this reading can be considered stable because the normal range for most adults during sleep is between 40 and 80 bpm depending on the individual's health. Therefore, a reading of 73 bpm still indicates that the body is in a good state of rest.
In the Insight Trends section, the data shows that the sleep watch recorded an average of 9 hours and 17 minutes with sleep of less than three hours not taken into account. This is not surprising because this watch does not always detect short sleep (naps). For a full night's sleep, the reading can be reliable but for short naps it may be less accurate.
At first glance, these numbers seem normal. However, when viewed in trend form, it gives a clear picture of lifestyle and helps reassess daily habits especially starting to enter a more mature age.
The GPS system on the Huawei Watch Fit 5 Pro feels better than the Fit 3 because it is more stable and quickly locks on the location, making the usage experience smoother. However, GPS performance still depends on environmental factors, for example in indoor areas, near tall buildings or under trees, the satellite signal can be disrupted and the location locking process becomes slow.
This improvement is obvious when compared to the Fit 3, but not too big if you are already using the Fit 4 Pro. In short, the GPS on the Huawei Watch Fit 5 Pro is quite sufficient for daily activities, provided that environmental factors still play an important role in the smoothness of use.
Battery Life
Huawei claims that this watch can last between 7 and 10 days depending on usage. From my own experience, that statement is accurate because I was able to get around 6 days consistently. In fact, even with 5% battery left, it was still able to last until the next day even if I left it overnight without charging.
Six days is actually still a good achievement with my fairly active daily usage. The moderate screen brightness level, always-on Bluetooth connection to receive notifications, and continuous health monitoring such as heart rate and SpO₂ throughout the day do affect the battery life.
The battery can be considered long-lasting because it can last almost a week even with all the main functions used consistently. This is not surprising because the Huawei Watch does not support third-party applications comprehensively, so the system is not burdened with background processes. As a result, battery life is better than many other smartwatches.
In addition, the HarmonyOS operating system also provides a big advantage in terms of energy consumption. With limited application control and minimal background activity, it saves battery life. Application selection is also controlled by Huawei, such as MyBorderPass, TNG and prayer time applications. HarmonyOS is also designed with a focus on health functions, notifications and sports modes without heavy additional processes like WearOS which usually consumes more battery power.
The recharging process also does not take long. From 1% to 100%, the battery can be full in less than an hour. In addition, it can be charged using a special round dock like most Huawei watches. Interestingly, I found that the Fit 5 model is also compatible with the Pro version charger, so it is more convenient because you do not need to carry a separate charger.
Conclusion
The Huawei Watch Fit 5 does bring significant improvements over its predecessor, especially in terms of health and fitness functions, a larger and brighter LTPO OLED display, and a design that is comfortable to wear for long periods without causing skin problems. Although it does not fully support third-party applications, basic functions such as health, notifications and sports mode are sufficient for daily use.
At RM1,099, the Huawei Watch Fit 5 can be considered a good value if you are looking for a watch with a long-lasting battery, a clear display and a stable user experience. However, it may be less flexible than the Apple Watch or WearOS which offer more applications. As a basic smartwatch that focuses on health and usability, it still provides a balanced value.
If your priority is a long-lasting battery and consistent health functions, the Huawei Watch Fit 5 is a suitable choice as it offers a balance between performance and battery life for daily use. On the other hand, if you are more concerned with a wide application ecosystem and full integration with your phone, the Apple Watch SE or Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 may be more worthwhile. Meanwhile, for a more affordable option, the Amazfit GTR 4 is an attractive alternative.
Pros
Long battery life (up to a week).
Large and bright LTPO OLED display.
Comfortable design for long-term use.
Simple and battery-saving HarmonyOS.
Complete health, notification and sports functions.
Cons
Limited third-party apps.
Not extensive phone integration.
