TEST: Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro - it only lacks contactless payment

And to be fair, that's enough for most people. We don't need revolutionary changes every year, there are enough improvements where we need them most, but then it's up to us to change how we perceive new devices. The latest generation is rarely intended for owners of the previous one. Almost always, manufacturers target users at least two generations back. So if you have a Huawei Watch GT 4 at home, there's little chance you'll need the Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro, regardless of the fact that Huawei has once again outdone itself in many areas.

Let's see what they "snuggled".

Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro price?

• Watch GT 5 46mm (black): 279 EUR
• Watch GT 5 46mm (blue braided strap): EUR 299
• Watch GT 5 41mm (blue): 259 EUR
• Watch GT 5 41mm (white leather strap): EUR 279
• Watch GT 5 41mm (Gold Milanese strap): EUR 329
• Watch GT 5 Pro 46mm (black): 399 EUR
• Watch GT 5 Pro 46mm (titanium): EUR 499 (test version)
• Watch GT 5 Pro 42mm (white): EUR 449
• Watch GT 5 Pro 42mm (white ceramic): EUR 599

Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro - It's hard to decide which one to choose

During the presentation, I was just thinking about how I would decide which one suits me best. The Titan, which I also received for testing, was the most elegant, I also liked the black one, and on top of that, it had a rubber strap that would have bothered me less while wearing it, especially during recreation.

But these are sweet problems, and the culprit for this is Huawei, which apparently really has that design flair that many manufacturers miss. He didn't even skimp on the materials.

The entire case, from the frame to the bezel, is made of titanium alloy, which is also used for space expeditions. Pomposity aside, titanium provides good impact, scratch and drop resistance. It is inevitable that you will accidentally hit the clock on the edge of the kitchen table, the wall or somewhere else, even micro scratches like to sneak onto the screen after years of use. Due to the titanium case, the Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro will not remain spotless forever, but at least it has a better chance of maintaining its beauty for a long time.

My test version also has a titanium strap, which nicely completes the sophisticated look. But it is not the best choice for recreation. During running and other activities, there is a greater possibility of annoying hairs getting stuck, the comfort is worse, the wrist breathes less, etc. After initial testing, I preferred to replace the titanium sports band with a rubber one. Fits any 22mm strap.

You move around the screen with touches or with the rotating crown, which also serves as a shortcut to the list of applications/functions and back to the home screen, and the bottom button shows sports activities by default, which you can change in the settings. No different than before. Don't change what works.

If you are a fan of freediving, you will be able to take the Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro with you on your dives. It has an ATM and IP69K rating, which allows it to dive up to 40 meters, among other things. Unlike, for example, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra, the Watch GT 5 Pro also has a dive computer function.

Huawei TrueSense – better measurements across the board

For the average user, for a layman who spends most of his time with the watch on walks, mountain hikes and occasional cycling, a deviation of 5, 10, even 15 % is quite acceptable. It is also difficult to notice deviations, because we do not have medical devices lying around in our drawers at home with which we could compare the accuracy.

With cheaper bracelets, you can easily notice strange jumps in heart rate or inconsistency of steps, but with (good) smart watches it is much more difficult.

Which does not mean that Huawei and others can afford not to refresh or improve the sensors. The goal is that even the most demanding users, such as marathon runners, will be able to use smart watches with certainty in the coming years. Instead of a Polar belt for heart rate measurement, a Huawei watch will suffice, which will also be able to measure a dozen other parameters for a truly perfect picture after the end of the activity.

The Watch GT 4 (we didn't get the Pro version last year) and the watch before it were accurate enough for me. What I want from the watch is to tell me with high accuracy how much I ran, what my pace was, the heart rate curve... which at least Huawei watches have been able to do for several generations.

This accuracy has improved even more this year. Huawei introduced the new TruSense system. What did they change? First, a technical explanation. The new Huawei Trusense system uses three new technologies: multi-spacing optical path architecture, multi-region optical path design and an additional layer of tinted glass.

A layer of tinted glass is, simply put, glass that more effectively protects the light with which the optical sensor makes measurements from potential interference. Thus, they increased the overall accuracy of all measurements.

They increased the number of channels for measuring blood oxygen from 4 to 12 channels and improved the algorithms that help with heart rate and blood oxygen measurements.

In lab tests, it achieved high heart rate accuracy during running, swing jumping, fitness training, and was equal to or better than the Garming 965. I don't have a Garmin watch, so I'll wait for independent results, but initial impressions are encouraging. Not much has changed from my perspective because, as I said, the previous watches were already very accurate for my needs (and most others).

More reliable GPS, additional information, EKG...

What has changed and we can also check is the reliability of the GPS. Just like last year, the Sunflower system is in use, the beam of which is adjusted according to our activity and direction of movement.

If you follow the planned route and compare it with the actual one, the deviation is almost zero. Tree canopies and tall buildings, the two biggest disruptors of GPS systems, did not play a significant role in this case. During the run through Bonovec and the walk to Rašica, the GPS followed the marked forest path. While walking in Ljubljana, I was able to track exactly which streets I was walking on in the application.

We finally got a colored map and not just a blue line to guide us to the starting point. With the crown, you can zoom in or out on the map, with touches we can move it, turn it around, or quickly return to our "man". It wasn't at the top of the list of improvements I needed, but it was very welcome nonetheless. A night view is also available.

Runners will be able to monitor vertical oscillation (oscillation), step cadence, whether they keep the correct posture while running, and the like. I can praise the transparency of all menus and the amount of information displayed. Every animation is smooth, transitions between menus are fast, so the user experience is always good.

There are also some novelties for fans of Pogačar and Roglič. The Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro collects all the necessary data (ascents, speed, distance...) and at the same time turns the phone into a cycling counter/computer.

The most useful third-party apps are Strava and Komoot. Golfers will also benefit. The watch will measure your tempo/swing speed and the like. I'm not an avid golfer, so I'll leave testing this feature up to you. He has 15,000 golf courses in his memory, but not Slovenian ones.

What other measurements does it perform? ECG, arterial stiffness, heart rate, SpO2, stress, sleep and quality of breathing during sleep. With function Keeping fit you can set how many kilograms you want to lose and you will get a customized exercise schedule and how many calories you can consume per day.

At least 7-day battery, keyboard and support for all phones

Always on screen, at least one activity with GPS turned on per day, night mode from 11:00 PM to 6:00 AM, automatic brightness... With these settings and usage method, the battery lasted me for 5-6 days. Expect at least one more day without always-on display.

The excitement when I saw the keyboard on the screen sounds exaggerated and contrived, but I know some people understand me. Instead of pre-prepared answers and smileys, I can now quickly reply to any message. The keyboard is cramped for larger fingers, but I don't expect you to write novels with it.

A new feature is also the ability to capture screenshots if you'd like to share your badges and achievements with others.

As always, the Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro works with iPhones and all Androids, which unfortunately isn't a given in the watch world, just ask Apple and Samsung.

There is no option to pay by the hour (as in previous years).

Huawei Health+ worth €8 per month?

I am not a fan of subscriptions, because we are very quickly tricked into paying several tens or more than a hundred euros per month for services that we rarely use. However, I tried the new paid version of Huawei Health+ (the basic one remains free).

You will get a three-month free trial upon purchase, after which you will have to pay €7.99 per month. In return, you will get "private" tutors/mentors who will guide you in improving your running, fitness, golf results, help with meditation, breathing and the like. To make the service more attractive, they invited famous names to participate, such as Mo Farah (although I did not find him among the options), Pamela Reif and the like.

When you choose a pre-recorded workout, the video plays on your phone. With a connected watch, you will be able to monitor your heart rate and calories burned on the screen. Then you follow the coach's movements.

Lovers of meditation will have access to recordings that will help you find inner peace and relieve stress. Similar recordings can also help you with breathing exercises.

Instead of four coffees a month, you get customized programs that can make it easier for you to plan your workouts and at the same time give you the feeling that you're not exercising alone. The exercises I've tried (stretching, bodyweight strength exercises...) are fine, the same as what you can find online (YouTube) and personal trainers.

This is my concern as well. You can get the same exercises and music for free on YouTube, so why pay an additional €8. Maybe for the feeling of exercising with a famous person, I don't know, judge for yourself if you really need it.

But I can't deny that it's convenient to have everything on your watch or phone. You don't have to look far to find the workout you want.

Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro – definitely one of the best on the market

The design convinces me every year, the measurements are constantly improving, the quality remains the same or improves, the addition of features is consistent, the price remains the same for now... This is how I would describe all Huawei watches, including the latest Watch GT 5 Pro, which swung onto my list of favorite hours.

Still, I wouldn't rush to buy. The biggest competition for the new Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro is actually this year's Watch GT 5 and last year's Huawei Watch GT 4, which is still a fantastic watch and in a direct comparison you will hardly notice the (albeit significant) changes under the screen of the newer watch. It often sells for around €180, a value that is really hard to beat.

If you are a golfer, the choice is clear. If you like the new design, so be it. Otherwise, consider whether it's really time to retire the Watch GT 4.