Why Huawei’s Watch Fit 5 is the latest must-have smartwatch

As smartwatches settle firmly into everyday life, the latest launch from Huawei feels well suited to a more realistic kind of routine. It’s a worthy challenger to other leading smartwatch brands, too. The new Huawei Watch Fit 5 Series – spanning both the standard model and the more advanced Pro – is designed for people who want to stay active, but on their own terms.

Less about elite training and more about fitting movement into a busy schedule, the range blends accessible fitness tracking with a design-led approach that doesn’t feel out of place outside the gym. Not every workout needs to be a marathon, and not every smartwatch needs to act like one.

Instead, this range of Huawei watches has been designed to slot neatly into real life. Wearers can use Curve Pay on their Watch Fit 5 for phone-free, contactless payments, too. And right now, you can save up to £50 on the Watch Fit 5 Series with an exclusive reader discount.

Evening Standard model covers the essentials with its stylish and smart everyday features at an accessible price point of £159.99 (get £40 off using the code ‘AES40’ at checkout). It’s ideal for users who want a reliable, good-looking wearable without diving too deep into advanced metrics.

The Pro version is aimed at those who want a little more – from premium materials and a brighter display to enhanced health insights and outdoor-specific tools and is priced at £249.99 (get £50 off using the code ‘AES50’ at checkout).

First impressions matter with wearables, and Huawei is conscious of ensuring both models feel easy to wear, day to day. Evening Standard Huawei Watch Fit 5 (now £119.99, was £159.99, Huawei.com, using the code ‘AES40’ at checkout) features a 1.82in display, which is already generous for a device in this category. Meanwhile the Pro version (now £199.99, was £249.99, Huawei.com £249.99, using the code ‘AES50’ at checkout) steps things up slightly with a larger 1.92in screen, along with a 2.5D sapphire glass display with ultra-slim borders, giving it a more premium finish.

Brightness is another area where the Pro stands out. With a peak of 3,000 nits, it’s designed to stay visible even in direct sunlight – which is useful whether you’re navigating a run or just checking a notification on a sunny afternoon.

Where previous generations of fitness watches leaned heavily into sporty aesthetics, the Watch Fit 5 Series takes a more versatile approach. The complete range has been designed to flex between different settings, delivering the kind of versatility that is increasingly what people expect from wearables.

The Pro model comes in bold, confident colourways including orange (which has a woven strap), black and white, while the Standard Watch Fit 5 offers a broader palette, including silver, purple, green, black and white. It’s a slightly more playful lineup, aimed at users who want their tech to double as an accessory.

The Watch Fit 5's emphasis is on usability rather than overwhelm. Health tracking has been expanded across the range where both models include features like heart monitoring, sleep tracking and atrial fibrillation analysis.

There’s also a focus on women’s health, with wrist temperature tracking used to help predict cycles and ovulation that's part of a broader shift towards more personalised health data in wearables. Unlike other leading smartwatches brands, no monthly subscription is required, so all your health insights are included.

The Pro version also has extras like ECG functionality and arterial stiffness detection.

A standout addition for the Watch Fit is the Mini-Workout mode, introducing quick exercises that can be done almost anywhere, without needing equipment – whether that's a quick walk around the park or a short stretching session. It’s designed to make staying active feel less like a commitment and more like something you can dip in and out of.

But for more traditional workouts, there’s a wide range of sports modes, built-in GPS and smart activity detection.

The Pro model pushes things further into enthusiast territory where Trail Run mode adds navigation tools, elevation tracking and estimated arrival times – useful for those venturing beyond city streets. There’s even a dedicated golf mode, complete with access to thousands of course maps and swing analysis tools.

If there’s one area where wearables can still frustrate, it’s battery life and constant charging. Huawei addresses this with a high-silicon battery designed to last up to 10 days under lighter use, or around a week with more regular activity. In practical terms, that means you can get through work, workouts and even a weekend away without scrambling for a charger. The Watch Fit 5 Series is compatible with iOS and Android devices, too.

Huawei Fit 5: Now £119.99, was £159.99, Huawei.com (using the code ‘AES40’ at checkout)

Huawei Fit 5 Pro: Now £199.99, was £249.99, Huawei.com (using the code ‘AES50’ at checkout)