I lost the charger for this smartwatch for days and it still didn't die: Huawei Watch Fit 5 Pro review
Most smartwatch reviews start with someone telling you how it transformed their sleep, their step count, their entire relationship with exercise. This isn't that.
I wore the Huawei Fit 5 Pro for over a month and the most exciting thing I can tell you is that I barely had to think about it, which, it turns out, is exactly what most of us actually want.
The screen and strap are so lightweight that I mostly forgot I was wearing it, which was perfect for me because I was getting seriously tired of wearables.
The battery is doing something other watches aren't
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One thing that stood out was I barely had to charge the Huawei Fit 5 Pro. In fact I can count on one hand how many times I charged it in a whole month.
It was four times. That's not a typo, I didn’t have it on battery save mode either, just a normal ‘Always On Display’ function so I could check the time and my steps.
I also had it tracking my workout activity and sleep, plus every hour it would even give you a little reminder to do stretches led by a cute panda. I confess I had to say goodbye to the Panda because it was a bit awkward doing stretches in the middle of the office.
Compare that to the usual routine of finding a charger every night like it's a phone, and it starts to feel less like a feature and more like a small miracle. At one point I misplaced the charger, and couldn’t find it for a few days but the watch didn’t die at all.
No subscription fees
Unlike some competitors in the market that ask you to pay for a subscription to an app to unlock further features, the Huawei app is free. Everything it tracks, you just... get. If you've used a WHOOP, Oura ring or anything in that world, you'll know why this is worth pointing out.
There is an added ‘VIP’ tier that comes with the purchase of the watch and offers custom diet plans, a marathon masterclass from Eliud Kipchoge, as well as soundscapes that help you manage anxiety.
I forgot I was wearing it, which is the actual point
After testing enough smartwatches over the years, the first thing I noticed after unboxing it was how light the Huawei Fit 5 Pro is.
So light that I stopped noticing it was there after a few days, and had no issue sleeping with it, which is something I’ve found in the past bothers me if the wearable is too bulky.
For something that's meant to be worn constantly, that matters more than any single stat it tracks.
It logs pretty much anything you throw at it
Walking, running, boxing, yoga, barre, and a long list of activity types I never got round to trying (fencing, darts, laser tag and parkour to name a few). It didn't struggle to find a category for whatever I was doing, which is more than I can say for some trackers that struggle to figure out the difference between strength training and a HIIT class.
The verdict
It's not flashy. It's not going to give you a six-week transformation story. What it will do is sit on your wrist, track what you're doing, and not ask you for anything else — no charger every night, no monthly fee, no app you forget to check. Sometimes low-maintenance is the whole selling point.
FAQ
How long does the battery actually last?
About a week of real use before it needs charging again, I only plugged it in four times across a full month of daily wear. Officially the battery can last for up to 10 days with light usage, up to seven days with typical usage, or up to four days with Always On Display enabled.
Is there a subscription or app fee?
No. You can use the app for free, you’ll receive VIP access for 90 days and then afterwards the rest of the data is available with some limitations like the personalised coaching.
Is it comfortable to wear all day?
Yes, it's light enough that you won’t notice any bulk. The only time it ever bothered me was during the 35+ degrees heatwave when I needed to remove it because I was too hot.
What activities can it track?
There’s a really long list, including the basics like walking, running, cycling, and swimming. There’s also rock climbing, rowing, bowling, tennis, padel, fishing, belly dancing, cross fit, and spinning.
It also monitors your heart rate, blood oxygen, sleep, and stress plus tracks overnight breathing to detect potential signs of sleep breathing issues. Other health features include continuous SpO₂ monitoring, body temperature sensing, female cycle tracking, stress alerts, and fall detection.
Is it waterproof?
It's built to handle swimming and everyday water exposure, however it does recommend that you avoid wearing it in hot showers, saunas (steam rooms), and other activities in high-temperature and/or high-humidity environments.
Who is this actually for?
Anyone who wants the basics such as steps, sleep, activity, without committing to a monthly fee or a nightly charging routine.
The Huawei Watch Fit 5 Series is compatible with both iOS and Android and is available from the Huawei Store for £249.99 (Watch Fit 5 Pro) and £159.99 (Watch Fit 5).
Topics: Technology
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